The server at the 24-hour diner in Chattanooga told me I was her first customer that day who wasn’t an active-duty mom or celebrating one.
That was after the host had led me to a table, past a deli counter full of colorful, tall cakes, and I had said, out loud, “Wow, big cakes!”
…with just a little too little clarity for her to understand I was talking about the real food cakes next to us, not the human cake in front of me. Davidian horror (of the Larry type). I think she knew. That I was talking about the baked goods. I hope.
I had the best biscuit of this Southern tour so far there and the good fortune to overhear a dad say to his son, in a very thick Tennessean accent, “Leave that balloon alone.” Say it in your head. Leave that ballewn alowne.
The street outside the tour buses was blocked off for parking, so after the show we set up our pop-up tent and miniature grill, and Liam cooked Amish chicken wings and poblano peppers for everyone. When the clock struck midnight, his birthday began, and we serenaded him on the streets of Chattanooga.
Picture me, a guy in Knoxville, absolutely laughing my ass off at the balloon dad. I could hear it in my head before I even read "Say it in your head" 🤣
I love that you have the capacity to enjoy a late night BBQ to bring culinary joy to yourselves after bringing musical joy to so many! Seems bizarre yet fitting to this Aussie……and happy birthday from a fellow Taurean to Liam 🥳…..who has brought me and many a whole lot of musical joy….thanks to all the musical and jocular joy of introducing him to my ears on The Tweedy Show….