Happy Birthday

contact77365
Aug 3
3 min read

Elaine's birthday is December 30th. It is not important to know which birthday is/was December 30th. Let's just say she has had a bunch of them.

For the last several years, Elaine and I have celebrated Elaine's birthday at a restaurant in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I don't recall how we found the restaurant, but we have a great time every go there. The restaurant serves a great filet (for Elaine) and a great grilled salmon on a cedar plank (for me). Now that I think about it, we might have started going there because it reminded Elaine of her favorite author, who write murder mysteries in Wyoming. I don't know why Elaine is so taken with this author's murder mysteries. I hope she's not looking for ideas.

I'm sorry, I got off the track there for a minute. Last year in preparation for Elaine's birthday, I found that "her" restaurant has a sister restaurant in Laramie, Wyoming. Laramie is slightly closer to our home than Cheyenne, so I made a reservation in Laramie. The kids (both batches) agreed to meet us in Laramie to celebrate Elaine's birthday. The morning of our reservation, Elaine informed me she was not feeling well and asked me to cancel the reservation.

Man, how time flies! Before I knew it, it was Mother's Day, and we had not celebrated Elaine's birthday. Getting both batches together around Mother's Day proved impossible. We postponed again. I mentioned time flies. We tried for Father's Day. By now the desire to celebrate had lost its luster and been totally forgotten.

Last week, Elaine asked if I would like to go to the restaurant in Laramie to celebrate MY birthday. This is where it gets confusing. According to social media my birthday is January 1st, which means we should celebrate Elaine's birthday again before I celebrate mine.

Elaine: Would you like to go to the Chop House for your birthday?

Me: You need to check Spacebook. I think my birthday is a long time away.

Elaine: I'm making reservation for Saturday, we can ask the kids to come some other time.

Laramie is a historic old town/city. It is building very quickly around the university. Go Pokes! That was unnecessary but since Ivy is enrolled there and Elaine loves Josh Allen, I just threw that in there. We had never been to the restaurant before, so Elaine did one of those GPS things on her tablet. GPS got us close but we were totally lost.

I have been lost in Laramie before. That night while I was in high school included some underage drinking and being escorted out of town by the Laramie police. Looking back, I don't think I'm proud of that night and I shouldn't have mentioned it, but you guys need to know who you are dealing with.

I decided to call the restaurant for directions.

Restaurant employee: Chop House

Me: Where are you located?

Employee: We are located in Laramie

Me: (muttering construction language) Yes, I am aware of that, where in Laramie?

Employee: 2415 Grand Ave.

Me: Well, I can't see that address, can you give me a landmark that is nearby?

Elaine noticed the restaurant in the back of a parking lot, which I would hate to tell the city planners is not on Grand Ave.

The food was great, just what we expected. The server brought the check (which I'm glad I didn't see) and Elaine thanked her and asked,

Elaine: Do you like to read? (I'm thinking WTF)

Server: I love to read

Elaine: Let me tell you about my favor author that lives in Cheyenne

Me: Still thinking WTF

The next five minutes were spent exchanging book ideas. (Still thinking WTF) The restaurant is full, wait staff is running everywhere and Elaine is talking murder mysteries with the server. Finally, the server tells Elaine to be sure and come back so they can talk about books. I was hoping the police would escort me out of town.