I have decided to start collecting stories of people. This is the story of how I met Ricky at Panchero’s.
Post dancing My life partner and I went to Panchero’s for our traditional meal of “un burrito de pollo/carnitas,frijoles negros,arroz,lechuga,queso,jalepenos,picante y crema”. While we were waiting I noticed this dude who looked interesting,which is saying something because everyone else just looked drunk. He was alone and sat by himself by the window. You know how some people just look artsy? He had that neo-Bohemian kind of style that is really easy to get wrong if you don’t have the attitude for it. Me and the LP eat and postulate over what his story is. We have all sorts of crazy ideas about why he’s here at 3am alone. (A little back story if you aren’t familiar with Ann Arbor. S. University is where a bunch of bars are on campus as well as the places that are open after they close. At 2am it makes for really great people watching,if you have a strong stomach- there’s a fair amount of people who can’t hold their liquor.) Finally he walks back up near the front where we’re sitting and I decide to beckon him over. Of course he looks really confused because both me and the LP are beyond the cat calling years. When he sits down I tell him he looks like an interesting person and I want to know his story.
He’s in school studying PoliSci (which surprised me),and is also into making music (which didn’t surprise me). He lives in Toledo and was in the area visiting a friend. He knows a little about Detroit and thinks people overreact to their own stereotypes about the city. I think he was single. He doesn’t mind the drive from OH to MI since it’s a pretty straight shot. I was sort of waiting for him to shout out “Pretty Ricky,that’s what they call me”,but he never did. He was awesome,and I hope to run into him again one day.
I am remiss in the fact that I didn’t write any of this down,or enter it in sooner,but this was a whim of a project and the first time for anything is always rough. Basically,I’m going to start asking people what their story is- just like that. Nothing necessarily poignant,just what makes them tick. If you would like to share your story,email me.