Ryan’s Pub is my favorite watering hole after the Lions Club meeting room. Ryans has existed for as long as I can remember, which goes back fifty years. Unfortunately for me, I did not truly discover the pub as my place until after my wife Barbara died. I drove past it daily, at least twice on my way to and from work. The very first time I entered the pub was to attend a going away party for an engineer who worked for me. We all had a good time in a space that sounded trashy but turned out to be fairly respectable, not unlike a pub in England or Germany where the local folks go to have a round with friends and to chat and spread the gossip of the neighborhood.
When I began frequenting Ryans after Barb’s death, it was out of loneliness and things to do. I learned that many of my Lion friends also went there to relax and dump the day’s worries. There was a pattern established that I recognized and decided to belong to. Most of my friends went there at 4:30 on Friday afternoon to pick up a fish dinner to take home. While they waited for the fish to fry, they imbibed a beer or a glass of wine and shot the breeze about the days and weeks’ efforts to make a living. Alcohol does a fantastic job of loosening the tongue. The conversations left work quickly as the subject matters discussed turned to hobbies, family, women, and daily matters that didn’t resemble work in any way.
I went to Ryan’s this evening, hoping to run into my friends. For the first time, I arrived, and none of my buddies was there. I sat down at the only seat available at the bar, next to a friendly gent whom I began a conversation with. In the conversation, he asked me if I were a Vet. I said no, but I am a veteran of sixty years of marriage. “Oh my God, he said, that is great. Not many people can claim that long.”
“I have to qualify that because it took me three marriages to reach that goal.” At that, he began laughing hysterically and almost fell off his chair. “Hey everyone, this guy is a comedian,” he shouted across the bar. Just then, my friend Greg walked in and overheard what he was saying. “He is absolutely telling the truth. He has had three wives.” Fortunately for me, Greg saved my ass from any further embarrassment and led me away from the bar to a table. As we approached the table, two more friends joined us. The time went well as friends discussed the things that matter most to us. I bought a round of drinks, and then my order of Walleye pike dinners arrived, and I had to leave.
I am glad I overcame my fear of a bar being an evil place where only badass bikers congregate and start trouble. In Europe, Ryans’ would be referred to as the local Pub. However, Ryans is frequented by bikers who happen to be the local guys who like to ride motorcycles and drink beer with their neighbors.
Three cheers to Ryan’s and all other places like them.
Filed under: Biography, Characters I knew | Tagged: Fish Fry, Motorcyclist Hangout, Ryan;s Pub | Leave a comment »
