Being John Goodman
New Orleans
Jazzfest in New Orleans is a great time to be alive. Great music and down right tasty food are held at the fairgrounds every year. The best Jazz players and the best restaurants come out to entertain and feed tens of thousands of people a day.
Now parking at the Fairgrounds Race Course can be a bit of a problem. The good folk of New Orleans are happy to help out. For a few dollars a day people in the neighborhood are delighted to rent you a spot in their own driveway.
One of regulars, Waiter John, rented a parking spot just behind a big old Cadillac. After a day of bathing in music and gourmet food, Waiter John goes back to the neighborhood to get his car.
He finds his car blocked in by another Jazzfest patron. “That’s okay sugar,” the lady of the house informs him, “for two dollars you can sit and have beer. The first one is free.”
Happily Waiter John accepts the cold beer and sat listening to the Neville Brothers on an old tape recorder. Just as he is cracking his second beer he hears an oddly familiar voice calling from the screen door, “Hello, come to get my car.”
The lady offers the new comer the same deal on beer. “Why thank you ma’am, don’t mind if I do,” the voice says.
Into the kitchen strides John Goodman! “Hi, how ya doin? John Goodman!” he says to the shocked Waiter John. “Pleased to meet you,” was all he could reply.
From there Mr. Goodman puts him at ease and starts talking about Jazzfest, the food, and the great City of New Orleans in general. Waiter John sits across the kitchen table drinking beer with John Goodman!
Way too soon their cars are finally freed up to leave. “Well John, if you’re ever in the Garden District stop by Igor’s and I’ll buy you a beer” he invites Mr. Goodman. “Maybe I will!” he replies.
Was Waiter John’s account just bullshit? Who cares! Its still a good bar story!
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