Joel F

5-12-09

Lunch at a Louisiana cuisine restaurant called Jazz in downtown Omaha. I've never been here before. I ordered a large rootbeer and a crawfish sandwich. And extra napkins to write on. I'm on break from work and left everything but a pen behind in the office. Got on break half an hour late today because The Mall of the Bluffs was evacuated due to a gun scare. Council Bluffs troopers were posted on the mall's rooftop. The SWAT team was called in, as well as canine crews from the Omaha Police department. Nearby schools went into lockdown. Turns out it was caused by a guy carrying a big black umbrella over his shoulder. Somebody thought it was a rifle. I understand the panic. No one wants to relive the nightmares of the Von Mauer or have another school shooting. But by the time I ended my morning shift the kitchen in our building had closed so I had to go out for lunch. When I walked outside a homeless guy from across the street yelled something weird and pointed at me. Or at least I thought for a second he did. A group of homeless people hangs out in that area because people drop off free lunches for them. I had it in my mind that I was going to Jimmy John's, so I proceeded that way while avoiding the weirdos. Two blocks east and two blocks south later I arrived at JJ's, but saw Jazz sitting next to it on the corner of 15th and Farnam. I chose the path less traveled and walked into what looked like a Mardi Gras bar, but during lunch hours served as a down low food spot. I’m eating sweet potato salad and hush puppies. I’m taking my time, fully enjoying 80 percent of the bites that I take, holding off completely scarfing in order to write. I need to make a lot more time for this. I had for the most part kicked the habit of writing live in tune and on time. I shouldn't have. I should have swallowed a web cam and taken hundreds of pictures of my insides, through werds of course. Ah shit I just paid the bill. Reasonable price for a good lunch. I'll have to bring someone back here. I'm always surprised at how contagious laughter can be.