STIR IT UP, MAN

DAN SANDERS YOU ROCK

UMS CONTINUES

July 14, 2008


Mr. Dan Sanders
7830 Orlando Ave.
Lubbock, Texas 79423


Dear Mr. Sanders,

Enclosed please find a blog that my daughter Grace recently posted. I tried to email you, but it was too long, so I am sending it to you.

I found it so amusing as she has had a hard time moving from Amarillo to Dumas because of UMS. I share her pain, as I live in Spearman 100 miles away and many a day have driven to Amarillo only to go to Market Street and home again to cook for friends. I would rather go there than to the mall, so I completely embrace her attitude.

Your store in Amarillo was even my inspiration to decorate our outdoor kitchen. I have spent many moments in the restroom looking at the tile instead of using the facility.

We just returned from a trip to Greece and during the long flight, my husband Brian and I both read your book, Built to Serve. What a great testimony you have. Thank you for that also.

I know from reading your book that you are the kind of man that would like to have letters like these. I’m sure you have many, but I have always believed when you have an opportunity to say something nice…take the time to say it.


Have a great day.

Gina Gillispie

THE PAT TIMES TWO

Sometime in the wee small hours of the morning BB had a bad dream. Her cry was not the standard middle of the night cry. It was more like a whimper and she was breathing heavy when I went in and picked her up. She clenched on to me as though she were terrified and I knew she must have had her first nightmare. What was it that scared her, I wondered. She's been in this world all of 11 months so I assume it was food related. Maybe she was just out of milk. I rocked her for a long time and she patted me. She's been doing that lately...laying her head on my shoulder and patting me. As if to say, well, what I am relaying when I pat her. What a sweet baby! What a sweet mama, she was telling me. I could have held her all night. I crawled back into bed and Justin, who was dreaming also, rolled over and PATTED MY BACK. He did until either he or I dosed off; I'm not sure who was first.

My heart is so full...of love and happiness and contentment. I know, it's just a pat, but it made my week. I am loved and appreciated and I am overwhelmed with how much a family can mean to one person. If you see someone you care about today, give 'em an ole pat on the back....times two.

SUMMER DAYS

What have I been doing all summer you ask.
A WHOLE LOTTA THIS:



AND A BIT OF THIS:


AND THIS:


AND SOME OF THIS:

UNITED MARKET STREET OF AMERICA

Dear United Market Street,
I love you. I would move back from Dumas just to be with you again. There is a hole in my heart where you and your glorious groceries once were. When I walk through your doors I feel like I've come home from a long trip with a hard bed. What do I love about you UMS? I love Sampling Sunday. I love your clean floors and tidy rows. I love your Summer House Iced Tea. I love Ray, the butcher, who finds all of my beef shank and fresh clam requests to be rather amusing. I love when you have a new fruit I have never tasted before. I find it very impressive that you, a grocery store, carry Mulderbosch and more importantly, my other fine friend, Kim Crawford. I would like to praise you United Market Street for hiring such fine employees as Les and Jacob who insistently card me every time I purchase alcohol just to make me feel 20 again. I love to hear the stories from the sackers especially when they are about fast cars and wild nights after a long day of high school. UMS, if you will move to Dumas I will visit you every day. I will spend hours gawking at your wine and cheese selection. UMS, if you move to Dumas, I will seek you out for part time employment. I love you United Market Street.