One of my blog posts didn’t age well. Or, at the very least, it proves that I should practice what I preach.

Ten years ago I wrote a post urging my readers to go out for breakfast. I highlighted the joys of sitting down at a restaurant and ordering the most important meal of the day.

I took this photo of Sidney with our food on the table at the Southern House of Pancakes in Myrtle Beach in 2016. This photo was included in that blog post from 10 years ago about the benefits of going out for breakfast.

However, before this past weekend, it had been over a year since we went to a restaurant for breakfast. And, if you want to be real technical, it had been even longer than that (I can’t even remember how long) since we ate brunch at a true greasy spoon.

Thank goodness that deplorable streak came to an end on Sunday. After mass, we took the latest engaged couple we mentored out for breakfast. Victor and Helen chose a place on Sprague called Jenny’s. We entered the diner smack in the middle of the church rush. Thankfully, we waited all but 10 minutes until we were seated.

We ate at Jenny’s Cafe in Spokane Valley on Sprague this past Sunday.

Man, it all came back at that moment. The hustle and bustle, the aroma of coffee, the comfy booths, the worn menus, the sun shining through the windows…I hadn’t even taken a bite of food yet and I was already experiencing the allure of going out for breakfast.

But then our plates came and the real magic happened. Between my family, we had pancakes, waffles, hash browns, eggs, and biscuits. With maple syrup and gravy standing by, I scolded myself for missing out on breakfast for so long.

I actually think Beau had the order of the table! He got the mohawk pancake that came with whipped cream, sprinkles, and peanut butter to “glue” it together.

Then the absolute wildest moment of the morning came.

Sloan ordered the classic pancake face.

As we were finishing up our plates and I was preparing to pull out my debit card, our server approached us.

Biscuits and gravy for me, please!

“By the way guys, someone paid for your meal.”

My jaw dropped. I know it might seem like a minuscule thing, but that was the first time I had ever had my bill covered by a random customer. For someone to cover the breakfast tab for our party of six was unexpected, kind, and absolutely made my day. It is time for Sid and me to pay it forward.

Sid, me, Victor, and Helen (thanks for taking the photo, Sloan) were touched by the generosity of a random person to pay for our meal.

Needless to say, I can’t wait to go out to breakfast again (and actually pay this time). Don’t Blink.