In my earlier post I laid out the history of the Lunch Bunch, the stressful times many of us were having at work in the late '90s, and the role the Wednesday lunches played in buoying spirits and bringing a little cheer to the week. The poetry invitations came about as a (hopefully) humorous way to encourage people to actually get up from their desks and get a bit of a lift from taking lunch with friends.
My last sharing of a lunch invitation poem was with my 3/15/13 post Notes from the Lab - RDate 8.15. The offerings found there are Just Desserts and Loss of Habitat, May 1997 tributes to the unfortunate closing of the Taco Bell at the corner of Michigan and Griswold. This Taco Bell was the early home of our Wednesday lunches and also spawned the recurring character of "Estelle of the Bell", a mythical lady of the street who headlined a dozen or more limericks during the lunch poetry era.
So it seems fitting to resume at that point, which saw our little band spending weeks searching for and trying out new venues in the west downtown area. This quest eventually resulted in the grand Mexican Town phase of the Lunch Bunch tradition, but in the interim we tried, and seemingly closed, a number of other low-to-mid-grade eateries. Here are a collection of invitations from the early post-Taco Bell days, mid-to-late 1997.
This first one is from 6/3/97 and is set to the Beatles' Yesterday. It was framed as a lament to the gloried past, and signified our move to an almost-a-deli in the basement of Silver's Office Supply. It's entitled Yesterday's Wednesdays.
Past Wen'sdays.
All my tacos, they seemed here to stay.
Now it looks as though they've gone away.
Oh, how I grieve, for past Wen'sdays.
Sullenly,
It's not quite the lunch it used to be,
There's no street folk sitting next to me.
Oh, past Wen'sdays left suddenly.
Why, it, had to close,
I don't know.
No one can say.
Though, I, should be strong,
How I long,
For past Wen'sday-ay-ay-ays,
Past Wen'sdays.
This Wens'day? Get Silvered?
The next invitation is from 6/10/97 and is entitled Under the Rainbow. It's set, of course, to Over the Rainbow and captures our continuing longing for our lost fast-food Mexican.
Some-where, out in the suburbs,
I've, heard, tell.
There's, a, place full of fast-food,
Known, as the Ta-co-Bell.
Some-day, we should go out there,
And, get, high.
On tacos, nachos and hot sauce,
My, how our hearts would fly.
If happy burb folk get to fly,
When e'er they want, then why,
Oh why, can't I-I-I-I-I?
TUTNP (this was our oft-used acronym for "the usual time and place", which was the front lobby of the McNamara Building)
On 6/17/97 we were still in mourning with this little diddy set to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, aptly entitled Twinkle, Twinkle.
Twinkle, Twinkle, little Bell,
How we long for what you sell.
We don't mind the crowds so tough,
Nor a sales clerk's mild rebuff.
Keep your twinkle, little Bell,
Thoughts of you help keep us well.
TUTNP
In July we tried a new Hungry Howie's that had opened next to the firehouse on Washington Boulevard close to Larned Street. It had a dreaded all-you-can-eat pizza buffet. Here's an invitation from 7/8/97 set to Hi Ho from Snow White. It's entitled Dwarves' Delight.
Hi ho, hi ho,
It's off to lunch we go.
We don't ask much, cheap food and such,
Hi ho, hi ho.
Hi ho hi ho, hi ho,
Cold drinks and pizza dough,
Or big buffet (your tummy'll pay!)
Hi ho, hi ho.
Hi Hungry.
Hi Howie's.
Hi 'bout it?
On 7/15/97 we returned to Hungry Howie's and guess who we ran into - you'll recognize her by her poor behavior. (If you're not yet familiar with Estelle, a quick review of the earlier post Lunch Poetry will be helpful). This limerick is called Howie's Hussy.
As I picked up my pizza to eat,
I witnessed a scene indiscreet.
Two starry-eyed chaps,
She was straddling both laps!
Yes, Estelle, she's back on the street.
