An Other Worldly Experience

February 17, 2026

Have you ever been to an ethnic restaurant where the staff spoke really fast to each other in their native language. . . the decorations are from their home country. . .and the food is prepared more authentically than you usually experience?

Terry and I enjoyed a delicious Chinese lunch recently at a small-town Texas establishment. It was mid-afternoon and there were only a few other patrons there. It was a quiet meal, which we appreciated being the introverts we are.

And then Terry leaned over and remarked, “They’re playing Country music!” Indeed, they were, old stuff too. Yee-Haw!! We smiled at each other.

I wondered to myself as we boxed our leftovers, were they die-hard fans of that genre of music or were they playing it because of the geographic location of the restaurant and wanted their customers to feel comfortable?

Either way, it made for a positive memorable experience for us.

I can’t say the same for how our leftovers made the cooler in the van smell!