Time is Only a Thief

Went to the famous Junior's Restaurant and Bar here in Downtown Brooklyn.  They've served up the most delicious cheesecake since 1950. It's a NY institution.  But what they don't tell you is they also serve up old Brooklyn in the most delightful way. They've never left, it's everything and one around them that has changed over time.  High rises have gone up around and down the block but there they stand in this winter night, all lit up like a Christmas tree in the new cold world.  When you walk in, you feel as though you're in a food church of sorts.  You realize manners are still a thing and dining out is an experience to respect in every way.  I'm sure they still do great business but on a weeknight, you might find what we did sitting in the multiple dining rooms, single patrons, mainly an elderly African-American crowd.  Stately male waiters recited the daily specials, busboys and large vinyl menus with too many choices.  In attendance that night was multiple pairs of old women friends and me and my pal, Hope.

That's an oversized portion of their famous cheesecake and Hope ordered the Carrot Cake, her favorite. 

We, too, are old city foundations that are lost in time.  We're not the old ladies we're seated next to but we're also not the young women we were when we met 20 years ago, moving and shaking in the big city, sharing an office and cab rides home after long nights of trying to change the world...of music retail.  But none of that matters once you begin talking and sharing stories, laughing and at least for me, remembering that we're not our jobs, or our hair styles, we're certainly not the last cool thing we did. Thank goodness, because I haven't done anything cool in years.  I might not understand exactly what I really am but when I can let go of any preconceived thoughts of self and just let myself have a great time, that's when I feel most real and alive. 

When the waiter mentioned Pot Pie was the special, I imagined a cute Banquet tin container set in front of me.  This was a full sized ceramic platter bowl, possibly 15" wide.  But that crust was so light and delicate, vegetables and sauce seasoned just right with the perfect amount of chicken-y goodness, atop another flaky bottom crust.   I could have eaten it all, truth be told but I was anticipating dessert.

As always, like any respectable diner, you receive tiny separate bowls atop tiny plates of beets, coleslaw and pickles for the table regardless of your dinner choices.  Also offered was a bread basket but we declined that, unfortunately.  Hope who has no issues with weight reminds me of how carbs can really weigh you down and in my insecure brain I hear that as, you're too fat, you don't need bread. 

Because you can have moments of clarity but in the end it's super hard to shed the ego when out in a social environment and even though I was smart to wear my elastic waist pants, I was so quickly reminded of this mortal coil.