Yesterday afternoon my wife asked what I wanted to do for dinner, I thought about it for a second and told her "let's run down to Polk City and get some pizza." She started to get around and we planed on leaving around 5:30 or so. The daughter dropped by to pick up her dog, we dog sit while she is at work and wanted to know what we were up to, my wife replied we were running down for pizza and she said "we want to go" so she told her "go home and we will pick you in 15 minutes" and then head down. I had to stop at Walmart on the way down to pick up a couple of toys to drop off for the boys and girls club tomorrow at the WBB game, had my granddaughters help me pick out a toy for a boy and girl, and got them and back to the car we go. Side note, the price of toys is down right crazy.
It was almost 6:30 by the time we actually go down to Polk City and got parked, place was packed, no tables for the 5 of us, so we waited for a larger table to open up, had a drink at the bar with my daughter and after 20/25 minutes we finally got to sit down and order. Pizza arrives and we are enjoying it as usual when it happened, A couple in their 40s walked in with their handicapped daughter, they sat right in front of us. I just sat there, looking at her, watching the mom make a mess as the little girl tried to eat her spaghetti. The mom was trying, people were staring, and I just sat there, thinking I had been transported back in a Time Machine. That was my life for 43 years, going out to eat with our handicapped daughter, thinking how much it pissed me off when people stared and give us that look. How jaded I had become to what others thought of us. How we were just there to enjoy a meal, not create a circus, not to bother people, but to just act like a normal family, even if only for an hour or two.
When it came time for the bill, I pulled in the gal and told her we would be paying for their meal, do not tell them, but we will cover it. Not bragging, we are not wealthy, but if I can make their life just a little easier, to give them the thought that others are thinking about them, and reliving memories of a life that I had before our daughter passed, then it was worth it a thousand times over.
Last night reminded me the true spirit of the season, its not gifts, its being with friend and family, being together and having memories about past times. Of being that father and mother with their handicapped daughter just trying to have a meal in peace.
May God bless them, and everyone this holiday season.
It was almost 6:30 by the time we actually go down to Polk City and got parked, place was packed, no tables for the 5 of us, so we waited for a larger table to open up, had a drink at the bar with my daughter and after 20/25 minutes we finally got to sit down and order. Pizza arrives and we are enjoying it as usual when it happened, A couple in their 40s walked in with their handicapped daughter, they sat right in front of us. I just sat there, looking at her, watching the mom make a mess as the little girl tried to eat her spaghetti. The mom was trying, people were staring, and I just sat there, thinking I had been transported back in a Time Machine. That was my life for 43 years, going out to eat with our handicapped daughter, thinking how much it pissed me off when people stared and give us that look. How jaded I had become to what others thought of us. How we were just there to enjoy a meal, not create a circus, not to bother people, but to just act like a normal family, even if only for an hour or two.
When it came time for the bill, I pulled in the gal and told her we would be paying for their meal, do not tell them, but we will cover it. Not bragging, we are not wealthy, but if I can make their life just a little easier, to give them the thought that others are thinking about them, and reliving memories of a life that I had before our daughter passed, then it was worth it a thousand times over.
Last night reminded me the true spirit of the season, its not gifts, its being with friend and family, being together and having memories about past times. Of being that father and mother with their handicapped daughter just trying to have a meal in peace.
May God bless them, and everyone this holiday season.
Last edited:
