The Chase

     It was the summer of 1991.  I was between my eighth grade and ninth grade year of high school.  There was one thing I enjoyed doing and that was spending my summers at the cabin up at Houghton Lake.  It was my playground.  If I wasn't swimming or boating then I was biking or walking up and down the road.  There was always putt putt golf, The Pines Movie Theater or Playland with the famous "Haunted House" to keep us occupied.  Neighbors knew neighbors and everyone knew each other's children.  It was a time where children were safe to be children.  But sometimes we are a little naive to the dangers in life.

     My mother just had a hysterectomy and needed a little relaxation.  My brother was entering college and my sister was already out on her own.  It was just mom and I in the household.  She decided to head up to Houghton Lake for some rest.  She said I could bring a friend and I decided to bring Amy, a close friend at the time.  We did all the normal young teen things.  We swam.  We tanned at the "premium sun time" which was 3pm, so she told me.  She tanned, I burned.  We took long walks up and down M-55 browsing in the different stores set up for tourists.  At night we would talk about music and boys.  It was normally fun. 

     On one particular day my mom needed some extra rest.  She was having her friend and her friends boyfriend coming up later on that day and she wanted to rest up before they arrived.  Amy and I decided to go for another walk.  As we walked we came upon the troll bridge.  As a child my grandpa would tell us that trolls lived under the bridge like in the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.  The small bridge went over a small canal that connected Houghton Lake to smaller channels of water for the vacationers that wanted to live on water in a small subdivision.  We knew trolls really didn't live under the bridge but it was fun pretending with grandpa.  The name stuck.  From then on we always called it the troll bridge. 

     As we approached there was a young man fishing.  It wasn't anything out of the ordinary to see people fishing from the troll bridge.  It was a good fishing spot.  It has deep water so boats can get through but it is very weedy.  You knew that area was off limits to swimming but great for fish.  As we passed by we gave a smiling head-nod greeting to the young man.  It was just a passing greeting.  Amy and I didn't even stop.  We just casually continued on our way talking about whatever it was we were discussing. 

     We walked past more houses and around a small bend.  We started to get an uneasy feeling but we didn't know why.  As we walked we slowly glanced behind us and noticed that young man was walking behind us a few houses back.  He was not holding fishing equipment that he had at the troll bridge.  We gave a nervous smile, still acting casual, and returned facing forward.  I think our hearts started working at a faster pace.  We were uneasy.  We tried to tell ourselves that perhaps he ran out of bait and was on his way to the gas station up the road.  Lots of people walk up and down this road so maybe we were making a big deal out of nothing.  We didn't want to falsely accuse. 

     There was a small dirt road that went left.  The gas station was straight ahead.  We decided to take the road to the left.  If this young man was going to the gas station he would go straight and our fears would be proved false.  Walking a bit down the road, after we made the left, we looked back to check.  He was there.  He made the left too.  We faced forward again.  There was a resort hotel nearby.  Perhaps, we thought, he is a tourist and needed to run back to the hotel for something.  Deep down we knew this young man was stalking us but we felt some comfort lying to each other hoping our lies would become true.  We stepped up a walking pace a bit faster.  We wanted to pass the resort quickly in hopes that he was just heading back to his room. 

     We decided to cross to the south side of M-55.  We started walking east a little bit and looked behind us.  The young man was waiting for traffic to clear so he can cross the road.  Finally Amy revealed what I didn't want to hear.  "Jill, He is following us."

     A numbing feeling came across me.  I could tell from Amy's words that she was scared too.  "Come on," I said.  "There is a Dairy Queen just a bit up the road.  Let's hide behind the building.  Maybe we can lose him."  We didn't walk this time.  We ran and we ran hard.  Neither of us were much of runners but on that day we both could of broke some records with our speed.  We ran past the Dairy Queen and came around the other side of the building and angled ourselves so we can see M-55.  We didn't see anything for a moment.  Our hearts were pounding out of our bodies.  We waited.  "Maybe we lost him." I mumbled.

     We slowly came out from behind the building making our way to the front.  Standing there was the young man waiting.  It was like he knew we were hiding and he was waiting for us to reveal ourselves.  We took off.  I think we screamed or at least we thought we screamed.  I am not sure.  All I did know was that we were terrified.  We continued running east.  We needed help.   I knew Our Lady Of The Lake Catholic Church was just up the road.   I ran up to the doors and it was locked.  Drats!  Thinking fast, and wanting to be in the safety of home, I knew we had to head back in that direction.  We zigzagged around some more buildings with this young man still in hot pursuit a little bit behind us. 

