This was one of those Christmases that challenge the best of event schedulers. Between the pandemic and necessary quarantines and testing, and the natural rhythms of families connected to yet other families, Christmas celebrations were scattered on various calendar dates like sugar sprinkles on those holiday cookies.
So Nancy and I made the decision that Christmas lunches would be take-out this year, allowing us to better allocate food over the multiple gatherings. The pre-Christmas Day lunch went well. Every person had their choice of good eats. The post-Christmas Day lunch scheduled today should see equal success.
However, the Christmas Day Christmas lunch was a higher degree of difficulty than we had imagined. A local news station compiled a list of the fine establishments that would be open. On Christmas morning, Nancy and I viewed the options and wished that we hadn’t indulged in fried rice and stir fry earlier in the week. Still, there was an untried and, thus, untrusted, local hamburger joint on the list. And we knew that Denny’s and IHOP would be available just in case.
But we had high hopes. So we set out on a reconnaissance mission in the northwest sector of our little town. We drove right by a few places that we thought “just maybe” would be open. Nary a single hope arose. Our resolve weakened about Chinese food and we drove back toward the house to survey the two local Asian cuisine establishments. Both closed. A decision to check on the pizza places. All dark.
It was just as we passed the second pizza place that I saw what appeared to be a line of cars in the drive-through of the nearby Taco Bueno. Bueno! And thus, Nancy and I found ourselves with holiday spirits renewed sitting in that line. Nancy even rifled through her coupon envelope and we scored a very special platter deal for two.
The wait for our food was a little longer than usual at a fast food restaurant. After all, every other person on our side of town who had chosen to trust the holiday winds was in this same line. We listened to the Eagles and the Beach Boys.
Upon arriving home, we laid out our feast, joined hands in prayer, and thanked God for all of our blessings. And especially for the crew of that Taco Bueno who changed their plans for Christmas to accommodate ours.
In this special time of the year, stop a minute to be thankful for those who make room for you. Whether it’s to provide room in the stable of an inn or to open up their drive-through lane, celebrate hospitality!