August 23. 2019 finds me at happy hour at Cool Cats (wow big friggin surprise). Chef Russ is the Friday celebrity bartender. This was the usual time of year I would come as a tourist for eight years. Now that school is back in the South, the families have dwindled. The traffic around the Greenwood/Sea Pines circle has returned to a more manageable ordeal. The end has not come without some setbacks. Stella, my KIA Soul, got its doors severely scrapped by an 18 year old tourist/gal from the Charleston area. I was parked in front of Fish, where I went for some $1 oysters and planned to see one of my favorite bands, Cornbred at the Bamboo. I said to myself, “let me leave the car here and walk since the lot by Bamboo is much more narrow and tight. Well, I came back at 11:00 and found the damage and a note. The number to her father’s cell and a note of apology was on my window. He is paying the one grand to fix it directly to the body shop. It reaffirms my faith in people and the truth about Southern decency with gets attacked in the media.
Now I am still in the “post Watts” period and I am back to hanging alone since my other friends (all women), who of course with kids, work and are very busy. Having every other week off from the kids, I am going out less and I bring a big quart size cup with me. One white claw can last me two hours when I have a lot of ice. Most nights I only spend $10 now. Fruit drinks at Tiki or Bamboo margaritas are now verboten. Don’t miss it really, it is not worth the inconvenience of feeling lousy. I am looking forward to cooler weather and Halloween. In 1984 I was a gangster. Since I have most of what I need, I just had to add suspenders and spats. I am going to Savannah to the Mad Hatter for my fedora. They have good quality and good prices. I need to actually try one on since hat sizes vary and I want to see the hat’s quality. Plus I have a big freakin head. There is another on Boughton but price will decide.
OK, well, seeing SD in Savannah tomorrow. If she has the later Slow Ride assignment, I will ride it to hang out. She is one of the few southern women that are not completely nuts. No offence Watts! I am blessed with having a few good friends that I can vent to and vice versa. Mary Beth and I joke that if we are old and single we will move in together. We did not elaborate on the details. The major problem with that is she is such a fantastic cook, I would be 1000 lbs. I drool over her FB posts when she cooks.
Moving on, last night i met these two girls from Buffalo, 20’s and cute. We were chatting about the island. Funny, women love to talk to me. There were also these twins that were very entertaining from Ohio. God, I wish I had my lap top then. Bamboo had open mic night and was empty inside. Mostly kids outside smoking. See, Cool Cats has an older crowd earlier in the night and those younger in the hospitality industry come in after 11pm. I told the manager here to have their motto modeled after the show Pawn Stars; “you never know who is going to come through that door”. Side note, there is a girl who comes here called “Bubbles”. She is from NJ and the sweetest gal. We were just chatting and she was telling of her upcoming birthday trip back home. It made me think about the Jersey Shore back in the 80’s, a glorious time. Maybe a future piece to write about. The Stone Pony, Belmar, Seaside Heights, etc. (sniff, sniff). When Bruce sang about the Jersey girl being special, he was right, they truly are.
Well people are coming and going as usual, just like in “Piano Man”. Soon I will be back to Skull Creek, a popular place with Watts and me. I know my readership is limited to a few friends and people who see me writing when I am out. I ordered cheap business cards from Vista Print so I don’t have to write it down the web address anymore for people who are curious. Well, that’s all for now; almost time to decorate for Halloween.
For all my friends who read this, thank you for being there for me and I love you all.
John
Cool Cats Lounge, Hilton Head SC
Yankee in Dixie 