“I miss Duke’s!!! It was a restaurant/coffee shop underneath the Tropicana Motor Motel on Santa Monica just off the corner of La Cienega, in West Hollywood. It was a hangout for musical patrons. Blondie, the Runaways, The Ramones, Tom Waits and Rickie Lee Jones were regulars. Apparently, Ricki Lee Jones wrote “Chuck E’s In Love” in the coffee shop. Actors and others hung out there too. Now, long gone. It was a great place, celebrity laden and good food.

One of my favorite all time memories AND A Duke’s memory happened this one early morning. I ended up having breakfast there one day, might have been a Saturday, because they opened earlier than Schwab’s and I wanted a breakfast before heading to set. Schwab’s was a popular celebrity and others restaurant and pharmacy on Sunset Blvd east of the Strip. Celebrities gathered there since the 4 Schwab Brothers opened it in the 30’s. Tourists found it too.

It was my favorite daily breakfast spot for a decade.I took a seat at the counter of Duke’s and was eating breakfast when a young man walked up to the counter to my left and spoke quietly to the counter person, an older gentleman in white tee shirt and white cap. The younger man whispered and said, ‘Sir, I have no money. I am hungry and I would work for something to eat. Is there something I can do for a meal?’ He asked. We must ask for what we want.

DEVELOP THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE, MINDSET AND BELIEFS TO TRANSFORM YOURSELF

If we don’t ask the answer is always no. He asked. He was humble. He asked. The older man looked at the young man. Then turned and walked into the kitchen without saying a word. I don’t recall seeing him speak to anyone through the doorway. It was early enough that he may have been the cook and waiter, I don’t recall. But a moment later he turned and came back. He said, ‘order anything you want. It’s on the house.’ He looked, waiting for the order. Expecting!

The younger man was very grateful but insisted he’d work for it. The older man would hear none of it. ‘It’s on the house.’ Again, he went silent. He looked. The young man speechless. The older man nodded, go ahead. The young man quietly, gently, respectfully ordered a breakfast. The older man, got it. Nodded done. Turned and went into the kitchen. I thought that was so cool. He was kind. I was blown away, really. The young man took a seat.

I finished up as the older man delivered the breakfast and the young man gratefully began to eat. I paid and left because I had to get to set. I’ve never forgotten that moment from almost 50 years ago. There are good people in the world. I thought about it all the way to the set. Two humans and an act of kindnes s and generosity.

No, ‘prove it’ to me. No, ‘get the hell outta here, ya bum!’ No judgement. Nothing but ‘order anything.’ Could the young man have been a con artist? Of course. Likely, he wasn’t. But that’s not the point. He could have been, but the counter person didn’t care. He respected the young man and gave him food without question. He didn’t make him do anything for his meal. He simply cared enough to feed someone who expressed a need. He cared! We mist care more.

DEVELOP THE POSITIVE ATTITUDE, MINDSET AND BELIEFS TO TRANSFORM YOURSELF

It meant a lot to me. I was glad I got to see that.  And I’ve always remembered it. It helped shape how I think and feel about things. Be kind. Do good. Don’t make people jump through hoops. Respect. Trust. Even if he’d gotten ripped off, he was kind. That’s better than not being kind to someone possibly in need. I remember this often.  It was all done quietly. No one, but the three of us were aware of what was going on. I was silently moved. Others oblivious.

The others at tables couldn’t have heard the conversation. Everything was so respectful. The young man who had a request was respectful. He humbled himself, was courageous and asked. He could have been told no, yelled at and called names and kick out. BUT that didn’t happen. The answer was the respect and care he got from the older man. It changed me. I hope it helps changes you too. I later learned from the older gentleman. The young man was a soldier who’d returned home and fallen on hard times. They developed a friendship. Life is good and we can make it good too by caring and giving. Stay tuned for my next blog article too. Celebrate everything!” Rex Sikes

Moe Rock, CEO The Los Angeles Tribune says, “One of the best books in personal development published in the last 25 years.” 

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