Zante Cafe
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Stories (31/0)
My Big Fat Greek Funeral: The Prelude
My father-in-law was itching to go back to Greece. He had booked his airline ticket in advance. He enthusiastically prepaid all his credit cards and utility bills and packed his carry-on suitcase. He bragged that he traveled light, and checking in luggage only slowed him down. He started carrying his pen and his passport in his breast pocket. The only thing holding him back was the days to departure. He still had two weeks left.
By Zante Cafe8 months ago in Humor
My Big Fat Greek Funeral: Part I
In the beginning of the end, there was a lot of hope. Pappou was rushed to the hospital on a cold January morning. For my superstitious audience, it was Friday the 13th. The nurses, doctors, and hospital staff did their best to keep Pappou Yianni with us. From every face, we felt compassion and kindness for what we were going through. All our family and friends came to visit, which gave us strength. We did not feel alone; we felt their compassion through their hugs and encouragement to pray for a miracle. Alas, Pappou Yianni passed away a few days after arriving at the hospital. Our dear friend, Demetrios, described what friends do in life, "…they are there for us to share the joy at weddings and bear the burden at funerals."
By Zante Cafe8 months ago in Humor
Is Elon Musk A Mad Man Or A Genius?
My wife and I had just finished attending a fundraiser, and we found ourselves talking to two of my friends out in the parking lot. Steve had parked his car a few parking spaces from my Tesla. Evan had parked his car next to mine. I pulled out my phone to unlock the trunk of my new Tesla.
By Zante Cafe8 months ago in Wheel
The E.V. Credit Many New Tesla Owners Forget
I'm happy that we found our tax accountant. Jim is very sharp and stays current on the latest tax rules. But new E.V. owners must remember to claim one little tax credit: their home charger and installation expense. That is separate from the tax incentive that car buyers receive when they purchase or lease an electric vehicle.
By Zante Cafe8 months ago in Wheel
Can My Friend Sleep Over While the Nazis Are In Town
The other day, I attended a forty-day memorial of a lady that lived to be 92 years old. She was a sweet lady who never said an unkind word about anyone. She never gossiped behind anyone's back. Instead, she would welcome friends and strangers to her home with a warm smile and a tray full of cookies and sweets. She was my hero. She wasn't an athlete or a stellar student. Nor was she a talented singer or musician. Instead, she excelled by being a friend, to the point of risking her own life.
By Zante Cafeabout a year ago in Humans
Greatness
Photo by Elena de Soto on UnsplashWe all want to be Great. We dream of it and thirst for it. But are we committed to it? Is Greatness worth the sacrifice.…. Greatness is not a word; it's a mindset. We daydream about the accolades, the smiles, and the applause. Surrounded by friends and admirers, We dream of exchanging smiles and High-fives. And if the moment is truly remarkable, we are whisked from our feet and carried by well-wishes high above their shoulders. Crowds cheer for you. And we stand there relishing that magical moment. And we freeze that moment in our mind's eye, willfully cherishing every moment in an attempt to freeze time. The best moment of our lives is suspended in time and space.
By Zante Cafeabout a year ago in Motivation
The Day My Surrogate Mother Crashed My Wedding
I always hear about these 'horror wedding stories' that young singles circulate among their friends. It usually involves the bridesmaids sleeping with the groom or the best man fathering the bride's honeymoon baby. My fiance and I were level-headed, we weren't alcoholics or wild partiers. We both made sure that everyone in our wedding party would have scruples and not be crazy enough to do anything stupid. They all passed the normalcy test. So we felt that we would have a memorable wedding but not too memorable for our wedding guests to gossip about our wedding for years to come. But what happened at my wedding, I could never imagine happening anywhere to anyone. Guess what? It happened to me.
By Zante Cafe2 years ago in Marriage
Her Mother Walked Her Down the Aisle
Katherine was three years old when her father left everyone. He left without warning; without a trace. Katherine’s mother at the time was a stay-at-home mom. Katherine was the youngest of three. She didn’t understand why her father left. Frankly, no one understood why he left.
By Zante Cafe2 years ago in Families
Two Things To Know Before Ordering A Tesla
On a fluke, I placed my order for a Tesla. I followed Tesla closely, and it was announced that the full self-driving mode would increase in price. I love Tesla. I think all-electric vehicles are where the automotive industry is heading in the next ten years. However, I also heard that the long-range Model 3 was ‘unavailable’ until 2023. I panicked and placed my order. Now I am awaiting the Performance Model 3 by November. I also bought the complete self-driving package.
By Zante Cafe2 years ago in Wheel
The Darker Side of Owning A Tesla
I can read your mind. You are saying, “What are you trying to say, Are you Mad?”. But hear me out. For some, Tesla may be Ace lurking up the sleeve of a nefarious card player. Pulling the string or gaming the system. I don’t like it either. I’ll be brief and I’ll get to the point.
By Zante Cafe2 years ago in Wheel
Grandparents and Grandchildren Conspire
I am still investigating this story. Who is uprooting the authority of the parents in their own household? Who would be so brazen and bold to uproot the natural order of the parental units? Many mothers and fathers have sought asylums in neighboring countries like Mexico and France. Under the pretense of second honeymoons and anniversaries, parents have tried to escape to all-inclusive resorts. Without children without grandparents. Parents seem eager to get away and leave everything. After one week, the parents' request for parental asylum was rejected by the host nation and begrudgingly parents returned to their native country with long faces and regrets. Details are incomplete. My sources have become tight-lip and have recanted their statements. I am still trying to figure out who is the mastermind behind the coup to unseat the parents.
By Zante Cafe2 years ago in Families