25 February

Bishop Maginn Morning: Zinnia At Jean’s

by Jon Katz

Maria and I had lunch at Jean’s Place Monday after we ate and the diner was closing, Carol and Amy asked to see Zinnia. Jean’s is like a second home to her, Kevin comes out of the kitchen and Carol and Amy snuggled with her and commented on her growth and good manners.

As always, she sits in the middle of all this and takes it in. Everybody gets a kiss who wants one.

An older man was sitting at the counter. I heard everyone who works there come over to him, say they are sorry about the loss of his wife, hug him and touch his arm.

There is a powerful feeling about Jean’s place, a sense of caring and community that goes way beyond food. People are known there, they matter. Jean’s place is the anti-corporate place, personal, comforting, familiar.

They know who comes in and what is happening to them. This is now so rare it is almost shocking. Jean’s Place matters to me, and to many other people.

Zinnia and I are off to Bishop Maginn High School in Albany this morning.

The mission is to help support a new Wish List that will buy the small and inexpensive things these children need to take to graduation, coming up in a month or so. Their needs are small, but their family resources are exhausted.

This will be a fun Wish List, a classic small act of great kindness that will make a big difference to people in need. I hope to put it up on the blog tonight.

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