Support your local bakery

This morning I put my son in the stroller and took him for a walk. The air was a little chill (for Florida), but we walked anyway, up our street, a right at the corner, then wandered the bumpy asphalt sidewalk through our neighborhood.

My intent was to snap a few photographs, get Aiden out of the house for a while and let him see the outside world. He’s four months old. It’s important to understand there’s an outside, a world beyond the four walls of our living room. And it’s important for everyone, not just four-month olds.

And so we walked. We said hello to joggers, watched motorcycles rumble past. We heard dogs bark behind slat-wood fences, and I took a photograph of the Texaco star at the station up the street.

Sometimes, life is perfect.  In those slim moments, a singular action transports you to a time and place that’s just right, that becomes exactly what you need.  So we found Northwood Bakery, stickers on the door showing credit cards accepted and a neon sign in the window: OPEN. I could smell the donuts from across the parking lot.

Long ago one of my New Year’s resolutions had been to buy local when possible, to eschew large chain stores in favor of local businesses. It’s been easy when eating out. Pick a local burger place like Louis’ over one of the fast-food giants, pick pizza from Satchel’s over any other kind. Lunch at Buddha Belly, dinner at Mildred’s Big City Food.

Other things are harder, though. Polaroid film, a non-stick skillet–these things come from large stores. And until this morning, donuts came from one of two places: Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme.

No longer. I bought half a dozen donuts, placed the box in the low-slung cargo area of the stroller and walked them back home. They were still slightly warm when I opened the box on the counter, and their sugary aroma wafted through the kitchen. My wife and daughter and I each had two, light and airy and sweet.

Northwood Bakery
4917 NW 34th Street
Gainesville, FL
32605
(352) 376-5599