Despite the mediocre food, we continued to frequent Hungry Howie's through the rest of July and August as pickings were a bit slim at the time. Here's a short invitation from 7/29/97 set to My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean.
My Howie lies over by Cobo,
Where pizza lies waiting for me.
With service not fit for a hobo,
At least the drink refills are free.
Pizza a-plenty.
We sail at 11:20.
Next came an invitation on 8/12/97 inspired by the Eagles' Peaceful Easy Feeling. I call it Pizza Easy Feeling (and it's one of my personal favorites).
By September, we had had our fill of low-brow pizza and started trying new places. We often hadn't even picked the lunch spot of the day until we started walking down Michigan Avenue. We were desperate. It was our low point. Here's an invitation from 9/9/97 set to the Beatles' Nowhere Man that captured our malaise. I call it Nowhere Boob.
Still "nomading" our way around the downtown lunch circuit, here's another invitation set to the Beatles' Little Help from My Friends, from 9/16/13. I call it The 'Eatles Part III or With a Lotta Help (from Our Friends).
October saw the resolution of our venue issue with the first of the trips to the Mexican Town restaurant in - you guessed it - the Mexican Town area of Detroit, a mile or so west of downtown. As this was way too far to walk, the Burk family van began its career as the "lunch bus", providing door-to-door service to the group as often as we could get together.
Our restoration to Mexican food - and much better Mexican food than Taco Bell ever dreamed of - was a very welcomed development and in my opinion ushered in the best times the lunch group ever had. Here is the invitation from 10/7/97, our first lunch trip to Mexican Town. It's a tribute to the end of our time of turmoil and is set to Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. I call it Both Sides (Ow!)
Later that month we continued the new Mexican Town plan and unexpectedly ran into an old friend. Here's the invitation limerick from 10/28/97 called The Lady Gets Around.
November continued with three outings to Mexican Town, with invitations, beginning with this literary offering on 11/4/13 called Acrostic One.
Merry
Enlightening
Xuberant
Interesting
Candid
Affirming
Natural
Tasteful
'Opeful
Wednesdays
Nice
Next was lunch on 11/18/97 with this invitation limerick about our favorite lady and her commentary on a recent University of Michigan victory over arch rival Ohio State, called Lost Roses.
As Estelle watched her Scarlet and Gray,
By the Maize and Blue get blown away,
She smiled, "That's all right!
It's a groupie's delight!
At home with my Bucks, New Year's Day!"
So let's celebrate.
11:28.
Then there was a rare Tuesday outing Thanksgiving week which included another Eagles-inspired invitation set to Take it Easy. From 11/25/97, this is called Taco Easy.
Well I'm rollin' down the road,
Tryin' to loosen up my load,
I got seven women in my van.
Four that want some tacos,
Two that prefer nachos,
One who's a fajita fan.
Order easy, not too greasy,
Don't let the weight of your own lunch make you queasy.
Lighten up while we're all here,
Don't even try to hide your fear.
Just find a way to lift your cheer,
And take it easy.
Eagles soar,
At 11:24.
The lunch poetry year ended in grand style with these three holiday-themed invitations in December. First from 12/2/97, one set to It Came Upon a Midnight Clear called A Midday Clear.
We came uplifted with midday cheer,
Uproarious, strong and bold.
But then our waiter cried, "What on Earth?
The guy in the middle's so old!"
"For what it's worth, good man," I smiled,
"From looks you cannot tell a thing.
The world will measure your youth," said I,
"By how many angels you bring!"
Golden Harps.
11:30.
This invitation followed on wintry 12/9/13. It's set to and actually called Let it Snow.
Oh, the weather outside may be frightful,
But the company's delightful.
So, when it's your time to show,
Don't be slow. Hey, what snow? Let us go!
'Cause the snow shows no sign of stopping,
There'll be curbside pickup and dropping.
With lights on and driving slow,
Through the snow, to Mexico, we will go!
