Blue Ridge Country - March/April 2018 - 10

MILL CREEK STORIES

Love and Pancakes
There's magic and romance within the siren call of "Breakfast All Day!"
by Molly Dugger Brennan

I am what is commonly referred to as a cheap
date. No fancy-shmancy dinners for me,
no sir. I am not interested in any place
that serves up snooty pretension as a
condiment to the meal. I've done that
and it was fine, but it wasn't very nourishing. Not for the tummy and certainly
not for the soul. But oh, if you take me to a
good, old-fashioned, family-run diner that has breakfast
any time, I am over the moon.
Seeing a sign that says, "breakfast served all day" is as
compelling to me as a sign that says, "free diamonds." I
will always stomp on the brakes and turn in. I have got
to see what they're offering and what the house specialties are. There's always something special, you can
count on that.
Here's another tidbit about me. I have a soft spot for

Getting up super early, trekking out in the woods as
quiet as a Ninja, sitting on a deer stand not moving until you were so frozen you almost couldn't move, and
maybe bagging a deer. If you went through all that and
didn't even see a deer, you got the hunter's consolation
prize. We went to the truck stop and got a short stack of
pancakes with a side of extra-crispy bacon.
I have to admit, some frigid mornings when my fingers and toes were numb, the thought of hot pancakes
and bacon sounded a whole lot nicer than field-dressing
and dragging a deer out of the woods. I confess I may
have looked the other way a time or two when a deer
wandered nearby. I know you hardcore hunters are mortified that I might've let a deer go. Hey, at least I never
shouted, "Shoo!"
A couple of summers ago I found myself on a road
trip, exploring and eating my way through Virginia.
There it was, in neon no less, a sign
proclaiming, "Breakfast All Day." Flashing red. What could I do but answer
the call? The place was hopping, but
I got seated in a booth fairly quickly
and discovered an all-time new favorite food, sweet potato pancakes. Wow.
I didn't think pancakes could get any
better and then sweet potato pancakes
took it to a whole new level. They were
awesome.
I was thoroughly enjoying my new addiction, when
I noticed an elderly couple cautiously navigating their
way to the empty booth behind mine. They were adorable, hair pure white, skin flushed pink from the exertion of making their way through the crowd, chattering
to each other the whole time.
"You order whatever you'd like, Kitten. It's a very special day."
"Oh Edgar, you spoil me so."

Pancakes are a happy food. I do not think
it's possible to hold an argument over a
platter of pancakes. They ooze kindness.
They make people smile.
pancakes. Pancakes are a happy food. I do not think it's
possible to hold an argument over a platter of pancakes.
They ooze kindness. They make people smile. You simply
can't be angry while diving into a stack of warm pancakes. Maybe you can start off a little grumpy, but once
you're pouring syrup and watching butter melt, your
mood lifts. I believe that everyone should eat pancakes
at least once a week, to keep a sunny perspective on life.
Pancakes also remind me of hunting with my dad.
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