We go local - with local electricians, for instance
Homemade bagels make an impression
When They Go Loco … WeGoLocal is the name of this Substack. At least half of my fellow voters went loco in the last election, in my opinion. They may find that the pain they thought would be felt by others will be inflicted on them, too. Tariffs will be paid by every American consumer, not the countries that made and exported the product.
Everything bagels and black and brown sesame bagels. Which would you choose?
One reason I make bagels from scratch is to give some away to neighbors, friends or family. The other reason is that it’s so damn cheap.
I’ve talked about making bagels before, because it’s the best way to get a decent bagel: make it yourself.
So I do. I make a batch of bagels just about every week, and give away 2-4 out of my batch of 8, as a general rule.
A bagel as bonus
When we needed a light on the back porch we called a local electrician who lives a stone’s throw away. Chris did the job with only minor irritations - such as the unusual brackets on IKEA outdoor lamps. Being a good electrician, he solved the problem, and told us a fair price.
After my wife wrote a check, I asked him, “If you could choose between an everything bagel and a sesame bagel, which would you go with?”
He immediately said “Everything!” I bagged up one that I’d baked an hour before and asked if I could slice it. He waved off the offer.
A half-hour later, I got the invoice by text (as promised) with this added note:
Chris thought it was a treat, when it’s an everyday kind of thing, almost for us. But it gave him some joy after a job well done.
Do you think Chris will think favorably about us if we have an emergency? That’s not why I gave it to him, but I bet he will.
So I will continue to do what I do: make stuff and give some of it away. That may be the kind of action we need to take in the next few months and years if we are to survive as communities.
I know this, though: next time Chris comes over to fix or install a light, I’ll have some fresh-baked bagels ready to go. Maybe he’ll take sesame…