Last Friday I took my lunch
at The 100 Mile Rib & Chop House in Fowler, Indiana. The 100 Miles is from Chicago, I believe. It's where I usually eat when I'm in Fowler - a bar on one side of the wall, a small restaurant on the other side. Good food.
Comfort food. The special was smoked sausage with scalloped potatoes and green beans, and I had a cup of their coffee.
A few tables away, Gramma and Grandson were having lunch together. Grandson was perhaps 19 years old, laconic, long-limbed and slow-voweled. Gramma was white-headed. Grandson finished his meal, said, "I gotta go up to the Courthouse and pay my bullshit ticket." Gramma wanted to know what the ticket was for.
"The cop said I didn't stop for a stop sign."
Gramma said, "I got a ticket like that. I stopped for the stop sign and he said I didn't, and I didn't have anybody with me to prove any different. I was by myself."
Waitress asked Grandson if he wanted another Coke. I know misunderstanding when I see it. When she brought him the soda, he said, "I didn't want any more." Maybe he didn't, but he didn't make it very clear. He's blond, slight, tall, laconic, slow-voweled, and not very verbally adept, you think. And the cops think he rolls through stop signs; apparently it runs in the family.
Fun to enjoy this lunch with you, Tom...
Posted by: Pica | February 24, 2006 at 11:12 AM
Thanks, Pica.
Posted by: Tom Montag | February 24, 2006 at 01:35 PM
I finally watched Napoleon Dynamite the other night at the urging, nay nagging, of my 14 year old. My 20 year old (the big theater and dramaturgy guy) thinks it's crap, but my husband and daughter and I enjoyed it. The stop sign roller sounds like he could have been in the movie. You do one heck of a sweet character study!
Posted by: Lois | February 25, 2006 at 11:25 AM
Thanks, Lois. Sounds like I will have to watch Napolean Dynamite myself, whether or not the big theater and dramaturgy guy likes it....
You know, the study of character is likely the study of everything, isn't it? I mean, when all is said and done, what else is there.
And you know I don't mean that in a self-serving Republican way. I don't gamble, the way some of those who would tell us all about character do. :)
Posted by: Tom Montag | February 25, 2006 at 11:43 AM
You know, come to think of it, I'd LOVE to get your take on Napoleon Dynamite. Let me know what you think once you see it! And you know, Tom, if I were you I'd avoid going quail hunting with any Republicans. They might just peg you on principle because of your bad attitude...
:>)
Posted by: Lois | February 25, 2006 at 12:41 PM
Dang, Lois, now I'll have to get on the trail Napolean Dynamite, no doubt about it....
You know I wouldn't be caught dead or otherwise quail hunting with Republicans. See my little essay on "Why I Don't Hunt," which pre-dates Cheney's little adventure: http://middlewesterner.typepad.com/middlewesterner/2004/11/why_i_dont_hunt.html
Posted by: Tom Montag | February 25, 2006 at 12:50 PM