QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Re-Opened Doors by Garrett Larson

Have you ever had a favorite restaurant or store that closed? When I was a kid, we went to an Italian fast-food restaurant called Fazoli’s. My family went to there almost every Sunday for lunch after church. A couple of years later, all the Fazoli’s in Jacksonville closed, probably because they did not have enough business, which was devastating to me. If I had known they were going to close, I would have given them more business and told more people about it.

My favorite item on the menu was the Italian Sampler, which included Spaghetti, Lasagna, and Stuffed Shells, along with all-you-can-eat, steaming hot, garlic bread sticks. To complete my meal, I had a refreshing ice cold Coca-Cola. Since they closed their doors, I have not found a replacement. Keep in mind, I come from an Italian family and can eat the best Italian food anytime. But Fazoli’s was fast, fresh Italian for on the go.

One weekend, I traveled to Tifton to spend time learning about Biology from my brother’s Father-in-law. On the way there, we drove past a Fazoli’s sign and my heart skipped a beat. My mom promised to take me there on the way home. During the entire time I was in Tifton, the restaurant was in the back of my mind. All I could think of was the Italian Sampler and the never-ending breadsticks.

It took and hour to get from Tifton to Valdosta, which seemed like forever. The Sampler was exactly the way I remembered it… hot, saucy, and delicious. I ate every bite! Even though there isn’t a Fazoli’s in Jacksonville and I’m still craving their food, all I have to do is drive to Valdosta to eat at a Fazoli’s.

If you could re-open a place that has closed, what would it be and why?

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is the one item (besides your Bible) you would most want to have with you? Explain your answer.

OK, I know what some of you are thinking... there is no right or wrong answer and really, anything goes on this one. This might sound bizarre but I would want my pillow.

I have a great pillow right now and I would certainly want this particular one with me on my island, but any pillow would do, under those circumstances.

When I was a very young girl, I had a latex foam pillow that I really loved. I loved it so much, I carried it into my marriage with me 30 years ago. I used it for a good while, even though it did not match my husbands pillow on the other side of the bed. That would bother anal retentives, but it never bothered me.

One evening, I knew it would be my last night sleeping with it. I unzipped the protective cotton cover and saw that the majority of the contents had turned into a pile of yellow crumbs which resembled crushed Captain Crunch cereal near the bottom.

The next day, my search began for the perfect replacement. After years of trying, I had finally found one that felt right. It's one of those memory foam pillows that is contoured for your head. It will never be the same as my old pillow, but I have had many a good nights rest with it.

That is why I chose my pillow. I figured a good nights rest would be pretty high on the priority list while stranded. With all those strange sounds in the night, my pillow would be a comfort - something I could hug if I was scared.

I could even draw a face on it and talk to it when I got lonely.

Not to mention, much softer that a rock to sit on.

As I pondered further, I thought of a dozen other things I could use my pillow for.

That's my choice for now. Who knows, it might change after this gets posted. I might want my iPad instead.

Cyberpsalmist