Meet Me at La Frontera

On Saturday, February 15, 2025

I am writing this post to extend an invitation to you all to join me for a very informal meet-up next Saturday, February 15th, at La Frontera Restaurant in Hampton, Iowa at noon, or really any time around then. I will be there before noon, and I will not be in any hurry to leave.

Run of Show

This is not going to be heavily structured or formal in any way. We’re meeting at a restaurant for Pete’s sake, eating lunch is the first and, frankly, the most important item on my meet-up agenda. Come as you are and do not worry about when you show up or preparing in any way. We’re not going to have nametags, we’re not going to do an icebreaker, we’re not going to call on people to sum up their life story or anything else.

We are going to show up, enjoy La Frontera’s fare, share some fellowship and conversation and do all of that to honor La Frontera. It is a show of solidarity with La Frontera and the other Latino-owned businesses in Hampton that have stood up to dark, racist things that have been foisted upon them through no fault of their own. And an effort to honor the manner in which they have stood up against those dark things as well as how they have stood up for their families, their businesses and their community.

Plus, we’re going to enjoy some Mexican food for lunch, let’s not lose that part of the mission here. I have no idea how many people will show up. I know that my brother Larry and sister-in-law Elaine, who live in Hampton, will join me (as long as I pick them up on the way). Worst case scenario, if it just the three of us, we will do all the talking, fellowshipping and, you guessed it, eating. For worst case scenarios, that’s not bad at all. Love you Larry & Elaine!

Write about it.

OK, I know I said you would not have to participate in any touchy-feely, trainer game meeting stuff. And I meant it. But I am going to challenge you all to do something. It’s easy, I just want you to write about this. I do not care where or how. I do want you to share it with the rest of us but be open-minded and creative.

Write a Substack of your own, if you do that sort of thing. Or write a post for Facebook or BlueSky. Start a chat on my Substack or post a comment there (or on my posts on Facebook, BlueSky, Instagram, etc.). Write down your thoughts on a piece of paper and walk up and hand it to me.

What should you write about? Whatever your heart desires. Write about your feelings regarding the dark events that happened in Hampton last summer, or what has happened since, or what is happening out in the world. Or write about what it felt like to see or talk with someone you haven’t seen in a while, or someone you just met. Write about a chat with Mary Villanueva, La Frontera owner. Write a review of La Frontera’s tacos if you like. It all counts with me.

I won’t even hold you to writing, if you prefer to take a photograph, sketch something, paint a picture, draw a cartoon. It all counts, all of it, communicate and create, that’s the key. Because I believe that most of us, if not all of us, underestimate how isolating and dislocating our world has become these days. We need to talk to each other, connect, be in fellowship, as much and as soon as we possibly can. And this is one way that I know we can start.

Therefore, I ask and hope that you will join me next Saturday (Feb. 15th) at noon at La Frontera in Hampton, Iowa. You know, even if you cannot make it to my little lunch, you can still write, create and share with the rest of us about any or all of this. I hope you will — join us and share then or just create and share whenever if you cannot be there; let’s get started tearing down all these walls between us.

What made me think to do this? (background)

In a recent post — Stand Up Where You Are — I discussed and celebrated this story from Jennifer Burnham at the Hampton Chronicle.

Mexican Restaurants in Hampton Close for Day in Support of Immigrant Community

By Jennifer Burnham, Hampton Chronicle

Two Mexican restaurants and a liquor store in Hampton have announced they are closed for the day in support of the immigrant community in the area.

The owners of La Frontera, La Chozita and A to Z Liquor Inc. posted on Facebook that they will be closed on Monday, Feb. 3, joining a national movement called "A Day Without Immigrants.” Establishments in Des Moines and around the state are also participating in the movement.

“We’re closing our store because we are with the Latino community and our clients and without you guys, we wouldn’t be anything,” said La Frontera Owner Mary Villanueva.

La Frontera opened their doors ten years ago…

As I said in that post, it is not a lighthearted story, but it is certainly a courageous one.

And at this time in our nation, we must not underestimate the value, the power, of simple courage. La Frontera, La Chozita and A to Z Liquor Inc. did something that we should all be doing. They stood up, right there, where they are. If only more of us would recognize that the simple act of standing up for the rights and the safety of those around us is vital and profound.

I believe it is vitally necessary to honor and celebrate these businesses, and if we strengthen our connections to each other and in our communities in the process, well that seems perfect to me. Plus, I love Mexican food. And I love my brother and sister-in-law… more than Mexican food? Hmm, maybe, but fortunately, on this day, I will not have to make that determination.

Oh, I know someone is going to ask, “what about the other businesses John?” Don’t worry, I’ve got that covered. After lunch, I’m going to head over the A to Z Liquor and buy some bourbon as my bottle at home is empty. If you know me these days it takes a long, long time for that to happen. But in this case, it timed out pretty well. Any and all of you are welcome and encouraged to join me in that post-lunch liquor shopping.

As for La Chozita, my plan is that regardless of how this little meet-up goes, I will return to Hampton a week or two after next Saturday to visit and have lunch with my brother and sister-in-law again. I think that would be the perfect time to host this meet-up again, but this time at La Chozita.

Love, grace and peace to you all, until we meet again, which I hope is next Saturday if not before… john