George of George’s Greek Cafe
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Last Tuesday I flew to Long Beach to conduct a workshop at the National Foster and Adoptive Care Conference. This Tuesday, my mind is finally free of jet lag mush and able to come up with these ten reflections.
10. Skinny pants still don’t look good on anyone…with the possible exception of the ultra-marathon-runner-in-training who zipped past as I walked down Ocean Boulevard.
9. To the young teens who sat in the row ahead of me during the flight from LAX to Denver: your excitement about flying for the first time, especially when the plane broke through the cloud barrier, made everyone around you smile. Thanks so much for the reminder of the joy of simple things.
8. In DC, most taxis are sedate, black sedans. In LA, they’re two-tone neon green and yellow subcompacts. Enough said.
7. What is proper etiquette for fastening you Super Shuttle seat belt when certain portions of your large seatmate’s torso are obscuring the clasp mechanism?
6. Running through an airport to make a connection isn’t nearly as glamorous in person as it appears to be in the movies.
5. At the Denver airport, one of the cart drivers has a unique way of making his presence known. Instead of honking a horn or yelling, he whistles like a bird. Every chirp brought the outdoors inside and made people smile.
4. Kinko’s self-serve copy machines are really easy to run. I didn’t have to ask for help. Not even once.
3. To everyone who didn’t raise their hand when the presenter asked if anyone could help him with a computer glitch: the technological future of our country is at risk when I’m the most “MAC savvy” person in the room.
2. If you like Greek food, I recommend Georges Greek Cafe in Long Beach and several other locations. Not only is the food reasonably priced and delicious (the gyro is to die for), but also you may be personally greeted and hugged by the owner, George. It’s a truly California moment.
1. Kuddos and blessings to the foster and adoptive parents who I met at the conference. You are doing amazing work, caring for disenfranchised children whose lives depend on your compassion and kindness. I was honored to meet you and hear your stories!
