I’ve been thinking about a few words lately…  Words like “pure” and “normal”… These words are overused, underrated, and unappreciated.  The dictionary says that pure is “anything that is not mixed with any other substance or material”.  Normal is “conforming to a standard, usual, typical or expected”.  During the past couple of years, everyone in the world has had to come to terms with the pandemic and how it has impacted individuals, families, sports, schools, churches, and even restaurants.

In March of 2020, we all had to reevaluate everything in our lives to see what really mattered and take inventory of what was important on an individual basis.  When I did this in my own life, I found that what I thought was “pure” really wasn’t, and what once was “normal” may never be again.

It’s interesting to think about Pure gas stations which thrived in the 1920s as automobiles became common.  The idea of what was “normal” was changing 100 years ago, as it continues to change today. Many of the gas stations also had diners within their walls so travelers could gas up and also get a meal.  I’m sure in their time, there was life and laughter within their walls on any “normal” day.  

The Pure signs still dot the highways, even though most of the stations have locked their doors and gone out of business.  Many of these buildings are now abandoned where once was the hustle and bustle of “normal”, everyday life.  They have become a memory of days gone by. What once was “pure” and “normal” has given way to other establishments like Love’s and Flying J and who would have ever imagined the mega gas station Buc-ees?   That’s an experience in itself and anything but “normal”.

In 2005, the Pure sign of a shut-down gas station was an inspiration for a new restaurant in Alpharetta, Georgia.  The idea of the restaurant was to take the patrons back to the 1920s era but in a Mexican taqueria.  What a nostalgic idea!

My first experience visiting a Pure Taqueria was in Duluth, Georgia around 2016.  Located in a trendy upscale refurbished downtown area, it had a vintage feel with a modern twist.  Immediately, I was drawn in by the lively atmosphere and authentic Mexican dishes served there.  The building was hip with garage doors that could be opened to bring the outside in.  The dishes were meant to display the pureness of Mexican dishes in a way that was real and authentic with a feel of yesteryear.

From that day forward, Cavin and I have been fans!  There are seven locations scattered around the metropolitan Atlanta area.  When we lived in that area, we visited a few of the locations on a regular basis.  But life has a way of changing, and sadly it had been over four years since we had visited a Pure Taqueria.  What had been a normal experience for us while living in the Atlanta area, was no longer normal in our rural small-town life in Brewton, Alabama.

Last weekend, we were in Atlanta and had a chance to have a date night at the Brookwood location.  We arrived to find a lively bunch of families with young children enjoying a night out.  It was refreshing to hear the pure laughter and see relationships being built as memories were made!  After two years of living with the fear and sadness of Covid, it feels good to experience “normal” life again!  The pureness of it is uplifting in a way that I could not have known before the pandemic took that away.

The last time Cavin and I were in a Pure Taqueria was before the world was turned upside down in March of 2020.  There was a time we wondered if life would ever return to what we considered “normal”.  The restaurant industry sure took a hit.  There were times when it was uncertain if restaurants would open their dining rooms, or if customers would be forced to always order take out and eat at home.  Many restaurants have not survived.  Like the Pure gas stations of the 1920s, many tried and true restaurants have closed their doors for the last time.

But on this night, life felt “normal” as kids played and parents chatted gleefully. It made me appreciate the things that we once took for granted.  We ordered cheese dip and shared a plate of chicken enchiladas.  The pureness of the food and the ingredients brought back a lot of memories of when life was a different kind of “normal”.  The playful laughter of the kids and their parents was pure and innocent.  

I know life may never truly be “normal” again, and what’s normal on one day or stage of life is constantly changing.  But I’m going to do my best to enjoy those “normal” days and the pureness of life as much as I can and every chance I get.  Let’s not wish those “normal” days away.  There is a pureness about “normal” that often gets away from us in the busyness of life.  

Sampling the South….Enjoying the “pure” and “normal” times of everyday life….