Background: In 1992, I was working a temp job in downtown Minneapolis. I had two kids, with another one on the way fairly shortly. I was making $6.50 an hour. I can’t complain, of course; it beat having nothing, and I got it through the good graces of a friend of mine whom I’m sure I never thanked nearly enough; I re-learned how to use computers (I’d never worked with a PC before), which enabled me to get my first technical writing jobs…
…the next year.
But it was still 1992. And things were tight.
Anyway – downstairs from the temp job, a new bar/restaurant opened. And I walked by it every day on the way to/from the bus. And the smell coming from the place was fantastic; I fantasized about the hamburgers the place must have had for months. Years, really; to me, that smell reminded me of hope for years; to this day, I associate the smell of frying hamburger on the street with being broke, stressed out and hopeful.
And back in 1992 I told myself; someday, when I have enough money, I’m going to splurge on a burger and a beer for lunch at that very downtown Minneapolis joint.
And while things got better – I got my first good job as a technical writer in 1993 – I somehow neglected that pledge. For 17 years.
But recently, on a well-deserved day off, while meandering around downtown Minneapolis, I saw the place – it’s still there – and thought “I really should do this”.
So I walked in, and ordered a Summit and a burger.
And it was…
…adequate. That’s all.
Some dreams are best left dreamy.
I remember ’92 as having some bad moments (although very different reasons) for both of us.
I am sad that you deferred your pleasure for THAT long (Mitch, my dear friend, SOME things should NOT wait 17 years!!!!!), and even more saddened that the expectation exceeded your gratification.
But, hey, expectation is like that for a lot of things; expectation kinda builds up while we wait, don’t you think?
But hooray that those bad old days ended, and that today is better! The nice thing about friends is having someone to be happy with you AND for you — and I AM! Well done!
I hope some other near-future pleasure will exceed your expectations! (You deserve it)
Yep, true… but at the other end of the spectrum – some things are well worth the wait.
)
So you going to give up the name of the place ?
So you going to give up the name of the place ?
Not sure why you’d want to know where to get an adequate burger, Flash. Besides, if you want to know where to get a good burger, you’re supposed to ask Marty Andrade.
I know why, Mr. D, the reason is that Flush is blindly following his Obamassiah… you can’t drive your truck… you can’t set the thermostat at 70° F… you can’t eat a real good burger, you can only eat an adequate burger…
That way the whole wide world will love us!!!!
.
Flush, sorry to hear that your bridge you bought doesn’t help you get to that FL waterfront property you bought.
It may not be all your imagination, Mitch. Restaurants typically degrade with time. The struggling young chef with a vision proudly opens putting out “the best” stuff, but time wears on, reality sets in and the necessity of making a living, paying and managing employees, finding new staff and the like takes its toll on the quality. There are restaurants that manage to avoid the degradation, but they’re rare.
nerdbert gets it. Part of the genius behind Mickey D’s (adequate on a good day at best) is that while they’re only adequate at best, they’re always…
…adequate at best. At least except for in Asia, where you sometimes get a burger fried in fish oil. Now KFC in Malaysia, on the other hand…wow! Let’s just say they use 11 different herbs and spices there, and in somewhat higher doses….
You’re such a good story-teller, Mitch.
Now, I’m craving a burger. And Cherokee Tavern’s Tony’s 5-Step Fries. Thanks for sharing.
Mmm, the Cherokee. Speaking of food I fantasize about.
Make sure you and Blair pick me up an order 🙂