Hopeless Romantics

There are four couples of us that hang out together. We're all about the same age, all live within a few blocks of one another and all play golf. Well, seven of them play golf...and I might again someday so they're friends with me anyway. If you're in town and don't have a good excuse otherwise, you'll be part of the dinner plans on Wednesday and Friday nights. Except for right now when we've shifted Wednesday to Tuesday so some of the girls can go to a bible study class.

That meant, of course, that we'd be dining out on Valentine's Day. No problem, offered Dr. Dale...he knew just where we should go. Soft lights, holiday decor, even a special menu just for the occasion...he'd even make reservations. Sounds lovely, right?

Here's where we went:

Our local Waffle House was one of a select few in the chain offering special Valentine's Day meals complete with tablecloths and candles in the booths, red garland and lacy hearts strung from the ceiling and subdued lighting to complete the romantic mood. I've never heard of Waffle House taking reservations but it was a good thing they did on this occasion because it was as crowded as any weekend morning. Not that I hang out at Waffle House on the weekends but it's pretty obvious what the conditions are given the parking lot when you drive by. Dr. Dale and Carol do though as it's a regular stop for them after church and they greeted all the staff by name when we arrived tonight.

Here are the guys who sat at the counter while we dined at a booth not far away. We've all been married so long no one gave a second thought to the idea that we'd be eating at separate tables on Valentine's Day. Waffle House doesn't have any tables big enough to accommodate six. The photo does show a little of the decorations and the crowds waiting for us to leave so they could have our seats. Some of them no doubt came because there was a story about the "event" on the front page of the Pensacola paper. As a result the manager said he'd spent a good part of the day talking to radio stations and reporters, including one from CNN.

And you know what? It was just hokey enough to be a lot of fun. The same Waffle House regular pictured in overalls in this morning's paper was back tonight in a nice sports coat and fedora, holding hands across the table with his wife in her sequined top. But there were plenty of people there in jeans too. It is Waffle House, after all. The special menu included steak, pork chops and chicken with red velvet cupcakes for dessert. While we were there, they were continuing to receive calls inquiring about reservations and the response was the first open time was 8:30pm. There were plenty of managers greeting people and thanking them profusely for coming. As customers left, one of them handed each lady a red rose.

I handed the camera off to a gentleman outside who took this photo of all of us. It's good of Bonnie (in the middle) but the rest of us really did have a better time than it looks like from the picture. Waffle House parking lots at night just aren't the ideal locale for good photography.

Scattered, smothered, covered, cuddled and kissed...that pretty much sums up our Waffle House Valentine's experience. What a bunch of hopeless romantics we all are!

Comments

[Jude.x]

That made me giggle. I don't know what a Waffle House is, but looking at the photo I can imagine a UK equivalent - and it wouldn't be my first choice for a meal either. But sounds like you had fun - and that's all that matters at the end of the day? And a Red Rose to boot! :-) Do you do the same as me when asking a stranger to take a photo of us...... I look for someone that I reckon will a) be able to use the camera and b) that I can run faster than!!!! Jude.x

[Steve Jackson]

We at Waffle House had as much fun as all of our customers on Valentine's evening....Thanks to all that made this such an "elegant and fun night".

Thank you also for a wonderfully written synopsis of the events of the evening.

Steve Jackson
Waffle House Manager