Aug. 9, 1998
One of the things I like best about living in Katy is that being out here, I rarely have to stand in line anywhere.
All my brother and sister veterans will recognize that sentiment: six years of service life left me with a rather venomous dislike for "hurry-up-and-wait." Sometimes it seemed I spent more time in the Marines standing in line waiting for something than I did actually doing "Marine" things.
As a result, I've developed a healthy, virulent attitude toward not moving — although I really have to admit my admiration for those whose have the infinite patience required to do so.
Commuters who live out here in Katy or elsewhere way out in the 'burbs, for example, amaze me. I cannot fathom the mind-set of someone who would want to spend an hour or two driving downtown to work in the morning, then another hour or two driving home in the afternoon, in both instances barely crawling along an Interstate freeway.
I don't handle rush hours very well. In the past, I've exited at the first available opportunity and, if I couldn't get there via side-streets, I've gone home — all the while using some very creative language to describe whatever master-planning genius designed Greater Houston with only one major east-west highway for commuters.
I've got to admit, I've enjoyed our recent trips to Dallas-Fort Worth to visit the wife's daughter, simply for the fast that whoever laid out the Metroplex conveniently put highways just about everywhere — including at least four major eight-lane freeways (by my count) that went east-west. Forget all the Houston "loops" — give me an I-10 bypass to get those doggone trucks out of the way!
My dislike for traffic jams extends to venues other than the highway.
During the Christmas season, for example, I go out of my way to do my shopping early in the morning, to avoid the crowds. I will not shop for groceries on a Saturday, because that's when everybody else does it.
I'll take off in the early afternoon and catch the early-bird show if there's a new movie out that I want to see, because I absolutely will not stand in line for an hour to get tickets. Thank God for video.
But the thing which really makes me love the Katy area is that with few exceptions, I have rarely had to stand in a line to eat.
Before I got married, I must admit that "dining out" for me meant hitting the drive-through. I mean, food's food, right?
Peg's kinda changed my mind on that score, and I've come to appreciate the huge difference between food at a real restaurant and fast food. But I still refuse to wait when I'm hungry.
Last weekend, for instance, we made another foray to DFW, and Peg convinced me we ought to try this restaurant, Dick's Last Resort, in downtown Dallas because of its unique atmosphere. We called ahead and were assured that no reservations were required, there shouldn't be a wait, plenty of tables available.
We got there and, of course, there
was a waiting list of "about an hour." Peg, knowing me, just grabbed my
hand and led me out.