Today was a perfect Saturday. The hot rod was up and running. It was a beautiful, cool morning. One of our goals has been put the hot rod in a parade
(bucket list item #24). This
morning we loaded up a trash sack full of candy and drove about two miles to
line up in the 89ers Day Parade.
EM's car club was in the parade, probably 40 cars. After the parade, 170 cars entered a
car show nearby. The car show
entry fee went to the Health and Shelter For Friends.
AT and her friend rode on the back of the backseat in the hot
rod/convertible. We had told AT
that she had to ride in the parade, but it was her choice whether she asked a
friend. Being an young teen, it
took her a while to decide. You
never know if your peers will like a particular activity. But she and her friend both seemed to
have a blast. It was great fun
watching everyone waiting for the candy and admiring the cars. Of course, we ran out of candy before
the end of the route, mainly due to EM throwing out huge handfuls of
candy. I finally stopped him. One friend claimed we injured
her with candy; I think she exaggerates.
From the parade, we pulled around to park at the car show. AT and friend wandered around and,
within an hour, peeled off to go with her friend's mother. I walked about a mile back to the beginning of the parade to pick
up the truck then went home for a nap.
Our house was only about a mile from the parade and the car show. After my nap, I went back to the car
show. EM and I hung out,
waiting for the car show winners.
Of 170 entries, there were 35 winners. All but 2 were numbers 100 and above. EM was number 18. Hmmmm.... Did we have a chance?
Anyway, it was fun watching people walk by the car and admire it.
The car show was over at about two o'clock. We were without child, with a
convertible than needed to put miles on it, on a beautiful day. EM came up with the idea of going to
Eischen's in Okarche (bucket list item #53). It is about a hour from our house. We drove through Oklahoma City, and
continued until we were in rolling hills and farmland. The downtown of Okarche was only two
blocks long and looked not very prosperous. The town, however, was immaculate, homes in a variety of
styles and values, but yards that were well-groomed. The only booming business downtown was Eischen's Bar. Now, move away from this blog, go to
YouTube, and search for "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Eischen's
Bar". Watch it. I'll wait here....
Inside, the atmosphere was definitely bar-like, but the place
was filled with families, small children, and little old ladies. We entered the bar. We ordered a whole chicken, a beer and
a wine cooler. While we were
waiting, EM and I played a game of pool (that was a joke in itself - my
pool-playing abilities are pitiful) with two little boys watching us. EM offered to pay for a game of pool
for them, but they said they were too little. And they probably were.
And the two of us ate a whole chicken (cut into pieces). I have never done that in my life, but I have never had a
whole chicken with no other sides.
I would have ordered the fried okra if there had been more people
sharing food, but it was a huge order.
There were 10 people behind the bar, working as fast as if they were
putting out a fire. Basket after basket of whole chickens came out of the back. Our plates were sheets of wax paper. The chicken
came only with sweet butter pickles and fresh onions that had been in soaking
in the pickle juice plus white bread.
There are no other "sides". There was no "healthy" food on site.
My momma makes wonderful fried chicken. Matter-of-fact, when we happen to eat
fried chicken out, we usually say, "This is not as good as Mother's fried
chicken.". When Mother makes
her fried chicken, it's just elbows and forks at the table. Well, this chicken just just as good as
hers. Mother's gets an extra
point for having a pulley bone, which Eischen's did not have. But Eischen's had onion slices in
pickle juice. Score one for Eischen's.
It's a draw.
After our drive back to Norman, we dropped in on some good friends, who were gracious enough to welcome us. Then, off to pick up AT from her friend's house. A perfect Saturday.