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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The Gazebo in Monroe Park (FF)


(Copyright David Stewart)

Wednesday nights in summer we'd all head down to the Gazebo in the middle of Monroe Park to hear the open air concerts.

The band consisted mostly of our fathers and grandfathers and truth to say, nobody was all that good. But the music was sweet, the nights were warm, and frankly there wasn't much else to do in the town.

All of us assumed it would last forever.

Now years later there hasn't been a concert since anyone can remember and all the band member have passed on.

Even the Gazebo is gone, replaced of all things by a McDonald's.

Now I can get me a Big Mac any time I want.  This is way better than those lousy concerts!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was going to go serious until the last minute when I lost my nerve and nose dived into a virtual promo for McDonald's. Thus my contribution this week to the Friday Fictioneers consists of this lovely bit of nostalgia which reads more like nostalgia for an Egg McMuffin than for band concerts in summer. 

Click here for more palatable and tasty weekly fare from the other Friday Fictioneers.

Do you yet hear the music from long ago and far away?   Me neither, let's eat!

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38 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 25, 2015 at 10:16 AM

    The nose dive was spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 25, 2015 at 2:45 PM

      Thank you very much. But getting her back up won't be easy!i

      Delete
  2. AnonymousMarch 25, 2015 at 11:02 AM

    Really?
    Mac's are better than your old folks at home music?
    Shame on you. Not funny at all.
    You have stooped to the lowest point in your career, Perry Block.

    Other than that, life is good here in Monroe Park.
    Randy

    ReplyDelete
  3. AliciaMarch 25, 2015 at 5:38 PM

    I truly thought you were going serious on me than BAM! the last line let me know it was truly you. Fun story, as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 25, 2015 at 6:12 PM

      I was just funnin' ya that I wasn't funnin' ya. However, real situations like this do make me sad and nostalgic, which maybe is why I'm compelled to derail them here.

      Delete
  4. RussellMarch 25, 2015 at 5:42 PM

    Dear Ronald,
    I almost didn't recognize you without your orange afro, clown nose, and oversized shoes. Your Big Mac has been downsized and the Ho-hum Meal is being phased out. I'm lovin' it.
    - Burger King

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 25, 2015 at 6:17 PM

      But I still have the clown nose, all right. And my Big Mac is not the only thing that's been downsized and in the process of being phased out. Okay, let's go hear some music at the gazebo now.

      Delete
  5. carldagostinoMarch 25, 2015 at 8:18 PM

    A wholesome remnant of real America. Of course who am I to define real America as it means so many different things to different people. But I still have a distaste for what America is today.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 26, 2015 at 5:46 PM

      What? You don't like reality shows, important statements by world leaders issued in tweets, and a culture that devalues anyone over 30? Actually ... me either.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousMarch 25, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    Not that long again (about 15 years ago), I took my boys to see the beautiful town square in the old town in Texas that I grew up in. -- -- Yep, you guessed it. No town square. Just junk buildings. Old baseball field was gone. The new swimming pool was filled in (concrete edges still showing). Wished I hadn't gone back and, instead, gone to McDonald to see you and then to Burger King to see Russell's new costume, ha.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 26, 2015 at 5:50 PM

      That's right! I've been waiting for you here at the McDonald's and Russell is waiting at Burger King. If you take any longer, they'll probably tear them both down and build a park and a gazebo! Thanks, Mike.

      Delete
  7. DawnMarch 25, 2015 at 10:35 PM

    Perry Perry Perry, you know at our age a little dancing in the gazebo is much better than McDonald's!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 4:40 PM

      What I know at our age is regardless of whether I dance a bit or eat a Big Mac I still pretty much won't be able to get up until the next day.

