Amy M. Schaefer
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery

From the Front Porch

I am an "accidental blogger". When I launched my writing career in March of 2014, one of the things that I decided to include was my journaling, which I have always found to be a comforting and therapeutic endeavor.  It was a big risk to open myself up in such a public forum, but it has taught me that, for the most part, we share far more experiences than we think. It's comforting to know I'm not alone!  (*the "Button Text" is the link to my first novel)
Button Text

Vacation Chronicles: Order Up

7/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
"People are very open-minded about new things--as long as they're exactly like the old ones." --Charles Kettering

I sat with my feet up in the wooden booth, studying the lunch items on the menu, while the noises of the crowd droned on around me. "I'm going to do it today," I vowed! "I'm going to pick something totally new for lunch!" My husband looked skeptically at me over his menu, but nonchalantly said, "Okay, babe. Have whatever you want." The waitress showed up, "Do you need another minute, or are you ready to order?" "You go first," I told my husband, as I considered all of the options one last time. Fresh Tuna sandwich--sounds great! Soup of the day, North Carolina Clam Chowder--yummy! But he was done and she was waiting for me. I panicked! "I'll have the Fish and Chips, please," I blurted out. "Great choice," the waitress assured me, smiling. "I'll be back with these orders shortly," she said and bustled back to the kitchen to put them in.

My husband was laughing. "Shut up," I said with a smirk. "Did I say a word?" he asks, still chuckling. "What if I don't like something new? What if I get it and it's good, but I really had a taste for the fish? I know I love THAT." He stops me from going on and on, "You should get exactly what you want, babe." But that's just it! I know this restaurant well, it's my favorite one to go to at the beach and it also happens to be owned by my Uncle. I'm only at the beach maybe once a year, so my opportunities to try "everything" are limited when I'm there. I like the familiar. It's comforting, especially when it comes to food (ergo the term "comfort foods"), but really it's applicable to any number of things. And isn't life JUST like that? New things make us anxious. What if we don't like them? What if they don't work out? Of course, if we never try them, we'll never know, never find "new things" that we fall in love with and add to our "comfort" category. Okay, so almost every time I go to The Red Drum Grille & Taphouse in Nags Head, NC, I have a list of menu favorites I always order from. Someday, really, I'm going to just throw caution to the wind, pick something completely random from the menu, and dig in! And then I'll...run for Governor--or something!

Picture
2412 South Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, NC 27959
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About The Author

    I grew up in rural North Carolina. When I was only nineteen, I moved away and became a military wife. My only aspiration at that tender time in my life was to create an adult life that "fixed" all of the "injustices" of my childhood. Secretly, however, I wanted to reach for the sky! I wanted to be a writer and find ways to "save the world" (my mother used to say, "You have Save the World Syndrome".). Mostly, I wanted to matter.

    Since then, I have learned to reach well beyond what I ever dared to think was possible. I've learned not to allow fear to stop me from whatever future I want to create!

    What keeps me grounded? My Tribe! What provides the wind beneath my wings? A well of reserves filled with unstoppable passion!

    Archives

    August 2021
    March 2020
    August 2019
    June 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories
    A View From the Hill: Short Stories by Mattie Hill Shields

    All

    Button Text

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Amy M. Schaefer, Writer
  • Blog: From the Front Porch
  • Novels
  • Short Stories
    • Children's Books
  • About the Author
  • Contact
  • Photo & Art Gallery