Everybody does certain things. Some things are universal. For example, everybody breathes — until they don’t. And then, I don’t know what people do that replaces breathing “on the other side” of this life.

But, now that I think of it, according to my remembrance of the Bible, God breathed life into the first man. So there’s that.

I don’t know. Maybe I could find a better example. I know that there’s a children’s book with the title “Everybody Poops.” (author: Taro Gomi) It was published in Japan in 1977 and was translated into English in 1993.

That book and many other “potty training” books teach the concept that everybody does it. The point is made that a “potty training” child should not be embarrassed about that particular function of the body.

I’m now thinking that the best example (so far) in my mind of something that everyone does, is that everyone eats. (This topic, I think, would be more interesting to the average reader than the topics of breathing and pooping.) Eating for many of us is a pleasurable and sociable experience.

I’ve heard it said that, “some people eat to live and others live to eat.” I think both of those propositions apply to me. I do enjoy eating.

I had three memorable meals in Sanpete this past weekend. There are a variety of eating establishments in Sanpete. I don’t think anyone would say that there is an overabundance of options for dining here in the county. But we’re grateful for what we have.

Just because I may mention a few names of places here doesn’t mean that any unmentioned places are not worth your while. We’ve been to most every eating place in the county at one time or another.

Friday night, we had a “date night” meal at The Main Freeze in Gunnison. I had chicken strips and battered french fries. Diane had a chicken wrap. She likes the fresh lime drinks there.

(She ordered a fresh lime at one place in Sanpete a while back, and the worker brought her a sliced lime, the fruit itself, in a little plastic container. Apparently, the concept of it being a drink wasn’t familiar to her.)

The food was good Friday night in Gunnison. But what was just as good, and maybe better, was the attitude and helpful friendliness of the staff there.

When I used my card to pay on the machine at the counter, the young woman said, “It’s going to ask whether you want to do a tip or not, don’t feel like you have to do that. It’s all right if you don’t.” Hearing her say that motivated me to hit the 20% tip button. (Do you think I was a victim of “reverse psychology?” I didn’t care if I was. It felt good to not feel any pressure at that pay point moment.)

By the way, the Friday special of fish and chips is really good there. The amount of fries they give you is enough, as my mom used to say, “for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.”

Saturday and Sunday nights were special nights. We had guests who came to Sanpete to visit us. They were relatives. My wife’s cousin, Dale, and his wife, Ann, stopped in with their 60-foot outfit of truck towing “their RV home away from home.”

Home for them is Tampa, Florida. I call them nomads — or vagabonds — or drifters. But really, they’re not drifters. They know where they’re going — pretty much. They just don’t know exactly how long it’s going to take to get there or what may distract them along the way.

They’re retired and really love seeing North America. They intend to be back in Florida in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas (they promised their kids they’d do that), then they’ll hit the road again until the lease expires next Spring on their house that they’ve rented out.

In the meantime, they’re going to check out Alaska — for who knows how long. They’re not opposed to spending a month at a lake, if they like it. For their Sanpete stay, they were at Palisade State Park.

Well, it looks like I got distracted telling you about the relatives. They are interesting, nice people. The point I was getting to, and now have arrived at, is that we took Dale and Ann to Das Cafe’ for dinner in Spring City. By saying that we “took” them, is to say that we drove. They insisted on paying.

“Das,” as many call the German cuisine cafe, is now open in the evenings. I gather that there’s new ownership and/or management which made the change.

I’ll just say that we had a delightful dining experience. Everyone really enjoyed the food and the service. Chicken, pork schnitzel, bratwurst, etc. with all the sides — so yummy!

Our server was very personable. She gladly worked on making our hopes and dreams (our special requests) come true. Even though the carrot cake at “Das” has the “to die for” reputation, I loved the lemon cream cake.

Sunday evening was our third memorable meal. Remember, everyone eats. We ate at home. I grilled ribeye steaks from South Sanpete Pack. Baked potatoes, green salad, carrots, etc. were served along with rolls from Terrel’s Market (hard to get used to saying Ridley’s, yanno?)

Diane made an apple pie. She used pie filling she’d bottled using apples from our Winesap apple tree. She knew Dale was an apple pie guy, so that was the “piece de resistance!” We attempted to “walk dinner off” at the lake and watched the sun drop over the horizon.

So, there’s a “taste” of what my eating has been like lately. I’m hoping that you’re making your Sanpete eating experiences memorable occasionally.

If I don’t know what to eat and want to make a memory: grilled cheese and tomato soup does it for me. Happy eating Sanpete! — Merrill