The Red Diamond coffee and tea company was founded by the Donovan family in the early 20th century. When I worked in the crazy restaurant the then-current owner Mr. Donovan, and I forget his name but it may be Jim, came in all the time. He was okay in some ways but in others he was just a typical rich asshole.
He was often crude and childish. He cursed so much that I called him Mr. Goddammit. It wouldn't have been a huge deal except that he did it even when little kids were around. He thought it was funny. I thought he was an asshole.
He was always laughing and joking, but it was fake. He'd tell these jokes that were on the level of maybe a second-grader. I was always nice to him and I went "Ha-ha" at his jokes, but wealthy or not I was glad to be nothing like him.
I have to say it's funny to see how money affects people...even the thought of having money. There was a guy who worked at the restaurant who was certain that if he kissed Mr. D's ass hard enough he'd leave him some money in his will. He was in his 80s by then.
It was rather pathetic to see him run across the restaurant to open the door for the Donovans. He'd escort him and his wife in and become a valet and park their car for them. He'd even go to their house and do free yard work.
I felt badly for his wife, who had to watch him make a fool of himself and show everyone what was really important to him. I've never seen ass get kissed like that in my life. Mr. Goddammit of course was laughing the whole time, and he never left him a penny.
Anyway it was interesting to meet one of his sons, and get a different take on the family dynamics. I met him in church. He was the drummer in the church band, and he was really good. I introduced myself and told him I enjoyed his playing.
When I heard his name I asked if it was the tea Donovans and he said yes. I'd have never known he was Mr. D's son because he was nothing like his old man. We'd talk whenever I was there, and I really got to like him. He had a beautiful wife and two kids and he seemed to be happy.
I'm pretty sure his name is Jim, and I don't know if he's a junior or not. One night he told me a very interesting story. Old man Donovan had disowned him and written him out of his will, to the tune of millions of dollars, because he wouldn't renounce his belief in Christ.
He didn't tell me all the details or how much money was involved, only that he wouldn't reject God. I was talking to the preacher about it and he told me. It's wild...Jim gave up millions of dollars for his faith. He totally could've lied, and Mr. D wouldn't have known the difference, but he chose to be honest. He could've been set for life...this life anyway.
The Bible asks the question "What good does it do a person to inherit the whole world, if they lose their soul?" That's a good question. In fact, if God and eternity are real, then it's the most important question we'll ever have to answer.
How many people would say that Jim was a fool? Most of them? How many people think he made the right decision? I do. If there's an afterlife, I wonder how it's working out for Mr. Goddammit...
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