Nah. It’s not a post-apocalypse Zombie movie set. That’s downtown BA in the pic. I would say “downtown Broken Arrow after dark” but it is clear the dark is still there. Nothing AFTER about it. It stays this way until the morning hours.

Sometimes they kill the generator-powered lights down by Fiesta Mambo (the tiny pin-point of light in the lower-right in the pic). They might cut the power to those after the Tex-Mex margarita machine is powered off. Lights and mixer – same electrical circuit? You decide. The ensuing darkness? I believe that’s the Zombie’s cue. (I know they’re out there. I’ve seen Zombie droppings.)

Here’s the word. (Actually it is hearsay from another business owner, but amongst ourselves we consider that to be The Word. Similar conversations might be called ‘gossip’ elsewhere.) The Word: Demolition that will eventually lead to construction will begin in front of the bookstore next week.

Fine.

The sooner started, the sooner completed. Boomer.

It can’t get any darker out there, and the end result will work toward my primary hope: Slower traffic.

We used to have talks about the OLDER generation and the YOUNGER generation. Later, it was broken down demographically. GEN-X. GEN-Y. The MILLENIALS. (Couldn’t gin up a Gen for them, I guess.) These are social study descriptions for various age groups. It’s a lot too complicated for me.

Here is what it really boils down to: Cars.

Not what kind of car you drive, or car you’d like to drive. Not cars you owned or wrecked or stole. It’s what you do when you’re inside that big steel honker. Need a label? Fill in your own blanks.

1. In a car seat or strapped in the backseat = Gen _____
2. Finally got a license and personal set of keys = Gen _____
3. Driving with a car seat or strap-ees in back = Gen _____
4. Paying insurance premiums for Group 2 = Gen _____
5. Complaining about driving of Groups 2, 3, & 4 = Gen _____
6. On a pillow to see over dashboard and Groups 1-5 = Gen _____

Now, we’ll play Guess the Group:

Me, on the phone: “…not only that! It’s a construction zone. I’m sure they’re doing 50! And it’s dark!”

Daughter (Hint: Accompanied by several Group 1-ers): Well, Dad. Maybe they need to be somewhere in a hurry.

Me, sounding a lot like Billy Crystal (Google him) when he affects a Jewish dialect: And they don’t have an alarm clock so they can leave earlier to get there on time? And not kill the rest of us?

You see, these are the kind of things that are concocted in your head after staring up at the brilliant police spotlights in downtown BA. It isn’t a near-death experience. Just the gas-powered spotlights in the Rose District. At least, it isn’t a near-death experience – unless you are a member of Group 5 or 6… And get out of your car.

The rest of you – (Editor’s Note: The atmosphere on Main Street in Broken Arrow does not really involve Zombies, Billy Crystal, speeders, or near-death experiences. Group 5’ers tend to get worked up.) Well, then – ALL of you:

Come Visit!

McHuston

Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main, Broken Arrow OK!