Sunday, December 19, 2010
Old Friends, Good Times...
12/19/2010
I am not one to look back. I believe fully in living in “The Now.” That doesn’t mean I don’t take a nostalgia trip occasionally. Anyone who has read my stuff knows I have memories meaningful to me of which I sometimes write. I cannot help remember, but believe me, I do not dwell on the past. Yesterday The Nancy and I got to relive some old times, some really special times.
In the fall of 2000, not long after The Nancy moved to Charlestown, West Virginia, we wandered over to Shepherdstown, WV, about fifteen miles away, just to check it out. As we meandered along German Street, the main drag, we came upon Ed’s Deli and Tap Room. We walked into the little shop that measured maybe 16 feet wide to find a cooler full of a number of beers from many different micro-breweries and a display case full of deli meats and cheeses. As we walked around the store, we discovered, much to my delight, a backroom with a small bar made out of wood that looked as if it had been part of an old barn, with maybe eight stools and five or six taps with some really good beers. Ed’s motto of “No Crap on Tap” was beautiful music to my ears. The food was good, the cheeses sublime, the beers were outstanding, but what made Ed’s Ed’s was the people that worked there.
Mary Beth was Ed’s wife. A sub motto at Ed’s, if there is such a thing, was “Redheads Welcome.” Mary Beth has red hair. Ed, on the other hand, was Ed. I like the guy, but knew almost from the start Ed was in no way ever to be identified with the term “hard worker,” but he did lend his name to the enterprise, and that was enough for me. I loved the place.
The Nancy and I became frequent visitors to Ed’s and frequented it about once a week from our first visit until it closed about 2003. During that time we absolutely fell in love with the staff. Over the years since, we have maintained a friendly relationship with Mary Beth, Ed, Anna and Dianne. Anna and Dianne were bartenders at Ed’s, and both of them worked at Ed’s while attending classes at Shepherdstown University. Anna and Dianne made Ed’s Ed’s.
Mary Beth has gone on to manage other restaurant establishments in Shepherdstown. Anna is in her final year of medical school, and Dianne got her masters in social work and works with disadvantaged kids. We are proud to call all of them friends, and more than proud of the who and what they have become. Truth be known, we are in love with them.
Yesterday we met the three of them and another friend at Lot 12 for dinner and then brought them all to our home for a “slumber party” of sorts, for want of another descriptor. I cannot tell you when I have had more fun. This was a nostalgia trip to end them all. We had a total blast with these gals, they are a hoot.
Mary Beth and Dianne know our friends who are the proprietors of Lot 12. It was fun was see them interact and to catch up. Dinner was typical Lot 12, spectacular. After dinner we all came back to The Farm, built a raging fire, and I listened to these girls talk of their glory days at Ed’s. I laughed until jaw hurt, and a little after midnight I retired to my bed and allowed the five ladies to share more stories.
They all left us this morning after allowing me to fix them a good old country breakfast of scrambles eggs with herbs and Brie, fried apples, home fries, sausage gravy and biscuits. I fueled them up and sent them on their way loving them all the more.
Recently, I lost a friend to heart disease. I made myself a promise to never hold back on a friend. From this point on in my life I will make sure each and everyone knows I love them, if that is how I feel. Since I feel that way about nearly everyone I know, the rest of my life will be a regular love fest.
Loving people makes this “The Best Day Ever.”
And that is all I have to say about that…