Be ready to go,
Eleven twenty-fo.
And finally, this invitation from 12/16/97 called O Little Town, also one of my personal favorites, set to O Little Town of Bethlehem.
O little Town so Mexican,
To chill we each week come by.
We love to steep ourselves in heaps
Of chips you so deeply fry.
We in your hard seats dineth,
With endless cheap delight.
We hope coming here throughout the year,
Will keep our spirits bright!
Well, there you have it. Perhaps more lunch poetry than even the most nostalgic of us could hope for. I'll resume with a look into 1998 lunch poetry in a post later this year. But for now, I'll leave you with this invitation in limerick form from the New Lunch Bunch outing a couple of weeks ago. It included a second post-lunch trip to Comerica Park to see the Tigers play the Washington Nationals. It was a gas with the Tigers winning 10-1.
Hey the Tigers are hot these days,
Having bettered their late-inning ways.
Of late they're not known
A lead to have blown,
So let's catch some CoPa rays!
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
Grosse Pointe Charles
I like the way sparkling sunshine,
Lights my way through downtown,
As I walk to eat with you at Howie's delight,
With a billion cars all around.
I found out a long time ago,
What a worry can do you your heart.
Ah, but it can't take you down, you know,
If you just don't let it start.
And I get a pizza, easy feeling,
As we gather round,
That we already stand on higher ground.
Eagles Soar at 11:20
He's a real nowhere boob,
Sitting in his nowhere cube,
Making no lunch plans for nobody.
Doesn't have the slightest clue,
Know's not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit confused (like we?)
Nowhere boob, we're meetin'.
You'll soon know where you're eatin'.
Be there and, your lunch will be at our command.
He's as kind as he can be, but
Knows not what appeals to thee.
Nowhere boob, you just can't please us all.
Know where?
Be there.
TUT?P (the usual time, what place?)
Still "nomading" our way around the downtown lunch circuit, here's another invitation set to the Beatles' Little Help from My Friends, from 9/16/13. I call it The 'Eatles Part III or With a Lotta Help (from Our Friends).
What would you do if I moaned about work,
Would you sit down and listen to me?
Bring down your cares and we'll all tell some tales,
And try to set each other free. Oh,
We get by with a lotta help from our friends.
We're not shy 'bout gettin' help from our friends.
Better to try with some help from our friends.
Do we need anybody?
We need somebody to trust.
Could it be anybody?
It must be someone who's just.
Could you believe in a great day at work?
Yes, I'm certain that it could occur.
How do you feel when your job goes berserk?
I can't tell you 'cause it's all a blur. Oh,
We get by with a lotta help from our friends.
Can't be shy 'bout gettin' help from your friends.
Hope you'll still try with some help from your friends.
A little help can be plenty.
Come get some at 11:20!
One of the spots we occasionally hit during this time was Britt's deli, not a bad spot, but not exactly a perfect fit for the salsa-fied palates of our intense little group. Here's a simple invitation rhyme from 9/30/97 called Britt Wit?
This is it!
Time to git
To lunch and sit
And chat a bit.
I must admit
It keeps me fit.
So bring your wit
And come see Britt.
Don't flit.
Don't quit.
Just do-it!
TUT - N'P (the usual time, new place)
Our restoration to Mexican food - and much better Mexican food than Taco Bell ever dreamed of - was a very welcomed development and in my opinion ushered in the best times the lunch group ever had. Here is the invitation from 10/7/97, our first lunch trip to Mexican Town. It's a tribute to the end of our time of turmoil and is set to Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now. I call it Both Sides (Ow!)
Chips and salsa everywhere,
Scrumptious other Mexican fare,
Margaritas by the pair,
I'm hooked on lunch that way.
But then the plan came all undone.
The pain, it showed on everyone.
So many meals with much less fun,
No Mex, we lost our way.
We've looked at lunch from both sides now,
With Mex, without, and still somehow
Without it lunch does not enthrall.
