The Usual

In many films that have a camera scene in a bar, often times a leading male character will saunter over to a crowded bar, push his way to a stool and as he sits, says to the bar tender, “the usual”. The busy bar tender invariably places a drink on the counter in front of the actor and proceeds to attend to other patrons.

Every time I see this scene in a movie, I think of Dad.

Mom and Dad loved to take road trips to see new places and visit members of our scattered family in far off states. They often took older grandchildren with them on jaunts to the Arizona desert or to snow country like Big Bear in California. Part of the excitement of traveling with Granddad and Grandma was the frequent stops at road side cafes for pie and coffee.

After everyone would get settled into a booth or seated at a table, a waitress would appear, pad and pencil in hand ready to write down the orders. Dad, being the first one to speak, would say, “the usual”. Nine times out of ten, the waitress would be taken aback for a moment and stutter, ”what?”. Dad's eyes would sparkle and the grandchildren would giggle and Mom pretended she wasn't part of the crowd.

Dad's favorite place to pull 'the usual' was at a diner or truck stop at breakfast time when waitresses were very rushed. The grandchildren always wondered how come the waitresses knew what Dad wanted when he gave his order. When he said, “the usual”, the waitresses would bring him a short stack, his favorite pancake breakfast.



Short Stack