The "From One Dottie To Another!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Carol and I had just pulled into the small building known as "Dottie's Snack Bar" on West Fourth Street in the little town of  Quarryville, Pennsylvania.  Our mission today was to buy a cheesesteak with onions for our evening meal today.  Knew that we would get perhaps the best cheesesteak that was ever made.  

Dottie's Snack Bar in Quarryville, Pennsylvania

But, all of a sudden we saw the absence of cars and knew that something was wrong.  Yep...there on the window was a hand-lettered sign that read: Please be patient. We are short staffed.  Thank You!  

Sign on the window of "Dottie's Snack Bar.

"Geez, and we came all the way from Lancaster to buy the best-ever cheesesteak and now we have to go home disappointed!" I said to Carol.  "I know...I should have called ahead, but I just read several online replies from other patrons and thought for sure they would be open.  Guess I should have checked the dates on those replies!  It was years ago that my mom told me about this little snack bar in Quarryville that was named after her.  "Dottie's Snack Bar" was opened by Bill and Dottie Tomlinson in 1968 and has been a part of the Quarryville foodscape since that time.  When my mom and dad first saw the sign along West Fourth Street on a return trip from my dad's sister's cottage along the Elk River in Maryland, my mom was hooked.  

My mother, Dottie.

This new Dottie was someone she just had to meet, since her name was also Dottie.  She made sure she talked to Dottie Tomlinson the first time they stopped in to tell her they were both named "Dottie."  My guess is that both Dottie's hit it off right from the start and talked on other occasions when mom and dad might have stopped for sandwiches at "Dottie's Snack Bar."  My mother, Dottie, died in October of 2012 at the age of 90 and often talked about her ice-cream treats at Dotties in Quarryville.  Well, about a week ago, the other Dottie, who owned and worked at "Dottie's Snack Bar," died at the age of 88.  

Dottie Tomlinson and husband Bill making a cheesesteak. (LNP Photo).

 Many things have been said about my mother and how humble she was.  Anyone whom needed help could count on my mom to help them.  She loved her family and loved to visit with them whenever she could.  After reading the story in the local newspaper about the death of Dottie Tomlinson, I could see exactly why my mom enjoyed meeting her years and years ago.  Even though they weren't best friends, they both shared the same name and had the same morals and love of humanity.  I'm so sorry I never had the chance to talk with Dottie Tomlinson, since she was always busy when we would stop for a cheesesteak or ice cream, but after reading her story in the newspaper, I could see why my Mother enjoyed meeting Dottie years ago.  May they sometime meet again in Heaven.  I'm sure they will remember each other!  How many Dotties could there be?  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.