The Most Amazing Last Lunch

I have eaten in some of the finer restaurants, you know, the ones where you have like ten forks, beautiful white linens on the tables, and even a so called foot stool for your purse. Yes, a foot stool. I was sort of shocked when I saw it as well.

Getting back to the subject, I have experienced fine dining, but nothing as fine as the lunch my students treated me to this past week. No, this lunch was special, not just because of what the chef's cooked up, but because my students thought enough of me to want to do something special.


It all started on thursday morning when Jeff put his head inside my office and said, "don't get your lunch today". He said it with a big smile across his face. About an hour later another of my students came into my office and said, "whatever you do, don't go get your lunch." When I asked what was going on, he just smiled and said just wait.

At about 12:30 I was starting to get a little hungry. I tried to find the students to see what was going on, but they had disappeared. At about 1pm I was more than a little peckish. I was starving, and starting to count out some change for the vending machine. That's when Emily spied me and hollered "don't you dare. Hang on, I will try to find them."

At about 1:15 they walked into the office carrying several bags of food, and told me to sit down at the table. Then, they opened the bags and I felt I had died and gone to heaven. They could have bought me anything for lunch, but no, they knew the exact thing to get me.
They opened up the boxes with huge smiles on their faces and then waited. I took one look, let out a squeal, and felt my mouth start to water. They had driven down to LoLo's and got me chicken and waffles! OK,OK if you have never had it before you might not be able to appreciate the two amazing flavors together, the sweet of the maple syrup and butter, and the saltiness of the hot, crunchy chicken. My mouth is just watering describing it.

They were so proud of themselves. I think I had maybe mentioned chicken and waffles once, and they remembered! We sat for the next hour eating and laughing and talking. It was the most amazing hour, and I wish all of you could have been a part of it.
I know my students are just a week away from graduating, and we will keep in touch through emails and phone calls, but I will truly miss every one of them.

I am so happy I have this memory of our last lunch together, and will treasure it always.

Lolo's is not the only place frying up chicken and waffles. You can find restaurants all across the country specializing in this Haute cuisine. Check out this throwdown between food network and Melba's!


Sue, Tempe

The Life of Riley, or 'My dad called me Tiger'

Riley Kanaka'aukai Abihai Phillips.
He arrived at 2:15 a.m., April 29 in Kahului, Maui.
He is 7 pounds, 11 ounces and already 20 inches tall.

Welcome, baby.

This next picture is his dad, Andrew, holding Riley's big brother 2 1/2 years ago.



And here's Ethan in one of his most Perfect Moments. He wore his Auntie Sara's shoes like a pair of skis.




Riley's arrival got me to thinking about nephews this week.. naturally. Andrew was my first nephew.



Henry was the second. What a cutie. I happened to live nearby during his early years and he was the one who taught me that you FALL IN LOVE with kids. Big, deep, Auntie love.

Henry loves biking and I'm sure that gives him Perfect Moments. I often think about another.

When Henry was about 4, his dad had just come home from work one day and was walking up the wooden steps in their house, loosening his tie and making sure he didn't knock down the kid trailing at his feet.

"I'll change and then meet you downstairs, Tiger," dad said as he headed on upstairs.

Henry stopped in his tracks, looked toward where I was sitting in the TV room and just about swooned, "My dad called me Tiger." His Perfect Moment.




Here's Zev, our little daredevil. He loves skiiing, swimming, playing. His Perfect Moment was...





.. forgetting everything else but playing in the sand at the beach.. that's a Perfect Moment. Well, in retrospect .. and if you weren't his mom trying to get him cleaned off and in the car.

Robin, Tempe