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Olga's Diner - midlife edition

Growing up, Sundays meant Olga's Diner. Late nights: Olga's. Christmas Eve: Olga's. It was the family go-to for breakfast on the weekends. We sat in the back because that was the smoking section and mom smoked. It was family owned and open 24/7. Olga's even sponsored my childhood soccer team for a couple of years. As I became a teen, it was our late night hang out after movies, youth group events, and then eventually after work. 
Olga's was our under 21 hang out or where we hung out when we or a friend were still under 21. Before googlemaps and mapquest, we met friends there who were driving in from out of town as it was easier than explaining how to get to the house.

The memories include: Grilled cheese, cinnamon toast, hot chocolate. Scrounging change to make sure we had enough money to tip. Every once in a while, the senior (70+ year old) server would yell at us for being too loud or moving around too much. Big conversations were had there. Laughs were plentiful. 

Then it closed. Well, seized by the government, but let's not let details ruin my reminiscing....

It reopened! In a new location. New menu. New everything but the scripted sign. It's not even close to the same thing, but it will always be a slice of childhood.

I'm back home (because NJ will always be home) for just a couple days and as always my friends never disappoint.
By rough math there is a minimum of 92 years of friendship in this picture.
We reunited just like old days at the new Olga's. And it was exactly the same, only very different.

We didn't discuss curfews, dates, or scrounge for change. We ordered salads and avocado toast. We discussed how we prepared our Thanksgiving turkeys and our favorite stuffing recipes. We discussed the dynamics of our family gatherings and how they are getting harder. We discussed ailing parents and the toll it's taking on our families. We caught each other up on our significant others (spouses or people we just shack up with). We discussed how to adjust the text size on our phones. 

I love the people who have recently come into my life, but damn it's good to connect with the ones who have known you forever and stick around anyway. 



 


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