Dim lights, thick smoke, and loud, loud music is the opening line of a old C/W song. Its name is " The Queen of The Silver Dollar".
Back in my old home town, we had a bar called the silver Dollar.
My band played there quite often so we got to know the people quite well.
We got to know the drunks, the dancers, the "come on " artists the waiters and the bartenders.
During our breaks, we were expected to mingle with the customers and I got to know some people real good.
I knew about Donna's troubles with her cheating husband.
Her answer to that was go out a try to " get lucky" for revenge.
Then there was Paul, he went there to get his fill of sex.
He was also married but either he had a huge need for sex or his wife just couldn't or wouldn't please him. So he would go there friday and saturday nights.
There was Bobby. one of the waiters.  A real tough mother fu_ker. He was always looking to make a quick buck and wasn"t afraid to try to stiff someone. He left the band alone cause we always played some songs he liked.
There also was Marko, the bartender, another tough mother.
Rumor had it he was a boxer who almost killed a guy in the ring so he just walked away from the fight game.
He had hands as big as tree trucks, but spoke softly.
I could always tell who was going to be the "pain in the ass" for the night and get thrown out.
I could guess fairly correctly which guy Danna was going "to bed" that night.
Almost every night, about 11pm the police would show up, check things out then leave.
After our last set, the band was always asked to the "after hours party". Sometimes I'd go. Most times, my girlfriend was with me so that kinda made me not " up for grabs".
Almost every city, town, village has its own Silver Dollar. Perhaps more then one.
I learned alot about people in those smoky, dim lit bar rooms.
Some of it was good, some was sad. But it was all real.
I sometimes long to return to find out whatever happened to Donna. Paul, Bobby and Marko.
Then on the other hand, perhaps its best I don't.
so until I blog at you again,
take care of yourselves,
and each other......templar