The lunatic is on the grass

 The lunatic is on the grass.

Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs.
Got to keep the loonies on the path. (Pink Floyd)

the brain is a wonderful thing...sometimes.......it seems the older i get and perhaps the more free time i have since i have ceased working for the man....the more memories from a life well lived come circling back......some frightening.....some regrets.....but mainly the wonderful small details of magnificent, yet simple, adventures.

Case in point this morning over a cup of coffee......i was talking about a local watering hole called the Duck Dive.......and boy is it ever a dive........a shoebox bar on stilts on the main road to the ocean.......3 or 4 packing spaces only and a flight of rickety stairs must be navaigated.....but an incredible Burger, Ice Cold Beer and a jukebox that only seems to play Skynyrd, Marshall Tucker and the Outlaws ( maybe because i dominate the selection process) But Hey.......that's not the point.....and i digress.

This post is really about one of the greatest burgers i have ever had......Saturday Aug 3rd 1985...........i woke that day in the Great Lakes Training Center, having graduated from Boot Camp the day prior, i was now going to enjoy my fist tastes of liberty since early June.......i boarded a commuter train bound for Chicago with two shipmates.....don't ask my how i remember, but i do.....Eugene Heath from Daytona Beach and Steve Slanac from Buffalo NY......we bonded over our 8 weeks of Bootcamp and i told them i was going to meet friends at Wrigley and they were ecstatic to ride along......the Baseball Gods smiled upon me this day as the beloved 2nd place NY Metropolitans were in town for a showdown series against the 1st Place Cubs........but i have talked about that game before....today we discuss THE BURGER.

After arriving in the North End we hope a cab to Clark & Addison.....stopped into a bar for a few cold ones and then walked down Sheffield Ave........as we entered Murphy's Bleachers i was transposed into a wildly enthusiastic version of Heaven.....a gutted brownstone with an open floorplan and bars on either side of the great room....i had goosebumps........we grabbed beers at the first chance and proceeded to walk into the backyard ( Murphy's has changed over the years, but this was the scene in 1985).......we were basking in glorious sunshine and enjoying Ice Cold Old Style Beer and reflecting on the prior 8 weeks of torture......we were standing at a pub table and of course we were in our Uniform of the Day ( Summer Whites) it was clear to everyone that we had no stripes and were recent grads of Boot Camp.......there was a massive grille in the center of the yard and the charcoal smoke was a welcome aroma.......the fella manning the grille was wearing a big White Chefs hat , he had on a Cubs apron, he was in his 40's.......stood about 5 feet 5inches and probably weighed 300 pounds.......he came over to our table and placed three cheeseburgers down ......we started to fish through our pockets for some doe rae me and he put his hand up and so NO Charge......"I was a squid in a prior Life too"  and the burgers were on the house, and they (Murphy's) supported our Troops......

that Burger....that Beeer....that atmosphere.....that moment in time.......euphoric.

I lie awake at night sometimes and i wonder what i ever did to deserve a life blessed with so many moments like this.....this was one of the best......this was America....the same America i had just finished 8 grueling weeks of physical training to defend and protect.....and WE ( me, Heath , Slanac and all our shipmates) were now part of a special brotherhood....we were members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America........and i for one never forgot the gesture ....i have made it my business to buy a round for anyone i saw in uniform in the bars of Manhattan during Fleet week or whenever i may cross paths......we are the greatest nation in the history of this planet and it thanks to everyone, but especially guys like the Chef in Murphy's..........and that BURGER was perfectly charred and delicious....and the Old Style in a 16 ounce "Styrofoam" Cup was rewarding..........i have been lucky enough to be in the Right Place at the Right Time on so many occasions.......and i thank our Maker for every second of this live i have lived.

T minus 24 hours until the Zion National Park Extreme Marathon......hopefully Steve O'Dowd packed a sweater nite T-shirt and can send some pictures partying with the Snakes.

2+3=BEEER

And if the cloud bursts, thunder in your ear
You shout and no one seems to hear.
And if the band you're in starts playing different tunes
I'll see you on the dark side of the moon.