When I lived in Oklahoma City I used to hang out in a club called Teddy's. At that time it was a blue's bar on the weekends with live music, but during the week they usually played "alternative rock"; Alanis Moriset, Hootie and the Blowfish, Cheryl Crow etc. It was sold a few years back and I would no longer hang out there but before that I really enjoyed the place although I would seldom drink anything but Coke. I think I learned more about life in those two years than anywhere I have been. There is a good and a bad in humanity and as you know, bartenders see it firsthand. I have frequently pondered that all pastors, psychologists, social workers and counselors should be required to tend bar for at least one year before being allowed to enter their respective fields.
As I sat at the bar I would usually be part of the entertainment when no band was playing. I enjoy doodling so I started talking to people, always asking them to spell their first name first off. While we talked I drew out the letters in their name and within 15 to 20 minutes I presented with a drawing of their name in up to 5 colors. Sometimes I would add a short poem. The bartenders were always grateful for sober company and I know just a little about a whole lot of things so I was always kept in free Cokes and sometimes food. Sometimes people would insist on paying for their name drawing and I would argue, but they would sometimes tip me anyway though I did not do it for the money. I signed and numbered each drawing. I often drove over to kinkos and had copies made of the ones I really liked, so I accumulated a pretty big collection of names which I kept in photo books. Once in a while I pick them up and browse through them. In some ways that is rather like reading a coded story book because each name represents a story of someone I met. I can still remember many of them. Some I will never forget. I stopped drawing them when I reached 999. Then I started again at 1001 and now I am up to 1037 I have only done 37 more since 1996. I suppose someday, someone very special to me will get number 1000
One night as I came into the club the bartender said, "Hey, Steve, you should have been in here last night. There was one hell of a fight" I asked what it was about and he said "the usual... fifty cents and alcohol" Only a few minutes later I handed him a napkin with this poem scribbled on it.
"Fifty Cents and Alcohol"
I got into a fight last night
at the local bar and grill.
I know it wasn't very bright,
this pain, it ain't no thrill.
So, I'm stuck with forty stitches,
a broken hip and knee,
torn ligaments and britches,
but he looks worse than me.
The doctor's bill was way too high,
I should have won a prize.
I guess my only trophy,
must be these two black eyes.
So, I'll be a bloody hero,
for now and years to come,
and it would boost my ego,
except it was so dumb.
So learn a lesson from a fool,
who's learned a thing, it's true.
Fightin' really ain't that cool,
when your body's broke in two.
Another night I was watching two people dance which inspired a great poem which I have previously posted in my blog here. I wrote the poem on the back of their name drawing. Mike and Barbara. I drew MIKE in bold letters in the background and wove a cursive Barbara through and across it. Often I would draw scenery and or objects which depicted the recipient's personal hobbies or interests
I love living here on my mountain but sometimes I miss the social interaction that I enjoyed when I lived in a big city
Keep in touch... steven
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| Name Drawings (and a poem) |
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