     We crossed back to the north side of M-55 and ran into Oliver's Furniture.  The building was surrounded with tinted windows so we could see if the young man was coming.   We had to catch our breath.  We didn't even notice anyone else in the store.  We didn't want to take our eyes away from the road in case he would pop out at us from somewhere.  A lady in the store must of known we were in some kind of distress.  It isn't everyday where young teen girls want to check out a furniture store.  We told her our dilemma and she escorted us to the break room and gave us a glass of water.  We felt safe but we didn't know what to do next.  Neither of us wanted to leave that break room. 

     A short time later the same kind lady opens the door.  "We just seen him peeking in through the glass windows.  He does look creepy.  I have called the police."  We felt relieved of emotion.  We thanked her greatly.  We knew then things were going to be alright. 

     The police officer arrived and we told him the whole story.  He told us he looked around the area and didn't see the young man.  We did the right thing by coming into the store for safety and that he would take us home.  Those were the best sounding words I wanted to hear.  Take us home!  "Keep your eyes open in case you see him."  the officer told us.  We were both in the back seat, our first time in a police car. She was looking out her side of the window and I was looking out my side of the window.  Even though we didn't do anything wrong just sitting in the back seat of a police car made us feel guilty, like we did something wrong.  It was uncomfortable feeling but somehow knowing we were heading home made it a bit easier.

     We were coming up to the troll bridge when Amy and I noticed a young man standing near the top of the bridge with his fishing pole in the water.  "THAT'S HIM!  THAT'S HIM!"  we both shouted.   Our hearts started to beat faster with adrenaline. 

     The officer pulled over, got out and talked with the young man.  Feeling safe in the police car we were able to get a closer look at this young man.  He looked like he was in his early 20's.  He was a little unshaven, hat on, and unappealing.  He was denying everything the police officer was questioning him on.  We felt anger towards him for lying to the police officer.  There was nothing much more the police officer could do.  He told the guy to keep his nose clean and stay away from us.  The police officer started pulling away. 

     Suddenly, and without warning, the officer slams on the breaks and throws the car into reverse and speeds backwards.  It caught Amy and I by suprise.  The officer storms out of the car very angry.  He starts yelling at the young man.  "DO YOU FIND THIS FUNNY?!  THIS IS NO LAUGHING MATTER...." and on and on he yelled.  Amy and I looked at each other in shock.  The young man looked as if he was about to pee himself he was so scared.  The young man's eyes didn't want to make eye contact with the officer.  He just kept mumbling no and shaking his head.  After the officer was done chewing out this guy he gets back into the car and drives off.  Amy and I hid our excitment of the cop getting after the young man.  We didn't want the cop to go off on us like that.  Neither of us spoke a word until we pulled into the drive.

     "I want to talk with your mother to let her know what happened and to assure her you girls are safe."  the police officer told us.  I invited him up to the house.

     I motioned to him to wait outside because I knew my mom was resting.  I went into her bedroom and gently tried to wake her up.  "Mom," I lightly whispered, "there is a police officer here to talk with you."

     "Oh, it's just John.  Tell him I am resting and he can welcome himself into the living room" she mumbles.  My mom's friend, Patty's boyfriend, little did I know, was a police officer in another town and was meeting Patty there at the cabin. 

     I shook my mom's arm.  "No, mom, this is not John.  This is a real police officer here to talk with you."

     "Ma'am"  he entered her bedroom and jiggled her foot.  I don't know if it was his deep voice or him shaking her foot that made her suddenly wake up.  "I want to let you know the girls are okay." 

     My mom, fully awake now,  tried to utter a few words but could hardly speak.  "who....what....girls are okay?..."

     The officer filled her in on the whole story.  Amy and I just stood there at the foot of her bed with our heads down gazing at the floor.  The officer instructed my mom that we should probably stick close to home for the rest of the day.  No arguing with that one.  I think Amy and I already knew we didn't want to head back out for a walk.  That was too much excitment for us for one day.

     After the officer left, and my mom still in shock over the whole ordeal, wanted more details from us on what happened.  Over something to eat in the kitchen we shared everything that happened, again, with my mom.

     Looking back I realized that Amy and I probably did the right thing but it just took us longer to do it.  We should of went looking for help right away instead of running away in hopes of getting the young man off our trail. 

