August 26, 2006
Girls Night Out -To Be 21 Again
Last night, I was out on the town with my sister Rachel and my cousin Meghan. Rachel and Meghan are both 21 years old and love to have fun. Didn’t we all at that age?
We started at Big Todd’s Rumble Inn, a biker-themed bar in Stevens Point. Hell, it is a biker bar. Last night had a very familiar crowd in the bar. I saw 4 different people that I worked with at 3 different jobs. I hadn’t seen these people in years and they looked as though they’d just crawled out from under a rock.
I saw two women that I worked with at South Point Restaurant. These women were dressed in the most awkward clothing. One in a tube top and a long white skirt with cowboy boots, the other wearing what looked like a bed sheet. Or a tent. I couldn’t really be sure.
They saw my sister and me (at one time, Rachel worked there, too) and started yelling, “Oooooh, my gooooosh! You two look sooooo grown up. What are you up to? Talk to me?” as they spilled their drinks all over my purse. The damn thing now smells like cheap whiskey and Squirt. Yuck.
I never cared for these women because they were pushy, sleazy and very forward. By forward I mean they were not afraid to say anything no matter who they hurt or what the repercussions were (damn, this sounds like other people I know). After smiling and nodding for 10 minutes and making the bare minimum of conversation, I told Meghan and Rachel to suck up because we were leaving.
We headed to 2nd Street Pub next, formerly known as Frank & Ernie’s my father’s bar. He’s leasing to Holly the One Eyed Sailor and thank God she wasn’t there. I really don’t care for her and avoid her whenever possible.
We sat on the elbow of the bar where our family picture is immortalized beneath a coat of polyurethane. I started to reminisce the days gone by. The days of bartending. The days of being carefree. I missed all the old customers. “Uncle” Bernie, Dave Schelke and so many more.
Why didn’t I appreciate these people more when I was around them? I could kick myself for not spending more time really getting to know them. Was I so busy, wrapped up in my friends, gossiping with them instead of being kind and courteous to my father’s patrons? (And look at all the time I spent catering to my friends! What a waste!)
In the midst of my personal boo-hoo session, a tall, middle-aged man sat next to me.
“Hi, I’m Jeff, Holly’s nephew.” he said. My first instinct was to get up and move to a different seat, but I noticed there were no other available bar stools. I decided to take my own advice and give this guy the benefit of the doubt. He must be nice, I thought.
“Hi, Jeff, Holly’s nephew. I’m Dana. This is my cousin Meghan and that’s my sister Rachel.” I replied.
“What do you girls do for a living?” he asked.
“Well Jeff, I work for Travel Guard.” I told him.
“I’m a stripper.” said Rachel. And I burst out laughing. Uncontrollable laughter. It felt good. To have a deep belly laugh after all the days of tears and anger, was a gift from God.
“She’s not a stripper.” I said. “She’s lying to you.”
“Ooh no. She works at the New Yorker.” Meghan chimed in.
“You’re making me look like a liar, girls!” I said.
Jeff proceeded to swoon us with his charm and his love for Metallica. He asked me if I’d ever dance to whatever god-awful song was playing.
“I don’t know how to dance to this.” I said.
“Oh sure you do, it’s like this.” He demonstrated his slick dancing moves which looked more like muscle spasms and knee-jerk reactions similar to having a doctor check your reflexes. I couldn’t stop laughing. Rachel and Meghan were in stitches. At that moment I wanted to hug this Jeff. I wanted to hug him for being himself. For not caring what anyone thought of him. For really putting himself out there. He didn’t give a rats behind if we thought he was crazy. Even if he was crazy, I didn’t care. At that moment I started to tear up.
“What’s the tears for? Is my dancing that bad?” he said as he sat back down in his chair.
I shook my head and said, “Oh no, no. That’s not it. Thank you for brightening my night.”
Jeff introduced us to his friend Nate. Turns out “Nate” was Nate Garski, a scrawny kid who’d ride his bike all over the neighborhood and he’d come into the bar to order food when my dad ran it. He looked so different. He was taller and more mature looking and I started to feel old.
“Oh my gosh, Nate. You grew up! I feel so old!” I said.
Nate told me he was 23 years old and followed that statement with, “I’m gay.” Which stunned me. Not something I expected to hear in a conversation! He then told me he lives in the area and comes into the bar every once in awhile.
