Occasionally -- and I mean once in a blue harvest moon, if the good Lord is willin' and the crick don't rise -- a human being will experience something that is just sublime. A moment that touches your soul, waaaaaaay down deep, and makes you wonder at the glory of life itself. How noble, precious, and magical every day is, and how we fritter every moment away in meaningless toiling, little realizing that around a corner, just a few minutes from now, we will encounter nothing less than pure, joyful magic.
Come with me, friend. I know the way.
First, a little background:
Today is the day all of the travelers in the office pack up and head home. It's weird for me not to BE one of the travelers, scrambling to get all of the work done before dashing off to the airport, turning in the rental car, patiently waiting for your flight to be canceled... Oh, the joys of the business traveler.
And most of the travelers do this at least twice a WEEK, you understand. Madness, certainly, but 'tis the way o' the consultin' world, shiver me timbers, skiddoo!!
Yeah, I got a little lost there, but let's get back to the moment of magic I have to share with you, shall we?
We decide to have lunch off-campus, to say a fare-thee-well to our departing friends. So we all pile into cars, and head down into South Sacramento. Yes, on purpose.
Our destination: a little place called JR's Texas Bar-B-Que, which E had suggested. To be clear, this is not pork; it is, instead, beef brisket, cooked 12-18 hours. We learned this from the internet as we drove to our place of dining, guided the entire way by a completely different handheld device, which was talking to us ("Prepare to turn left. No, your other left. Do you just want me to remotely seize control of the vehicle and you can take a nap or something?").
Think about that for a moment. Think about how far we've come with this technology since, you know, Mesopotamia. We're really kind of awesome.
But this, I understand, is not magic to you, or me. We're used to it. It is everyday. It is common. We do not experience it with the wonder it deserves.
When we get to the true magic in our tale, however, you will feel it down deep. It will tickle a part of you that you thought had disappeared. And it's going to be awesome, in the traditional sense of the word.
We arrived at our destination, and I initially assumed we had incorrectly arrived at their warehouse. It may also be their warehouse, but there is clearly a restaurant as well.
Come with me, friend. I know the way.
First, a little background:
Today is the day all of the travelers in the office pack up and head home. It's weird for me not to BE one of the travelers, scrambling to get all of the work done before dashing off to the airport, turning in the rental car, patiently waiting for your flight to be canceled... Oh, the joys of the business traveler.
And most of the travelers do this at least twice a WEEK, you understand. Madness, certainly, but 'tis the way o' the consultin' world, shiver me timbers, skiddoo!!
Yeah, I got a little lost there, but let's get back to the moment of magic I have to share with you, shall we?
We decide to have lunch off-campus, to say a fare-thee-well to our departing friends. So we all pile into cars, and head down into South Sacramento. Yes, on purpose.
Our destination: a little place called JR's Texas Bar-B-Que, which E had suggested. To be clear, this is not pork; it is, instead, beef brisket, cooked 12-18 hours. We learned this from the internet as we drove to our place of dining, guided the entire way by a completely different handheld device, which was talking to us ("Prepare to turn left. No, your other left. Do you just want me to remotely seize control of the vehicle and you can take a nap or something?").
Think about that for a moment. Think about how far we've come with this technology since, you know, Mesopotamia. We're really kind of awesome.
But this, I understand, is not magic to you, or me. We're used to it. It is everyday. It is common. We do not experience it with the wonder it deserves.
When we get to the true magic in our tale, however, you will feel it down deep. It will tickle a part of you that you thought had disappeared. And it's going to be awesome, in the traditional sense of the word.
We arrived at our destination, and I initially assumed we had incorrectly arrived at their warehouse. It may also be their warehouse, but there is clearly a restaurant as well.
The place smelled amazing, and it really is both a great value and delicious food, which is so rarely true. If you get to Sacramento, and for some reason find yourself hankering for some delicious thick-cut brisket, this is definitely where you want to go.
We even met, honest-to-God, JR himself. Our good friend J was packing up some leftovers into styrofoam boxes, when JR came over and said, (I swear this actually happened) "What are you doing with them there wimp boxes?"
He was absolutely awesome.
And, as I sat looking amongst the collected treasures that decorated the place from old TX license plates to the odd framed jersey to what appeared to be an actual covered wagon, I spotted it. I stared, transfixed. I would never have... Who would... There's no WAY I would have predicted... I mean... How would... Is that really... Of all the... What? WHAT??
I have been positively giggling to myself all day, waiting to share this moment with you.
Are you ready, friend?
Take a deep breath.
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We even met, honest-to-God, JR himself. Our good friend J was packing up some leftovers into styrofoam boxes, when JR came over and said, (I swear this actually happened) "What are you doing with them there wimp boxes?"
He was absolutely awesome.
And, as I sat looking amongst the collected treasures that decorated the place from old TX license plates to the odd framed jersey to what appeared to be an actual covered wagon, I spotted it. I stared, transfixed. I would never have... Who would... There's no WAY I would have predicted... I mean... How would... Is that really... Of all the... What? WHAT??
I have been positively giggling to myself all day, waiting to share this moment with you.
Are you ready, friend?
Take a deep breath.
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Yes, that is in fact an autographed picture of Jethro from The Beverly Hillbillies.
And I will bet everything I own that NOT ONE OF YOU thought, "It's going to be an autographed picture of Jethro from The Beverly Hillbillies."
Because you can't predict magic, gentle reader.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT MAGIC!!
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