in which my seventy year old uncle rocks
took my uncle to the crow's nest in santa cruz last night. we missed the dinner service because we didn't get there till after 9:30pm+, so we ate bar food upstairs while we people-watched and listened to the band. it was fun! some highlights:
* seeing my seventy year old uncle totally getting into the neo-folk/punk rock sound of tater famine. the band members were drinking and swearing between numbers. my uncle john was bopping in his seat and singing along during the chorus of several songs -- some covers, some originals. the band handed out free CDs during the show, and john made sure he got one. awesome. (i wonder if he's listening to it on his way up to oregon today?)
* watching the waitress chase after the dine-and-ditch-ers at the table next to us, steer one of them back to the table, hand her the bill and make her pay it. the woman didn't look embarrassed or ashamed. i doubt very much she left that waitress a tip, which is a damn shame, 'cause she handled the whole situation very well, with no fanfare.
* listening to stories of other vacations he and my aunt jean took during their life together, and how much fun they had on their travels. it was all i could do to not cry when he was talking about the trip to kenya they had planned for last year, but then had to cancel as jean's health deteriorated -- jean was so disappointed she cried. the travel agent offered to delay their departure date until sometime in 2008, and then could only say "i'm sorry" when john told her that jean wasn't expected to make it. heart wrenching.
* despite the sadness, and john's obvious(?) loneliness without jean, getting the feeling that despite his loss he's going to be ok. he's still the happy-go-lucky, pain in the arse joker he's always been, not to mention the biggest flirt ever! i'm no longer (as) worried about him.
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+ since when is 9:30pm late? california, when did you turn into such an old fuddy duddy?!?
* seeing my seventy year old uncle totally getting into the neo-folk/punk rock sound of tater famine. the band members were drinking and swearing between numbers. my uncle john was bopping in his seat and singing along during the chorus of several songs -- some covers, some originals. the band handed out free CDs during the show, and john made sure he got one. awesome. (i wonder if he's listening to it on his way up to oregon today?)
* watching the waitress chase after the dine-and-ditch-ers at the table next to us, steer one of them back to the table, hand her the bill and make her pay it. the woman didn't look embarrassed or ashamed. i doubt very much she left that waitress a tip, which is a damn shame, 'cause she handled the whole situation very well, with no fanfare.
* listening to stories of other vacations he and my aunt jean took during their life together, and how much fun they had on their travels. it was all i could do to not cry when he was talking about the trip to kenya they had planned for last year, but then had to cancel as jean's health deteriorated -- jean was so disappointed she cried. the travel agent offered to delay their departure date until sometime in 2008, and then could only say "i'm sorry" when john told her that jean wasn't expected to make it. heart wrenching.
* despite the sadness, and john's obvious(?) loneliness without jean, getting the feeling that despite his loss he's going to be ok. he's still the happy-go-lucky, pain in the arse joker he's always been, not to mention the biggest flirt ever! i'm no longer (as) worried about him.
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+ since when is 9:30pm late? california, when did you turn into such an old fuddy duddy?!?