ONE MAN'S TRASH... PART 2

In today’s world, going out to eat in restaurants is the norm for folks in all levels of socio-economics. From the richest of the rich to the poorest of the poor– people go out to restaurants at least occasionally for a meal. That was not so in most of the middle-class families of the 50's when the majority, seldom if ever, went “out to dinner.” But today (and it’s been that way for decades) going out to eat is common, which brings me to my story– another story showing that nearly everything in life is relative.

Dorothy and Bill (not their real names) were in their 50's when they came to Memphis to do a marriage intensive with me. Coming from the hill country of Texas, they were a hard working middle class couple whose marriage of 25 years had reached some very rough water and they were using the “D” word much too frequently.

At the end of the first day in therapy (which was six straight hours), Dorothy said to me, “Now, I told Bill, while we’re in Memphis this week, when we go out to dinner, we’re not eating at MacDonald’s every night. You see, I was born in France, and we French are gourmet, and at least one night while we’re here, we’ve going to eat at Shoney’s!”

Sheepishly, she asked. “Dr. Don, do you think that’s asking too much?” I replied. “No. That’s not asking too much. In fact, as part of your therapy, I’m assigning that scoundrel to take you to Shoney’s twice! Okay, Bill?”

He nodded, she smiled and thanked me, they left arm and arm and I learned that same old lesson once again– nearly everything in life is relative. For some folks, eating at Shoney’s is hardly a treat, for others, it’s gourmet!