Tricia's Aunt Beth and Uncle Barry live in Largo, FL just outside of St. Petersburg and near Tampa. We've stayed here once before for 9-days back in March of 2021. We had planned to visit for just 7-days, but thanks to the lousy air-shocks I had on ROVER back then, we had to delay our departure to get them replaced.
Just like last time, when you head to the St. Petersburg area from the south, you'll most likely find yourself traveling over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at the entrance of Tampa Bay.
but all of the newer monster-sized cruise ships still cannot access Tampa Bay.
With Tricia's dad being the oldest of five children, and Beth being the youngest (born 21 years later), it makes Tricia only four years younger that her aunt. That fact makes their relationship more like sisters, than aunt and niece.
Shortly after Beth arrived home from work we wasted no time swinging by her sister Linda's nearby home, (Tricia's other aunt) and heading out for dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse.
I think you all know who the good looking couple on the left is!
Tricia's dad was known to all as a skilled jokester and for pulling pranks on people. One of his favorites was being able to always be the first to grab the check when dining out with friends and family.
Today I followed in his footsteps by pretending a need to go to the restroom just after we all ordered our food. Barry was quick to point out the restroom's location behind me. I went in, washed my hands, then exited back into the restaurant where I casually walked to the far side of the dining room and made my way unobserved by everyone at the table and into the kitchen area where our server Steve was preparing Linda's salad.
I told Steve that nobody but me was to touch the check when it came time to pay the bill. He looked up, gave me a knowing smile, and said, "No Problem".
I then returned to our table and only Barry noticed that I came from the wrong direction. He gave me a quizzical look, but said nothing.
After we all finished our delicious meals someone asked for the check and I saw Beth trying to whisper to her husband, obviously wanting him to pay for our meals. While they were doing that, I quietly asked Tricia for our credit card and she passed it to me under the table.
Then came the moment I was waiting for! Steve came out of the kitchen from behind Barry with the check held down low below his waist. As he passed by our table, without even breaking stride, I slipped him our credit card below the height of the table. It all happened in the blink of an eye! Barry was still digging his wallet out of his pocket and only partially saw what had just occurred. Everyone else at the table assummed that it wasn't our check that Steve just "passed by" with in his hand.
Barry finally got his wallet out and looked at Tricia and I as we could no longer keep a straight face and we were literally LOL (laughing out loud). The look on his face was priceless when he asked, "What just happened?". Since he saw some kind of exchange under the table I made some silly comment about how Steve was simply giving me his phone number. That was obviously something nobody at the table believed.
Then Beth wanted to know what happened and proceded to scold her husband for not grabbing the check. In his defense, the check was never within his reach. Linda on the other hand, situated between them, just put a smile on her face at her little sister's outburst.
Soon Steve came back with our receipt and got scolded too. He raised his hands in surrender towards Beth and said, "I had nothing to do with the situation and was just following orders".
Tricia's dad, Beth and Linda's big brother, has been gone for just over a decade now and I imagine they're a little rusty when it comes to grabbing the check from anyone in a restaurant. Well today I showed them how it is done and later in the parking lot I was bestowed with the honor and title of being a "Whitman", that's Tricia's maiden name.
It's only Day 1 of the 6 we planned on visiting with them and I'm sure before we leave we'll find ourselves sitting opposite each other at another restaurant table. They'll get their chance to buy us a meal, but I should warn them that just saying you're going to pickup the tab doesn't guarantee that will happen, unless I verbally concede that in advance.
Of course they won't know that until they read this blog "after" we leave.
We did have a big family get together at Linda's home last night where I met Linda's daughter, her husband and their two daughters.
With my not being a long time member of the family, it was fun listening to them tell somewhat embarrassing stories about each other while I just remained silent and took in their reactions.
Tomorrow we'll be pulling out from Beth and Barry's driveway and getting back on the road. With four more Florida stops, all before the end of the year, so we'll have plenty more to blog about.
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