This has been a rough week for us. My school is in Ferguson. And even though horrible things are happening, there are some uplifting things happening as well.
Tuesday morning, after a night of looting and many fires and total destruction of some businesses, I drove through to check on a particular restaurant. Cathy' Kitchen was started by Cathy and Jerome Jenkins. It has the best fish tacos in town, and their apple pie makes me (a hater of apple pie) smile and purr when I eat it. Cathy and Jerome spent months renovating it (the décor and the menu have a Route 66 theme), eventually expanding to serving breakfast along with lunch and dinner, and have been doing well.
However, they are located right next to the Ferguson Police. This was a place where large groups of people congregated--and not all of them were peaceful.
What happened to their restaurant--when some angry protesters threatened to destroy it--is miraculous. Here's a link to the CNN article (and I think the video is there as well) Cathy and Jerome Jenkins
Today I am giving thanks for my family and my friends. I'm hoping my sister-in-law, who is in the hospital, recovers quickly and completely. And on a lighter note (although it will probably end up being a heavier note), I hope I can display a bit of restraint when it comes to the mashed potatoes, the homemade gravy and the pie.
Whether or not you celebrate Thanksgiving, have a wonderful day today... and keep peace in your thoughts.
Restraint? On Gobble Day? Nonsense! Happy Thanksgiving, Sioux!
ReplyDeleteShay--Have no fear. Little restraint was shown...
DeleteHave an extra helping for me! Happy Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteKathy--I had an extra helping for you, along with an extra helping for a couple of other people as well. I hope you had a nice holiday. (Is there any holiday for business-owners like you? I doubt it.)
DeleteMore pie to you.
ReplyDeleteVal--And the pie just keeps coming...
DeleteThank you for the link to the video, Sioux. Those stories are important. The media isn't balanced and in most cases these positives never make their way to the headlines. Ferguson is made up of good people and bad, and those who fall in between---just like everywhere else in the world, including my own town and other towns/cities where I've lived. That isn't always easy to remember when the media focuses only on those behaving badly. There are good people, too, people who stand up for others in a positive way. Thank you for that gentle reminder.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know you teach in Ferguson, which certainly gives you an intimate perspective on the town and its people. It's your opinion that will carry weight with me. I know you to be a caring and dedicated---those kids in Ferguson are lucky to have you.
Hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving! It's the day after that always gets me. I eat more while picking at the leftovers than I ever do sitting down to dinner.
Lisa--Unfortunately, too many people only see the negative, the dark side...which is what we're too often fed by journalists.
DeleteI thought I was the only one who ate more the day AFTER Thanksgiving than on the holiday itself. I've feasted twice today--once at lunch and the same gravy-covered dishes at dinner. Whenever we DO get to meet, I will be the one waddling and jiggling...
Tough week for sure, Sioux, but here's hoping for better days ahead.
ReplyDeleteAnd wasn't it you who told me that anything with gravy on it didn't count? How'd that work out for you? :-)
Cathy--You didn't know I am an employee of the Gravy Industry...If you ladled on some extra gravy, it was all good for me. ;)
DeleteAnd thanks for the well wishes. My school got vandalized, but the community is banding together and we will have better days...I'm sure of it.
Great video, and glad you are safe and well. All the best to your sister-in-law.
ReplyDeleteTammy--Cathy and Jerome Jenkins are incredible people. I'm glad you enjoyed it. Keep my sister-in-law in your thoughts. She's not out of the wood yet.
DeleteThis has all been so truly sad and heartbreaking. I pray that very soon sanity and a sense of normalcy return.
ReplyDeletePat
Critter Alley
Pat--I too hope that peace comes soon.
DeleteWe have been out of town. Hope you had as many mashed potatoes as I did! Hope your sister-in-law is better, and hope to see you soon. I am sorry for the media mess and thankful for your wonderful story. Send it to the Post!
ReplyDeleteLinda--I am sure I ate more than you did. My butt is now looking like a big bathtubful of mashed potatoes. It's just as lumpy and just as white...
DeleteMy sister-in-law IS better, and is now on the road to recovery...