Kelsey Thompson and Laura Swinford join me for lunch and laughter at Banh Mi So this week. An afternoon well-spent.
I had lunch with two former staffers from Carnahan family campaigns. Many of the young people, who shared our long political journey still keep in touch. A number of them email, call, lunch, or Facebook with me and attend staff reunions. Each of them is still hard working and eager to make a difference in the world. They enlarge my “family” and my life more than they’ll ever know.
Shared Times
During the brief, but extraordinary time I served in the Senate, my staff was there for me, for each other, and for our nation as our country endured the 9-11 attacks, the Enron scandal, war in the Mideast, and the Senate anthrax attacks. I write about those events in my book Don’t Let the Fire Go Out.
But there were fun times, too. I recounted one of those times at lunch. It occurred the day that comedian Lily Tomlin came to my office. After our visit, I walked her to the door, that opened into the large work space, where most of the staff would ordinarily be at their desks. But this time they were all standing casually about in small groups not far from the door.
Before I could chuckle at what was happening, Lily assessed the situation. She smiled, waved her arms in typical fashion, and said, “Okay, everybody, line up and let’s take the pictures.” They queued faster than Cardinal fans on opening day.
With Lily Tomlin in my Senate office in 2001. I was tempted to ask her to do an impression of Ernestine, the telephone operator, but I restrained myself.
On to Lunch
Kelsey, Laura and I headed out South Grand to a little mom and pop place called Banh Mi So, where each dish jangles with flavor. In the dining room, we even came upon some old friends slurping noodles and munching bahn mi sandwiches.
As we fumbled with chopsticks, there were more old stories to rehash and new ventures to unfold.
Owner Thomas Truong dishes up Banh Mi So’s signature spring rolls.
We started with a shared order of Tilapia Spring Rolls
Beef Bun Ga Xao
Meatball Banh Mi (banh mi means sandwich in Vietnamese)
Later that afternoon, at Fountain on Locust, we split one chocolate malt three ways.
While at the old ice cream shop, my friends insisted on buying one of my favorite indulgences: the chocolate covered orange rinds made and sold at Fountain on Locust.
