"Spanish Tavern Lights"
Chapter 57
25 years ago, my Mom was driving and we were almost there. It was Newark, NJ and the Spanish Tavern was coming up next on the right, and all of a sudden the billboard started… “Spanish Tavern 10 Lights”. And then it was it the billboards - and high up, it was a train track, but down here, with the plebs on the road, it was the Spanish Tavern lights… and it was everything.
The Spanish Tavern was a restaurant that served steak and lobster with an Spanish theme. And the food is great but it’s not about the food it’s about the Billboards. And the Billboards were every light they would have a sign that said “10 Lights!”, “6 Lights!”, etc. And in total we went to the Spanish Tavern twice or three times? But we drive through Newark all the time to get on the thruway and that would be every week. And it lulled my nerves1. Anyway, like I said, it’s not the food that I’m missing - it’s the traffic lights and the waiting.
It could be raining, “Spanish Tavern 8 Lights”. It could be sunny out, “Spanish Tavern 6 Lights”. It could be snowing, “Spanish Tavern 4 Lights”. It calmed me down… and then some.
Maybe we were driving because it was Monday and I always had guitar lessons at Monday, so maybe we have Paz Music, in Kearney? Or maybe Granny needs to drive somewhere2 on Wednesday? or Mom needs to drop something off at Aunt Joanie on Thursday? Who knows. But we are always on the go for some reason. And my safe place is the Spanish Tavern lights.
The billboards were the thing. I know that when I’m driving I would have the billboards and it kept me tranquil. “Spanish Tavern Next Right Door”.
I never knew how many billboards there are, five or six, But all I know is it’s quietude. It’s “zen”. It’s… something.
It’s the Spanish Tavern lights.
…maybe I do have autism? …very slightly?
Granny didn’t drive