Pete and Sams

Pete and Sam's is a local, family-owned, Italian restaurant that has been around since before I was born. It’s been a family tradition for 4 generations in my family. Since the days of my childhood, that’s where we always went for special nights out. I don’t know if it was because it was close or cheap or consistently great Italian food, but it’s where we always went. We moved out of town for a couple of years but when we moved back to Memphis the tradition continued. My kids grew up eating at Pete and Sams. Now we take their kids too.

There was also another tradition. My father always paid. We’ve tried other restaurants, but 9 out of 10 times, it’s Pete and Sams. Then the grandkids started insisting. “We’re all going to Pete and Sam’s Monday night. We’re sitting on the Park Ave. side.” And Grand Dad always paid. My Dad passed away and we don’t go as often as we used to…but we still love to go there with the family.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. I think it takes a family to help the older family members too. It makes me smile when my daughter makes our dinner arrangements or my sons cook lunch for their grandparents, or rake leaves, or mow a yard. It’s family BEING family. We’re lucky to have a family like that-not everybody does. But each of us can do our part. And if our folks are gone, there’s always a neighbor that needs family.

Instead of waiting on government or business or strangers to take care of our loved ones, let’s do what we can do. Maybe it’s dinner at Pete and Sam’s, maybe it’s pot luck at their house. But let’s create family for one another.