#unclelous

@mybrother_mysister tonight in Orlando at #unclelous (at Uncle Lou's Entertainment Hall)

#pandorastalkboxproductions #pandorastalkbox #unclelous #2009 #florida #iusedtobeweirder

I worked at Uncle Lou's in Wildwood, New Jersey during the summer while I was in high school and college from 1978-1982. It doesn't exist anymore and I have a lot of things to say about the joint, but I'll keep this one semi-short. Started as a dishwasher, then got promoted to expediter on the line because I had half a brain. I was the youngest of the 5 man line crew and the other guys where all stoners. Except one. We put out about 500 $3.95 dinners a night. My job was to read the orders, shout out to the other cooks what needed to be plated, get the filled plates on the counter and call the waitress to pick up and deliver. It was all about turnover as every restaurant is and the stress was nuts for a teenager. But it only lasted 3 hours. Then I could go wash the deep fryer fumes off and go out to the bars that didn't close until 5 in the morning and had 5 beers for $1 specials. The one older guy who wasn't a stoner but ran the line had graduate degrees. And he was missing a thumb. I remember a waitress asking him what happened. He stared her down and never answered. I loved that response. Pick up your plates and get the fuck out of my business and kitchen. I never found out what happened to his thumb, but this man gave me the best advice I have ever received. I was starting to act like the other shithead cooks because I was hanging out with them. He noticed. He took me aside one night and told me I had more going on and should keep my distance. That was stunning to me. Having grown up without a father (boo-fucking-hoo) I never had anyone give a fuck about me like that. I don't remember his name, but I see his face and hear his words to this day and I'm a better man for working with him.