Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Lunch with a Rich Relative

by Pa Rock
Gadfly

Boone and I drove into West Plains today for a late breakfast at Brenda's Cafe - the same small diner where we had a wonderful breakfast yesterday.  Today we got there a little too late for breakfast and had to settle for an early lunch.  Brenda's is actually a great place to eat with a small staff of cheerful waitresses who could sweet talk a tip out of Scrooge McDuck.  The food there is so good, in fact, that we encountered two carloads of state highway patrolmen who were lingering over their meals.

As we reluctantly got up to leave after finishing off our sandwiches (I had a Reuben and Boone enjoyed a Philly Cheese Steak), I suddenly realized that I had left my wallet at home - six miles away.  As I mentally prepared to wash dishes, my rich grandson pulled a wad of money out of his pocket which was sufficient to pay the bill and leave a respectable tip.  It's awesome to have relatives with money!

The West Plains campus of Missouri State University (formerly Southwest Missouri State) is celebrating it's 50th anniversary this year.  What began as a very small campus when one grand old home was donated to SMS for the purpose of establishing a West Plains campus, has now blossomed into several buildings and enough classes that locals can get a four-year degree without ever going to the Springfield campus.   The community is justifiably proud and has banners on the light poles downtown in observation of the anniversary.

I took several classes at SMSU West Plains back in the late seventies and early eighties.  All were enjoyable experiences with really great instructors.

The weather remains as delightful as the waitresses at Brenda's.

1 comment:

Xobekim said...

Boone is so cool. What has he written lately?

I did a little drug case down there. Before the official proceedings the prosecutor, the judge & I got together to hammer out a plea. Enter 2 of the largest men I ever met. They were the State Troopers who responded to the drug manufacturing call from the electric meter reader. Those guys could have played in the NFL.

After the deal was done I asked about the mushrooms. With several hundred marijuana plants at the place law enforcement forgot about the shrooms. The prosecutor. Took the jar from my hands and said. "I need to test these!"

I looked at those troopers, my deal sealed, and told them to keep a close on the prosecutor. "If he shows up in court glassy eyed, smiling, & drinking tea," I said, "arrest him."

The troopers, the judge, the prosecutor, & yours truly broke out in laughter.