Tuesday, October 18, 2011

day five: the maine lobster experience

there we were. two kids from the carolinas. raised on barbecue and fried chicken, used to grease. used to the messiness of eating with our fingers. the stickiness and sloppiness of it all.

but nothing could prepare us for that night in maine. the restaurant we reached at nightfall, the water and air the same shade of ebony. we were there too late to see the sunset flicker off the atlantic, or push the light out of each other's hair like we did on the vineyard.

we sat in the deep booth anyway. ordered the lobster. the one we'd waited for the whole trip. the waitress brought out the array. the buckets. the bibs. the nutcrackers. this was our first experience, and the whole thing was alien.

and the mess. oh, you guys. i think i was doing it wrong. my dress was ruined. robert spent about twenty minutes on one claw. we were so juvenile. amateurs. then, what started out as a giggle turned into a guffaw, and we shook the booth trying to maintain some air of civility, both of us trying not to look at each other, only our pitiful lobsters, tears streaming from the hilarity of it all.

somewhere behind me, a group was talking loudly. i heard snippets like "napa valley" "when i wrote my first book" and "oh, he's traveling for photojournalism." they were feasting on a four-course lobster meal, drinking red wine by the bottle.

they were completely spotless.

we paid and left out the side door, our bibs hanging in shreds in defeat. let them have their white linens. their unsmeared lipstick and powdered noses.

we'll have each other. and the dirt and muck and squalor that inevitably will come. just as in the morning, all is washed anew, with 24 more glorious hours to sink our teeth and elbows into all that life has to offer, embracing the mess, shying not. 

17 comments:

mary kate said...

I'm pretty sure everyone I know that eats lobster makes a mess, or when I eat crabs it looks like I went through hell and back. haha But isnt Maine amazing and relaxing besides the snobby people at the restaraunt?? hope you loved it!

Dee Paulino said...

embracing the mess, shying not. that is the way life should be lived. thanks for the reminder.

... said...

Ha ha ha..it's a challenge to eat lobster! :)

the southern hostess said...

So funny! Lobster is a lot of work, but so worth it.

Christi said...

Love it! I'm so glad you two had such a wonderful time.

Fickle Sense said...

It sounds like you had quite a seafood experience. As a child living in Australia with a dad who loves scuba diving, our freezer was always full of sea creatures... so I can't say that I love the thought of eating crayfish. This 'how to menu' is really funny and informative for me:) Nice post!

erika said...

I would have rather been at your table than theirs. :)

Danielle V. said...

Sounds like you had a wonderful Maine lobster experience! The best kind :)

(I've been eating lobster since I was little and I STILL can't do it without making a mess!)

Best,
Danielle
http://loveandlookpretty.blogspot.com

Amber said...

hehe. eating lobster is way messy. if you aren't messy then you arent doing it right

Blondie's Journal said...

I'm not sure I eat lobster the correct way either...I just try to get all of that delicious meat!!

XO,
Jane

Gentri said...

Oh noooo! Your poor dress! haha! I am so sorry it was such an ordeal. I've never had lobster either, so I would have been in the same boat.

Unknown said...

haha - easting lobster is a disaster...and its so much more fun that way. i've concluded it shouldn't ever be eaten with white linens (unless it creates a great post like this)

Sarah said...

I would be is SUCH a bad mood if I was starving for lobster and couldn't get to the meat!!!


- Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

Southhamsdarling said...

I did have to smile about the two of you eating your lobster and getting in such a mess, and the next booth staying all clean and pristine. Bet you were having far more fun though!! Hee Hee! That lobster looks fantastic. I would so like to visit Maine. I don't know why, but whenever I say the word Maine in my mind, I always think of Clam Chowder!

Shay said...

Too funny. I make a mess out of EVERYTHING so I can relate;-) Sounds so fun, though!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

Oh my gosh! That looks so awesome!

Lublyou said...

awww i really want to taste one! or two.. or some more... :-) this looks great!

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