dreamshark

R and I went to the Loring Grill for my birthday dinner on Monday, snagged an outside table. As we were finishing up our appetizer, a well-groomed gentleman about my age approached our table and introduced himself. I must admit that my first thought was that he was running for office, but that turned out not to be the case. Our new friend (we'll call him Jack, since that's what he calls himself) is from South Carolina, on a fishing trip to the northlands with his 21-year-old son. Although born and raised in the south, Jack cherishes the dream of retiring to Minnesota or Wisconsin. Strictly speaking, it sounds like he would like to live in Minnesota, but has acquired land in Wisconsin. He wondered if we would pose for a picture with him and his son in front of the parkside cafe. Why? So he could show the picture to his wife as part of his campaign to get her to agree to moving up here in a few years!

This caused us to go into gales of laughter, as we gently asked him if he was sure it would be a draw for his wife to believe that typical Minnesotans looked like us, but he insisted it would. Apparently they are dying to live in a Blue State instead of a Bright Red one, and he thought we gave off that vibe. So we had a waiter snap the picture, and invited them to join us at our table for a glass of wine. Jack was very pleasant and sociable and the son put up with his father's foibles with great good humor (although I have to imagine he was a little embarrassed when Dad started introducing him to strangers).

It was fun. I have to admit that after being married so many years the two of us don't have all that much to talk about during dinners out, so a little unexpected company was a pleasant diversion. But I just can't help envisioning Jack's wife peering at the photo in confusion ("We're y'all DRINKING?").