Jeff proceeded to guess my age and his method included me putting my hand over his heart and closing my eyes. I think he was just being silly or flirty. It was a riot.
“You’re twenty-four.”
“No, I’m older.”
“Thirty-two.”
“No! Younger!” and I removed my hand.
“Hey! Wait! I need that!”
I just kept laughing and told him he just wanted me to keep my hand on his heart. He laughed and agreed he was just being a dork. I nodded because I’m a dork, too. It was at that moment that Jeff’s girlfriend Patty came in and started screaming at the top of her lungs that someone broke into her house and stole her clothes and photo albums but not her Harley. I had to fight back laughter. Clearly this women was crazy drunk and obnoxious. Jeff saw me smiling and he rolled his eyes in my direction as Patty told him, “Wipe that fucking smirk of your face.”
I knew it was time to go. But I still have to say thank you to Jeff, Holly’s nephew. Wherever you are, you made life just that much better.
We then left our old stomping ground and headed to Partner’s Pub. Packed. As. Usual. Too many college kids. Too many loud, drunk 21 year olds celebrating their birthdays. We spotted friends of my husband, Troy, Aaron and Dave across the bar and waved, but I’m not certain they were coherent enough to wave back.
After Partner’s Pub we headed to Post Road Pub (lots of Pubs in this town). PRB is owned by my cousin Kevin Tepp and his wife/fiance/significant other Mary Gerritts. They were just a bit drunk but bought us a drink and we were able to play the new internet jukebox. That was fun. After a few shots and discussions about our lives and relationships, we went to Jeepers Gin Mill. We didn’t stay long because some pervy guy was hitting on Meghan.
We walked down the road to Sandy’s Bar and I had a soda because I was driving. My father’s best friend Mike Kenowski was there. He is in town for a wedding and came over to talk to us. Mike and his family live in Maggie Valley, NC. He told us how he was going to visit with my Dad today and that Aunt Irene (his mom) is still hanging in there; still playing the game of life. Irene’s husband Greg passed away a few years ago. We all still miss him.
It was 1:30 before I knew it and told the girls to slam their drinks so we could go home. I had to work at 8 a.m today. Five hours of sleep just isn’t enough anymore. I’m not 21 anymore, and it shows.
Posted by Dana @ 8:39 AM • Mom's Night Out
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August 26th, 2006 at 2:01 PM, Mominator Says:
Sounds like a GOOD night out for you girl! I hear ya on the partying thing. Last weekend nearly killed me with Blondie’s birthday. Glad she’s the youngest and we don’t have to withstand the ’21 shot’ night again. Takes way too long to recoup!
: ) Sue
August 26th, 2006 at 2:38 PM, Dana Says:
It does take forever to recoup! I swear, I feel like a Mack truck ran me over! -hugs you- Thanks for being such a good influence on me! I simply adore you!
August 26th, 2006 at 7:29 PM, Mocha Says:
Don’t EVEN go there, girlfriend. A friend wants me to go out with her tonight and she said, “Meet me at 10.”
TEN? TEN? Oh, honey. I think not…
August 27th, 2006 at 12:07 AM, clair Says:
Sounds like fun. Hate walking around with raccoon eyes afterward though LOL
August 27th, 2006 at 12:39 PM, Elizabeth Says:
Hi Dana! It’s Elizabeth from Calm in the Chaos.
It was nice to hear from you…and I had a great time catching up on what I’ve missed. You’ve been as busy as I’ve been! Your evening out sounds like a helluva good time. I haven’t been bar hopping in ages. And as I’ve gotten older I’m more sensitive to crowds and cigarette smoke so THAT should tell you how often I’m out for a night on the town. I’ve just lived vicariously through you. Thanks a million! 
August 27th, 2006 at 9:01 PM, Brighton Says:
Sounds like so much fun, we have a GNO coming up in a few weeks!!
August 28th, 2006 at 4:04 AM, kate5kiwis Says:
woot woot
sounds like you had a riot of a time girl !!!
August 28th, 2006 at 12:15 PM, menoblog Says:
Dana,
Thanks for your comment on my blog.
I’m not 21 anymore, or even twice that anymore. Damn it! I love to have people over at my house, but i want them to leave by 10:30.
Happy recovery.