THE KEG ROOM
by steve wardrip
Reminiscing on a misty day. I get to tell some of these old stories now without feeling like I’m hurting my mama’s feelings too awfully much. She knows I’m a senior now and am releasing some of that old information. Truth is that she knew all that stuff all along. You can’t hide much from mamas who love their kids and she is definitely one that does. Hope I don’t embarass you mama.
Anyway, this story goes like this. In the middle 1980’s I was a travelling telephone installer and the job happened to be in Columbus, Ohio, a large city of over 1 million people. I lived in an apartment with several guys on the crew. We had about 30 employees and took up several apartments. Directly behind the apartment was where I ate my supper almost every night. An Oriental mom and pop place and it’s name was non else than “Dung Ho!” (Dung, as in feces is not very appealing for my appetite, but the “War-Su-Gai” was to die for) It soon became my favorite and here’s a little tip just in case you didn’t know, You can take those little carry-out paper boxes at Chinese restaurants and keep unfolding them until you have a round bowl instead of just a box… just in case you didn’t know. That’s where I discovered that.
We worked installing a new state-of-the-art communications telephony and computer system at BMI (a quasi government/commercial private industry think tank that did many inventions, like, lasers, copy machines, space shuttle tiles, Artificial Intelligence, postage stamp glue and a lot of other cool topics. A lot of scientists and engineers. Google them; Battelle Memorial Institute ).where I was working. It took us about 9 months to complete the job and then we went to Chicago next for the next job at Argonne National Laboratory another government base. Top secret for certain.
I confess, I worked very hard and also played very hard. I played on the company baseball team and as a single guy, I had 4 girls I dated in the 9 months. They called me the silver fox as I was just getting salt and pepper hair. I liked to drink and party with my coworkers and we did that at every opportunity. Some guys would drive home on the weekends to where they were from and sometimes I did but it was 6 hour drive and then you must be back for work Monday morning, so many times I’d stay there in Columbus. There was a little neighborhood bar about half a block from the apartments that I would frequent. Usually when I was alone and didn’t have anyone to drink, play cards or guitar with. I played a lot of acoustic guitar up there for parties and picnics. We had a blast. I thought I was Charlie Daniels, John Lennon, John Prine, Duane Allman, Johnny Winter, Led Zepelin, Lynerd Skynerd and John Denver all rolled into one haha! Actually I was just drunk “Drippy” yodelling, toe-tapping and having a stompin’ good old time.
Here’s the point of the story I ‘m trying to make.
I used to go to “The Keg Room” by myself unless there was a baseball game we were drinking for and then we’d all go. It was within staggering distance to the apartment. No DUI’s! Never had one! Many times it was quiet. Imagine an old rustic low ceiling bar with antiques, lot of worn wood tables, chairs, bar back and grooved out old dance floor. It smelled like beer and urine with a hint of popcorn and greasy fried fish. A typical bar to drink and play checkers, mirrors, peanut shell and they had a great sounding juke box. There were a couple of regulars, Kelly in her late 20’s, a beautiful German girl with green eyes and reddish hair, a heartstopper with a gentle smile and some other guy that was younger. I didn’t care for him much but I sure liked Kelly. She liked the boy, so.. I tried, but she was always hugging and flirting with him. I kept to myself and drank beer and listened to music, joking with the bartender. Kelly had a favorite song on the jukebox and she played it every time she got a chance. I liked it so very much too, still do.
THEN, WHENEVER I GOT A SHOT AT IT,
I’D PLAY THE SONG ALSO ON THE JUKEBOX..SOMETIMES WHEN WE HAD THE PLACE TO JUST THE FOUR OF US, WE’D JUST PLAY IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER. WE LOVED SINGING WITH IT!
I WOULD PLAY “BRING IT ON HOME TO ME” KELLY… GET A HINT! SHE NEVER LET ON LIKE SHE DID BUT I KNEW THAT SHE KNEW THAT I KNEW THAT SHE KNEW. — — SO HERE IT IS…..
“BRING IT ON HOME” — SAM COOKE… PLAY IT SEVERAL TIMES. AND ENJOY…
AND KELLY, HOPE YOU’RE LISTENING!
ENJOY!!! — STEVE “DRIPPY WARDRIP
YOUTUBE.COM