We really need our Mex, after all.
At the corner,
11:20.
Big Green Van.
Apologies to Joni
Later that month we continued the new Mexican Town plan and unexpectedly ran into an old friend. Here's the invitation limerick from 10/28/97 called The Lady Gets Around.
While downing a chicken burrita,
I was grabbed by a strange senorita.
She batted her eyes,
And cried out, "Surprise!
It's Estelle, and I'd sure like to treat ya!"
Oh, imagine my state of chagrin,
As I realized the spot I was in.
I'd come all the way down,
Here to Mexican Town,
Just to find our old mistress of sin.
So I kept staring down at my food,
And mumbled, "I'm not in the mood?"
Estelle, full of sorrow,
Asked, "Maybe tomorrow?"
But alas, she had the wrong dude.
11:25 at the Corner.
November continued with three outings to Mexican Town, with invitations, beginning with this literary offering on 11/4/13 called Acrostic One.
Merry
Enlightening
Xuberant
Interesting
Candid
Affirming
Natural
Tasteful
'Opeful
Wednesdays
Nice
Next was lunch on 11/18/97 with this invitation limerick about our favorite lady and her commentary on a recent University of Michigan victory over arch rival Ohio State, called Lost Roses.
As Estelle watched her Scarlet and Gray,
By the Maize and Blue get blown away,
She smiled, "That's all right!
It's a groupie's delight!
At home with my Bucks, New Year's Day!"
So let's celebrate.
11:28.
Then there was a rare Tuesday outing Thanksgiving week which included another Eagles-inspired invitation set to Take it Easy. From 11/25/97, this is called Taco Easy.
Well I'm rollin' down the road,
Tryin' to loosen up my load,
I got seven women in my van.
Four that want some tacos,
Two that prefer nachos,
One who's a fajita fan.
Order easy, not too greasy,
Don't let the weight of your own lunch make you queasy.
Lighten up while we're all here,
Don't even try to hide your fear.
Just find a way to lift your cheer,
And take it easy.
Eagles soar,
At 11:24.
The lunch poetry year ended in grand style with these three holiday-themed invitations in December. First from 12/2/97, one set to It Came Upon a Midnight Clear called A Midday Clear.
We came uplifted with midday cheer,
Uproarious, strong and bold.
But then our waiter cried, "What on Earth?
The guy in the middle's so old!"
"For what it's worth, good man," I smiled,
"From looks you cannot tell a thing.
The world will measure your youth," said I,
"By how many angels you bring!"
Golden Harps.
11:30.
This invitation followed on wintry 12/9/13. It's set to and actually called Let it Snow.
Oh, the weather outside may be frightful,
But the company's delightful.
So, when it's your time to show,
Don't be slow. Hey, what snow? Let us go!
'Cause the snow shows no sign of stopping,
There'll be curbside pickup and dropping.
With lights on and driving slow,
Through the snow, to Mexico, we will go!
Be ready to go,
Eleven twenty-fo.
And finally, this invitation from 12/16/97 called O Little Town, also one of my personal favorites, set to O Little Town of Bethlehem.
O little Town so Mexican,
To chill we each week come by.
We love to steep ourselves in heaps
Of chips you so deeply fry.
We in your hard seats dineth,
With endless cheap delight.
We hope coming here throughout the year,
Will keep our spirits bright!
Well, there you have it. Perhaps more lunch poetry than even the most nostalgic of us could hope for. I'll resume with a look into 1998 lunch poetry in a post later this year. But for now, I'll leave you with this invitation in limerick form from the New Lunch Bunch outing a couple of weeks ago. It included a second post-lunch trip to Comerica Park to see the Tigers play the Washington Nationals. It was a gas with the Tigers winning 10-1.
Hey the Tigers are hot these days,
Having bettered their late-inning ways.
Of late they're not known
A lead to have blown,
So let's catch some CoPa rays!
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
Grosse Pointe Charles
