Skip to main content

"Incoming!" Like A Little Enemy Drone

Here's my story -- brace yourself it's going to get nasty! (A true story)

My wife and I were celebrating her birthday. I had chosen a very nice restaurant (not mentioning any name) let's just say it was in Texas to protect the innocent. Reservations were required, well in advance, as this was a very popular eatery! It was crowded that evening, and a long line of hungry patrons waited for their table, each held a little courtesy buzzer that lit up and vibrated when their table was ready. I had reserved a nice table close to a window. We had a great view of the city lights! Our server brought the bottle of wine I had selected for us, it was a nice before dinner wine -- it was elegant.

We were presented our menus' and our choices were difficult as every entree and side-order was so described to entice even the most serious vegan or a less-than-hungry diner. I believe that night, I had chosen Escargots a la Bourguignonne as our appetizer. We both enjoy this very traditional French dish. We each were served six escargot snails in a special bake dish. My entree was of course, a filet served rare, and a steamed, Florida Spiny Lobster. Ooo-la-la! I don't remember my wife's selection - most likely hers was a ribeye cooked medium rare, always one of her favorites!

Our special evening was greatly disturbed by a terrible event that night that nearly caused a panic among those of us who had been quietly eating at our tables! It was a dreadful moment, many of us will never forget what happened that evening!

From my right side, just within my peripheral vision, a small dark object soared across the busy, dimly lit dining-room. At first, I imagined a small hummingbird had ventured into the restaurant through an opened door. The blurry little flier reminded me of one of those tiny military spy-drones like I had seen in a movie. I was wrong! No drone this little thing! Are you thinking of what I am about to tell you? Yeah, it was a large tree roach!! Did it fly off or light on the black painted ceiling? Nope! Where then you might wonder, did it land? Get ready - on the back of a poor woman's head, right upon her heavily hair-sprayed coiffure! She wasn't even aware the beast had chosen her head as its landing field. No one dared to yell out to warn the poor woman. Instead, nearly everyone was a witness to the tragedy, and they didn't want to be a testifying witness! Then...the ugly buzzard must have tickled her scalp, because she innocently brushed her hair dislodging the winged vulture, sending it on its mission to bomb yet another victim - chairs everywhere scooted, and waves of freighted guests moved out in every direction! Eventually, a well-equipped floor manager and several waiters knocked the "incoming" out of the air! The attack was then over, and the not-so-little B-29 bomber was disassembled and removed from the attack zone like pronto!

Epilogue: 

Sadly, I would say most of us lost our eager appetites that night! I know, I for one, shall never forget how my special treat for my birthday girl was destroyed that night by that black and brown "incoming - tropical insect!"

War is hell! Many are the victims, and many sadly have had their appetites ruined by flying insects. My lovely wife, and I, were only but two witnesses during that evening battle! We live on, ready for just about anything now.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Let The Good Times Roll

  Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler! In other words, “Let the good times roll!” Mardi Gras is just around the corner, and Mardi Gras is about letting go of the not-so-good times and having yourself a whole lot of fun! This year, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, Mardi Gras in New Orleans returns after another year of the pandemic. Mayor LaToya Cantrell has told New Orleans Mardi Gras will return to the city in 2022. However, there are changes, mostly in altered routes of the famous parade through the city. Interested in going? Check with event planners. Thanks to French-Canadian explorer Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville, it is believed Mardi Gras began March 3, 1699 when he camped just downriver from what is now New Orleans. Back in France, it was Fat Tuesday. Pierre named the camping spot Point du Mardi Gras and held a party there! I suppose he likely toasted to the event exclaiming “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler!” I don’t know this for a fact but I’m going to go with it! A few years later, a g...

It’s winter – where are all the “gators?”

A bowl of chili, a warm blanket, and maybe a good movie. That’s how we humans handle our cold weather, but what about alligators? How do they deal with the cold in winter? Alligators must have sunlight to warm them up and increase their metabolism. So, when winter temperatures drop below 40 degrees they slow way down, then go into a hibernation-like state. They “brumate” - go into brumation it is called, where their metabolism slows way down. They become lethargic and drop down to the bottom of the river, lake, or pond. Alligators can hold their breath for up to 24 hours! When it’s that cold they surface just long enough to grab a few deep breaths of air and then settle back on the bottom! That’s crazy! Some alligators dig themselves a nice musty smelling hole just above the water table out of the cold. I’ll bet they doze with one eye open just in case a curious critter or human hand pokes around their winter home’s sleeping quarters! I have seen gators 12-14 feet long on our Lake Livi...

Texas' Big Bend Country

  How can I describe this snapshot of our Texas-Mexico border, taken on a trip we made to our Texas Big Bend country, other than spectacular ! We were driving Texas' state road 170 heading to Presidio from Terlingua. We were a little spooked since we were the only vehicle on the road. Along this section of the road, we didn't pass any other cars or trucks. I must say, this desolate part of Texas is just as rugged as it is beautiful! Every curvy turn of this lonely highway presented yet another picture postcard panorama. It would be hard to believe anyone would risk their life crossing such treacherous terrain, but I imagine some have, at one time or another. In the summer, temperatures go well into the hundreds and the dangers of heat exhaustion and death are very real! Diamond-back rattle snakes and scorpions happily make this desert their home -- we never saw any though. We held our breath while traveling on this deserted, stretch of road, not wanting to think of having any ...