Canada On A Thursday Night

A story: It was a cold night on January 14, 2005. Three young college students decided on going out for dinner. Where would they go? What food was their bellies aching for? Alas, they wanted Chinese food (which was actually American Chinese food). But that is neither here nor there. Jon knew a supposedly good restaurant: Moon Temple on 45th in Wallingford.

They traveled by car; it was a 1986 Toyota Tercel hatchback. Parking was easy to find, and they sat down to eat. The food was satisfying. Time came to pay. "I'll get this one. You guys just buy the drinks next time." "But we're not old enough to drink just yet." "We're old enough to drink in Canada." Silence ensues. A flurry of ponderous thoughts emerge from within all three. "Should...should we?" It's agreed; we three get back in the car, drive to our places of residence to obtain our passports, and head north through the harsh cold to beautiful British Columbia.

The time is near midnight by the time we arrive at the border. We suffer the wrath of border patrol questioning and subsequent lecturing. We are in! We continue north-northwest to downtown Vancouver. We find parking. One of us propositions a prostitute for a photograph and is vehemently denied. We find an Irish pub. (See photo). We toast to our first drink in a bar. We've accomplished what we set out to do. "Last call!" Oh no. Time to find another bar. No luck. We walk up and down the deserted streets holding out for an open bar. One of us pees in a back alley. We find a restaurant that is open until 4am. Jackpot!

We order a few rounds. The other two go make out, briefly, on the way to the bathroom. We sober up. We make it back to the car, shivering cold. We have high hopes that we'll make it back in time for classes and work. A long, tiresome drive is what we accept as reality. Driving, fell asleep a few times. Not good at all. We survive. We return to our living quarters. We sleep for the rest of the day, foregoing any school and/or work responsibilities. Not bad for a Thursday night.