Taco Thursday

As my girlfriend and I walked into a familiar place on a warm and humid Thursday night, looking forward to our 50 cent taco feast, we were expecting the nice quiet atmosphere we have come to enjoy. But that is not what we encountered this particular Thursday night. This Thursday night was alive, noisy and had a celebratory atmosphere. At first, entering the restaurant I found myself feeling somewhat disappointed but that quickly changed as I realized that this was a good change in that it was a family atmosphere still with celebration alive in the air almost so thick you could smell it.

As we found our seats and the waiter came to get our drink and meal order, I observed that there were mariachis playing but not only were they just playing but a large family sitting at one of the tables found in the center of the room had joined in with the mariachis. Some of the family members were singing different songs which the mariachis seemed to enjoy, which they were, providing the instrumentation while one of the family members of this certain table belted out a Spanish love song.

Sitting there throughout my enjoyable 50 cent taco meal with my lovely girlfriend, I started to observe the other tables with other families. I began to wonder whether these families were enjoying the mariachis or whether they were annoyed by how this family seemed to have taken over the song list. What I observed was that some of these families did not even seem tainted or phased by the mariachis in the room much less the family that had joined in the song list. These families continued on with their meals and conversation, taking a bite of 50 cent taco madness, savoring each bite while drinking down a Mexican imported beer or a bottled coke imported from Mexico, with breaks of conversation or laughter within their family circle. Other families I found were very much enjoying and staying connected with the mariachis and family that had connected so well with the song list. I observed these families tapping their feet to the rhythm of the Spanish beat, with large smiles of enjoyment.

I walked out of this place with my girlfriend in arm and belly full of tacos and imported Mexican beer as well as my heart full of happiness, and recognition of the need of family and socializing with others in the spirit of celebration.