Salute and Some Seriously Smart, Strong Souls

This way to Salute E Vita Ristorante!

The "meet and greet 2-4:30" note on my calendar seemed to float closer and closer to the present this week, giving me ample time to look forward to furthering my connection with the Brown cohort. I was expecting occurrences that did in fact take place: the ordering of food, the taking of pictures, the talking of summers... Yet I was not anticipating leaving Salute E Vita Ristorante with a warm heart and the lasting impression of some seriously smart and strong souls.

Let me explain. The group and I were shown to a lovely table in a light filled room. Two other groups were dining and within five minutes of sitting down, Mary Torres, an original "Rosie the Riveter," was identified as being one of those diners. She was kind enough to stop and chat with us before she left. As a teenager, she ran away from home because she wanted to help her country win the war. She arrived in the Bay Area, and got a job working in a shipyard. Thoughtfully and with much encouragement, she encouraged us to come by to the local Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historic Park.          

Mary Torres is standing in the center. 

Menbere Akilu is pictured hugging Mahi, second from the bottom.

We chatted through yummy hors d'oeuvres, a satisfying lunch, and tasty desert. The conversation began with some prompts but naturally evolved. We agonized over summer assignments, stressed over what to pack, chuckled at funny stories, discussed academic interests and compared feelings toward seafood.   

Bellies stuffed, we started for the exit but were stopped when Ms. Neal recognized the owner and introduced us. Boy were we lucky to meet her! Menbere Aklilu is wonderful. When she found out we were all going to take a class at Brown this summer, she hugged every one of us with tears in her eyes and said she was proud of us. This was coming from a woman with an astonishing life story who  was able to overcome unimaginable obstacles to give back to her community. She, once homeless, serves hundreds of homeless families every year in her restaurant. This is just one example of her kindheartedness. 

I hope that one day I will be able to make an impact on the world and people's lives in the way Menbere Akilu and Mary Torres have.