I left yesterday at 6:30am to go show a hotel in Memphis (6 hour drive), did the showing, met with the investors for a while and then drove to Anniston Alabama (4 hours) before ending the day. I was hungry and beat when I got to Anniston at 9 pm. I did not want to go to a restaurant, wait to be seated, get seated, order food, wait for the food, eat the food, wait for the check and then wait to pay the check. I wanted a 12 minute food experience. Pay in advance, straight to the grub and out the door.

When I was pulling off the exit I looked to the right and saw a Golden Corral restaurant and guess where I chose to dine last night. Yep, the buffet was the ticket for the dining festivities last night. Many choices, lots of vegetables, every kind of meat from Spam to steak and it was quick.

As I was eating my third plate about 8 minutes after I entered the door, I got to thinking about what it would be like to eat at a traditional restaurant and trying to order the same meal I was just eating. It would go like this:

The waitress would come over to the table and ask me if I am ready to order. I would look up and say, well, as a matter of fact I am ready to order. As she is holding the pen and ready to take my order I start to tell her what I would like to have for dinner. I say, on the first plate, I would like some seafood salad, some mandarin Chinese chicken, some spicy grilled chicken, some fried Okra, sliced peaches, cottage cheese and a piece of fried fish. On the second plate, I would like some collard greens, sautéed carrots, black eyed peas, green beans, corn, cabbage and a piece of fried chicken. Then I would say,,,,,, on the third plate, I would like a little more of the sweet mandarin Chinese chicken, some more corn, another big scoop of fried okra and another piece of fried chicken. And for desert, you get the picture. Ha

Can you see the look on the waitress’s face while you are trying to order a Golden Corral dinner at any other restaurant?

Well, it was 12 minutes of any food I wanted, no waiting, no fuss, and no delay. It was the perfect 12 minute dinner. Now I know why Jeff Foxworthy likes it so much. KT

Last night I was upstairs in our home looking for something and when I opened the closet door in one of our granddaughter’s rooms, I was taken back. Hanging in the closet were dresses and onesies and outfits (that’s what girls them) that belong to our granddaughters. I looked around the bedroom and there were toys, coloring books, dolls and games and the rooms even smelled like my babies.

I paused and realized how very precious this time period in my life is. This period will speed past just like it did when these same rooms were my daughter’s room’s years ago. I was struck by the awareness of how fast time passes and how quickly children grow up, graduate, leave home and get married.

My personal advice is to take in the moments and recognize how precious they really are. Lock in those memories to keep for another day because there will be a day when they will outgrow the dresses, the room, the home and will go find their place in the world. As a parent you have only a few years to teach them and impress on them what is important in life.

As I walked back downstairs I prayed a silent pray that we taught them the real things that matter in life. KT

John Mayer wrote a song entitled “Say.” The theme of the song is to say what you need to say. Some of the lyrics of the song are, you may feel like a one man army, have no fear and it’s better to say too much than never to say what you need to say.

This is not a Christian based song but it could very well be a good stand in.

There is a big difference between saying whatever comes to your mind without any filter and saying what you know in your heart you need to say. I am not talking about a loud mouth who just says whatever rolls into his thought process. I am talking about knowing in your heart you need to say something, but because of intimidation or fear, you don’t say to the other person what you know you should.

Maybe 2016 is your year of walking without fear and without intimidation and being bold enough to speak up. Ronald Reagan said “It is better to be respected than liked.”

Sometimes you just need to say it. Get it out in the open so you can get beyond its grip and start the process of settling the matter. KT