Friday, October 5, 2007

The Gathering Place

These days I'm devoid of a working camera. Oh, I do have a new digital camera that has me totally frustrated. First, it refused to upload my pictures to my PC. Then, recently it refuses to turn on altogether. I have charged the batteries, but its still not working when I turn it on. I'm hoping the problem will be solved soon, meanwhile I've decided to write about, The Gathering Place. Just words, with no pictures. But if you use your imagination, you'll have a nice picture of, The Gathering Place.

Most people that frequent The Gathering Place, are referred to as "the oldies," or "the senior citizens," or even "the elderly." They call themselves "the young at heart." .

I live about ten miles out of a little town of just under 2,000 residents. There are only a couple of restaurants here, a couple of fast food places, and a sandwich place.

Usually, McDonald's is a gathering place for younger people. Families with kids who come for the Happy Meals. Teenagers as well, but they are more likely to order at the drive up window from their cars, and drive off with their burgers and shakes, with loud music blasting from their cars or pickup trucks, enjoying their kind of fun.

But the "young at heart" of this area frequent our local McDonald's regularly. Some are there every day. Well, except Sundays. That is the day for going to church, and for family dinners, or nice restaurants with big buffet's 40 miles away in a big city of 15,000!

So on any given weekday, The Gathering Place is filled to capacity, and laughter and talk of the "good old days," and discussions of the dry weather, and turnip crops that may yield a poor harvest, just as the summer crops had, abound. Or even discussions of who should or should not be our next president in 2008!. And I must not leave out the grandchildren! Everyone has a picture or two to show, and a sweet story to tell about them.

The Gathering Place is not a quiet place. It's filled with happy noises coming from happy people, who enjoy companionship, coupled with pancakes and coffee, while the young people who work there smile at them, and go around and ask if anyone would like another cup of coffee. Seniors rate high at The Gathering Place, and they in turn seem to agree that it's the place with the best coffee in town.

22 comments:

Susie said...

McDonalds must welcome their loyalty.
Their coffee is really pretty good!
:)

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Susie,

I think they do welcome their loyalty. And I believe only senior's get to have a second cup of coffee. And yes, their coffee is pretty good. Of course, it's a small town, so no fancy coffee shops available around here. Thank you for commenting. I like your new picture!

Renie

Hootin Anni said...

Hi Renie!!! Nice to meet you---I'm really glad you dropped by, and hope to see you often.

I love the "Gathering Place" entry!! Heck, you don't NEED photographs with it...you've given us a picture as vivid as the best of camera with only your words!!!

[I remember our parents daily...going to Dunkin' Donuts with all the other cronies. Now, I'M the senior citizen and my parents are long gone from the physical world...how times change, but really how times stay the same!!]

Beautiful post.
I'm gonna add you to my sidebar when I click the "publish comment" here.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Anni!

I'm so pleased that you came by this morning. Thanks for the lovely comment. Your blog is just the most fun blog! Thank you so much for visiting. I will add hootin'anni to my blog roll as well. Have a wonderful weekend.

Renie

Michele said...

Hi Renie,

I agree with "Hootin'anni", you've painted such vivid pictures with your words no photos are needed!

As always, you've written another warm and wonderful entry ;-)

I'm not much of one for fast food, but this entry would make anyone want to take a trip to "The Gathering Place!"

Thanks so much for sharing!

Smiles,
Michele

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Michele,

We don't go to The Gathering Place so much for the food either, but for the fun company. And the coffee is pretty good.

Thank you for your always nice comment. Have a wonderful weekend.

Renie

Mary said...

Renie,

You always could paint a picture with words and this is no exception. I can see "The Gathering Place" as surely as if I was there. Possibly one day I will come to your state and meet you at "The Gathering Place." Wouldn't that be fun?

Enjoyed my visit, as always.

Hugs,
Mary

Renie Burghardt said...

Mary,

Thank you! And it would be fun to have you join us at The Gathering Place. Not that you're old enough to be considered a senior. :-)

Have a great weekend!

Renie

Mary said...

Renie,

Here, I am considered a senior at some venues, as they give a senior's discount to those over 50. However, I'm not officially a senior yet. I do have Senior Moments and my legs make me feel like a senior on some days. So I'm making my way to the golden years. At times I just wish they were a little more golden. LOL

This weekend is Canadian Thanksgiving, so I will have something else to post about. I have some great recipes that I will leave there for others to enjoy.

Have a great weekend.

Hugs,
Mary

Renie Burghardt said...

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, Mary! Looking forward to your post about it.

Hugs,

Renie

Merle said...

Hi Renie ~~ Nice post about The Gathering Place. Great to have somewhere to gather !!
Thanks for your kind words;
glad you enjoyed The Ticket
and the jokes. Nice to know you enjoy your visits to my blog. Take care, ove, Merle.

Renie Burghardt said...

Dear Merle,

What a lovely surprise to find you here, upon getting home on a lovely Sunday afternoon. Thank you for visiting and commenting, dear Merle.

Warm regards,

Renie

audrey` said...

Hi Renie

Thank you so much for the link to my blog =)
You make my day!
HaHa!

Renie Burghardt said...

Hi Audrey,

My pleasure! Thank you for visiting.

Blessings,

Renie

Tossing Pebbles in the Stream said...

Our town and the one 10 miles away are so small the coffee bar is a corner set aside with a table and chairs by the coffee pot. There regular old timers sit and pass part of the day away. I wonder when I will feel old enought to join them.

Renie Burghardt said...

As long as you are kept busy with all the animals, you won't be ready to join them. :=)

Thank you for visiting!

Renie

2 LMZ FARMS said...

My aunt use to own a resturant and every morning the round table would be filled with the elderly men and women. I use to love just sitting and listening to their talks. I guess you could say I was eavesdropping but just listening to their stories were something. Hope you and yours have a blessed evening.
Laura

Renie Burghardt said...

Laura,

So nice to hear from you. Yes, the older generation can tell some great stories of the good old days, can't they? Thank you for commenting.

Renie

Merle said...

Hi again Renie ~~ Thank you so much for your comments. Glad you liked the Marbles story and the joke about the American & Australian - they were both giving it to each other, so I didn't think it would offend. No, we don't celebrate Halloween in Australia or even Thanksgiving. For myself, I feel very thankful every day!! So we have much less decorating than you girls. Maybe we are lazy. Take care, Renie, Love, Merle.

Renie Burghardt said...

Hello, dear Merle,

I'm with you. I'm thankful for each and every day, and what it brings. Interesting about Australia not celebrating Halloween. We didn't in Hungary either, when I was a kid. But if we didn't have it here, in the US, my grandchildren would sure miss the fun of it.

Always a pleasure to see your smiling face here. Have a nice Wednesday.

Warm regards,

Renie

Tina Coruth said...

Renie,

You don't need photos! I would love to stop by the "Gathering Place". I can smell the coffee and feel the warmth of this wonderful place by reading what you wrote. Sounds perfect!

Hugs,
Tina

Renie Burghardt said...

Oh, thank you, Tina. But I can't wait until I an use my camera again! But so sweet of you to say that.

Hugs,

Renie