The episode with the pastor being in sales, not management, happened to me about twenty years ago. I was a Scout leader, and we were camping in the late spring. It was a typical upstate NY camping trip, which meant it was wet, cold, and rainy. No big deal. The Scouts were also serious about ‘A Scout is reverent’, item 12 on the list, so we had a local preacher come in on Saturday night for an ecumenical service. It was sheer chance that I knew the pastor, and I asked if he could do something about the rain. I got the response, “Sorry, I’m in sales, not management.”
That wasn’t the funniest tale I have about Scouting and religion, but it’s the only one I can work into a story. FYI, my son made Eagle Scout in that troop.
As I was writing this story, I realized I was just too old to understand dating apps. The last time I needed to meet a girl I had to do it the old-fashioned way, by meeting them at a party and praying I didn’t fuck up. (Other useful tools included begging and pleading.) It worked, too; we’ve been married 46 years. Anyway, I put out a blog post asking for assistance. While the story took a different turn, I was able to use several of the incidents readers mentioned in the story. (The hourly rate was one, the diner and cheap motel was another.) Many thanks!
The restaurants I mention are real restaurants. Ruth’s Chris is ludicrously expensive. Black & Blue is slightly less costly, only in the ridiculously expensive range. I took my wife there and told her I learned about it doing research. She said thank you and added, “Just remember, you earn it, I spend it.” I spent it that night!
Enjoy!