As I age, I find a little nap–siesta–before dinner most enjoyable. Depends on whether you’re Texan or Mexican, of course, when you nap before dinner.
Briggs Todd told me this cross-the-border story back in the 1960s. Briggs was president of the state bank in Abilene, also the district governor of West Texas Rotarians. In that capacity he led a delegation to dine with Rotarians in Mexico.
In the chosen ciudad, Rotarians met each week for dinner. Todd’s Texans arrived before the appointed 8 p.m. and found themselves the only Rotarians at the restaurant.
The Mexican member who passed out identification badges arrived first. Penned on his badge and went to the bar.
Some of the Mexican Rotarians merchants who had closed their stores at sunset, gone home to change clothes and take a siesta, began to trickle into the restaurant. Went first to the bar, then greeted their Texas visitors.
Dinner finally began, Briggs told me. Greetings exchanged. Speeches given, helped by an interpreter. Food served.
Briggs said by the time desserts arrived, some of the Texas Rotarians were taking siestas, heads near their plates.
Photo by D. Bond at Shutterstock
