Wrapping up some early morning errands, I dropped into a small town breakfast nook for coffee & a bite. There is something about a Mom & Pop breakfast shop atmosphere that accurately reveals the culture of an area like nothing else.
2-eggs over, onion home fries with crispy scrapple and 12 grain toast. I sit back and took in whatever Quakertown, PA brought into the door: 2-older gentlemen men of different economic means, laughing and loving the basics of life. A father and daughter quietly pressing buttons on their phones. Next in is a small group of…WOW! that was quick!
Sitting in front of me is exactly what I ordered: both eggs just right. real potatoes, inconsistently cut (proof that they were prepared with human hands), toasted bread. Everything was just exactly as ordered.
The waitress returns returns, refilling my cup,
“How is the scrapple?…”
“The scrapple, the eggs, everything is just perfect!”
She pauses for a second, as if confused by my happiness. What comes next is refreshingly unscripted…
“It should be!”
What a simple phrase, “It – should – be.”
Well of course, it should be, in all areas of life!
But can we really count on it?
As my home fries continued to vanish, I couldn’t kick the thought…
If it really should be, then:
1. Why was I so pleasantly surprised to experience detailed service?
2. What else in life am I surprised by that should be commonplace?
3. What do I say or do with my kids that they love that should be more commonplace ?
- It’s not a perfect world
- We are certainly not perfect people.
- But it sure is great to enjoy something as it should be.
I’m keeping my eyes out for what my kids find surprisingly delightful that “should be” routine, “should be”, normal & “should be” commonly experienced.
What is the stand-out, “should be”, in your life that you would like to see more common?
PS. If you’re passing through Quakertown, PA do stop by Sunday’s Deli & Restaurant, 140 E Broad St, and do request Ariel…. The combination of food & service is awesome! (Because it should be!)
