The Tuesday before Christmas 2011 I had lunch with my friend Grant Coffman Jr. whose dad was a minister at Springfield Missionary Baptist Church in Washington DC back in the day. I chose Bartlett's (Burnet Road at Anderson Lane) because the food is wonderful and the service is better which easily explains why it is my and my wife's favorite restaurant.  We frequent there every chance we get.

As it turned out one of the people sitting in the booth behind us was Pastor Rex Johnson.  He came into Bartlett's with an Dale McConnell (GM of Charles Maund VW).  Me being me, I really wanted to meet a guy with his obvious likeable personality.  He reminded me of who I wanted to be like if I live to be that old.  Not saying he was THAT old but he was no spring chicken either.  So I reached across the booth, touched his shoulder and matter-of-factly thanked him for treating us to lunch.  I made a very serious face and he took a double-take.  I was containing my glee, let me tell you.

This was the funniest part: Rex jumped up, introduced himself and his friend and we did the same, shaking hands and laughing about my obvious joke.  In the end indeed I turned the tables and paid for both their meals in leaving.  Why did I do it?  I didn't know I needed a reason to be nice, to extend a hand, to develop a friendliness of a time that seems so long past.

I grew up in Austin and have fond memories of everyone speaking to each other downtown, even the people who probably didn't really like or know the other.  I remember it like it were yesterday and I pine for more of it now.  We have all misplaced our balance with each other.

Upon realizing what I had done Dale quipped, "You didn't have to do that" and I responded "All I have to do my friend is die and stay Black."  I repeated it for Rex and he added laughing, "And pay taxes."  I like quick thinkers and at that moment I knew that HERE SITS A FRIEND OR TWO more.

I know I didn't HAVE to do it but I wanted to. I felt the mood of being extraordinary and it has nothing to do with Christmas and a whole lot to do with the way I watched my father as I grew up. 

I wasn't planning on EVER telling this story but one of my employees told me that Pastor Johnson used what happened to himself and his friend by way of me in church the other day so I feel compelled to thank him for his kind words.  And I want to add, that in accordance with the way I was raised and all the things I have experienced there's one more thing I have to do that I failed to mention: I have to love. 

Pastor Johnson has spoken all over the country in a wide variety of settings and has served in a number of religious elected positions.

He married his wife, Patti, in February, 1982. They have three daughters; the oldest, Misty, is married to Damon McNicholas and they have two wonderful sons, Kaden and Connor. Cassidy and Kaitlin, the other two daughters, still live at home with mom and dad. The entire Johnson family is very active in ministry at their local church and are honored to continue to serve the Lord in any way possible.