Bittersweet

A million years ago, when I first moved into my house I decided I needed a place to go.  You know what I mean.  Someplace comfortable.  Someplace where I was known and could go without worrying about anything.  Someplace to hang out.

Back then the Pike hadn’t begun its metamorphoses and was still pretty much of a dive.  It was definitely not a place where I could go alone.  So I roamed my new neighborhood and stumbled on Ronies.  A few blocks from home.  Back then it was safe to walk at all hours so it was perfect.

Ronie was a character.  If he liked you, he delayed taking your money so you were unable to leave.  If he didn’t, you never got served.  I was fortunate.  Ronie and his wife, Donna liked me.  One of the early years I ended up with way too much vacation.  I used it up one Friday afternoon at a time, at Ronies, eating fresh sliced Delmonico cheese steaks with spicy fries.  By the time the summer was over I was family.  Over the years, I stored up a lot of memories from there.  Mostly good, a few not so much.

A month ago a for sale sign appeared on the railing.  I hadn’t been there in quite some time but that didn’t stop me from feeling a little sad.  After forty-eight years in business Ronies was closing.  The end of an era.   One less place for me to feel at home.

Today some friends and I went for what will be the last time.  There is a deal pending.  Someone else will step in and change things.  No, there is nothing wrong with change.  But in this case even if the new place is fantastic it still won’t be good.   Ronies was an old fashioned corner bar that I’m sure is very similar to how it looked the day it opened, only not as shiny.  Ronie and Donna are much the same as the first time I walked in.  They’re not as shiny either but then neither am I.

I’d like to say thank you for all the time I spent there.  And wish them both all the best in the world.  Cheers!

Next Time...

I went out and about on some errands this morning only to encounter this sight right around the corner from my house. Yeah, I should have known it was a warning, telling me to turn around and go back home. Did I heed it? No, of course not. I had things to do.

In the course of my journey I had to stop at the yarn store to pick up the yarn that had been ordered last time I was there. It’s located on the busiest street in West Reading and anyone who has ever been there can tell you what a bitch it is to find parking. I, however, don’t usually have any trouble. You see, I have Howie and he’s magical. But even his magic wasn’t powerful enough today. We ended up almost two blocks away. Again, did I opt to forego the rest of my errands? Nope. Silly me went on my way.

I ended up my circuit at Ronie’s, Home of the Steak, a corner bar that makes the best delmonico steak sandwiches. Oh, the sandwich was just as yummy as ever. But I ended up taking it home instead of eating it there. The place was deserted. As in I was the only one there. I walked in and Ronie was playing a video game, watching golf. I felt like I was intruding. He seemed old and tired. Thinking on it, he probably is. I’ve been going there for 25 years and he was in business long before I walked in.

So I collected my yarn and had a nom sammich but all in all it was a depressing day. I should have paid more attention to the light when it told me to proceed with caution and only gone the places that were absolutely necessary.

Out for Lunch

As I was driving down 5th Street today I noticed a baseball rolling along beside me. It was in the left turn lane. I wonder where it was going.

I had lunch with Neeley and Riley today. Completely unplanned. I was already out and about when I got a text from Neeley saying she happened to be in town for the weekend if I wanted to get together. I was hungry so I suggested lunch at Ronie’s. Yep, she had time and would bring mom with her. They’re the best!

Ronie’s, if you’ve never been there, is an experience. I know I’ve rambled about it before so I’ll spare you. I highly recommend it at least once in your life. Tell Ronie your mine and perhaps he’ll even decide to serve you.

We had a great visit. As expected Ronie wasn’t about to let us leave without some urging. Yeah, he holds those he likes captive by never taking your money. I always need to ask specifically to be permitted to pay even though he’s wandered by the cash I put out several times, deliberately ignoring it. In a way it’s kind of nice, having a place that’s so much like home they don’t want you to leave. Today I only had to ask once. In the past, there have been occasions when I’ve needed to make my request several times. I miss hanging out there. If only he had a wireless hook up. Then I could say hi directly from there. May have to talk to him about that one.

What did you do today?

Entirely Too Social

I was out yesterday, having breakfast and doing some visiting. I was out again for lunch today. I'm about to go back out now since the Middle Child is about to embark on her big adventure, a semester in France, and I'd like to wish her well before she goes. Also Neeley and her man are in town.

Now I'm about as far from a social butterfly as you can get so this is really hard for me. I used to be much better at it. But all things go in cycles and I'm in an avoid the world phase these days. My mind is too full of characters to have much room left for real people.

Today's lunch brought back lots of memories. We went to Ronies, Home of the Steak at 936 Exeter Street. Ever been there? If not, it's an institution. A tradition for folks in Northeast Reading. Owned by Ronie and Donna Burns, forever I think, it's a somewhat typical corner bar. Reading has a gazillion of them so why should you make Ronies a destination of choice? Not the atmosphere, that's for sure. It hasn't changed one bit in the twenty-five years I've been hanging out there.

So what is it about the place that's kept me going back? Ronie and Donna. A pair of real characters I assure you. Ronie is very set in his ways. If he thinks you might be okay the first time you go in, you'll be served in about an hour. If you go back a second time it will only take half an hour. The third time, a few minutes. If he decides you're riff raff you never get served. That's one reason I used to go there every Friday night, to watch the kids from nearby Albright College attempt to attract Ronie's attention. I tell you he can ingore you with the best of them. He makes it into an art. Even when refreshing my drink, he could look right through the smartass kid sitting next to me no matter how loud the kid got or what he said. But I warn you, if Ronie really likes you, he never takes your money so you can't ever leave. Or not until Donna comes in and has everyone settle up. She's the chatty one of the pair, remembering every detail of each conversation so she can continue it next time you're there. Amazing.

The other excellent reason to head to Ronies is the steak sandwiches. Ronie starts with a slab of delmonico steak which he slices himself. He fries it up on a flat grill with sliced onions beneath it. A slice of cheese melted on top, slap it into a club roll and you're all set. Some add worchestershire sauce but not me. I prefer mine plain.

I remember one summer when I had vacation to use up. I took off every Friday afternoon from Memorial Day to Labor Day and spent everyone of them at Ronies. Since I was social back then it wasn't unusual for various people to join me throughout the afternoon. Nor was it unusual for me to have a steak sandwich for lunch and then another with spicy fries for a late dinner. Of course that was back when it was safe to walk around my neighborhood so I could also enjoy several beverages. At that point I was there often enough that Ronie had a bottle of Johnny Walker Black stashed behind the bar, just for me. Memories...

Don't forget you still have time to enter the contest Amarinda and I are having in honor of our new releases Friday.

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