Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Art and Kamels
| This *may* be my last post for a few days. My parents arrive tomorrow afternoon we go get the truck and the packing will kick into high gear then. I am sure the desk my computer sits on will be one of the first items to go, so Goliath will be taken apart to be transported to NC and reassembled there. I might have time to crank out on quick post tomorrow. I am sure you're hungry for some Krystal Koincidences before I hit the road. Have I got a doozy for you tonight. You'll recall my recent post about my visit with Jen to Eric and Brian's studio for First Friday. I also explained that I have an utter lack of artistic talent. I don't know anything about art. (I only learned one thing in my Art History class and somehow you can't ever seem to work "Classical Contrapposto" into a conversation. While Jen and I were looking around Eric was describing some drawings of a pipe organ he'd seen in Italy. That led quicky into him asking her if she'd ever heard of our fraternity brother, Art. As soon as anyone mentions pipe organs you know someone will bring up Art. You see Art has a family business of building and repairing pipe organs. The first time you hear it you think it is such an odd business to be in, but then, once you see his work you understand completely. It's really quite amazing stuff. His company did the work on the pipe organ in Newton Hall at Mercer several years back. I am sure you are wondering how I can recall such an obscure conversation I wasn't even involved in. Well, yesterday about 5pm I am busy packing when the phone rings. Expecting it to be my parents I quickly grab the phone, "Hello?" The voice on the other end was not either of my parents and it startled me for a moment: "Hey Jason! This is Art!" Thinking this was some bizarre practical joke, I played along, "Hey Art, how are things?" Art then explained that he was driving around as he usually does. Apparently he puts almost 80,000 miles in a year for his business. No that is not a typo. All that driving he get bored on occasion so he starts randomly calling old friends and yesterday I won the jackpot. We talked for about 30 minutes on all manner of things, including how lucky it was that he actually caught me as my phone will stop working in 5 days. He had questions on what I was up to, who else I'd seen or talked to lately (and oddly enough up until last Friday the answer would have been almost no one). Art gave me his company's web address (I wont post it here without his permission, but trust me if you have or want a pipe organ, or need repairs, I got a connection, just let me know!) I promised to get in touch with him once I arrived in NC and perhaps sometime in the next year or so he'd get up to NC and we could go hit the outer banks. Here's two more coincidences: I had just 2 days ago, while packing, found my "Outer Banks" visitors guide I've had for years but never been able to use. Also, the last class I taught on the base has a short section on the Wright Brothers and their first flight at Kill Devil Hills on the outer banks (not Kitty Hawk and everyone apparently believes). Once I got off the phone I immediately called Eric. Just to confirm I wasn't in the middle of some bizarre fraternal nightmare. But Eric agreed with me that as always strange things are afoot when it comes to our brotherhood. And its just one more sign that things are headed in the right direction for me. Eric is headed out of town for a little while, so it was our last chance to really talk before I move. He has roots in North Carolina, so that just one more thing we have in common. He asked if I'd been eating at Krystal every meal and I said I hadn't. In fact I was almost sick of them. Since Brian wasn't going to be able to make my Krystal Party, we went to Krystal on July 4th and had some. The next day at work was my last full day, so to give me a send off, they brought in a bunch of Krystals. And I do mean a bunch:  Eric then remarked I needed to be stocking up on my Krystals now cause it may be a while til I get some fresh ones. He said something to the effect of "filling up the hump." It was then clear to me. I am transforming from the Krystal Kid to the Krystal Kamel. Once a month I shal stuff my hump full of Krystals to help me survive in Burgatory until the next Krystal Oasis when I can refill. I am the Krystal KamelYou may recall a year ago, I stupidly came up with the phrase "I'd Walk A Mile For A Krystal." I did, in fact walk a mile, and it almost killed me. However perhap if we took the standard Camel logo and made the hump square like a Krystal, and changed the wording, it would make a rather funny logo. So there's my idea, now run with it! Email Me your submissions and we'll see what we get! PS-Almost no one knows this, but Art was the first ATO I ever talked to. And it was before I even stepped foot on Mercer's campus as a young wet behind the ears freshman. The summer before I started college I got a phone call. I was at work (selling seafood) so my parents took the message. It was Art, who was "Rush Chairman" for ATO that year. he was inviting me to come down to Mercer for a summer "pre-rush" party. That sort of event was common back then but strictly forbidden by rush rules these days. My parents, of course, said no-way. So I never gave it much mind. Until rush started in the fall and I met Art first hand. The rest is history. So I guess I better stop saying I don't know anything about Art. I've known Art for over 18 years now! And Art calls me on occasion. In fact, I think Art's great!  |
Labels: ATO, Cheese, Chili, Mercer, Pups
