Monday, May 12, 2008

More About Food

It seems that I have been taking the blame for the weight gain among a few of my co-workers. I recommend a good sandwich shop like Jimmy John's; they like it and eat there often; I get blamed for their larger waist!

I really do like their subs, clubs and of course the Gargantuan. Oh yeah, they also have some killer chips. One of the other entertaining things about eating at JJ's are the signs that are posted throughout the sandwich shop. While all are entertaining some are also educational or at least thought provoking. One of my favorites is a story of a Mexican fisherman. It reminds me of how hard we sometimes work for a simpler life by making life more complicated. Read it for yourself.

An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "only a little while."

The American then asked why didn't he stay out longer and catch more fish?

The Mexican said he had enough to support his family's immediate needs.

The American then asked, "but what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siestas with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine, and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat, you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually New York City, where you will run your expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15 - 20 years."

"But what then?" Asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions!"

"Millions - then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siestas with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."


Let me know if you decide to try JJ's. But don't blame me if you start gaining weight!

John

By the way, the Italian Club and the Hunter Club are two of my favorites.


3 comments:

Kevin Gilmore said...

Warren Zevon said something on the David Letterman show a few years back after having been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. David asked him if there was anything he understood now, facing his own mortality, that he didn't before. Zevon replied, "Just how much you're supposed to enjoy every sandwich."

Here's a video of Warren from the show.

There's so much truth in the story told about the fisherman and the businessman. I find that I have to reevaluate what's important to me and how all too often my concerns are really very trivial is the grand scheme of things.

Bilbo said...

There are lots of things I love to eat, but right near the top of the list is a gooey Reuben Sandwich piled high with corned beef, dripping with sauerkraut, and oozing dressing. Drat. Now I'm hungry, and I have to go for my dance lesson...

John A Hill said...

I agree. I love a good Reuben!