      Delete
  8. AnonymousMarch 25, 2015 at 10:52 PM

    Dear Perry, You always make me smile and you and Russell are the dynamic duo of fun! Good story and I thought you were going to go dark and you didn't! I went dark and I wasn't going to - but at the last second - my dark voice took over. Oh well, Enjoyed yours! Nan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 4:44 PM

      As one half of the Dynamic Duo of Fun, I was all set to go serious on this piece when I started legitimately feeling nostalgic for things in my actual life (which is not always a pleasant feeling), so I decided to trash it. Me and Robin have the right to do that kind of thing, you know. (Shh, don't tell Russell he's Robin.)

      lmyso/lgige seriHy fthekfk

      Delete
  9. AnonymousMarch 26, 2015 at 3:43 AM

    McDonalds is like a disease. It even infects FF.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 4:48 PM

      Yes, nurse, it's time ... hand me the knife ... I'm going in now ... everything will fine, you'll ... there it is, I'm cutting! Okay, I'm cutting up the Egg McMuffin now, here's your portion, nurse!

      Delete
  10. AnonymousMarch 26, 2015 at 4:51 AM

    You saved the day with big Mac !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 4:49 PM

      Not really. I didn't save the day, I trashed the town. Big difference.

      Delete
  11. liz youngMarch 26, 2015 at 6:51 AM

    Have you no soul? You can get a Big Mac anywhere - if your stomach can cope - but music is soul food.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 4:51 PM

      Yeah, pretty much I have no soul. I think that's gotta be it. Now if you don't mind, Satan is waiting for me.

      Delete
  12. margireneMarch 26, 2015 at 7:53 AM

    Ohh! Just as I was losing myself in your idyllic, nostalgic scene, the carpet was pulled from under my feet and I'm left to contemplate a Big Mac!? Really?

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rochelle Wisoff-FieldsMarch 27, 2015 at 5:30 AM

    Dear Perry,

    As I read, I'm thinking, aw, such a sweet and wistful story. Then, wham, you hit me with the Big Mac! Could I get a hot apple pie with that? Nicely done.

    Shalom,

    Rochelle

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 5:10 PM

      Thank you, Rochelle, it was a sweet wistful story, wasn't it? Even I was enjoying it and I almost hated it when it came time to totally trash it. Thank goodness for the sensitive writers like you!

      Delete
  14. DaleMarch 27, 2015 at 10:43 AM

    Replaced by a McDs!! And you think this is a good thing? Tsk Tsk...
    Great story!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 5:11 PM

      I think it's a terrible thing, but hopefully a funny thing. Most readers so far want to lynch me.

      Delete
  15. brudbergMarch 27, 2015 at 4:31 PM

    Ha.. And that is how we create growth in the exconomy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 27, 2015 at 5:12 PM

      Exactly. It's not about sensitivity, memories, and caring. We gotta make bucks here!

      Delete
  16. P.S. JoshiMarch 28, 2015 at 12:19 PM

    I'm glad you came to your senses there Perry. I was about to send for medical personel. Ronald will be forever grateful. Give them time and McDonald's will be replaced. I think it's some kind of law that nothing can stand in the U.S. longer than 15 years or so without being replaced with something cheesier. I'm surprised the Grand Canyon hasn't been filled in and built on. Well done as always. :D --- Suzanne

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 28, 2015 at 4:26 PM

      I want you to know I was right on the edge of writing a sensitive piece in which the protagonist returns to the park and feels the pain of his childhood diminished and .... I couldn't do it. Maybe next time I'll write about the Grand Canyon and play it straight all the way. It would make a great site for a casino!

      Delete
  17. Douglas MacIlroyMarch 29, 2015 at 7:32 AM

    Dear Perry,

    Some people just want to watch the world burn...

    Lovely, funny story. Well done this week.

    Aloha,

    Doug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 31, 2015 at 2:38 AM

      Gee, I've never been compared so favorably to the Joker before! Thanks, Doug.

      Delete
  18. SubrotoMarch 31, 2015 at 8:45 AM

    What a sweet nostalgic story. Then bang! Trashed! Can I get fries with that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perry BlockMarch 31, 2015 at 8:25 PM

      Sure. Always happy to fry a reader's arteries.

      Delete
  19. AnonymousApril 1, 2015 at 4:35 PM

    I doublechecked if I was really visiting your blog and Baam! There you were, last sentence.

    ReplyDelete