Familiar Faces + One New + One Unexpected
Our 11/8 meal at the Ronald McDonald House (FATC sponsors 4x year) went smoothly despite the complete renovation of the kitchen that was just completed. Maybe management had taken notes on Mike Bisaga’s suggestions as curiously almost everything he had complained (mildly) about had been changed. I got there really early as not all of the pots, pans, utensils, and supplies got kept or were put in similar spots. Luckily Renisia (our house secretary) had things left out for me on items I couldn’t find the week before.
Everything was pretty well set up as Mike also always comes early (maybe he still doesn’t trust me). But as a former HS coach I was always the first to arrive and last to leave and it’s one of my good habits that I’ve kept since I’ve been retired. Jeff Rabe, Harold Bates and Ken Welter also arrived well before our start time of 4:30 and must have been taught the “Vince Lombardi” time rule. For those that don’t know…goggle. Harold has been at all 4 meals in 2022 w Jeff and Ken at multi ones which has been great because they are all very good worker’s and jump in with whatever Mike needs done as he orchestrates the meal prep.
Our one new participate was Alan Hautly (that name rang a bell and suddenly cheese came to mind) and he’s just joined FATC. Alan arrived right on time and pitched in immediately and throughout the evening took the initiative on helping with all tasks of prepping, serving and cleaning. Alan fit right in and easily conversed with all of us “veterans”.
We also had an additional helper… RIcardo Nolasco. I’ve grown quite close to him and his daughter Layla who have stayed in the house going on a year while Layla has had both her hips and knees replaced with more surgeries coming. His wife and other two daughters are back in Puerto Rico and he is sacrificing so much to hopefully get Layla back to walking and a more normal life. He is very intelligent and resourceful but I can tell also very lonely in this environment. Layla and I enjoyed a moment together seeing her dad interacting with our group the whole evening knowing how good it was for him. I think people forget about the struggles the “support” people are going thru so this may have been our groups biggest blessing of the evening… even more than our fellowship together and the joy we brought to those eating the great meal we prepared. As always I walked out as the last one after we ate together and cleaned up being thankful for all the men involved and also Kenny, for allowing me to lead this part of a great group of guys in a great organization.
