The sun had already set by the time Steve, Mary and I rolled down 1st st. Streetlights hummed their fluorescent light across the rain-washed asphalt, and I wondered how long we'd really been on the road, searching. Up ahead, it seemed a great beacon shown forth, dazzling our eyes. Were it not for his sunshade, Steve likely would have flipped the car, killing all of us. The lights blazed from a great monolith, dancing around the name that would truly become our home for the next few hours: Ickabod's Tavern.
The name itself must have been what really brought us in the doors, I recall Steve saying he couldn't remember actually turning the wheel into the parking lot. It was just like something took over. The graceful simplicity of the cinder-block structure - that is, it is made out of cinder-blocks and resembles a cinder-block - is truly a marvel of modern architecture, so can I really act surprised it had some kind of meta-telekinetic property? No I cannot. That would be dishonest to you and to the good folks who run the tractor-beam behind the kitchen.
Upon entering, we were instantly welcomed into the Ickabod's community. They aren't the 'trumpets and fanfare' type of welcome, they're more of the 'I noticed one or two of the video poker players twitch at a breath of fresh air as the door swung shut behind us' type of welcome. And there we were, 10pm on a Friday night, ready for a good time. Yup, we really had a great crew there that night. There was the 5-6 video poker players, a group of 4 who were playing poker in the corner for the first ten minutes we were there, and us three.
As the night continued we were able to purchase a couple pitchers of Widmer Heff - courageous - only after our salty sassy server lady, Barbara, announced our compliance with the minimum drinking age: "Barely. Even more Barely. The most Barely. Alright kids, what can I get you to drink?" Her brusque attitude and the world of her vast experience were etched into her face - wrinkles, sunspots, scars, love found and love lost.
When she (swiftly) returned, we were delighted with the nonstandard glasses she gave us! The inability to accurately keep track of my drinks allowed me to dispense with the silly anxieties of BAC and truly live in the moment. Steve was especially excited he wouldn't know when to cut himself off. An adrenaline addict, Steve is always looking to ride that edge, searching for his next high. He's sort of like a young Patrick Swayze in 'Point Break'.
The whole night, the music just kept coming on. The volume was neither too loud nor too soft. Our conversation continued at a normal level, but we were always delightfully surprised by which way that wily disc jockey would spin his record next. It honestly seemed like they were playing a best hits of forever playlist, hinting at nostalgia but better revealing their ironic acceptance of post-modernist art forms. When I think back to that night, the music still rings in my ears, and yet I cannot remember who is singing, the music rolling over me in great gushing waves, crashing over my head with its brilliance.
I'll never forget when we realized we had to leave Ickabod's. It was like a piece of me detached from my chest and sank deep into the pit of my stomach. I couldn't believe it. Our whole world was crashing around us. I barked something at Steve, but he was listless. Mary had started to cry. I tried to stretch out my hand to comfort her, but I couldn't. I didn't have the strength myself.
"Let's go guys," Steve said, shaken from his thoughts. "We need to go."
"You're right," Mary replied. "It's time."
I just couldn't accept that we had to leave what had become our home for the last three hours. As we drifted out of the building, everything seemed like a blur. The lights, once brilliant and beautiful, now seemed to dim, flashing around my face and leaving patterns on my eyes.
At first, I didn't know if I had the strength to visit Ickabod's again. It took a lot out of me. I learned a lot about myself and the nature of the human soul. I think I may just need a little bit of time before I can ride that emotional roller coaster again. But I'll be back. Once you get a hit of ol' Ickabod's, you won't be able to live like you once did. You can go about your job and life the same way that you used to, but deep in the back of your mind, you'll know Ickabod's is waiting, beckoning you with it's call, seductive and strong. read more