This week’s latest news: We’ll close the deli for the long Labor Day Weekend, and celebrate Tom turning 70. Yep- if you haven’t noticed, that guy at the sales counter has been there for almost 40 years. He’s reaching a new milestone. Thinking of how I’ve known this man for almost 50 years myself, I’m amazed at how God’s blessed our marriage and our lives. I’m feeling very grateful for family, friends, health, and for this way of serving in the community.
Tom Back in the Day (mid-70’s)
As I walk down memory lane a bit, I think of how we started this whole business. I was in my home kitchen, experimenting with recipes when not working at the local health food store. I honed my sandwich-making skills packing Tom’s lunch every day, and asked for constructive criticism. At one point Tom said, “I don’t know if I can eat that many sprouts- it seemed like a hunk of sod. Honey.” Looked like I needed an outlet for the kind of food production I was getting into; thus, a small health-food-sandwich-delivery business was born. And Tom was relieved he didn’t have to be the soul eater of all those sprouts.
That was back in 1982 BC (before children). But, besides the banana bread I baked for some of our customers, I also discovered I had a bun in the oven. So, after a few years of a garage-band-type food operation, as young parents who were trying to become responsible adults, we decided to get an actual commercial kitchen to work out of.
That’s when we founded “The New Deli” right there on San Pablo Avenue in Pinole. Yep- same location for almost forty years. What?! And there’s no end in sight yet… now that Tom’s fully recovered from that holiday health scare. He sets off to work, letting us know he’s “going to my happy place”. I guess that’s a good thing! Even if you don’t see me at the deli much these days- it’s all I can do to keep up with the homesteading we got ourselves into. (More on that later…)
Meanwhile, I’m including a picture of the super-deluxe garden wedding reception we had this summer for our younger son and his bride. The family’s expanded some, with grandkids ranging from 19 down to 4. Thank you, Lord- it’s a beautiful thing!
“Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17
