"Speakeasy"

About this time of the year we try to put our consultancy on hold and savor the aromas of holiday cooking and to reflect on our blessings, and we have a lot to be thankful for. So…to stay out of the way of the master chef…I slip away with a glass of wine and write. Digging into the memory banks and prompted by a recent road trip….

 “Speakeasy”

On a recent trip across Indiana we were detoured off I-70 through Terra Haute Indiana due to an accident blocking the bridge.  Winding our way, with all the other displaced travelers, through town and connecting with Route 40, we finally crossed the Wabash River.

Late in the afternoon, with low dark clouds rushing across the late fall landscape, a flood of memories came back as we crossed the river.

Rewinding life back to the late 1960’s I remembered a night much like this one. We had landed late and the Captain suggested we go “up river” to an old “speakeasy” for dinner. Not having a clue what he was referring to and as a young co-pilot I eagerly agreed.

After checking into the hotel, an old creaky floored hotel in downtown Terra Haute, we quickly changed out of our uniforms and “headed up river”.

The Captain, seeing my confusion explained…”Speakeasies were numerous and popular during the Prohibition years. Some of them were operated by people who were part of organized crime. Even though police and agents of the Bureau of Prohibition would often raid them and arrest their owners and patrons, they were so profitable that they continued to flourish.”

Once out of town we headed up a winding tree covered road along the Wabash River. The road was dark, very few homes or businesses and only the reflections off our headlights guided us through the night. Finally we turned off the narrow winding two lane road onto a gravel road. It was really dark now and only the crunching of our tires across the gravel broke the stillness of the night.

Up on a rise, safe from the annual flooding of the Wabash, stood a non-descript building with no signs of live and certainly not of business.  Cars were parked in the dark, haphazardly under trees and on the grass.

Really curious now, and not wanting to look any “greener” to my Captain I withheld my doubts to his claims of a great steak dinner (I’m the new guy…maybe this is a joke?)

A single bare bulb burned above the door. My Captain walked confidently up to the door and rapped the old brass knocker twice. What happened next I had only seen in movies…the peep hole opened up and flash of light appeared before “an eye” replaced it and a gravelly voice asked us what we wanted…now this really happened, my Captain said…”Joe sent me”.

We were admitted into a very nice restaurant and seated. The beverages washed away the days fatigue, the food was excellently prepared and served…my doubts vanished.

Though many years had passed since the need for secrecy and a password this restaurant had thrived on its historical (and perhaps a little shady) background…”ambiance” we call it now.

So back to now…as we drove into the gathering dusk and away from the Wabash I couldn’t help smile and wonder at the many adventures (blessings) life allow you to experience.

If anyone asks tell them…”Joe sent you”.

Encouragement

“And peace rolled over the land…first one then another were awakened to what negativity was doing to them”.  Strife and turmoil blanketing their lives were taking a terrible toll. One by one they decided to offer a smile and extend the hand of fellowship to someone in need, to use positive words instead of criticizing, to encourage instead of discourage.

It wasn’t easy…time, disappointments and setbacks had hardened them. However, one positive exchange with another gave way to another and another until (regardless of the rebuffs) the smiles on their faces and their positive attitudes began to take root…good roots make strong plants.

“Mighty oaks from a tiny acorn grow”.

They didn’t think they could control the outcome of their times, nor change the circumstances of their neighbors…but took the first steps toward change.

While this may be a fanciful, wishful story…it is possible…I am going to plant the seed of positivity and give it a try.

Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving and a most joyous Christmas.

Knock Knock

Knock, knock…”anyone still here?”

I know…I seem to have wandered off the edge of the earth into some dark hole…swallowed up in cyber space…the bits and bytes no longer flowing.

Truth is…it took me a few years to figure this out, but my little consultancy gets busy late in the year. Seems any budget surpluses cause folks to think…”let’s get that consultant in here”…so (not complaining) I “hop to” and hit the road when they call!

From Mississippi to California, Texas to Pennsylvania…driving and flying I make my rounds.

As I said…I am not complaining (I would rather spread this out over the year)…”but gotta go” when they call!

I specialize in two areas…so I have variety and constantly meeting new people and challenges…both I thoroughly enjoy.

