A couple of weeks ago I received a private message from hatchetface saying that he was going to be in town and did I think it would be interesting to meet face to face without our avatars to intercede. My only condition was that he not bring his hatchet to the meet-up. We set up a time to casually run into each other in Harvard Square, Cambridge in front of the Out of Town News.
He was easy to spot since he was the only OS-er in Harvard Square that afternoon with a black backpack. Seeing as it was coldish and had been raining all day we hurried off to Peets Coffee and Tea for coffee and promptly found that the only place to sit was outside on some very wet benches. We discovered through a rambling conversation that was loaded with hilarity that we had walked paths that were strangely parallel. He lives in Rochester, NY. I once did. He went to school near Park Square and on Huntington Avenue in Boston. I once worked in those same areas at the same time. I like to sing. His mom likes to sing.
The similarities were uncanny.
I had arranged for us to meet my husband for dinner so we finished our coffee and headed for the train. The Red Line took us to Central Square, Cambridge and we walked a couple of blocks to what is probably my favorite Chinese restaurant, Mary Chung's.
There I introduced him to my husband and to the house specialty Suan La Shou Chow. This is tender dumplings filled with gingery pork and sitting on a bed of mung bean sprouts. The whole thing is doused with a hot chili and garlic sauce. Hatchetface was an instant convert.
The three of us sat there for a couple of hours talking science and politics and giggling uncontrollably. At some point, it was decided that we should document such an historic meeting of the minds.
hatchetface was determined to retain some of his anonymity. Unfortunately, since I had requested that the hatchet not be brought to the meeting, he had to improvise. His hands were roughly the right size and shape, but lacked that metallic flare.
The tea pot had the required metal fabrication and showed off that "one-eyed Jack" look, but wasn't exactly the same. So we abandoned that and, throwing caution to the wind with the fortune cookie wrappers, we posed for one last photo taken by my husband.
hatchetface, you're welcome to come back and visit any time!
Photos Copyright © 2009 CoyoteOldStyle and her husband.
All Rights Reserved.
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Comments
Good pics, by the way.
Owl, it was a blast!
mamoore, Mary Chung's is an amazing little unpretentious place and the owner is always glad to see us.
Robin, you are more than welcome ANYTIME! So no jealousing, 'kay? I saved lots of hugs for you.
Mr. Mustard, we got a little damp in Harvard Square but it was fun!
Dorinda, thanks! We all had a fantastic evening. I guess it shows!
The food and conversation sounded equally tantelizing.
:)
Sounds like fun. JKBrady and I had a meet-up a couple days ago. I'm gonna blog about it as soon as I find (or replace) my camera cable.
One of these days we need to have a giant meet-up...
Cindy, you would have really enjoyed yourself and I think that what made this work was that there were only three of us at dinner. That way we could all take turns laughing at me because I'd had far too much caffeine!
OE, any time you want to come up and hang out in Cambridge, let me know.
Myriad, I lived in Cambridge 30 years ago and when I moved back to Boston, most every place I had frequented was gone. Get that cable soon, though. I'm looking forward to the photos!
A giant meet-up would be outstanding! How about an OS Burning Man?
Rob, thanks, I'm glad the photos came out that way!
Glad you two got to meet up. I am a long way from nowhere but there is an OSer or two in Cleveland if we can ever connect when my feet will let me. I think it would be grand fun to meet other OS folk, but until then the internet will do, With PICTURES, of course.
Monte
Myriad, yes to the cuppa, but please let him have two eyes!
False humility! Hmmmph! :-)
Rated
Rich, any time you want to go to Mary's let me know. Except for Tuesday. She's closed on Tuesday.
Thanks, Zuma! It was a good time.
Blue, he's not just a handsome fella, he's a nice one, too. Keep telling him!
thanks for sharing.
annette, thank you!
jane, thanks for the compliment! I fell off my chair when I read "yute." Are you related to Joe Pesci?
Roy, this was like meeting a member of the family!
Thanks for the share. Now to go see if I "know" Hatchetface's posts yet...so many writers, so little time!
Ric, are you the counterfeiter or the bank robber? Next time I'll photoshop you into one of these. Or maybe that's a project for you.
Thanks!
Hope today is full of fun as well,
Sharon
mikelk, perhaps we crossed paths with you when you were in Harvard Square! And believe it or not, the Wurst House came up in conversation.
Yeah, Kent, I was glad to have confirmation that hatchetface does indeed not resemble the Batman character Two-Face!
Bill, you speak Bawstin!
Sharon, it was so fun we've given a standing invitation to hatchetface for him to come back and visit again. Thanks!
- by C.O.Style
It is wonderful to read that strangers can meet and giggle uncontrollably about their similarities in life. This is a great tale of strangers no more.
- rated for the reveal
Is Mary Chung’s the best kept secret in Cambridge and it’s surroundings? That’s probably the best Chinese food I’ve ever had...forget the probably part. Next time I’m going for the “mysterious flavor chicken” no matter the consequences!
Long live the Triumvirate of the Wicket Smaht.
Shaggylocks, you're on!
hatchetface, Toscanini's was and is always great. So many flavors, so little time. I'm actually amazed that the two scoops we took home to our daughter got to her mostly intact except for a little melting. My husband introduced me to Mary's and that reason alone would have been enough to marry him! That place is a jewel. By the way, Wile E. says you're welcome to visit any time.