Vivian's Café

There were stresses in my young life. The bus driver came at a different time each day. He didn’t want any kid setting a clock by him. He taught me that kids waited for school buses. School buses didn’t wait for kids.

There were words that needed spelling that didn’t want to be spelled.

There were cows that needed to be milked.

There were bean rows that needed walking and they were more work than walking a dog.  

That’s why places like Vivian’s Café, and in particular her fried rolls, were so important to me. Vivian’s was the spot where I munched on a heavenly fried roll while listening to my elders. I still connect sweet rolls with learning. Vivian, the café, and the rolls are nothing but memories today.

I’ve eaten similar rolls through the years. When I come across a delicacy that resembles Vivian’s tasty treat, I buy it. I have eaten look-alike rolls all over the country. None came close to matching the exquisite tastes of Vivian’s product.

Maybe a roll tasted better when it was surrounded by Vivian’s Café.