Where do I know you from?
I did it. I stood in a 2.5hr line to order Jon G’s Barbecue from Peachland, NC. You likely will read my review and say, “that’s unexpected.”
I spent yesterday memorizing the menu, recruiting friends to join me in this adventure (presenting it as a recon mission). I watched the rain clouds continue to roll in as time ticked closer to Jon G’s opening at The Union Exchange .
At 6pm, the light rain drizzle and grey clouds joined us in line, where we found ourselves behind two gentlemen, huddling under their umbrella, excitedly talking about the menu options and eagerly awaiting their first time to try this local bbq.
As we settled in line, the cutest labradoodle and his family joined us on our quest. The kids were in heaven for the chance to pet our new line mate! Kids were doing great in line, until they weren’t. Our fearless line director, April, took the kids on an adventure to explore the grounds of The Union Exchange and eventually withdrawing from the mission, ordering pizza and going home; leaving, Nic & I behind to hold the line. Soon after, Nic detoured in search for beer.
Suddenly, our line-neighbors surrendered from the line too.
And I quickly found myself standing alone, in the rain. No umbrella; with an empty stomach, and a watch that said, 6:44p.
As I gazed at the line ahead, curious about the lack of bbq smell in the air, an energetic and vibrant, voice from behind me said, “You look so familiar to me. Where do I know you from?” Me, with a nervous smile, “umm…” She then asked me “are you on the Weddington moms Facebook group?” Me…“No, but I’m on the Union County Moms group?!?”
She politely, yet, curiously smiles and we spent the next moments wondering around in our memories of where we may have known each other.
Her name is Beverly, armed with a bright and warm soul, and a friend that had a blue umbrella. Beverly was there to see her churches praise band perform for CharityBeats Project.
I was rained on, hungry, and tapped on the head once by the blue umbrella and no longer alone. My watch now read 7:17p.
With each swing of this blue umbrella, a Mississippi accented, full of warmth, voice, would say, “Oh honey, I am so sorry”. Meet Dixie! A kind hearted, retired school teacher, whose love for her NC raised grandchildren is so strong, it pulled her to NC.
Dixie came to see her daughter and son-in-law perform, providing the contemporary Christian soundtrack to everyone’s line adventure. Dixie also came prepared for the rain with her, now infamous, blue umbrella.
Beverly and Dixie are a force. A force of fun, adventure, youth, wisdom, love, compassion, and a heart that shows kindness and praises Jesus.
A few footsteps later, with a tiny gremlin growing in my stomach and a watch that said 7:30p, I’d already been invited to the 10:10a Sunday Service at Weddington Methodist Church; sent on a mission to recruit help for Switchin' Kitchens, and exchanged phone numbers with specific instructions to send a text and refer to myself as “Jen, with the cute friend, Nic!”
Now, on my third tap of Dixie’s blue umbrella and narrowly focused on finding a solution to my food gremlin, I overheard a cheerful and joyful “hello” directed to Nic & I’s new besties, Beverly and Dixie. In the proudest of sentiments, Beverly introduces me to, Denise, who would influence me to join Oatmeal Cream Pie Addicts; the adoring creative baker. Denise’s incredibly, irresistible sweetness’s, are from her bakery, Sweet & Cozy Bakery, LLC, served at The Union Exchange.
It’s 7:34p, I am in line with an entire bag, full of sweet and cozy goodness, handmade by Denise! I let my tiny food gremlin order and purchased one of everything that was left! I was faced with the unexpected challenge, which one would I eat first and what would I share with Nic. Oatmeal Cream Pie was the winner of the first bite… and first share.
I am now obsessed with Sweet & Cozy Bakery.
Sugar now pumping through my veins, the concert came to an end, and with a watch that displayed 8:21p, Nic and I were next in line! Our game plan was to order one of everything that was left on the menu.
8:28p and it’s go time! Left on the menu: Brisket, Sausage Link and all the sides. We were assigned Order Number 23! Beverly and Dixie were right behind us.
As we all shuffled to the side, anxiously awaiting the lady with the megaphone to call our number, Dixie’s daughter and son-in-law, who had just finished performing, joined us for our final moments in this long awaited adventure.
A quick introduction to Dixie’s family, a highlight reel of our fast friendship and a body count of blue umbrella victims, I felt the bitter sweetness of this night coming to an end.
Soon the words, “Order Number 23,” blared through a megaphone, like a sports announcer calling out the next player to the field. We were up!
A large paper bag full of anticipated bbq goodness slid through sliding glass trailer windows and Nic and I said our “see you laters” to our new friends.
8:40p with a paper bag in tow, we bolted to the car (actually, it was Aprils car that she left us, so we could get back home after her and the kids left us behind). Side note: you know how they say people will give you the shirts off their backs, April leaves you a car… that I am sure has a shirt in it!
As I sat in April’s drivers seat, with a rain soaked jacket; a lowly lit dome light shining on an opened Jon Gs box; chewing on my first bite of brisket. I then realized, the line I thought I was standing in, was to order bbq, but God had a bigger order for me and it had nothing to do with bbq.
We all may have thought we didn’t know each other at the start of the waiting line, but, God knew we already did.
We just needed a waiting line and Beverly’s simple question…. “You look so familiar to me. Where do I know you from?”
Me: “Well, Ms. Beverly, I’m your sister in Christ, with the cute friend, Nic!”