Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 18:00:00 -0400
From: Dan Cahoon
I have enjoyed the last quiet sandwich on my front porch in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. Wednesday is so rarely a day off from school, and is not made better by any comparisons to humps. For the next 36 Wednesdays I shall be eating my lunch surrounded by either excited and energized children or exhausted and chatty fellow teachers. I enjoy the conversation and fellowship, occasionally, the food, but nothing compares to that magical silent meal on my front porch in the summer. It really is too hot to sit outside but I endure it out of spite. At this point in the summer I know how little relaxed outdoor time I will be experiencing for many many many months, so I force myself to be outside doing something self indulgent.The hummingbirds and the gold finches can take it, then so can I. I sit and munch at my leisure, unaware of the time or any kind of schedule.
I have been looking forward to sitting and drinking a true pint at a bar that doesn't smell like feet and chatting with others so inclined. I am not too picky when it comes to bars, but in my stage of existence I find comfort and quality to be rather important.
It has not always been this way for me. For several years in my college days I frequented a tiny little dive just far enough away from school to slide under the radar. The floor was sticky and the air smoky. I remember holding my 5'8" own in a sea of drunken giants, somehow managing to fight my way to the bar and back to my "spot" near the foosball table. This bar was not quiet, or clean, but it rocked.
They did serve food there but I never remember eating anything at that place. I remember a time in my life when comaraderie and revelry superseded any need for good service. Indeed, the best one could get from complaining in such a place would be a dark look from the beautiful (and kind of scary) bartender. The worst would be no service at all.
No, I would not take my family there. I would take them somewhere where they could have as much fun as I would. Heck, I might leave them at home and enjoy a cool pint ALL BY MYSELF! Nothing ruins a good pint of ale more than an unpleasant tot. They can be so annoyingly loud. My children, of course, are perfectly well behaved and a pleasure to have around. They are mindful of noise though, so when they come we'll keep them in mind. The point is that we are very lucky to have multiple dining venues at all. I am grateful for every moment spent away from my sometimes stressful and demanding job. Every moment spent with friends at The General Store Cafe' or Chatham Market Place is a treasure to someone who spends his day herding children. I am planning on adding a new spot to hang and enjoy.
I look forward to my first pint at Carolina Brewery. Watch out though, I tend to get a little noisy when I am having a good time.