    

My Performance In GVSU's Renaissance Festival

     As a teen I fell in love with the theater.  I got my first taste of acting as a freshman in high school and embraced it.  I did a few plays in high school and performed in dinner theaters for the church I went to.  In my Senior year of high school I earned enough points to gain the rank of a lifetime thespian (an actor after the Greek actor and playwright Thespis), including a free one year subscription to some drama magazine.  There is something about stepping up on stage and putting a piece of yourself to make the character come to life.  I thought after high school my acting days were over even though I still had the love for the theater. 

My outfit for the ball scene

     Early in the summer of 1995, after I graduated, I got a call from the director of the Drama Department at Grand Valley State University.  She read my transcripts and was interested in having me be a part of the Shakespearean play Romeo and Juliet for the Renaissance festival.  I was more than thrilled to be part of a University production.  She told me practices were the following week and if I was interested in being a part of the play to show up.  I told her I would be happy to be there. 

     I walked along the buildings at Grand Valley State University realizing that in about 6 weeks I would be going from building to building hurrying myself along with a crowd of other people going from class to class.  The campus looked so big and I seemed so small.  I finally located the theater.  Older classmen were already there rehearsing part of their lines up on stage.  Incoming freshman were scattered along the front few rows of the seats watching the stage.  An older lady approached me and asked me who I was.  I gave her my name and she flips through a clipboard with several names on it.  She introduced herself as the head of the drama department.  For the life of me I cannot remember her name.  She told me the freshman are sitting up front and that as freshman we will be the extra's and a few will have small speaking parts.  I smiled and shook her hand as she passed me a copy of the play Romeo and Juliet and I made my way to sit among the other nervous looking incoming freshman.

     


I am the the second from the left.

Romeo with
the backstage director

     Over the summer the cast grew together as a family.  We would  share our frustrations, laugh about the guys wearing the cod piece, and tease a few of the ladies that had to dress like a harlot.  We would wrestle around the green room or stand just outside the doors talking and smoking.  When work was to be done, we did it but most of the time we just goofed off. 



     I did get a small speaking role as one of the watchmen.  It was only one or two lines which I forgot what they were but nonetheless I was happy as I can be about it.  I learned that play inside and out.  I read it once as a freshman in high school but I never let the story sink in.  Doing the play over and over it became a part of me and understanding the Elizabethan language.  We had a choreographer come in and teach us the dances in that time period for the ball scene.  I was one of the 8 couples up on stage dancing around and twilling.  It was a very graceful style of dance.  I stood in front of my partner.  Our right palms touched at face level as we spun around 3/4th of a circle.  Then we switched hand and were now palm to palm with our left hand and spun the other direction 3/4th of a circle.  I would lower my head in a curtsey and he would bow in my direction.  I loved it all. 

     There was a team of seamstresses that came in to fit us for our different costumes.  The gowns were beautiful.  There was a large room off the side of the theater that had sewing machines dotted over every table, pieces of cloth strung everywhere, a large closet filled with outfits and so much more.  These ladies did a great job at what they did.  At the time I never even touched a sewing machine and here these young ladies were designing these wonderful outfits.  I was impressed.

Prince of Verona

     One day we were told to wear our costumes and do some small skits at the over by the clock tower at GVSU.  I remember doing the dance scene outside feeling like I was in that time period.  People gathered around and watched us perform.  It was a fun experience walking around in costume playing the part.  The circle of people clapped for us as we bowed. 
     Soon it was show time.  We performed several shows throughout the week.  We even did one for local school children.  We had to edit some of the scenes, like the bedroom scene of Romeo and Juliet, for it to be child appropriate. I was in the opening scene as an extra.  I remember the curtain being raised, looking at my theater family with looks of excitement in their faces.  There was a moment of intense pause.  Then as if a magical moment happened we all came to life in character.  I was quietly chatting away with another extra, fawning over Benvolio and ooohing as Tybalt comes walking by.  Even now thinking about the lights shining down on us, the hush of the crowd and the words that were being said, I still get exciting chills about the whole thing.



One of the actors goofing off in the green room.
You can see the monitor and stage in the background.

     At one of the plays I forgot to go onstage during one of my scenes.  A few of us were goofing off in the green room.  There was a TV with sound in there so we can tell what scene the play is at.  We were not paying attention.  One of the directors pops her head into the green room to tell us to get ready for the next scene.  I looked over at her like a deer in headlights, then over to the monitor and realized I was supposed to be up on the balcony of the stage saying my one line!  I was so upset with myself.  The other two "watchmen" covered up for me but I felt horrible. 

Some of the actors

More extras in the play

Montague and an extra

Lounging out before a show.  I am sitting in the
middle and J.J. is laying across us.

A few of the actresses in the make-up room getting ready.



.

Some actresses before the show having fun.

