You want me to drive where, and go to dinner where?
My answer is, “No.”
“No?” you question me.
“No. No way.” I am adamant.
My sister thinks I want to drive to the next county down to have dinner beside the river. Why would any sane person want to spend a couple of hours on the road to go and have dinner? Why would I want deer jumping in front of my vehichle as I traveled to and fro?
It’s basically a burger type of place. Heck! I can find a good burger in town, or even in my kitchen. It’s not that the particular restaurant she wants to dine in is all that special despite her claiming, “But it’s really good.” No, it’s not. It’s average … and quite a drive. I'm tired after I eat.
I won’t be sitting beside the river there. We have restaurants in this town beside the river. Besides, if I want to sit by the river and dine on a patio outdoors, as well as drink wine, I can go the opposite direction to a winery and restaurant in a different county.
“Let’s all go to a certain Amish restaurant in Amish country.”
“No.” Do I have “stupid” stamped on my head? It’s a long drive, to and fro. If I’m already there, I will stop, but I am not driving there just to eat. I can find plenty of equally good, if not better, food, right here in town.
What? It’s Mrs. Miller’s Kitchen? I don’t care.
“But the buffet is really good.”
What’s on the buffet that makes it so special? Chicken? Beef? “No.” I can find chicken and beef right here in town at a good restaurant.
Is going to a restaurant in another town or county a status symbol of some sort? “No, I don’t need to go so I can tell everyone, “Oh, hey. I went to Smith’s Restaurant in Timbucktoo with friends.” I don’t need to try and make others feel I’m special and I can only eat at out-of-town “special” restaurants. Heck! Who am I kidding? I love simple, peanut butter sandwiches. Besides, I’m already special enough.
Does this out-of-town place have something unique about it that I can’t find the same right here? If so, what’s so special about your special place? Ah, there isn’t anything. Exactly.
Yes, I do like trying new things, and yes, I like being with friends and family, but my answer is still, “No.” This small town offers steak, seafood, Italian, Chinese, upscale, and down-home cooking. Do I need anything else? “No.”
I don’t have to constantly being searching for happiness. I don’t need to drive miles and miles to find somewhere good to eat, or to find happiness. (I can actually invite my son and daughter-in-law to cook special meals for me occasionally here at my own house, or drive to theirs. They are awesome chefs.) I’m an already happy person. Why would I want to drive to some out-of-the-way restaurant? I don’t need to get out of town. I ‘m not on the run. Do I have the time for special trips to drive and eat? No, not really. :)
