re: #1143 WindUpBird

Nah. Bartending really isn’t that interesting, though the Vietnam vets were my most interesting clientele, for sure— this was at a place that was a combo greasy spoon joint/bar. My favorite was a guy named Vinnie. He was an awesome guy, missing his front two teeth, a pacifist after the war. He was a cobbler, a shoemaker. He could be a little crazy and had some wild opinions but was a very sweet man.

My parents visited me at the bar occasionally, and one day I decided to introduce my rather-proper mom to Vinnie, hoping that it’ll go okay.

My mom smiles and says, “Hi, Vinnie!” Turns out he was the only person she’d trust with her Italian shoes, and they’d known each other for about eight years.

Our parents are often cooler than we think.