Here's A Funny Story :o)

‘The Rock’ – Wood fired pizza

Here’s a funny story…

This past Monday my Visiting Teachers had us all meet for a luncheon. They like to do this in the summer sometimes. It’s fun to get together. They asked me if I had a suggestion where to eat in Covington, WA., that’s where we live. I love good New England Clam Chowder! I suggested that we eat at ‘The Rock’ and I told them about the luncheon bar where you can eat all you want for about $9.00 (It’s actually $9.59). None of them had ever been there so we all met there. I’d been there several times.

Now I forgot to mention one little thing to these sisters (ages 50 to 74)- the atmosphere and music. This is the funny part of the story. Kirsten and I are the first to arrive and then one by one the other 4 arrive. Well it was bright and sunny outside and when you first enter ‘The Rock’ it’s lighting is more subdued (not like a bar-not that I’ve been in a bar! The Rock has a bar but it’s separate from the dining area.). ‘The Rock’ is about rock music and artists. Each of their menus has a different rock star on them, Van Halen, etc. The music is soft to medium rock music, nothing hardcore. And, it’s a little loud. The motif is brick walls. The first time I went, my son David took me and I thought ‘The Rock’ meant Alcatraz, as the décor was bleak and dreary. Then David said, “No mom, its rock stars and music.” I said, "Oh.” All these things I ‘forgot’ to mention to these sisters. I had a one-track mind, the food was great! We all got to our table and we’re seated and the 74 year old says, “I can’t see to read the menu, it’s a little dark!” (After a few minutes your eyes adjust and you see fine.) The late 50’s sister said, “Man the music is a little loud in here. I don’t know if I like this or not.” Then I said, “Oh, I guess I forgot to mention the atmosphere and music, but the food is really great! I took Ginger Milam here for lunch one day and she loved it!” Ginger is 61! She’s a high school math teacher and she’s cool too! You’d never guess she’s 61! I love her and she’s so sweet! Then I also added, “You know I just have a way of ‘tuning out’ what I don’t want to hear, whether it is music, conversation, etc. and it doesn’t bother me.”

About this time, they are looking questioningly at me and they said, “Sis. Guptill I had no idea you frequented places like this!” They said it good-naturedly. Well not to be deterred by their comment I said, “Well, now sisters, you can go home and tell your families ‘you’ve been to The Rock!’ Now that’s living!” Then before we got up to get our food, I said I would offer the blessing on the food. The music was a little loud but not too loud so you really had to listen to hear the prayer, we didn’t want to be too obvious. Ha! Ha! Ha! Not be noticed! Five middle-aged women in ‘The Rock’ with a young girl, my daughter Kirsten… Anyway…halfway through the prayer it got really quiet and for half a minute after the prayer ended. The one sister said, “Wasn’t that nice, they turned the music down so we could pray.” The other sister said, “Oh, I don’t think they turned the music down, I just think the song ended.” Then another sister said, “Oh we asked ahead if they would turn the music down.” Then we all laughed! Once we all got settled and got our food and yummy clam chowder and were talking, things went well. After awhile one sister said, ‘You know I guess I don’t mind the music so much and it didn’t bother me after all. Then we looked up and over one of the exit signs was a red neon sign with an arrow that said,” stairway to heaven” The one gal said, “To which heaven, up or down!” She laughed and we all laughed!

Here’s the kicker...we were all talking about seeing the movie “Emma” which most of us had seen. It’s really good. It gives you a whole different perspective about Emma Smith. Then we got off on polygamy, which we know today is NOT practiced and forbidden by the church. However, we talked about how Emma didn’t like it. Well I told the sisters, “Sign me up!” They looked at me and said, “I’ve never heard anyone that was for that! You like it?” I said, “Think about it logically, you get to divide up the work and these younger ones can do the ‘bedroom stuff’ they are young and and oh well, you know.” We all had a good laugh! The one sister said, ‘Well, I guess being in here we really have become little devils! We all laughed. I wondered as we went outside what the ‘young 20 something’ waitresses were thinking! I laughed even harder! I’m sure the next time these gals, my friends, go to the Post office and look across the street at ‘The Rock’ they will always remember what it is! A pizza place for young people and ‘middle-aged!’ :o) Honestly it really is a nice place to take your family.