The Paris News from Paris, Texas • Page 28

2C The Paris News Sunday, February 28,1993 ON THE COVER Vision becomes reality for Paris man By Shannon Money The Paris News I felt an instant tranquility, as if I had crossed an invisible barrier between the intensity of life and spiritual serenity, as I climbed the steps of The Palmer House, a private retreat center and the home of Richard Poteet. In the family for three generations, Poteet restored the 1916 prairie style home in 1992, redesigning it as a retreat center for the people of Lamar County and the surrounding area. "I've had a dream or vision of restoring the house as a retreat center for most of my life," he said. "What I'm offering here is a place for repose and a place to calm the mind and body, reflect on the mysteries of life, muse, share and rediscover that lost essence within." Poteet is a native of Paris, a graduate of Paris High School and Paris Junior College. He received a.

bachelor of arts degree from Austin College and a master of divinity degree from Austin Presbyterian Theolog: ical Seminary. He said during bis 20 years as an ordained minister, he sought knowledge of the "interior life" through numerous silence and solitude experiences in Catholic monasteries in the United States and Europe. In 1985 he studied for six months at the Carl G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland, and traveled in the Middle East. He also has participated in seminars at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, on the relationship between psychology and spirituality.

According to Poteet, The Palmer House offers classes, seminars and retreats that focus on the interior life, described by him as the life behind closed eyes where one observes and reflects on the workings of the mind and body. The basic process for enriching this soul life is yoga and meditation, he said. Yoga, an ancient form of exercise, is a process for uniting mind and body, and meditation is the process of being still, closing the eyes and allowing the mind and body to be calmed. Poteet said he began yoga in 1975 arid has been practicing since. "I took an introductory course," he said, "and it stuck." Each class session includes deep breathing, yoga postures and guided meditation, Poteet said, and the benefits include stress release, activated rest, physical flexibility, heightened creativity and an inner sense of well being.

"I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that what I'm doing will en- Barber's Cafe a farmhand's dream Located in the row of old structures just across the street from Market Square (1st Street SW) is Barber's Cafe, affectionately known as the Seeds Cafe because of the name stenciled across the building. Barber's offers down home £ookin' that, I hate to tell you all, is the best deal in town for the money. The price of a plate lunch with your choice of meat includes four vegetables, rolls and hot out of the oven, tea and dessert. Talk about a farmhand's lunch. Vegetables are, for the most part, fresh.

Baked sweet and white potatoes are perfectly cooked and soaked in butter. Cabbage is fried just right, not too much salt, and buttered turnips are larruping, as they Chocolate pudding is homemade and rich as fudge pie filling. Bread pudding would ri- val any restaurant in. Dallas. The handwritten menu varies from day to day, but the wall menu touts stew, hamburgers and the like.

I recommend sticking to the plate lunch. It's $3.95 with meat, $2.75 for the vegetable plate. A loyal clientele includes a coffee drinking group that sits at the community table in the center, and a score of others that occupy booths against the wall. You can't be squeamish about cigarette smoke, because it's a small place. But you can occupy yourself by reading the collection of old signs arrayed on the walls.

My personal favorite (besides the one advertising "Fairy" soap) says "Just what part of Tsrcy don't you Barber's is sort of a "diamond in the rough." It is not much on atmosphere, but the food is a real find. Chef du Jour "1.00 OFF fill SERYICF oit 2,00 OFF AHV Package Price Expires 3-7-93 Not Valid With Any Other Offer Must Have Coupon Mon-Sat MAGIC TUNNEL CAR WASH 2950 Lamar CIRCLE OF SILENCE Poteet, center, leads, from left, Carol Hammond, Vicky Cambell, Ginger Harm and Nick Hammond in a class. rich people's lives," he said. He said seminars and retreats covering various themes will be offered periodically and private retreats are available for people who want solitude through a directed or non-directed retreat. The Palmer House also pro- vides to groups, on a limited basis, facilities for seminars, retreats or special events.

In addition to the ongoing yoga and meditation class, Poteet said he will present two programs in The Life and Works of Anais Nin and The Enneagram. 30 minutes that can make a difference in your life, This week on McCuistion Regional Medical Center's ophthalmologist M. Steven Graves, M.D: explains the history of lasers. He will discuss the use of lasers in medicine today and will dispel myths associated with the uses of lasers. HeotthTdk can be seen each week on ACTS Channel 27 Saturday, at 6 p.m.; Sunday, at 10:30 a.m.

and 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, onTCA Channel 8. CU1STION REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER.