Tuesday, June 17, 2025

When Life Throws You A Canceled Appointment; Make Chik-Fil-A

 So I had my old man errand logistics all planned for today. Get to Tire Kingdom at 8 for an oil change and tire rotation, and walk to my gym at 9 for my hour workout, and then back to TK for the fetch. I dropped off my man sized Caddy and chatted up the affable TK fellow -- a Cuban from Jersey who is a Yankees and DOLPHINS fan. He was born 4 years before Dan Marino started playing, and asked rhetorically "Who WOULDN'T have loved the Dolphins then -- Marino, Duper, Clayton?" I told him one of my dearest friends --that's who. Despite moving here in high school, Dr. Barry maintains his love for the Jets and only animus towards the Dolphins. I think it's part of his masochistic tendencies.

Anyway, as I walked outside and started West in the warehouse district, my trainer Jonathan texted -- he was "under the weather" and needed to reschedule. Of course, I COULD have still gone to the gym and worked out myself, but instead I took it as a sign from the gods of food, and instead turned around and headed towards a perilous crossing of South Dixie Highway. Actually, they say not to call it that anymore, on account of it insults the decreasing number of Blacks in Miami Dade (migration to Broward) for using "Dixie," and instead the road is now Harriet Tubman Parkway, a name I have heard NO ONE use.

Using the cat-like reflexes honed during my workouts (okay -- a very OLD cat) I crossed US 1 (I think that appellation is still allowed, though it may insult those who despise America) and got to the other side, where, a few blocks North, Chik-Fil-A beckoned.

I had never had their breakfast sandwich before, and, it was quite delicious. Just Saturday Loni had told me about their iced coffee, a daily post Palmetto teaching treat for her. Indeed, that was delicious, too. The comically friendly counter girl (in Chik-Fil-A you can still say girl) brought my order, and I DID say a prayer acknowledging Pride Day before I dug in. Man -- that was one fine fast food biscuit and chicken and iced coffee.

Since it's Summer and it was after 9, the aforementioned US 1 was not at all crowded, and my trek back across was easy -- and this time I made my way to the Busway.

This is a classic Miami Dade boondoggle. Since Metrorail was too expensive to extend from Dadeland to Homestead, they built a dedicated pair of lanes with new fangled busses that you board from raised platforms -- to make them train-LIKE. There are even crossbars at the intersections with the East-West streets, which so far have made traffic even worse!

Since everything is political, the busway is no different. Turns out that to Black people, busses are politically charged, and the community opposed the Busway -- they wanted trains, too. Well everyone does, but there didn't seem to be an extra few billion dollars around to build them. I guess I understand -- busses bring back memories of having to sit in the back of them, and signal poor people ridership instead of, I guess, middle class folks riding trains.

Then again, to MY peeps, trains can be triggering -- recall the packed boxcars on their way to Nazi camps. I guess we got over that.

Anyway, I fetched my car, and was told they repaired 2 nail holes! I hadn't known they were there -- but the man showed them to me. I was thrilled no new tire was needed -- the man sized Caddy is a lease, and due back September of 2026 -- with my reduced driving, this may have been my last oil change.

But I drove home and told Wifey this adventure, and as expected was greeted with "And you didn't bring ME anything from Chik-Fil-A!!!???" I explained that no, there was a walk, and an unknown wait, and so I opted to forego her "language of love," which she has made clear is being brought food and coffee -- particularly when she is in bed or enveloped in her recliner chair. No -- she would have to actually drive to the Jesus chicken place herself...

Dan the Gate Man is here, replacing our old system, and then in early afternoon I expect Norman and Jim here, to begin our journey North of the Miami Dade-Broward line, something I do less and less as that cranky old man I have become.

In case the Ds forgot, I reminded them that my number one criterion these days for a restaurant is whether or not they have easy parking -- that is more important to me than the cuisine or atmosphere.

But soon -- it's Go Cats! It sure would be fun to see them win the Cup.

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