JUST DOWN THE ROAD

Friday night...Kim and I took Dave and wife Chris...out to eat. It was...'just down the road'...according to Dave. Kim drove us all in Dave's truck...because it's easier for Dave to get into his truck...than in Chris's car.

It was a place Dave and Chris have gone to a number of times in the years they've lived out here. The meal opened with soup...then with salad...then spaghetti and ravioli...oh...I forgot the couple loaves of bread they brought out...then the entree...then ice cream for dessert. It was good...and it was filling...and it was...'just down the road'.

Saturday morning...the 3 of us boys visited for hours and hours...and finally worked up a big appetite...and drove to a place called Doug's for breakfast. It was...'just down the road'. Once again...Kim drove us in Dave's truck. We were all 3 stuffed when we were done...and it was back to Dave's place...and time for a nap...which we all 3 had.

I had mentioned to Dave Friday night...that while we were here...I wanted to go to a place that served nice, fat, juicy, good-tastin' burgers. I told him every once in a while...I just love a great big fat burger.

After our big breakfast Saturday morning...the 3 of us didn't eat the rest of the day...until supper time. Finally Dave said...let's go to Barney's...they have the best burgers. Kim asked if it too was...'just down the road'? Dave said yes...maybe just a little further than the other places...but it was 'just down the road'.

This time...I drove the truck.

Well...it was down the road...onto interstate 580...then another freeway...then 3 or 4 other streets...and about 25 minutes later...we were in Piedmont...a nice little town...to Barney's...and a great burger...with more fries than the 3 of us could eat.

But I got my fat, juicy burger...and it truly was delicious.

Kim and I joked with Dave on the way back home...that 'his' version of just down the road...is a hell of a lot different than Kim and my version. To us 'hicks' back in Indiana...just down the road is a 2 minute drive. To Dave...out here in San Francisco/Oakland...just down the road...is a 30 minute drive.

Guess it's all in what you're used to.


Dan