Badges, Chickens, And Lobster Rolls

I bet you’re wondering how I can tie those three things together in one blog, aren’t you? Well, stand by and watch it happen.

Terry had an appointment at Kutryb Eye Institute in Titusville yesterday, and when she was done with that, we ran to Lowe’s to pick up a couple of things. It has been a long time since we have been in Wildwood Antique Mall in Titusville, or much of anyplace else, for that matter. But since we are more than three weeks past our second Covid vaccinations, and since we wear facemasks everywhere we go, we decided to check it out. We were pleased that they had two signs on the door saying not to come in without a mask, and an employee was standing nearby, making sure that happened.

We browsed around for a while, and I mentioned to one of the employees that I collect badges. As it turned out, they had a box of old badges for me to sort through, so I was like a kid on Christmas morning, looking at all the goodies. Most of my collection is police badges, but I also have quite a few chauffeurs badges that were required of taxi drivers many years ago. I think the oldest one I have dates back to 1919. They had several chauffeurs badges, but many of them were ones I already have. However, I did find this nice Kansas badge, and since Miss Terry was born in Kansas, it only seemed right that it went home with us.

I also picked up a police badge from Lawrence, Indiana (top) and one from Orford, New Hampshire (bottom).

But the pick of the day for me was this antique press badge. Press badges are hard to find, and being an old newspaperman, I was thrilled to latch onto this one. It’s the only press badge I have in my collection.

The doctor had given Terry a prescription, and we dropped it off at Walgreens when we got back to town. By then, it was after 6 PM and we were both hungry, so we decided to get something to eat while we waited for the prescription to be filled. Ever since we moved to this area, people have told us about a place called Uncle Chicken’s, on US Highway 1 in New Smyrna Beach. Driving past, it looks like a fast food joint with some outdoor picnic tables. But I’ve never heard anybody who didn’t go on and on about how good the food is, and though I have never met him, I have also heard many times that the owner is a very nice man who does a lot of good things for the community. So we decided to give it a shot.

This may look like a fast food place, but it’s not. Nothing is sitting around under a heat lamp; you place your order at a window and they make your food. Several reviews recommended their lobster rolls, and having lived in Maine a couple of times when she was growing up as an Air Force brat, that is something Terry really enjoys. We each ordered a lobster roll, along with a shared order of French fries.

As I said, every order is made individually, and they were a bit busy, so we had to wait about half an hour. No problem; the tables are spaced far enough apart for social distancing, there was an umbrella over our table to provide shade, and a nice breeze was blowing.

And let me tell you something, my friends, I could tell by the look in Terry’s eyes the moment she bit into her lobster roll that we have found a place we will be going back to again and again. Not only is Terry an amazing cook in her own right, as you all know, but she is also picky when it comes to restaurant food. She knows what she likes, and she doesn’t compromise.

She said the lobster roll was as good as anything she’s ever had in New England or anywhere else. I don’t think I had ever eaten a lobster roll before, myself, but I will definitely be ordering that again! If you’re ever in the area, do yourself a favor and go to Uncle Chicken’s. You won’t regret it.

There, I told you I could tie all this together, didn’t I?

Thought For The Day – When the past comes knocking, don’t answer. It has nothing new to tell you.