from the editor

The value of a dollar

A FEW YEARS AGO, a priest assembled a small group of teenagers for a confirmation class. He pulled out a $1 bill and set it on the desk in front of him. “Why,” he asked, “does this have value?”

The group looked askance at each other, and then at the priest and offered ideas:

“It’s money.”

“It’s backed by the U.S. government.”

“It’s worth something because people agree to use it to pay for a product or service.”

“It’s a person’s time and work.”

The answers were a bit unrefined. As I recall, the priest — as priests always seem to do — said the the value of a dollar is a matter of faith. It’s a kind of economic sacrament, if you will, because the piece of paper has no intrinsic value other than that which we ascribe to it.

It represents faith in each other, faith in the social contracts that make civilization function. When we exchange a $1 bill, we are acting on a promise, executing a contract about work and value.

It’s something to keep in mind these days: our strength is each other and the commitments we make.

Pulled up to a warm plate of Mac & Cheese lately? The crumbling oven-baked kind made with real milk, cheddar cheese and butter? If you did, it might have triggered memories of a warm kitchen years ago and perhaps a mother’s love.

It’s pretty much accepted that for most of us, food and emotions are intertwined, hence the phrase comfort food. It just tastes great, makes us feel good and likely triggers happy memories.

With Thanksgiving this month and family traditions looming large, we turned to Alfred Katopodis, the chef at the San Bernardino Hilton’s Manhattan Grill, to give us ideas for upscale comfort foods you can serve in your own home.

To help with holidays and parties, we found ideas on selecting a caterer, what to bring a hostess, and treats in the way of Gino L. Filippi’s sweet sippers.

Add that to Wapango, a wonderful restaurant find, plus beer and food at Omaha Jack’s, and we were starting to squeeze our other features. Suzanne Sproul explores the renovation of an historic Redlands home; in our Better Living section we offer ideas to keep the pounds off and an update on today’s bicycles. And we again have our cameras at local charitable events. There’s more of course, but you’ll just have to explore it on your own. Cheers!

Don Sproul don@inlandlivingmagazine.com (909) 386-3899