Christmas Eve .. A Place of Warmth Where You Least Expect It!

Like a Tom Waits song, but in Dee Mentia caption format .. and without that deep growl!

I didn't think about it until I started writing this up, but it does have a bit of a Tom Waits feel to the story, and that was accidental, but I really do like the sentiment contained within it.

Also hoping that the start of the second paragraph startled you a bit, like you weren't expecting it, even though *I* and the one creating it, so you do expect that O Henry twist from me. 

There is always that one guy, or a few, that hang out at places mostly because they really have no where else to go. I think I've told this story before, but I used to hang out with a good friend of mine in the mid 90's, and I'd often pick her up after work at the diner she was a waitress in .. and each time I visited, it was the same guys at the same chair at the counter, probably eating the same food they always ordered. 

She knew them all fairly well. They all got her small presents at Christmas, and she'd pick up their checks because .. well, they protected her from asshole customers and creeps, and made the time pass quickly. Every one of them had a story, and most didn't have much family, were estranged or widowed. That diner was their home away from home, and a shelter from the slings of life. Sort of like Cheers, where at least some people knew your name, and missed you when you weren't there.

That was the vibe I was going for here, and was one of the caption ideas I emailed myself back at the end of December of last year. What I wrote quickly then was, "Guy wants to go to strip club on Xmas eve but they are closed. Wishes he could hang out there as they seem to be his only friends aka family. changed into stripper and happily ever after." So, when I saw it this year, I knew it could be done, and just needed to find a picture to make it happen. Didn't think it'd be hard but I started to like the guy, and running around scantily clad wasn't on my agenda, and would strippers really wander around their apartment that way? I mean, it's what they do for a living! They'd be dressed in comfy warm PJ's and such, so I made an audible. I think it makes it slightly more wholesome and sweet .. I mean, he'll be working at a strip club in a few days later, so there's your latent naughtiness right there!

So it's a caption with a bit of column A and column B. A bit sexy, and a bit sweet. Just like me!

Stuff my stocking hung by the chimney with care .. with fresh comments like sugar plums!

Tom Waits is definitely an acquired taste, and like a fine bourbon, it gets better with age!