Coming Full Circle

Spending Christmas break back in Greensboro has me feeling more than a bit nostalgic, feelings which are undoubtedly heightened by the almost 12 pounds of cuteness who entered our life 29 days ago.   My entire childhood was spent in this city, and thus there are a deluge of memories from days long past every time we’re back.

One familiar setting from my childhood is a friendly breakfast/lunch spot known simply as “Danny’s”.  From the time I was about Miller’s size, my parents were regular Saturday attenders at Danny’s, and we developed a relationship with the man for whom the restaurant is named.  The famous Danny is a Greek-American, somewhat small in stature but with a heart of gold.  Danny loved to talk to us everytime we came in (though admittedly there were times when I only understood about half of what he was saying, as his Greek accent is still strong as ever).

With Danny, words were always secondary anyway - his actions were the symbols that screamed loudly to one and all of how much he cared.  There were the times when Danny would sneak me a Snickers bar as Dad paid at the counter.  Or the Christmas card he and his wife would send to the house with two $5 bills in tow for Kelly and me.

But perhaps Danny’s most memorable gift was an unexpected one.  On a Saturday in late November, our family found ourselves at a familiar table for some breakfast grub.  When Danny stopped by to say hello and found out it was my birthday, there was a brief glimmer in his eye before he quickly vanished to the kitchen.  When he returned towards the end of our meal he was bearing a one-of-a-kind gift -  a GIANT biscuit, complete with candles for the birthday boy!

Danny briefly closed his restaurant in the 90’s but ended up setting up shop in a new location just a few minutes from our parents’ house.  It was a delight, then, a few days ago when we were able to introduce a new Mansfield to the mix.

28 years later and things were pretty much the same.  We’ve come full circle at Danny’s.  If you ask me, that’s something worth getting nostalgic about.