Now I understand

My husband, brother and I went out to dinner with friends last night. We are having a fundraiser at this restaurant in a couple of weeks, and the friends wanted us to see the place. One of them is on same political board that we are, and this board is sponsoring the fundraiser.

It is a relatively small place out in the middle of nowhere. Sort of a roadhouse bar and restaurant. I never would have stopped in had I been out for a drive.

Apparently, however, this place has hosted many big bands, including the Blues Brothers, and several other national acts. They have areas for camping and have had thousands of people there to see the concerts. The owner is quite a character-nice guy who knows a lot of people. I can’t remember exactly the story I was told, but somehow Billboard magazine is attached with all of this.

Last night the place was packed. Cars were parked up and down the country road as we got there. The bar hosts volleyball games throughout the summer, and this was the final championship night for the league. We found a table, but it was quite crowded when the teams came inside after the games.

Most of the players were on the young side, in their 20’s or 30’s, I’d guess. Some were maybe in their 40’s. For the most part, there were younger women and the men seemed older.

I felt as though I was watching an episode of “Girls gone bad”. I have only seem promos for that show, but this looked eerily the same.

Young nice-looking women who had been drinking way too much alcohol for their own good. One young woman came to our table and began talking to one of our friends about something to do with a gingerbread man. He is black. He didn’t know her and couldn’t make out most of what she was talking about. There was a very long award ceremony, which included awards for the best underwear, men and women’s.  People went to the emcee, and dropped their pants. One of the men flashed his butt. There were drinking contests and a “who is gayest” contest. As our friends commented to us “Do they realize that one out of ten of them is likely gay?”

Our friends are a gay couple.

To put it mildly, the patrons of the bar were not at their best. It made me wonder what they do for their day jobs. Are these secretaries, insurance salespeople, realtors, maybe professionals? Do they have children, are they married? Is this the only fun that they have?

This is small town midwestern America. This is what they were doing on a Saturday night-after a full day of playing volleyball.

The bar owner commented to us, as well as to the players, that they were a good example for the world. They apparently come from all walks of life, have no official referees and handle any issues based on honesty. He commented that they had become a family, accepting of everyone.

If this is the best of America, I now understand why we  are in trouble.

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