Why Thousands Have Breakfast With This Rockford Man Every Morning
For one man from Rockford, Saturday morning breakfast is about much more than just the food on the plate.
A Saturday Tradition That Never Stopped
Bill Mitchell just turned 88, and he still prepares the breakfast he once made for his wife, Martha, and shares it with tens of thousands of people on Instagram.
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What began as a way to keep Martha's memory alive has grown into a worldwide online community, with more than 63,000 fans now following Bill on his IG page @BillMitchell992.
Martha died after the couple was involved in a serious car crash in Oklahoma. A semi-truck hit the driver's side of their vehicle. Bill suffered significant injuries, but Martha initially appeared to have avoided the worst of the crash. She was later affected by an autoimmune reaction that led to a stroke and ultimately took her life.
'Martha's Breakfast' Has Become Something Much Bigger
Mitchell told the Q Morning Crew with Johnny V. and Lil' Zim that his daughters initially encouraged him to share his meals as a way to keep him active and engaged, but over time, the food became secondary.
Bill says his followers have become a community, and he regularly gives them small challenges designed to encourage kindness and positivity. One week, he asked everyone to smile at someone they encountered. Another week, the assignment was to perform a good deed every day.
He also says his online presence and encouragement have helped people dealing with difficult situations, including followers struggling with addiction, broken relationships, and mental-health issues. Some followers have even started calling Mitchell their adopted grandpa, including the Crips gang in Los Angeles, who told Bill that if he ever visits California, they would keep him safe.
The Breakfast Behind the Viral Tradition
The famous "Martha's Breakfast" on Saturday features skillet-poached eggs, a recipe Mitchell says he has shared hundreds of times, and he has a video showing people how to prepare them on his Instagram.
And Mitchell's kitchen isn't limited to Martha's breakfast. He enjoys experimenting with everything from Taco Tuesday creations to pancake-battered French toast. When asked to choose his ultimate breakfast, Mitchell didn't hesitate: fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, fruit, and a hot cup of coffee.
A Connection That Makes the Story Even Smaller
During the Q Morning Crew interview, another unbelievable connection emerged. Bill Mitchell grew up in Evansville, Indiana, just three houses away from Johnny V's father.
The connection is another example of the unlikely relationships that have grown around Mitchell's online presence. An artist named Lisa Frost even discovered Bill's Instagram account and felt inspired to paint her own picture of 'Martha's Breakfast' that she gifted to him.
For Bill Mitchell, the meals may have started with remembering Martha, but they've become a daily way to connect with people around the world with positivity and some classic country music that Bill sings along with in his videos.
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Gallery Credit: Stacker
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