At Least They're Committed

I just burned the pizza crust. It went from too doughy to black on the bottom in the 2 minutes I was struggling to open the diced ham. Yes, I did have it on a timer, but I might have peeked sooner if I hadn’t been fighting plastic. I hate plastic.

In Pagosa Springs, beneath the awning of a small, rustic restaurant and bar, dummies of The Blues Brothers sit out front on sunny days. It’s on my bucket list to stop there on the way to the ranch and visit Joliet Jake and Elwood for a while. Maybe this spring.

It’s damn nasty outside. And it turned so icy so fast that Bug and I slid across the parking lot when getting our shots at the spa. So D had to go get the crust replacements. Feh.

I love the theology behind the Blues Brothers. I know, I know, people were up-in-arms and calling it sacrilegious. I even knew a girl from high school who angrily walked out of the theater.

The grandsons are here. Bug’s two oldest sons. If I’m honest, I really didn’t feel like cooking tonight. Not an excuse for burning the crusts, I know. Plus I was so proud of myself that I remembered to order the dough, pepperoni, Italian sausage and ham, with peppers, onion, black olives and mushrooms chopped and ready to go — and then this. Defeating.

When I did see the Blues Brothers (I think it was on cable), I rather loved it. The music was captivating and the plot was, well, endearing. I mean, here you have these two Blues-obsessed fuckups who are called via a callous (literally if you consider the thwackings they endured) old nun to go on a mission from God to save the Catholic orphanage from closure due to back taxes.

All ended up well with dinner. Pre-cooked pizza crusts, loaded with goodies, slushies for the boys/sodas for us, and two 1980s circa movies that none of us had seen before: Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Gremlins.

Did I mention the amazing Blues artists featured in the 1980 flick throughout the duo’s venture to getting the band back together? If so, not enough. I mean, wow! But the movie goes beyond that to say Jake and Elwood’s mission (I hate Nazi’s, too) to save the decrepit home for orphans in which they were raised is inspirational. Plus, their travels and travails along the way are hilarious. (“This place has everything!” ~ Jake . . . “Pier 1 Imports!” Elwood.)

It’s now 8 o’clock a.m. on a Saturday and the boys aren’t up yet. Nice quiet time before I jump into frying the bacon, cooking the eggs and ironing the chocolate chip waffles . . . and to wrap this up.

My favorite biblical saying, “Judge not, yest you be judged,” applies here as that movie, panned by zealots, was an absolute inspiration to me. And to this day, although in a very different way and paling in comparison, I too pray to fulfill a mission from God.