Funny story – So this weekend stopped by the office and grabbed the mouse to the other work computer, doing computer/security maintenance and updates. Then simply lost the mouse. Poof, it was gone.
Started this morning taking that thin lining off the back of organic grass feed spare ribs, while my wife made a rub and put them in the crockpot to cook. Setting it for 8 hours.
Making ribs for the homeless, families who were evicted, or lost the house or apartment in a house fire. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1780622502209332 Now this population has some adorable babies and toddlers and teens. They deserve some good ribs.
Ride my bike into work. Crazy but very productive day.
About 2 o’clock check Michael Gill ‘s list at Homes for the Homeless to see who else is bringing food. Then I message, Michael, that there doesn’t seem to be enough food, and I don’t have enough ribs.
He asks, because he knows me, he would not ask you, if I can possibly bring more ribs. The ribs have been cooking for about 6 hours by this time.
I, of course, being my mother’s son and a former altar boy say “no!”
Ha, ha, obviously I say yes. He knows me too well.
It’s Monday. Restaurants aren’t open.
But JRibs on State Street is. 400 State Street to be exact.
JRibs https://www.facebook.com/Jribstate is a mini-market, Uhaul rental, and barbecue joint all rolled into one. Foods delish. Call order the extra ribs, be done in about 40 minutes. Great I have time to run an errand.
T-minus 80 minutes.
Jump on my bike – head in the opposite direction to Wegmans. Haven’t shopped there in a year. But those cute kids…. buy bb sauce.
Less than an hour to serving time. The Clock is ticking.
Bike like crazy to the liberty pole. Stop briefly to cheer on protestors. Ride through construction. Get there! T-minus 30 minutes.
The ribs are not ready. Communication problem. Pay $60 to “hold my ribs,” say I’ll be back in my Arnold voice. Think of those kids
Jump on my bike. ….Wait what, why is my bike not riding right? Ah, my back tire is going flat. Oh yeah, construction zone on Main Street.
Ride like mad. Wave to my sister’s house. Get home.
T-minus 20 minutes.
The ribs are done to perfection. The meat is dripping off the bone. You just have to raise the knife, not even touch the knife to the meat, and the meat falls off. Making little noises that say “eat me”
I’m heading out the door. My wife arrives home. Quick embrace as she whispers into my ear. Bring the extra barbeque sauce.
I jump in the car, drive to JRibs. They quickly hand me a delicious smelling container of 20 ribs, maybe 25 I didn’t have time to count.
T-minus, oh oh. Since I don’t have Michael’s phone number, I reinstall the sign of the evil empire, FB, on my phone. I message him.
He says how long. I message back 5 minutes. he says Ok.
4:59 seconds later he meets me with a cart. There are some places, farther away than you might think, that you can get to very quickly from that location on State Street. The car never went faster than the posted speed limit. Scouts honor. Oh yeah, I was never a scout.
We walk in, passing a long line of very polite but probably reasonably hungry waiting people. I say there are more people here than normal. He says they heard there’s was going to be ribs.
Set the food down. Open the doors and 10 minutes later all the food, not just the ribs. All the food is gone. Yes, the babies were there. Yes, they got a little extra – don’t tell anyone, it’s just between you and me.
Drive home, thinking of my sister, Ann DeMarle, and our conversation this weekend. Thinking of karma. of money spent, of blown tires. Why them and not me. There for the grace of something.
Get out of the car. Look over and there in the cup holder…
Is my lost mouse.
Now “homes for the homeless” provides meals for the homeless 6 days a week. Check them out, and sign up to bring a meal. It’s fun, and you might see me. AND those babies are adorable. Also, you DO NOT have to bring ribs. Check out the signup to see what other people bring. My go-to is a huge garden salad. The ribs were just a pre-holiday splurge.
© words by Dan DeMarle 11/15/2021
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