Thursday, June 16, 2011

Maybe it's an East Coast thang....

I've been told I'm too nice (Shut up Adam, your opinion doesn't count). There are contractors in town right now doing some work for the store in the next community and in Rob's store. When they were here a few months ago, I would make extra supper and send it over to them. Tonight we made home made burgers and potato salad, and I took out a couple extra pork chops and some chicken thighs and threw them on the bbq along with the burgers. We plated it up and sent it over (there are 4 contractors here right now). When I have told people about this, I get mixed reactions. (We do this for everyone that comes in town). I've been accused of being a "suck up" (we always cook for Rob's district manager when he comes into town) and was told today that we are just "too nice". One of the women I work with admitted that she would never think to do what we do when someone comes from out of town. Here's the way I look at it: the contractors are here doing improvements on Rob's store. These are 4 guys here, working 10-12 hour days, eating frozen pizza and Hungry Man dinners. I would hope that if the roles were reversed and Rob was one of those guys, someone would make them a home cooked meal every once in a while. The town we live in is really small, and there is only 1 restaurant that the food is average at best, really really crappy at worst. The same goes for when someone comes from out of town. I figure if they are travelling all the way here (it's a 5 hour drive from the airport unless they come on the private plane and then it's only 5 minutes away) they should at least have a decent meal when they get here. Maybe it's just the Newfoundlander in me, or maybe it's the way I was raised. When I asked Rob about this, he said "it's an East Coast thing". What do YOU think?

12 comments:

Trace said...

I think he's right!
You know I'm an Islander girl :)

jen said...

I did it up north whenever someone came into town and needed a meal. Doesn't seem that strange to me. I think it's wonderful do these little things. Paying it forward, it's karma man. AND I am not an east coaster.

Although I hear out west, they call Ontario East Coast and that drives all you true Maritimers Nuts! lol

Matt, Kara, Hunter and Cavan said...

No, not an east coast thing cause I do stuff like that all of the time. I think it is our helper personality!

Jen- you are bang on. Anyone from the far side of ON onwards is considered East Coast and we just ignore Quebec all together.

Rob, Tina and the boys said...

Omg kara you are the best.

Anonymous said...

Having lived in both the Arctic and northern SK, extending kindness is always a good thing - no matter where you are. What goes around, comes around.

Mary Lou, Paradise said...

Tina you are only doing what comes natural to you...and no jester of kindness goes on noticed big or small...I agress the newfie in you! from one Newfie to another... great job
hugs

Scratchings in the Dirt said...

I agree - it's not particular to the East Coast, although they do show some amazing hospitality! I am forever dragging out-of-town people home for supper if they happen to show up at the library and suggest that they don't know anyone/are hungry/have no place to go, etc, etc. Clem and the boys just love it!!!

Rob, Tina and the boys said...

Chandra I'm heading to your library and pretending I'm lost!

allmycke said...

I believe it's far more common that people are this open and inviting to people in the North. Don't ask me to say where 'North' is in that case - Tina knows as well as I do. Here in town I could invite could someone to camp outside my apartment, maybe I wouldn't do that outside Gothenburg.

Madeleine (Mom) said...

It's the way you were raised,and it's the newfie in your blood.It's what makes you who you are my beautiful daughter.It's nice to see the tradition been passed on from mother to daughter.You make your Mom so very proud of you,and I love you for that.

Morena said...

We do it when a member comes into town for whatever reason. I'm an east coaster but honestly, I learned that from Jen in Cape Dorset. It's just a nice thing to do.

Scratchings in the Dirt said...

Tina, I think I'll head up there first! I recall something about homemade donairs...

And your mom made me cry. Just sayin.