SEE YOU AT THE 7-11, JIMMY DEAN, JIMMY DEAN — by Steve Nadis
Last night, a bit after midnight, as is my custom, I went to the 7-11 in Central Square–on the edge of all the bars and nightlife–to purchase some milk so the kids could have cereal for breakfast. A vagrant sitting near the door, whom I’ve seen many a time, told me he’d watch my bike. I didn’t need to lock it. I told him I’m a creature of habit and locked it anyway. On the way out, as I was unlocking the bike, he called out: “Hey buddy, come over here! I wanna tell you something. Have a seat,” he said, gesturing to his palacial spread on the sidewalk.
I was tempted. It looked kind of cozy down there, where one could kick back, have a beverage or two, and watch the world go by. But I was afraid I might get too comfortable and never get back up. “Come on, pal,” he implored. “Just for a minute.” I loaded the milk in my saddle bags and pedaled off. “Sorry,” I said. “I still gotta few things to do. But maybe later.”
Posted by
at
15:50:52
Maybe that guy wanted to tell you something about the inflaton field after having read your article in Sky & Telescope? I enjoyed the article very much.
It’s neat to hear about the 7-11 in Central Sq… I lived on Pleasant St. right down the street from there and my buddy and I made many late night trips from our place to that store to satisfy our frequent bouts with "the munchies". That was in 1996. I’ve heard it’s changed a bit since - we liked Saturday morning breakfasts at a place called the Golden Donut which is gone.
Keep up the good writing!!!
Hi Rob. Yes the Golden Donut is gone, as are a number of other establishments you might recall. (The Plough & Stars, for instance, is "closed for renovations," but no one knows if it will reopen.) Thanks for your nice note. That really made my day. It’s enough to make me think I have at least one more good post left in me.
He was a millionare trying to give away his fortune to anyone that would look beyond his appearance and talk to him. Either that or a serial killer.
Love DrMax’s comment above. Might have been the remaining member of Milli Vanilli.
You’re right Windfall, he mighta’ve been. And I mighta’ve been a contender.