Why be O.K. when you could be good? Why be good when you could be great?


My friend from Church Rick P and I went out for breakfast this morning.

 We were at a chain joint which sadly claims to be a Diner.

 No names, no pack drill, but there are two Sarasota branches of the chain, which originated in Jacksonville FL.  

 It bears no resemblance to an authentic Diner, it's no more than a run of the mill Cafe, with indifferent food.

 Rick and I chose the same breakfast.  (The pics below are stock photo's, not the meals we ate this morning).


Croissant with bacon, egg and cheese

with
Hash browns


Our food this morning didn't even look as good as the same items in these stock photo's.

 And it was not good.  I would describe it as indifferent, or merely O.K.

 (To be fair it is a crime against France to serve Croissants with a bacon, egg and cheese filling.  Croissants  should be freshly baked, fresh from the oven and still warm, and smothered in top grade butter, or home made Black-currant, Raspberry or Strawberry preserves. Vive la France.)

 In the event Rick and I chose not to be bothered.  We were there to enjoy our friendship which we did, even though the food was mediocre and no more than O.K.

 But I have been asking "why be O.K. when you could be good?", or "why be good when you could be great?"  It's a question for family life, for Churches, for local Governments, and for dining establishments.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------

 I once knew a Diner which was great in two ways.  It was the Miss Adams Diner in Adams, MA.


The Miss Adams Diner, Worcester Lunch Car number 821, was delivered to Adams in 1949, replacing an older diner (still in use as Claudette’s 1921 Diner in Boylston, MA.) The diner received much favorable attention in the 1990s under the ownership of Barry and Nancy Garton.

 N.B.  I officiated at Barry and Nancy's wedding.  Nancy's mother the Revd. Gwen W. Sears is a dear friend -  we chatted on the 'phone for an hour this afternoon.

 With that disclosure in mind I am free to assert again that the Miss Adams Diner was GREAT - in two ways.

 One, because Barry (the Chef) was a perfectionist and all the foods he cooked from scratch were better than good - they were excellent. It can be done.

 Two, because Nancy (the up-front welcomer and hostess) had (and has) a wonderful gift of hospitality.   The welcome she gave to customers old and new was deeper and more sincere than the "professional" welcome given to many a newcomer at many a Church. 

I close with a tender Miss Adams Diner story.  One day I took a wonderful and venerable octogenarian  St. Stephen's Pittsfield Parishioner  (with the unforgettable name of Ethelynd Hapgood) to the Diner for lunch.  Her eyes lit up when she saw a simple item on the menu -  it was a tomato sandwich - with good bread and sweet and juicy tomato. Ethelynd enjoyed every mouthful.

 A tomato sandwich on the menu.  That's what makes a diner GREAT!  No such luck in a "chain diner".  BAH!




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