Dear Bank of Prairie Village Community~
On one recent cold evening, I was thinking of the warm days of the past summer. Suddenly I could not help smiling at one of the most unique memories of last summer.
I had driven one hot Tuesday afternoon straight from the Bank of Prairie Village to Salina to visit my parents. Once in Salina, I stopped at the local Casey’s Convenience store to grab an iced tea and refill the car before heading to my parent’s house.
Casey’s is kind of the Quick Trip convenience store of smaller towns. This one is well located and always crowded.
It was very hot that afternoon. I was still wearing my business suit from the bank. I had stopped enough times at that particular Casey’s during my Salina visits that the long-time cashier usually recognizes me and nods. I vaguely remember the first time I went in she did a double take of me wearing a business suit among all the construction workers who were loading up for their next shift.
On this particular afternoon, I was just about to pay for the iced tea when one of the town locals came in looking hot and disheveled. I recognized him as someone who frequently walks the streets at all hours of the day. I had seen him enough times out walking during my Salina visits I usually wave at him if we make eye contact. He often smiles and enthusiastically waves back.
(I like the fact that in small towns people wave whether they know each other or not. I’ve noticed people out walking in Prairie Village do the same thing.)
On that afternoon, my unknown friend walked up looked directly at me, broke into a big smile and started laughing. He then pointed at me and in a loud voice for the entire store to hear said, “I know you Sir. You are the one man in town whose place of business I never want to enter.”
Suddenly the whole place became very quiet. It was as if the whole store suddenly began to wonder who this big guy was wearing a dark business suit and sunglasses in a Salina convenience store on a hot summer afternoon.
I quickly surveyed the store and realized every eye was on me. There were two gentlemen behind me. One was wearing a MAGA hat and a worn out “Live Free or Die” T-Shirt. The other had on a sweat soaked cowboy hat and a large buck knife attached to his belt. His jeans were tucked into his calf high, very-scuffed cowboy boots.
I could tell they assumed I worked for some unpopular Federal enforcement agency. In that tense moment, the cashier, in a low but loud enough voice for everyone to hear asked, “Sir what exactly do you do for a living?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see both the MAGA guy, and his Cowboy friend, had moved in closer and started squinting at me with malice in their eyes.
In that moment, I realized stating I was a Kansas City Banker in town visiting my folks was not the right response. It certainly was not going to satisfy all the eyes bored in on me. I momentarily panicked, unsure of how I was going to get out of this jam.
Whatever Irish charm I previously counted on to deliver quick-witted funny comments failed me. My brain froze. Every muscle in my body tensed. I remember thinking about the “Fight or Flight” dilemma. I quickly glanced out at my car. The gas hose from the pump was still attached to it. Neither “Fight nor Flight” appeared to be a good option.
It was at this tense, critical moment my street walking friend started
laughing again. In a very loud voice, he again pointed at me and announced, “That man there is the town undertaker – and I do not want to ever enter his place of business.”
His laughing at his own joke was contagious. The cashier started laughing, the construction workers started laughing, and even MAGA and Cowboy broke into smiles and started nodding.
Suddenly my brain unfroze. I decided to go with the flow. I put my arm on my new friend’s shoulder and said “Son, you just keep walking that straight and narrow path – and you won’t see me in my office for a long, long time.”
His eyes grew wide. He said, “Sir – oh yes, Sir. I’ll keep walking that straight and narrow road and you won’t be seeing me in your office.”
I thought about suggesting he be better off putting down his 64 oz Cup of Mountain Dew – but decided I’d better leave while the going was good.
Today, whenever I go back, the cashier greets me as “Mr. Straight and Narrow.” I’m kind of a celebrity. People I do not know are always waving and smiling. My Straight and Narrow Walking Friend must be influential on the streets and have a large following.
The actual Funeral Director of Salina, who has been a family friend for generations, came up to me in a restaurant laughing. He said, “Bolen all this time I thought you were a Kansas City Banker – now half the people on the street think you have my job. I’ve never been so popular.”
As I reflected on that hot day, I decided there were a couple of lessons learned: 1) When in a jam, do not to panic; 2) Avoid succumbing to the flight or fight syndrome; 3) Pray for a miracle – and then look for it; 4) Always assume things will ultimately work out for the best (Fortunately for us, Patrick Mahomes is the master of such thinking).
As we go through this winter, let’s together look for the little miracles in whatever form they may come, knowing Spring is around the corner! Thank you for letting us be your bank and banker – and let’s stay on that old straight and narrow path as we think about the coming lovely Spring.
Dan Bolen ~ Chairman
Bank of Prairie Village
913~707~3369 Cell
Dan.Bolen@BankofPrairieVillage.com
“The Bank of Prairie Village ~ Home of Blue Lion Banking”~ cited March 2020 and~ again in April 2021 & April 2022 by the Kansas City Business Journal as one of the “Safest Banks in Kansas City for Your Money.”
