"But My Fame Does Not Rest on That Alone"

I don't know many of the life stories of the members who live at the Cedars. I know that many of them are retired doctors, lawyers, professors, a few entertainers sprinkled in. But I do know one thing: they are big deals. Sometimes you walk by and you catch little shavings of the stories they tell from when they were still practicing whatevers, and when you walk back to the kitchen and tell another server and share a moment of awe. Once in a while, it's hard to believe they give college grads struggling to make good or high school kids trying earn a dollar or whoever works there the time of day. It's wild.
One thing I'm very thankful for is that there are a lot of people who work at the Cedars who I grew up with, and get to share this experience with. Someone I know from Wilkesboro got me the job and I, in turn, have helped others from our small town get jobs there too. At one point or another, there have probably been 10 people on the payroll of the Cedars. So when one of the staff says "I'm from Wilkesboro," there's a really good shot that staff member not only knows but knows really well the other staffers from Wilkes.

It means the world to be able to share this experience with some of your best friends. Case in point, last night, as I sometimes tend to do if we have a slow minute in the bar, I ventured out into the casual dining room. It was slow out there too. One of the member's guests happened to have been the professor I had for feature writing in the J-school at Carolina. I love it when she visits because whenever she comes we have really good conversations. And also you get to see an very long, rich friendship between the member and my professor still alive and growing deeper. So I'm halfway into this conversation with my professor and the member. The member is in the market for a new car (I recommend a Toyota- yeah I know they're in hot water but does brand loyalty mean nothing today?). And my professor is telling me about internships that her current students and the guests speakers she gets in for her students to interview and profile this semester. And here again, this woman has clout. A Pulitzer Prize nominated journalist herself, she gets the best for her students.

So halfway through my conversation i look up and see my friend Michael talking to another table. Not only is Michael from Wilkesboro, but he's also a roommate of mine. Michael drives to and from Greensboro three days a week to go class. He's studying to get into med school. One of the members he was talking to is a very respected doctor. Apparently, Michael was asking a bunch of questions about what the member specifically used to and the member obliged and told him all this stuff. Eventually he tells Michael that he basically invented some famous technique, one of the first to employ such a technique still widely used today. That would have been enough to impress anyone but then he looks up at Michael and says "but my fame does not rest on that alone."

Like I said, it's a wonder they give us the time of day.