I woke up this morning to some horrible news. In a world where Israel has to stand up and protect itself from hatred and terrorism. In a time where Jews must face a rise in antisemitism. Where a man with severe mental illness murdered eighteen people in Maine.
I’m going to bitch and moan about something very petty.
Some schmuck drove his car into my hotdog stand last night. Around ten o’clock, a car left Harlem Avenue and drove through the northside of Parky’s hotdog stand. Fortunately nobody was injured.
I had an old trading floor colleague go there yesterday afternoon for the first time. I was planning on taking the Shepkids there tomorrow for lunch.
I know the world is a shitshow right now, but whenever my life enters a shitshow…. places like Parky’s cheer me up.
Some people go to church, some people go to the gym, some people go for a walk in the Forest Preserve.
I go to a hotdog stand on Harlem Avenue off of Madison street.
When I have a bad day at work. Parky’s!
When my ex wife climbs up my ass bitching about nothing. Parky’s!
When I miss my dad. Parky’s!
When I like a girl and we make a fifth date. Parky’s!
When an airplane flew into a building and killed a guy I knew on a Tuesday morning in September. I went to Parky’s… When there is nothing to do and the kids are hungry. Parky’s. A couple days after my Oldman left for heaven. Parky’s.
When my divorce was finalized. Well, I went to Gene and Georgetti’s, but I could have gone to Parky’s.
I hope the owner can rebuild and return to business as usual. Because the world needs a neighborhood hotdog stand to go to.
It is therapeutic to get a hotdog on good days, bad days, sunny days and snowy days.
Today will be a cold and overcast day in Chicagoland. A perfect day for rugby. My club, The Chicago Blaze has a match at noon and the World Cup championship game is at two o’clock.
Watch some rugby… crank up the crockpot… listen to old radio shows on WDCB….open the sweater drawer… take a brisk walk… support Israel… pray for Maine and visit your local hotdog stand.
