We were all traveling separately in our own vehicle heading to a car show. So we were talking about how the old vehicles were doing on the drive and how close we were to our destination. Well, I guess we were kind of animated when we walked through the front door of the restaurant, giddy with the excitement of the trip or whatever. None of us were expecting the welcome that we received. I guess this is what people mean when they say that the needle skipped.
Every person in the restaurant had stopped what they were doing to look at our little group when we crossed the threshold. It may have been the glare from the outside that suddenly goes away and causes temporary blindness that caused me to catch on dead last, but there I am still loud talking and carrying on when I noticed the knickknacks and doilies. There were pressed white table cloths and linen napkins in the shape of swans sitting on the tables near the door. I heard the proverbial pin drop when I looked into the restaurant. There were 38 or more elderly folks and their families staring intently at the four ne'er do wells that had walked in. Though I am sure that they are nice people, they were not expecting "hooligans" to darken their doorstep during their lunch special.
I felt like I had entered a private room when the waitress approached. She was nice. She smiled graciously and seated us at the other end of the restaurant near the piano. The rest of the patrons slowly returned to their conversations and only glanced at us as if to remind us that there would be no tom foolery. We discussed our options amongst ourselves and in spite of the prices decided to stay for a quick lunch and then back at it.We made small talk that seemed much funnier than it was because we all felt the need to be quiet and not attract attention. I found it hard to keep a straight face, which probably didn't do us any favors as we continued to snicker and carry on in a quiet, well mannered roadside restaurant frequented by locals that knew each other by name.
We talked about the pros and cons of flathead power. We talked about the swap meet at the car show and how we hoped to find some parts that we were looking for. We generally talked about all of the things that car guys talk about when they are doing car things with other guys. We eventually fell back into the comfort of familiarity and our own conversation. We soon forgot all about the uneasy stares and uncomfortable silence.
The Guiness was good and the onion rings were right on time. But the best part about the outing was when I realized that it was someones birthday and this is the sort of place that makes a big deal out of your birthday. I was expecting the usual singing staff and a rousing chorus of "a happy happy birthday" ala any number of chain restaurants where they expect you to wear flair. When all of the sudden, as if possessed by the spirit, the piano right next to us jumped to life and joined in wishing this loyal patron a happy birthday. It was a player piano. And I had never seen one in person before. The extent of my experience with a player piano had been on television, during old westerns, on a lazy Sunday. This was pretty neat in and of itself. It got better. I was pleasantly surprised to look back at the crowd and see all of their smiling faces looking in our direction and at the piano while smiling. I found out later that the piano was hard to keep in shape and they decided a few years ago to only play it on special occasions.
The candle on the cupcake was lit by the waitress and a wish was made by a sweet faced elderly woman who reminded me of my Great Grandma Macy before she passed. The restaurant brimmed with glee as she blew out the candle and smiled at the well wishers and on lookers. And all of the sudden I felt like I was in it. It was alright for me to be there, just like that. I was a part of this moment. I was a part of something that was going on in this little town at this little restaurant on the side of Rt.15.
I recommend that you stay off of interstates whenever possible.
It was a pretty rad piano and I can say I was one of those tattooed people. See I am finally one of the cool people.
ReplyDeleteAwesome trip and the scenery could not have been better.