Opppsss…gotta go, phones ringing and the computer is “binging” …”you have mail”.

American Greatness!

American greatness is still here...we are just confused by the debate. However, the core essentials are still here...hearty people, democracy, and opportunity.

 Nothing has changed...just confused...listen to the debates on the channels and listen to them all, liberal to conservative, read the blogs, talk to your friends... the basics are still here...just confused as we are increasingly polarized into "no move camps"!

Where is the voice of reason and reality? Where is that voice that transcends politics and agendas and strikes to the heart of the issues? This...disregarding personal agendas and speaks only to the core issues...and with realistic solutions?

We are still the nation that ALL want to come to...that should tell you something...and we CAN prevail!

Alligator Cove

The drought continues, the rains still just a memory, and the lake, our lake continues, to recede! We are now down over four feet!

The “dribbles” coming out of our sprinkler system alerted me to a potential problem! I went down to the dock and looked at the water pickup off the end of our dock…and sure enough it was sitting on top of the water…not good for the pump!

 I turned it off!

Today we ran the pickup line further out into the lake…another twenty feet!  The channel in our cove is usually about twelve feet in the middle (now down to eight feet!) so that “should “take care of the problem (until the lake is dry…”can that happen?”).

Now the point!

When we put the sprinkler system in the water was up four feet and the neighborhood alligator was “patrolling” the cove. Needless to say the installers were “wary!” They “watchfully” installed the pickup line off the dock.

Today they carefully “waded” out and made the necessary adjustment, a 90 ° elbow to a twenty foot extension to another 90° up to the inlet screen…cleaned out some of the valves and we were up and running.

Oh…and no alligator in site!

We are back to watering...until??

Alligator Season:

I’ve been working in Louisiana for the last ten days and was anxious to get home. Up at 0500 I was in the elevator heading down to check out by 0545.

Riding down with me was a fellow hauling a large cooler. Creating conversation I said…”looks like your heading out early also?” He replied…”have to get out early to beat the heat.”

Checking out the woman looked over at the group, including my elevator companion, and said they were headed out for alligators…”today is the first day of the alligator season.” Alligator season runs from the first Wednesday in September and runs for 30 days. During that time 30,000 to 35,000 are harvested.

She also added that a film crew from Swamp People had recently held auditions at the hotel for this seasons alligator hunters.

My companion in the elevator would not be one of them as he was too corporate looking, clean cut and average looking. Most of those profiled on Swamp People are more colorful in appearance and speech.

Heading west out of Houma and across the swamps, the mist and ground fog clinging to the trees and floating on the swamp, I thought what a primordial scene…not changed since dawn of time and neither have the alligators!

The "End of the Road"

I’ve often wondered what lay at the “end of the road”. Today I found one road that indeed ended in the marshes, the gentle wave of the Gulf of Mexico lapping at the shores…Cocodrie, Louisiana.  Cocodrie is at the end of Hwy 56, south of Houma Louisiana and is at the “end of the road”. 

Shimmering in the heat of the afternoon sun, flat waters and no breeze, Cocodrie is an assemblage of fish camps, shrimp docks and boat launches. Unless you’re curious like me you probably wouldn’t go there…even if lost you would probably turn around before you ran out of road.

On the way down I passed many, if not most houses, trailers and businesses that had been “shored up”…that’s what the advertising signs offered. One in particular caught my attention as it was firmly elevated, with its two garage door at least twelve feet above the ground…no water was going to get in there…and no cars!

Finally arriving I found a great marina / restaurant called (imagine this) Coco Marine. Seated I asked the young lady what does this restaurant at the end of the road do best?

Without hesitation she replied “Wine Shrimp”. And that is I asked? Smiling she replied…”grilled shrimp in a skillet with a spicy wine and cheese sauce poured over it and baked and garlic toast for “sopping” up the gravy”.  

 Wow that sounded good (may send my blood sugar out into the Gulf) but the day was early and I could exercise it off, so I agreed to try the wine shrimp…and was it good, no GREAT! After a chilled glass of wine and the sumptuous (and rich) dish I waddled out (maybe I’ll exercise later…much later!), very contented and marveling at what you can find at the end of a road.