Our memories are built on unremarkable experiences. Things we did without planning, expecting to forget it happened by the next week, let alone fifty years later. Maybe that is a symptom of what we used to call “senile” when old people told stories of “back in my day.” Even at 82, I have never been one to take afternoon naps. I had planned to write about something earlier today, with it being Eva’s birthday. I went to Costco this morning and brought home one of their $1.50 hot dog and a Coke for lunch.
I got on my computer after lunch, thinking I would decide what I wanted to write about, but I kept changing my mind, which happens often these days. I felt sleepy for some reason, maybe the hot dog? I logged off to rest for a while or take a nap. During that time, I kept thinking about “All you can eat fish fry meals” of the 1970s.
In the early 1970s, I worked at First Continental Mortgage, and Richard Blair was my Computer Operations Manager. We first met when we worked together at Texaco, and we became close family friends. He and I would go to lunch together; however, sometimes we would get two or three others to go somewhere to eat as a group. Back then, there was a Howard Johnson’s Motel on the Gulf Freeway that had an “All You Can Eat Fish Fry” on Fridays every so often. Richard always seemed to know about them, and we would load up the car to drive out there.
We knew we would be fighting the clock to get there, get a table and order, and eat all we could, and still get back to work on time. Most of them worked in my department, and they were not worried about being late; however, if someone from another department was with us, it raised questions I did not like discussing. The special was all the fried fish and French fries you could eat for $1.99 or $2.99 plus your drink. The plates would be loaded with fish, and the waitress would bring more fish to your table if you had eaten most of yours.
The ride back to the office would be filled with groans and laughter about eating too much. Staying awake that afternoon was a challenge. It was one of those silly group events that we would look forward to the next time.
A Red Lobster opened on FM 525 close to Airline Drive; I am not sure of the year. They would have an “All You Can Eat Fish Fry” on Fridays sometimes for $1.99. The lines would be long, and you ordered like in Luby’s before you went to a table. Back then, there were not many businesses in that area, but the parking lot would be full on those days. They would bring more hot fish to your table if you wanted more, but there were no take-outs or doggie bags.
During those years, places like the Bonanza Steak House restaurants had steak meals that you went through a line like Luby’s and ordered. It was a place to take the family on a budget. We often talk about how cheap things were back in those days, but we had to take advantage of those specials because our income was not that high either. It is easy to lose perspective when just comparing prices. We still hoped to have more money in the bank account than when the year started, and our debt had not increased.
Memories are made of everyday events.
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