05/13/2023
This made me cry! Ed - He is not my dad or grandpa or even uncle. He is my Ed. (Edwin as Sue would call him). I will miss him. I’ve spent this past week thinking about Ed and the cafe and the memories and life lessons you get from a small town cafe. I was going to the cafe I imagine even in my mother’s belly befor I was born. I remember several times over the years when Sue would tell me the story of when the cafe moved to its “new” location and as soon as I came in to the “new” location I had to check out the ladies bathroom wall paint job. I think I was looking for turtles or frogs or some painted thing. I don’t recall what I was looking for but Sue loved to tell me the story. There were always plenty of stories when you visited the cafe. It wasn’t just a place to eat. It was friends and family and neighbors coming together. A meeting place. A place that felt a little like home and little like a restaurant .....to me the cafe was always a lot special. As a young girl I remember going to the Cafe every Saturday afternoon with my grandma and great grandma and mom for coffee after they had their weekly hair appointment. If I was lucky enough to go again on Sunday for breakfast and church it was an extra special week. When I moved away I always made a point to try to visit the cafe when I came back for a visit. Living here and going to the restaurant for Sunday dinner and Thursday family get together lunches, coffee with Stephanie or one of moms friends and mom or just to stop in and grab a donut and head to work. There were many memories, jokes, laughs, and of course delicious food, and if you were really lucky maybe a slice of pie. I wanted to share some of life’s lessons I learned at Ed’s. Grandpa Ralph and Ed taught me about the value of the jelly and to not be wasteful. I know it might sound silly to some but to me it stuck and meant something. Grandpa said Ed had to buy all that jelly and if I opened it I better eat it and I probably only really needed one jelly. Now I myself like more jelly but I respected that even at the age of seven and to this day when I see a jelly packet I always think of Ed and it reminds me not to be wasteful with things other people buy for your use. It cost the business. So maybe it was my first lesson in business. I learned at Ed’s that a little salt in your soda makes it fizz and it taste delicious. I learned not to spin around on the orange stools. I learned how Ed and Sue cared for there customers and took time to not just cook but to be part of the many families that walked through the door. I learned that you show up for work even when you don’t feel like work. I watched Ed faithfully be there all the time. Tending to his business and his customers. I learned if you don’t agree with Ed then don’t bring up that subject. I know where Ed sat to read the paper each day and where my dad liked to sit. I loved the worn spots on the floor in the booth that was favored. I learned patience as well. There were other customers and Ed is cooking food for many people and you will get your food when it’s your turn. Sometimes it’s just hard to wait for deliciousness and your turn. I think Ed was probably the first male non family member Andrea connected with as a child. She loved to color him things and bring them to him at the restaurant. We called Ed her first boyfriend. My kids also grew up with Ed’s till it closed. J.J. quickly learned not to put your mouth on the ketchup bottle. We never did THAT again. Ed had eyes in the back of his head, his forehead, and everywhere, even the pretend video camera had eyes. Ed was always aware of everything going on inside the restaurant or so it always appeared to me. I loved listening to Eds stories about his first job as a bell hop. The stories and jokes and funny holiday decor to jokes and tricks and photos and memories and life. It happened there. I will miss my Ed and it will always bring a smile to my face and probably tears to my eyes for I will always be thankful for the friendship and love and food that was shared and the memories and lessons from my time at the cafe’. Blessed
