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1979

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oon as I dropped my granddaughter at work and was headed over to one of my favorite breakfast cafes.</p><p id="15dd">I got on the highway and within minutes traffic came to a halt. A rare occurrence on this highway. Nothing was moving and I had no idea why.</p><p id="3cf7">I could see the sign for the cafe, but there were no side roads or alternatives to get there. I found a way to make a U-turn and head back to where I came from, this time taking another road, which pointed me to the area of my second breakfast choice.</p><p id="0ae6">I got there in no time. It’s a quaint little breakfast and lunch joint, that is family run. I’ve been going there occasionally for many years. It was my second choice that morning because it’s a little pricier than the first and a little further drive.</p><p id="96ed">One of the things I enjoy is they have Smucker's Orange Marmalade packets on the table as part of their breakfast service. Most other places only have strawberry or grape. Orange marmalade is one of my favorite jams.</p><p id="489f">I ordered my usual breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. Within minutes they brought out my food, but it was on a square plate.</p><p id="d73c">I stared at my plate, and I was aghast. Breakfast on a square plate is something I’m not accustomed to.</p><p id="a3c2">For years, they’ve served my breakfast on a 10-inch round plate. Everything was arranged perfectly, with the eggs nicely placed next to the hash browns and the bacon artistically located. Everything worked perfectly on a round plate, not a square one.</p><p id="8120">I sat for a minute while my brain processed the change.</p><p id="6cdb">Square plates are great for small bites at Happy Hour, or a shareable plate of food. The few times I order sushi, I expect a small rectangular plate. But breakfast deserves a round plate.</p><p id="fabd">For a few fleeting moments my mind was awash with inner talk that helped me stay calm, making sure I didn’t say anything insultin

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g or make a scene at the cafe.</p><p id="d03c">And then my inner voice, proclaimed “it’s a fucking plate, just eat, enjoy and move on.” Afterall, at home, I usually eat on a paper towel, a small bowl, or I stuff everything I want onto a flour tortilla and eat burrito style.</p><p id="9a21">The restaurant did have Orange Marmalade and their coffee is exceptionally good. Once I started eating, I was ok, and my breakfast was great.</p><p id="2370">I know round vs. square plates is a minor issue, but my mind expected one thing and I got something else. It’s like going to the grocery store and finding they’ve rearranged the shelves. Nothing is where it has been for the last ten years. A frustrating experience, but one that is manageable after a few minutes.</p><p id="4ed6">After dealing with unexpected traffic and the plate change, I decided I needed to spend the day at home. I made a cup of coffee, read a few chapters, wrote some, ate a salami sandwich for lunch and then settled in on a movie.</p><p id="e2c8">The day turned out to be okay after a chaotic start.</p><p id="c0fd">© All rights reserved, December 2023 — LJ Bentch</p><p id="44be">If you enjoyed my story about my obsession with breakfast, here is another you might find fun:</p><div id="6aeb" class="link-block"> <a href="https://ljbent.medium.com/my-secret-food-habit-that-im-going-to-share-it-s-been-with-me-for-over-fifty-years-a2e2d98ef6f0"> <div> <div> <h2>My Secret Food Habit That I’m Going to Share, It’s Been with Me for Over Fifty Years</h2> <div><h3>And it is no secret, just a comforting indulgence</h3></div> <div><p>ljbent.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*Pn68Zlf_IdBzRk0xmJn4qw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Little Things in Life Are Starting to Get the Best of Me; Is That a Sign of Aging?

Or have I lost my ability to be compromising and understanding

Canva Image Created by Author — LJ Bentch

I deserved it. I had a bizarre week, so I took myself out to breakfast on Friday morning.

I also planned to take myself out for lunch, hit a Happy Hour at my favorite bar, and maybe do dinner out.

I made it as far as breakfast and the experience threw me for a loop.

My day of planned activities ended at home, relaxing with a hot cup of coffee and an early Netflix movie. It’s good to be king somedays, and just lounge around.

I had decided it was best not to interact with too many people and run the risk of getting agitated more than I was.

I took the day off to start burning up year-end vacation time from the office. I call these ‘DSFL’ days. That stands for Do Something for Lee Day.

I get so caught up with work, family, and helping others that I sometimes forget about me. But today, was different. No work, kids to help or obligations other than to do what I want.

In the good old days, I used to take days and go play golf, maybe go fishing or drive to the east Texas forests and hike my favorite trails. If the weather was bad, there was always a movie I wanted to see, or a new restaurant in town. Sometimes I’d spend the day at the Museum of Fine Arts.

Nowadays, I typically spend my personal days enjoying a few meals out while meeting a few friends for Happy Hour drinks and having a nice steak dinner.

And that’s what I envisioned my Friday to be, that is until I had breakfast.

My day turned wonky as soon as I dropped my granddaughter at work and was headed over to one of my favorite breakfast cafes.

I got on the highway and within minutes traffic came to a halt. A rare occurrence on this highway. Nothing was moving and I had no idea why.

I could see the sign for the cafe, but there were no side roads or alternatives to get there. I found a way to make a U-turn and head back to where I came from, this time taking another road, which pointed me to the area of my second breakfast choice.

I got there in no time. It’s a quaint little breakfast and lunch joint, that is family run. I’ve been going there occasionally for many years. It was my second choice that morning because it’s a little pricier than the first and a little further drive.

One of the things I enjoy is they have Smucker's Orange Marmalade packets on the table as part of their breakfast service. Most other places only have strawberry or grape. Orange marmalade is one of my favorite jams.

I ordered my usual breakfast with a hot cup of coffee. Within minutes they brought out my food, but it was on a square plate.

I stared at my plate, and I was aghast. Breakfast on a square plate is something I’m not accustomed to.

For years, they’ve served my breakfast on a 10-inch round plate. Everything was arranged perfectly, with the eggs nicely placed next to the hash browns and the bacon artistically located. Everything worked perfectly on a round plate, not a square one.

I sat for a minute while my brain processed the change.

Square plates are great for small bites at Happy Hour, or a shareable plate of food. The few times I order sushi, I expect a small rectangular plate. But breakfast deserves a round plate.

For a few fleeting moments my mind was awash with inner talk that helped me stay calm, making sure I didn’t say anything insulting or make a scene at the cafe.

And then my inner voice, proclaimed “it’s a fucking plate, just eat, enjoy and move on.” Afterall, at home, I usually eat on a paper towel, a small bowl, or I stuff everything I want onto a flour tortilla and eat burrito style.

The restaurant did have Orange Marmalade and their coffee is exceptionally good. Once I started eating, I was ok, and my breakfast was great.

I know round vs. square plates is a minor issue, but my mind expected one thing and I got something else. It’s like going to the grocery store and finding they’ve rearranged the shelves. Nothing is where it has been for the last ten years. A frustrating experience, but one that is manageable after a few minutes.

After dealing with unexpected traffic and the plate change, I decided I needed to spend the day at home. I made a cup of coffee, read a few chapters, wrote some, ate a salami sandwich for lunch and then settled in on a movie.

The day turned out to be okay after a chaotic start.

If you enjoyed my story about my obsession with breakfast, here is another you might find fun:

My Secret Food Habit That I’m Going to Share, It’s Been with Me for Over Fifty Years

And it is no secret, just a comforting indulgence

ljbent.medium.com