I fight and argue for the people who need a comeback. In this day and age, people are struggling. And to be honest, it's going to take more than politics to get us of of the mess we are in. It's going to take us. Whatever our talents are, we should use them to help others in need in this moment of uncertainty.
I will do that with this column.
For months, I have been visiting The Maryville Diner. Located on 1730 South Fraser Street, it's not far from where I live. My family and I routinely eat there because the food is just spectacular. Owner Suzann Jordan is a mother, a wife and a caregiver. You can feel the warmth as soon as you walk inside. They love children and take their time with all that walk through the door.
The staff is kind and courteous. Hardly do I ever go without a filled cup of drink - a pet peeve of mine. The food fills the plate, no matter what you order. It's good ol' home cooking at its best. And... They serve breakfast all day. So, for those still wanting eggs and grits at 5:00 p.m., ask for it.
She has a son named Marcus Jordan. A fellow steelworker trying to make ends meet by helping his mom keep a good small business alive. Mark is a good friend of mine. As with me, I see the pain in his eyes in dealing with what we are going through. No need to expand on it. These are the people we as a community need to help. It's up to us to do the hard work.
The Democratic members in the Senate passed a jobs bill recently, with five Republicans supporting the bill - largely focused on small business. While it's a step in the right direction, the people who feel the Democrats are not doing a thing to help business need to reevaluate their argument.
Locally, we can put politics aside and spend our money within our city, our county and our state. Keeping small businesses afloat takes us - the locals - doing our part in buying from them. We need to take ownership our community and help those who fall on bad times - no matter what they believe or who they vote for.
Mrs. Jordan can be seen walking up and down the diner floor, checking on patrons as they eat. And sometimes, she is known for surprising you with a dessert during your meal. My favorite? The banana pudding. Out of this world. The old "Huddle House" hasn't seen good times like this in a while.
Specialty nights range from baby back ribs and steak to seafood platters. Every night is different, however, the food does not disappoint. The regular menu is to die for. The gravy on turkey and Texas toast with fries is just breathtaking. I could eat that three times in one sitting - it's that good.
I do my best trying to help others locally. It started back last year when I frequented The Humble Crumb. I wrote a blog post on it and spread it wildfire on the Web. I have done the same for Mrs. Jordan and her business. If you visit my blog, you can search Maryville Diner and find the story.
What The Jordans do not know is that I have e-mailed Guy Fieri of Diners, Drive-ins and Dives (shown on the Food Network) this story, along with a plea to come to the diner. I ask that you readers out there do the same. Maybe it'll work. I am willing to try. The e-mail address is DDDinfo@mac.com.
Let's fight for the people who need a comeback. And Mrs. Jordan, I hope for the best, and yes, "everyone loves a diner girl".
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