Serve by Design

I’m still processing an experience at the recent St. Louis Auto Show. I have been attending this annual event for years now. We (including sons, grandsons, and granddaughters too!) always combined this with a visit to a nearby eatery. These days we have been gathering around the long table at our beloved Snarf’s sandwich shop located downtown on Washington Avenue! Snarf’s fresh bread and handcrafted sandwiches never fail to satisfy our pre-show appetites! This would be my ride if I was buying! But, maybe not red! 😉 The show this year, however, was less than satisfying! It was lackluster and disappointing. There seemed to be fewer cars than the four hundred advertised. We were able to navigate the usual brands on display in about an hour. There wasn’t any special vibe concerning any vehicle. Some had exotic exterior colors like a powdered blue Bronco or a gaudy pink as seen on the C1 Corvette in the Barbie movie. These paint jobs seemed more appropriate for a retro kitchen appliance! ...

“Do you want green or red with that?” I can remember the first time I was asked that question! I was eating in a New Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe, NM. It was my lunch break while attending a training conference at Glorieta. I was stumped at first and simply asked, “Could I get those on the side?!” I did not have the foggiest idea what that question really meant. But, these many years later, I can now say emphatically, “I know how tasty green chiles are!” Truth be told, I have fallen into “culinary love” with the chile pepper!! This may sound sick, but I dream about green chiles! I even grow them in my backyard box! Now, I have family that prefer processed red chiles, but I do not share their passion for the red! Green is my choice! I’ve ordered jars of them from Weck’s, my favorite breakfast and lunch restaurant, and had them mailed to me by the case! I like green chiles in my scrambled eggs, layered in a beef and cheese-filled tortilla casserole dish, and combined along with relish...

Kickball at the Keppler's is nearly a daily experience this fall! Our two energetic grandsons, Danny and Charlie, gather on their "field of dreams," (actually, the front yard of our house) each day after school. It is their downtime to "blow off some steam!" Their daddy, Dan, made kickball famous with them during summer kids' club at church. They have loved it ever since they first joined in that simple activity of "one ball and four bases!" I've observed how the boys are like a "relational magnet" drawing other kids into the game! We have watched the numbers grow from two or three to regularly six to eight and some days more that a dozen neighborhood boys and sometimes, a couple of girls. Moms and dads have joined the crowd occasionally. When I say, "joined," I mean that literally. They are out there playing with the kids too! They are remarking to us, "Thank you so much for letting our kids play with yours!" An...