My bride and myself have been going to the Carolina Restaurant for many years for a steak dinner and rarely go any other place for a steak.  The Carolina Restaurant is not a fancy place, which probably has the same decor for the past 20 years, but you get an outstanding grilled steak there and the service is excellent.  The salad bar is small, but has the basic things to go with your meal.

I called our reservation in about a week early since the restaurant opens at 6 PM and there is a line waiting to get in whether it is raining, snowing, etc.  The restaurant has closed a few times in the past due to inclement weather such as ice and sleet making it too dangerous to travel the roads which is understandable.

Below is a pix screen captured from the internet of the front of the Carolina Restaurant:

Several that did not know the way to the Carolina Restaurant or didn't have GPS, met at our home and we did some carpooling.

My friends Robert and Sandra Webster were already at the restaurant when we got there and there was one handicapped parking space available and right on time for yours truly.

The restaurant doors opened at 6 PM on the dot and it didn't take long before the line was dispersed very quickly inside.  We were greeted by the owners below and our reservations were in order.

Another view of the entrance.  The main room out of view on the left has booths and a more romantic setting for a couple and my bride and myself favor that side, but like the salad plates on the right side seating area which are different from the left side.......grin if you must.

We were met by our waitress Brandy and she took our drink orders once we got seated.

I gave a short introduction and let Bill introduce himself and Nichol.

Below pix of Bill and Nichol at our home before we left for the Carolina Restaurant.

Bill sure does clean up very well and Nichol is looking great as always! 

Robert and Sandra Webster from Hamlet, NC.  Robert is retired from the NCDPS and Sandra is still working at the Lanesboro Correctional Institution. 

My "bride" aka Joyce Porter about to get a serious grin going.

Sue and Haywood Newton from LA, (Lilesville Area); Lilesville, NC; both are retired.

From left to right:  Bill, Will, Rachel Myers and Sue Newton.

Doug and Sue Pettigrew and Betty Jo Porter on the right. I thought that was Wilford Brimley!

Betty Jo Porter, Allen Porter and Wink Myers.  Brother Allen looks too serious in this pix!

Shane Hough, Laura Porter and Travis Huneycutt on the right.

Lisa and Xander Gonzales; Xander is our youngest Grandson and is very sleepy too.

Laura Porter and her youngest son Trevor Lane Huneycutt.

Laura Porter and her oldest son Travis Lee Huneycutt....Travis could audition for Duck Dynasty.....

Wink Myers, Shane Hough, Laura Porter and Travis Lee Huneycutt.

Travis Lee Huneycutt, Trevor Lane Huneycutt and "Will" aka William McKnight Porter III.

Somebody snuck a pix of yours truly in the blue shirt beside Wink Myers who is also in a blue shirt.  No, we didn't call one another to coordinate our clothes.....grin if you must....Lisa Gonzales on the left with Haywood Newton in the background and Shane Hough on the far right.  I believe the camera flash is causing my hairline to recede because each event pix, tells the tale!  I can see it now; Kojak Porter

SALAD BAR TIME

After Brandy got all of our drink and food orders, it was time to head to the salad bar; pixs below:

I was about to get Wilford Brimley's autograph!

I got my salad and it didn't take too long for it to get gone.

Things got a little quiet for a while, but when most had finished their salad and meal, it was time to catch up on the latest happenings.

Below pix of my ribeye steak and baked potato with sour cream and butter.  I think I might have eaten a basket full of the yeast rolls myself.....grin if you must!

I couldn't get the light right for the above pix and it is what it is!  The ribeye was cooked medium rare and was very tender, juicy and tasty!  I have yet to add any additional seasonings to the steak; they are seasoned to perfection in my humble opinion.

I believe it was Will that got this pix of yours truly in the background with Shane Hough and Laura Porter in the foreground.

AROUND THE TABLE PIXS

Nichol got a chance to talk to most of the guest and related some of her military career experiences.  Nichol is a Commander in the US Navy and currently assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt, an aircraft carrier based out of San Diego.  She has spent about half her 30 year US Naval career on the East Coast in the Norfolk, Virginia area.

We had a great time; shared good food, fellowship and friendship and glad that Nichol got a chance to meet additional family members on both the Porter and the Adcock side and some of my friends.

Again, my money wasn't any good and Bill picked up the entire tab for everyone, but I did collect some tip money for Bill since they added 15 percent gratuity to the total and certainly hope that Brandy received it.  Brandy did a fantastic job getting our orders and keeping our drink glasses topped off.

VISIT COMING TO AN END

Bill, Nichol and Will visited with us on Sunday and we had plenty of left overs for lunch and had dinner at Will's favorite place here in Wadesboro being BoJangles.  We planned to go to the Lady Bug Restaurant, but they were closed on Sunday evening.  Will must have had a voo doo doll.

We visited with Bill, Nichol and Will Monday morning and they left around 10:30ish heading for Charlotte, NC to the Douglas International Airport.  Will had a different flight route back to San Diego, CA than they did.  I talked with Bill today and they are getting ready for a friends get together at a favorite Micro Brewery out there.

Nichol got an early Christmas gift before leaving....saved me some shipping costs....grin if you must!

The above serving tray is made from curly maple and has some outstanding figured grain to it.

We certainly did enjoy the visit and looking forward to doing it again.

To quote one of my departed friends, "Yesterday is History, Today is a Gift and Tomorrow is a Mystery." 

Below is my favorite poem which means to me: Live today the best that you can!

SALUTATION TO THE DAWN

Look to this day!

For it is life, the very life of life.

In its brief course

Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:

    The bliss of growth

        The glory of action

            The splendor of beauty,

For yesterday is but a dream

And tomorrow is only a vision,

But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness

And every tomorrow a vision of hope.

Look well, therefore, to this day!

Such is the salutation to the dawn.

                            by Kalidasa 1280 AD

Read this link Bible verses about the family. 

Web published update by Bill aka Mickey Porter on 11-22-16 and 03-19-17.