25 Comments
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Chris Norris's avatar

Awesome. From your description, I have a strong hunch what chicken vs. ribs refers to and that the lady's gentleman friend had business other than the bbq. (Still a hell of a koan tho.)

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

I've been thinking about that since I read it two days ago. You might be right!

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apdarrow's avatar

In Vermont, where I misspent my youth, we rode the Night Train through the railyard & down the tracks out of town, toward where Phineas Gage met his fame. I didn't get to San Francisco till well after the first Sex Pistols LP dropped, but this piece breathes that era right back atcha. Thanks <3

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appleton king's avatar

ahhhh vermont!!! do you remember utah phillips by chance a musician quasi hobo who lived for a spell in an old caboose up by mt. philo?

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apdarrow's avatar

Never met him, but I had several musician friends who were huge fans. Buddy Miller does a great cover of Rock Salt & Nails.

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Jim Earp's avatar

Wasn't it Utah Philips who said "The path of least resistance is always crooked"?

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Teófilo de Jesús's avatar

““Now girl,” she said, very seriously.  “Girl you got the RIBS,” she said, indicating Angus, “Now you need the CHICKEN. You hear me?  I said you got THE RIBS,” she said again, jabbing toward Angus.  “Now you need THE CHICKEN.” 

“I will never know exactly what she meant by that.  It’s like a zen koan. It sets my mind free.”

I’ll remember that...😂

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Howard Walker's avatar

Cintra, you’ve an amazing gift of entrancing who ever falls into your spell of intrigue ♥️

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

Well ain't you a charmer. Thanks Cowboy!

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Howard Walker's avatar

LoL I will take that as an excellent reference 😍

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Nick VanAmstel's avatar

If I ever get a tattoo, i now know what it will say.

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Dr Pichello Heintz's avatar

This was just great! So glad I could played the audio version. Your voice just makes it so much richer. I could see every person in great detail. Marvelous writing.

I tried to find photos of the “Doo City” and/or the “Dance Your Ass Off” clubs but sadly couldn’t find anything.

Just subscribed.

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

Welcome, Dr. Heintz! Thanks for being here.

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appleton king's avatar

just perfect

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Rivets's avatar

More gems

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Justine's avatar

I love that so much. I'm carrying that around rent free.

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Ruben Bix's avatar

I lived at Grove and Divis in 1980. The "Dance Your Ass Off" club on Columbus, had only recently burned down, and one of the restaurants on Divis, it might have even been the one you're talking about, had a big sign next to the entrance painted in the same cartoony style as the club: "Eat Your Ass Off."

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

THAT WAS DOO CITY! I totally forgot about "EAT YOUR ASS OFF!" OMG thank you for the precious memory.

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Ruben Bix's avatar

Cintra, I just name-dropped you in my latest post on The Nature Preserve. Hope you don't mind.

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

Why would I mind? Thank you!! I'll look it up.

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Cintra Wilson's avatar

Found your Substack! Couldn't find the name drop, but oh well.

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Ruben Bix's avatar

Remember your ass off!

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Rasheeda Lester's avatar

Thank you Cintra Wilson. Due to the expression writing, I can visualize myself right there enjoying the view.

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Cameron S. Bradley's avatar

I couldn't stop reading this.

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appleton king's avatar

no idea but

THAT is an awesome gem and will set it in front of a more worn down (vermont) saying:

"haaaaaahd tellin'....not knowin!"

of course he wasnt a Vermonter ....

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