Flash From the Past

Back in another life, I used to hang out occasionally with my friend Lisa at the tavern listed on the cap in this picture. This was a few years ago when I was right out of college. During college I had been a serious student and really never went through that party stage, but after graduation I cut loose for a couple of years. Lisa was a wild child and introduced me to this place, because before that (and certainly since), I'm more at home in a classy martini bar.

This place was a dive bar located near the correctional center, and it was oft debated which place had more crazy people. The bar had a couple of pool tables, a jar of pickled eggs behind the counter, the rancid smell of cigarette smoke combined with sweat and grease, and a Smith & Wesson next to the register. Lisa and I usually sat at the bar, chatted with the regulars, and chain smoked the night away. Now and then we'd get to watch a fight break out.

My dad caught wind of it (intentionally, I admit, I egged him on), and he didn't like to hear that his daughter was hanging out at such a rough place. So one day when he was delivering hay to a farm near there, he actually dragged my mom into this place for a beer, to find out how bad it really was!

"It cost 80 cents for a half pint!" he railed the next time he saw me. "And there were pickle cards all over the floor!"

Later, over a holiday dinner, we all laughed about it. My dad is a serious and quiet person, which made it all the more hilarious that he'd gone there. For his birthday that year (1996), I purchased this hat in the picture for his collection and he's only worn it a few times, choosing instead to mostly display it.

Last night he picked my kids up from daycare and when I came home, Lm was wearing it. Cracked me up! But it made me think--what if what goes around, comes around??

My kids had better never hang out in such a dive like that!! I would have to put my foot down for sure...