"Norm!"

 

         We love eating out. Our weekly budget allocates one eat out per week unless we do an extraordinarily thrifty grocery run. Then we can manage another visit to one of our favorite places.

         Over the years, we’ve two places that we’ll visit weekly. Alternating between Greek food at Papouli’s Greek Grill and Mexican food at La Fiesta Patio Café. Our frequent visits mean we earn free meals from both places, allowing us to indulge even more.

         At one point, the owner of Papouli’s would try new menu items with my son and husband offering feedback. He’s helped us celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. We’ve even catered Christmas dinner because, you know, not everyone likes turkey!

         Last night, upon entering La Fiesta Patio Café (Patio Café in our house), the entire staff cheered and waved. All three of us broke into laughter and simultaneously chimed, “Norm!” as we approached our table for three. The waitress carried over our drinks, chips and salsa but didn’t bother with a menu. She knew we’ve memorized everything on their list. Sometimes, all three of us crave their veggie chalupas and will order the same meal. Today found us yearning for different things.

         Many evenings, the staff will amble over to chat with us about movies or their weekend plans if the place isn’t too busy. We’ve slipped into the habit of looking forward to the company as well as the food.

        

 Copyright 2018 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman

        Our favorite Mexican restaurant closed its doors a few weeks ago. This year keeps hitting us with losses that remind me of the importance of treasuring traditions. Our table for three no longer awaits us. The staff that helped us celebrate special days, and also just a simple weekely eat-out, no longer lightens our days. Papoul's Greek Grill still ramains, but we worry that this tough economy with irresponsible political decisions and tariffs will overwhelm this restaurant, too. For us, our own spending habits have tightened up to absorb the higher grocery bills we're experiencing. I fret that soon, we won't have special places that greet us like Norm. 

Coppyright 2025 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman      

        

  

“Gyros with My Heroes”

            For an entire week, my husband and I immersed ourselves into the Marvel Universe. The bold and brash Tony Stark swaggered through our living room. Thor, with “just the right amount of stupid” delighted us. Steve Rogers tugged at our hearts. We speculated about Natalia Romanova’s past and discussed the tie between her and Clint Barton. And through it all, we discussed the melancholy isolation of Bruce Banner. I have a particular fondness for these comic book heroes who exploded onto the screen during a rough period in our lives and continue to entertain us with their enormous adventures.

            Yesterday, our anticipation to view Avengers: Age of Ultron found us sitting in the theater extra early—the only way to get a good seat. Reality suspended, our world of unrest tucked into the background as we wallowed in mayhem and destruction Hollywood-style.

            Afterward, we headed for Papouli’s, our favorite Greek restaurant, and discussed our love of these fictional heroes with our gyros. Our lively conversation wound from the story line of the movie to the future exploits of these characters. We discussed the increasing tension between key characters and toyed with possible script twists and turns as the series moves forward.

            By the time I dipped my French fries into ketchup, we drifted into suppositions about what approach the DC World will have as a result of the success of the Marvel franchise. Will we see yet another rehashing of Batman? Or will the DC Comic leadership imitate their rivals and pull fans into an intricately woven narrative that doesn’t focus on one or two characters, but instead draws into the lives of the Justice League? Will their tactic of introducing audiences to the entire League all at once and following up with a Part Two escapade compare to Marvel’s build-up into the Avengers and all of their individual storylines?

            In the end, I suppose I’ll eventually find myself again smack in the center row of the theater enjoying the quests of each of these heroes.

Copyright 2015 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman