Speaking of changes in my life--
I guess it started when we'd drive by certain 'Mom and Pop' shops and diners one day, then the following week, the place would be empty. We'd peek in front windows and see only trash, a depressing kind of emptiness and the occasional Out of Business sign upon the door.
I don't know about where you live, but here, that happens a lot.
And after beholding these sad collapses of people's dreams and livelihoods, we felt strong conviction to do something. And so, instead of always driving straight to the cheapest (being recovering penny-pinchers), fastest place to eat, we began seeking out the few remaining Mom and Pop diners. You know, to do our share in the great cause of keeping these old-fashioned places in business for just one more day.
And that has made all the difference.
Because of this, we've discovered the quaintest eateries and shops, places whisking us back 70 years. We've been given opportunities to experience, first-hand, how it must have felt to eat at diners in the 1930's or 40's or 50's, something akin to walking inside our dusty, worn books written about such times and events.
People say time travel is impossible, but Tom and I discovered a loophole.
Just yesterday we visited our favorite 1950's drive-in and at our outdoor table overlooking a tucked-away river I immediately relaxed beyond belief--and felt such joy. Tom had dropped me off the two previous hours at a supermarket and a Target store and after weaving through noisy masses of humanity (on a Saturday afternoon. What was I thinking?), I felt frazzled and knew I am so not a city girl. But that 1950's style diner reminded me of who I really am (an incurable old-time quiet soul).
And it was through our adventure of searching out--and rescuing-- the quaint, privately-owned places that we found this favorite outdoor diner. We wanted to bless others and others have blessed us with old-fashioned-ness.
God arranges things like that. He is so good.
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"He's like that. But those kinds of journeys only happen when we follow His ways, His plans, not ours. Which nearly always means we're walking by faith and not by clear sense or sight--or knowing just where all this obedience will lead. But knowing only that we'll end up in a good place where He'll be standing... waiting... and smiling a welcome."
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Amen and Amen!
My son and I drove past a small diner this weekend. We were saddened to see it had a new "For Lease" sign on it.
ReplyDeleteThere have been four or five attempts at keeping a diner or coffee shop at this place since we moved back "home" from Michigan.
We have a favorite hot dog drive-in which opened for the season a few weeks ago. It has been a little too chilly for us to stop but very soon we will be there. It is also very "1950's". :)
Chaos breeds chaos. Nice relaxing places are just that relaxing. They let the cogs and whirly gigs cool off and take a break.
ReplyDeleteI just found a new entry {Spring} on a favorite blog... which has been an email news letter.
ReplyDelete'Spring Lessons: We Know It's Time' :-) Doesn't that sound nice?
So I hope that some time you will visit Sarah Edwards at Nature's Wisdom. Her by-the-season entries are always very warm, peaceful and about learning from nature. I hope you'll enjoy your visit. Especially at this happy time of transit, in your life. Of moving to the country... :-)
Mari-Nanci