Okay...as embarrassed as I am for sharing this, I will share why I will NOT be getting the "Father of the Year Award" anytime soon.
I took my son to the Clermont Lounge for his 21st Birthday. He had never heard of the place, nor had he ever heard of Blondie. I was in all my glory to take him there for a man to man (well, maybe 1/2 man to man) bonding experience. After giving him the scoop on the place and it's most famous employee, he was indeed stoked.
After a couple pitchers of Margaritas at El Azteca, we proceeded to walk to the Clermont Lounge so that I could enjoy my son's Rite of Passage in Atlanta. We walked in and there she was.......a picture of splendor, a rose in room of thorns, a Mercedes in a parking deck of Yugos.....okay, you get the picture.
I guided my son to the best seat in the house....the one just at the end of the bar facing this "blonde" beauty. Chris never stopped smiling the whole time. As a father, I had arrived! I was now the most popular father since Ward Cleaver forty years before me. As I reached in my pocket to pull out a few George Washington's to extend my gratitude to Blondie, I noticed a disgusted, scowling look on her face. As soon as I stood up to give my favorite dancer her first bonus ($2 bucks), I felt a hard tap on my shoulder. I turned around to see a biker dude standing there ready to punch me out. As I turned around to exchange pleasantries with this unshaven, unshowered gentleman, I noticed that my son, Chris, was nowhere to be found. My new biker friend proceeded to tell me that my first born pride and joy I was entertaining for the evening had, uh, spewed, hurled, threw chunks, yeah, vomitted all over his date! I was suddenly not as proud and puffed up. My first reaction was to RUN like hell. But, being the upstanding, professional, coward that I am, I offered him money to leave me the hell alone. I was able to pay this guy off, grab my son out of the bathroom, and run like hell. It was an evening that I will never forget, and I have not been back since. Fast forward - I saw Blondie at El Azteca one afternoon, and I was petrified that she would recognize me and demand the $2 bucks that I had for her that fateful night. She didn't recognize me...and I was thankful. I love the Clermont Lounge and will go back when I get the nerve and a supply of penicilin. My son has since graduated to the Cheetah and Oasis. I'm so proud. ;) read more