In Praise of a Counter-Culture

by Greg Asimakoupoulos

Posted: February 17, 2008

The good old days still are in Wenatchee, Washington…

A Norman Rockwell painting of
a soda fountain scene I love
depicts a cop in uniform
with someone much like me.

The marble counter and the stools
were once a hangout after school
where I would stop while heading home
to slurp a chocolate malt.

My boyhood haunt was called The Owl
where soda jerks with moistened towel
would wipe the fountain counter clean
of spills we kids had made.

The jerks would call us by first name.
They were quite happy when we came.
The Bean Town pub they once called Cheers
had nothing on The Owl.

And after all these many years
they still serve shakes instead of beers.
It is a landmark in our town
that's often in the news.

It's like the old-time coffee shop
where just like clockwork neighbors stopped
to chew the fat and digest news,
to laugh and shed a tear.

The Owl is still the place I go
to reminisce with folks I know
when I return to my hometown
to see my dad and mom.

Search all articles by Greg Asimakoupoulos

Greg Asimakoupoulos (pronounced AWESOME-uh-COPE-uh-less) is an ordained minister, published author and chaplain to a retirement community in the Pacfic Northwest. Greg maintains a blog called Rhymes and Reasons, which he graciously provides to SeniorLifestyle.

Greg's writings have now been assembled in book form. See the SeniorLifestyle Store.

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Posted: February 17, 2008 Accessed 149 times

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Well said...

A man growing old becomes a child again.

Sophocles