August 7, 2013
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A&W Root Beer…..back in the day
When I was very young, Mom always fixed certain things for each day of the week, ending with roast chicken on Sundays. Now, Thursdays was meatloaf night. Mom could work a pound of ground beef into four pounds of loaf by adding loads of onions, oatmeal for filler, a variety of left over meats from previous nights and finally an entire can of stewed tomatoes. It was usually on Thursday mornings, as Dad was walking out the door on his way to work, that he would announce that Mom had worked hard that week and needed a break. So, he would be taking all of us out to eat when he got home that evening. Mom enjoyed the break and me and my little brother would thank Dad repeatedly under our breath. Now understand, I relied on being well fed, but trying to hide Mom’s meatloaf under the mash potatoes never worked and the dog knew when it was meatloaf night cause he stayed in the garage.
That evening, Dad would load the family up in the Pontiac and head to the A&W, the Valhalla of burgerdom and the purveyors of that wondrous elixir known as root beer. He would pull into the A&W on Steward Street and carefully slid his automobile into the first available spot. All the smells, bright lights and rock and roll music was like an epiphany to my little brain and tended to cause me to get euphoric, which I guess was like getting high back then for a 11 year. Then I saw her! The car hop heading down our way. My heart would thump like a puppy dog as the bleached blond goddess on roller skates rolled up to our window. Dad was always in charge of ordering for us and it usually meant a burger and small fry each for me and lil bro, a fish sandwich for Mom and two chili dogs and a large onion ring for him. Then, of course, four arctic frosted, solid glass mugs of their legendary root beer!
This particular A&W was always busy on Thursday nights, as I assumed that was meatloaf night for a lot of folks. Well, for the next ten minutes, my brother and I crawled around in the back seat like a pair of starving hyena cubs as we watched tray after tray of wondrous delights roll pass our car. Finally….blondie rolled up to Dad’s side of the car, did a tight pirouette and then hooked a metal tray onto the car door window. I was agasp at her proficiency. Dad then handed out the grub and once we were all settled, he would finally pass around the crystal steins of the sassafras infused beverage. To me, there was nothing as unique or as satisfying as an A&W root beer. Understand, it would not be until years later when you could actually buy a bottle of it. Till then, here was the only source.
Fed, refreshed, and satisfied, we finally headed home. But….sometimes, Dad would go all out and buy a glass gallon jug of root beer and take it home with us. This usually caused a state of contention between me and my brother once we got it in the fridge, but Dad would put the death grip on the screw top and it would have taken Superman or Grandma to loosen it. Anyhow, when I drive by the new A&W’s of today, it just ain’t the same. Prefab buildings serving steroid enhanced burgers, machine extruded fish squares and a facsimile of the legendary root beer, which is delivered each week and pumped into an underground storage tank. Car hops?? It’s call drive-thru.
Anyway….I can close my eyes and still remember those wonderful Thursday nights and the joy and excitement of going to a very special place both loved and enjoyed by the entire family……as a family.
Charlie
Comments (24)
It was just like being there! I can almost taste the meatloaf….lol.
@seedsower - I need a root beer……; {
That root beer even smelled good! The last A&W root beer float I got was like a pat of butter in a glass of sweet tea—-yuk!
Thanks for the memories. I recall our A&W which looked just like the one in that picture, although the cars back then were newer models, but in not as nice condition. Our local A&W didn’t have car hops, but I do remember how good those root beer floats were. Like you, going out to eat was a rare occasion, appreciated by all.
You described it beautifully. Although my version is from a young girls eyes, I get the car hop excitement too. They we’re the best, and very friendly with character at our A&W. They, (A&W’s) are nothing like that anymore. Our last car hop A&W went away a lot later than most down here on the coast, but it has been a long, long while, My mother’s meatloaf was the best! Love the sandwiches you could make later. It went well with her potato salad in the summer. She’s 90 now and I can’t thank you enough for reminding me about Mom’s meatloaf! (pats heart, and points to you)
@seedsower - Yuggggggg!
@whyzat - Nothing like good old fashion root beer.
@soltero_alma - Those were special times that even after all these decades I can still smell and remember.
@Jaynebug - I should of ate at your house when I was a kid.
my mouth is watering, we didn’t have A&W’s but we had a Dog and Suds and they served A&W root beer -
We actually have an old school Dairy Queen here in Davis. The place does not even have a drive through! I remember the A&W when I was growing up too.
@mlbncsga - The good life for sure.
@queenie - DQ’s have been around almost as long. Good banana splits and malt shakes.
Such a fine writer. Gave me more than a few smiles….thank you.
Excellent post.You took me there.Well done sir.
@Bricker59 - My thanks.
Meatloaf is still my favorite, but I agree about the deliciousness of A & W root beer. In fact, a big glass of root beer would taste great now. Thanks for the memories!
Yeah! A&W root beer at the stand was really good… I really liked Hires rootbeer though – the original rootbeer!
@Donkey_Guy_10 - Hires has really been around for a while. Remember ‘Dad’s’ root beer?
@Nancy Partridge Roessner@facebook - I do miss those frosty mugs.
Sounds like heaven. If only I had the chance to experience it.
@VNlilMAN - Memories are like a Motel 6. It’s nice to check in once in awhile. Thanks for dropping by.
Now i want to find an A&W and see what it is about. Hope a blond lady will be thee to serve me, hehe
There is an A&W in Boonville, Missouri! Still do the frosted mugs of root beer and they have floats as well.