A pick-up...

That's the lamp, not me!!!

Soon the day arrived that the shop tech told me to pick up my lamp, so after lunch I paid the shop a visit.   He was not in yet, but his associate told me to wait and he'd be in shortly.   And that prediction  proved correct.

We looked over his work, which was good.  I had done the work for the last lamp myself, at a machine in the "company I worked for's" shop.  Having a pro do this one provided a better-looking finish, and he did more than agreed upon - the inside looked nice, too.  I paid the bill...

Then he casually relayed to me that I have a male double, who is into politics north of Baltimore.  And he showed me a picture...there's definitely a resemblance, though the name is not similar, and I have no male relatives in the area, so there is no connection.  He asked if I was married..."Yes." "To a man or a woman?"  Hmmmm.  The first time for that question!   "A woman...I like women, so much that I want to look like one." Then to reassure - or confuse - him a bit more, I added: "In case you wondered, I'll always answer to 'Ma'am.'"

Time flew by as we chatted a bit more about my dressing.  (Brings to mind the old joke "Why does time fly?"  "Because everyone's trying to kill it."  Sorry...bad joke.)  Being retired, I had more time than he did; as that discussion dwindled, he switched back to business - and made some good suggestions for painting my lamp. Then he invited me to bring more business of this type his way...and as I went to pick up the container with my lamp, he stopped me, and asked where I was parked (I told him).  Said he: "Here, I'll get that for you, Ma'am!"  "Why, thank you kind sir..."  He picked it up, walked out with me and put it into the trunk.   As he headed back for his shop, he thanked me again for the business, and "Hope you'll come back to see me soon."

He was very nice...so much as to make me wonder if perhaps Mandy might have just acquired a "secret admirer."  On my first visit,  I'd sensed that possibility already.  So, I paid cash for the work...just in case.  I may never need to refinish another lamp (the last one was about 8 years ago), so I may never be back...  He just doesn't need to know that right now.

From our recent travels:  if you're ever in Oklahoma City, be sure to add the Cattlemen's Cafe to your list of "must-do's."  They're out of the way, right by the stockyards, but the food and service were great!  The luncheon steak was tender, tasty and done just right!  I like my steaks medium-rare, so I ask for medium, and voila!   Perfect medium-rare. Every time...well, except at home.  We (I) tend to regularly overcook them on our own grill...

The stockyards were quiet while we were there - nary a cow (or bull) in sight.   So the clientele at Cattlemen's Cafe was basically tourists, not cattlemen.  (Strangely, more women than men.)  But it's said that cattlemen (and cattlewomen, or cattlepersons?) own the place on the mornings of stock auctions.

And I was addressed as female at lunch...which was surprising as I certainly didn't feel feminine, despite the fact that everything I was wearing came from the women's department.  And despite being in the heavily-evangelical religious south.  But hearing "Ma'am" is never an issue - and always a pleasure!

That's all for now...

Cheers,

Mandy