Queso

A story from 4th of July Weekend

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My name is Tanner Olson and I am an author, poet, and speaker. Here I share whatever comes to mind. Often I’ll post a prayer or poem or reflection or story. Before you move onto the next thing hit the subscribe button! Thanks for being here.

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If you spend the 4th of July Weekend in Northern Michigan you might go to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner at 4 PM.

If you do, you'll be told the wait is an hour and add your name to the list.

You’ll find a place to sit and play cards and watch people and wonder how many hours of your life you've spent waiting.

You’ll sit outside on the patio with the rest of the people wishing they were seated, eating enchiladas or tacos or both.

You’ll watch as the line continues to grow longer and someone will say, “I’m glad we got here when we did.”

You’ll see small children playing a game on their parents iPhone.

You’ll see parents frantically look for their phone before they remember they have a child who has their phone.

You’ll see sunburned teens and tired adults and worn out service dogs.

You’ll try not to get jealous of those eating and remind yourself that patience is something you once prayed for.

You’ll watch and wait for your buzzer to vibrate so that it can be your turn to make those waiting jealous.

You’ll do a little dance when the buzzer buzzes, holding up like it’s an Olympic gold medal.

You’ll sit down and feel like you’ve accomplished something.

You’ll ask for chips and salsa and a round of water for the table.

You’ll be asked if there is anything else you’d like.

You’ll say a pitcher of margaritas.

You’ll look at the menu and someone will ask the table, “What sounds good?”

Someone will say, “It all sounds good!”

Someone else will say, “Isn’t that the truth!”

And you’ll nod your head.

You’ll see a little girl in a princess dress dancing with her French fries.

You’ll see her parents happy because she is happy.

You’ll overhear a man order a double portion of refried beans and pray for his wife.

You’ll turn around when a lady loudly announces, “THE FIRST THING YOU SHOULD DO IS MARRY A DOCTOR.”

You’ll wonder how many margaritas she’s had.

You’ll be glad your wife didn’t take her advice because you are not a doctor.

You’ll listen as three girls at the table near you talk about an upcoming wedding they’ve been invited to.

You’ll listen to them discuss what they will be wearing and who all is invited.

You’ll hear them audibly cringe when they hear Danny will be there.

DANNY.

I couldn’t believe it either.

You’ll hear one of them say, “We need a code word that gets us out of a conversation when things get awkward.”

You’ll hear another girl clarify by saying, “Like, a word that, like, tells all of us okay it’s, like, time to move on.”

You’ll watch the other two girls nod their heads.

You’ll hear them discuss which word should be their code word.

FREEDOM.

No.

DETROIT TIGERS.

No.

QUESO.

Yes.

You’ll listen as one of the girls announces, “Okay, so like when we are ready to be done, we just say, queso!”

You’ll then order queso for the table because all this queso talk has made you crave queso.

PS. Torchy’s Tacos queso is the best.

You’ll realize this is how marketing works.

You’ll see most adult men wearing a Patagonia shirt their wives picked out.

You’ll see teenage boys eat everything on the table without smiling or saying a word.

You’ll see an elderly couple hold hands through their entire meal.

You’ll see waiters and waitresses grow more and more exhausted.

You’ll ask for another basket of tortilla chips.

You’ll fill your body with more food than you need to.

You’ll get the check.

… Queso.

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