HIGH TIDE HARRY’S
Rainy days and Mondays always get me down.
Every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes
But whenever Monday comes
You can find me cryin’ all of the time
Monday, Moaning
Can’t trust that day
Monday, Moaning
It just turns out that way
Whoa, Monday, Moaning
Won’t go away
Monday, Moaning
It’s here to stay
Oh Monday, Moaning —Monday, Monday (The Mama’s and The Papa’s, lyrics by John Phillips)
It was Monday Moaning and there was a lot, I mean a whole lot, of moaning going around.
Our family was finishing up an awesome vacation at the beach. We enjoyed the sun, sand, swimming, and seafood. The only complaint was it had to end. We drove to Orlando on Sunday evening to catch an early flight out the next morning.
Our family added one new member for this trip, my son-in-law, Scott. He is a brilliant college professor and awesome chef. Those admirable traits extend to being a great connoisseur of movies and restaurants.
Our last vacation meal was a coin-flip situation. Time for a great steak or some delicious fresh seafood? Scott researched the websites for options and suggested the highly reviewed High Tide Harry’s.
Lobster, crab legs, shrimp, fresh fish, oysters. There was even a steak, chicken, or burger option. It is good to have a son-in-law willing to contribute. I felt the pressure on him and admired his initiative as he volunteered to make his first family suggestion.
I am not sure what happened. Apparently, there are many people who rave about this restaurant. It was not anything like our family’s favorite shrimp shack in St. Augustine.
The atmosphere was dismal.
The service was terrible.
The food was horrible.
Our reviews were unfavorable.
Our never-ending jokes were critical.
Scott’s decision was indelible. The venture became an unforgettable experience he will never live down.
We abandoned the generous leftovers along with the management’s unending excuses. We departed with High Tide Harry’s being forever linked with Scott’s Low Tide.
Monday Moaning started early and often. Everyone was sick. Sicker than a dog.
Lower than a snake’s belly. We looked like something the cat dragged in. We felt like death warmed over.
We moaned and groaned and bemoaned.
How can one not-so-good decision leave such a bad taste in one’s mouth and memory? Join our family. Love covers a multitude of wrongdoing, but a poor restaurant choice carries a lifetime of unforgettable sarcasm.
Bad choices and bad experiences are tough to handle on Monday Moaning. You wish for a re-do. You dread a do-over.
Others are looking to you for a decision. It might be your kids. It could be your coworkers. It feels as if the whole world is watching and waiting to critique and criticize.
You want to cry…or scream…or curse…or cover your face until Friday.
Here is my Monday Moaning go-to verse for decision times.
God promises, “I will instruct you in the way you should go (and guide you along the best path for your life). I will counsel you with my eye upon your progress” (Psalm 32:8).
God always knows where you are…where you need to be…how and when to get you there.
Do not moan and groan and bemoan your next decision. Search God’s Word, not the web network. God will lead you to make the best decision.
Go with it! Live with it!
Please Note: God’s Word has not posted a current review for High Tide Harry’s.
You gotta go where you want to go
Do what you want to do
With whoever you want to do it with
You gotta go where you want to go…
—Go Where You Wanna Go (Mama’s and Papa’s/lyrics by John Phillips)
LOVE FIRST...LOVE MOST 