A fun journey today, as IHOP (International House of Pancakes) celebrated 57 years in business. Restaurants across the nation, including the Joplin one, offered short stacks of pancakes for 57 cents. What a way to throw a birthday party…invite the whole country to dine on pancakes at a ridiculously low price.
I found out about IHOP’s yearly practice in 2014, during my year of firsts. Last year, the short stack, which is three fluffy buttermilk pancakes, was offered for 56 cents. Each year, I presume, the price will go up a penny, to match the number of years in business.
Greg and I stopped by for an early dinner. There was no waiting when we arrived, but that situation changed rapidly. People were standing in line to get in when we left. We each had a short stack, Greg’s doused with warm maple syrup and mine with blueberry syrup, and a side of crispy bacon. The saltiness of the bacon nicely complemented the sweetness of the syrup topped pancakes.
Sometimes, the journeys are the simple pleasures found in ordinary days. I don’t mind that at all. These simple pleasures and ordinary days add up to an extraordinarily rich, joy filled life. Happy birthday, IHOP. May you celebrate many, many more years in business, offering up those amazing stacks of buttermilk pancakes.
