...When All is Said and Dunn

I hate change! And if it is something that I really don't want changed I either fight it or boycott the outcome of the change. If the change is for the better, of course I embrace it, but nine times out of ten in this day and age changes are not for the better.

I become particularly annoyed when something in my environment is changed. Lately in the sleepy little burg that I call home there have been numerous changes in businesses. Aside from my personal pet peeve, the dreaded bridal shop scourge that is eating up our city, there have been a lot of places that have gone the way of the dinosaur.

When growing up here, one of my favorite places was a restaurant called “The Shrimp Boat”. I think back to when I was young and the fond memories of going there with my family and later as a newlywed, going there with my wife. Who, after going there once, saw why I loved this place and soon grew to love it as much as I did.

It was one of those places that time forgot. It was built in 1960 and never changed a thing aesthetically for the entire time it was open. It was one of those places that had small booths with red leather bench seats with permanently mounted bar stools to match. They lined a white linoleum bar where you could have dinner or just enjoy a bowl of one of the best clam chowders ever made while having a beer, bottled or draft.

They served deep fried battered fish, oysters, scallops, shrimp, and French fries. In these health conscience days that may not be appealing to some of you and that probably had something to do with their demise, but I don't care what anyone says, it was great.

After the original owners sold the place a few years back, the quality of the food suffered, and eventually it closed. Every time I would drive by at night and see its usually bright windows dark I would morn its passing and hope that this landmark would somehow be revived. Somehow this amazing little building would find someone who would give it a second chance. If not as the same thing, maybe as something that would fit within its motif.

Then the unthinkable happened. The property was bought and the building was slowly torn down and my hopes and dreams along with it. But wait, maybe there would be a renaissance, a rebirth. Maybe it would be replaced with a new culinary delight that my community so desperately needed. I could only hope for the best as I watched a childhood friend being reduced to rubble.

I watched, I waited in anticipation, what would it be? That was a good size chunk of property, it could turn out to be anything. A new restaurant or maybe the much-needed skateboard park that our neutered City Council seems unwilling or unable to provide? The possibilities were endless.

Then the sign went up announcing what was going into the space occupied by my beloved Shrimp Boat. It was, oh no, it was going to be an…EZ Lube! What! As I drove by I almost hit another car. I circled the block to have a second look, and I wasn't hallucinating, it was an EZ Lube.

God has played some cruel jokes on me in the course of my life but this was out and out vicious. There was a Mobil station right next door that does oil changes. How would this benefit the community? How would this satisfy my need for deep fried seafood? The answer? It wouldn't! How dare they! I will never go there no matter how dirty my oil is. What a trade off, a deep-fried golden shrimp for a quart of 30-weight. Does that suck or what?

Fast-forward two years, the EZ Lube has been erected and I have never even entered the driveway of the establishment. I still hold them personally responsible for their presence in the spot that was formerly inhabited by my long-lost friend. But, as fate would have it, I am about to make a 700-mile round trip journey to the High Sierras and before I leave I need an oil change.

What makes this situation different is the fact that I waited until the last minute to do this and I am scrambling to find someone to do it before I leave. I go check out the usual suspects to see who would be able to complete the task in time. Apparently this was a bad time of year for oil changes because I couldn't find anybody willing or able to get it done in a timely fashion. Apparently there was a run on the oil change market and everyone was swamped.

So with the clock ticking towards our ETD I decided to bite the bullet and venture towards EZ Lube despite all my past protests. It may be more expensive but at least, according to their advertisements, they would be fast.

I approached EZ Lube with caution, almost like a lion stalking his prey. Slowly creeping up on it so if I changed my mind at the last second I could turn and bolt. I was a little bit scared, not a lot, but a little. Kind of like a kid who is about to get on his first rollercoaster.

As I pulled into the parking space I see an EZ Lube employee approach my car. This was the moment of truth, time to fish or cut bait. I took a deep breath and as the police say, exited the vehicle.

From that point forward I was stunned and delighted with the chain of events that unfolded before me. The guy who came to me, not waiting until I entered the store, was the manager of the establishment. His name was Chung and I have rarely met anyone who was more in tune with the concept of customer service. He gave me a complete rundown of all their services and how long it would take. There was no pressure and I felt as though I could have walked away at any moment. But he made me feel so at ease that I saw no reason to do anything other than what I came there to do, get my oil changed.

Not only did I get my oil changed but as part of their service, they also checked my brake, transmission, power steering, battery, differential, and window washer fluids. Also, my air filter, breather element, PCV valve, wiper blades, drain plug washer, and tire pressure were checked. Then as if that weren't enough, they washed my windows and vacuumed my car. Oh my God Dorothy, I'm not in Kansas anymore.

I left peaceful and content. I had not only gotten what I came for but more. So many times after having a service performed you don't feel as though you get your money's worth. That was not the case with EZ Lube. They not only did their job, but they went that extra mile which most businesses don't.

So when I am wrong, I say I'm wrong. As much as I miss The Shrimp Boat and its golden fried shrimp, just as I missed the El Monte Drive In, when the replacement is as good or better than the original I salute it.