    

A few of the actors showing off their tights.



Before a performance.  I am on the right.
 

Relaxing in the Green Room.



Juliet's Nurse ~ one of the paid actors for the play.



J.J. with one of the actors.

The Friar with an actor waiting to go on stage in the Green Room.



Another actress back in the Green Room waiting to go on stage.





JJ in the lower left.
We were signing advertising
posters during one performance.

     After the plays came the cast parties.  They realized I had never been drunk before.  It was their goal to see me wasted.  After the first show we went to someone's house and I was liquored up.  Yes, I was three sheets to the wind.  JJ, one of the extras, read out a 500 question purity test for everyone to take.  She was quite proud she had the lowest score.  There were some things that I didn't want to know about people that I learned that night.  The next morning we had an early practice for the next show later on that night.  Most of the cast and crew crawled in with hangovers.  I came skipping along.  They gave me looks of disgust.  "Don't you have a hangover?" they asked.

     "Nope!  I feel great!  On with the show!"  I would happily prance along. 

     In 1996, Hollywood remade the movie Romeo and Juliet staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.  Right away I fell in love with the movie.  We own the movie and my children love watching it as well.  I like how Hollywood adapted it to modern times.  When I hear the words it takes me back to when I was 18 again, up on stage, seeing everyone from the cast saying the same lines and going through the motions. 

     That was the last time I was on stage.  I would love to get back into the theater but not at this time in my life.  Someday....someday. 

    



The Day The World Stopped

     Unless you are very young of age or have lived in a cave, everyone knows about the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001.  It was a day that has changed the way American's look at things, the way American's feel about things, and the way American's live.  11 years later and American's still walk around looking over their shoulder's wondering when the next attack will take place.  We may not think about September 11 every day but no one can forget what happened.  I am not going into details of what happened in New York, Washington D.C., or Pennsylvania.  I am telling the story from my life.

     It was Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  The sun was shinning and it was going to be a beautiful day.  My oldest son, Christian (age 4) was taking speech therapy classes in the afternoon and they were taking a field trip to the Allegan County Fair that day.  Brian and I agreed to take all the kids to the fair later on that evening.  I was getting our daughters, Elizabeth (age 3) and Ashton (a month before her first birthday) ready for a playgroup with other mom's at a castle park in Plainwell, Mi.  Brian had a job interview at Sara Lee Bakery that morning (and he did get the job).  In the background Blue's Clue's was playing on the tv.   I was taking classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College but I didn't have class that day.  We were all happily busy.  It was just like any other morning.

     Brian ran to the corner store to get me a gallon of milk before he drove to Grand Rapids.  As he was approaching our house he kept beeping the horn to our van.  I was under the impression that he was running late and he wanted me to meet him in the driveway so he can take off quickly.  Brian flys out of the car with a look of urgency upon his face.  Our neighbor, Buzz, opens his front door and hollars out to Brian, "Did you hear about the World Trade Center?

     I was thinking this was an opening line to a funny joke.  Brian replies back, "Yes, I just heard about it on the radio.  I am going to go check out the tv."  and Brian heads inside.

     As he walks closer me I asked, "What is going on?"

     And as he passed by me without even glancing in my direction he states, "America is being attacked!"

     I stood there, outside, for a moment.  Did I hear that right?  America is under attack?  I went inside.

     We turned the channel to the news and it was already on that a plane struck one of the towers.  You can see smoke coming out from the towers but America was still confused.  At that time we didn't really know what kind of plane it was or if it was deliberate or by accident.  Brian was certain that this was not an accident.  This was done on purpose.  But no one really thought who would do something as awful as this.  It was hard to pull your eyes away from the tv.  Eventually Brian had to because of his job interview.  He kissed us all and was on his way.  The excitment of the interview somehow didn't seem to matter at this point. 

     I looked at our children, who were more upset because Blue's Clue's was interrupted, and thought that even though they do not realize what is happening their lives are about to change forever.  I didn't want them to see images of what was going on so I turned Blue's Clue's back on and called my friend, Deana.  She was watching the whole thing and we were trying to make heads or tails out of the whole situtation.  Suddenly I hear her shout, "Oh my God!  There's a plane!  That plane is gonna hit!  It just crashed into the building!"  There was a shakiness to her voice.

     "What?!" I was hoping the news was doing a recap of what was happening, "What happened?"

     "While on TV I seen another plane go into the other building!"  We were both silent for a moment.  I ran with the portable phone upstairs to the tv in our bedroom and turned it on.  There on the screen was a gapping hole in the building of where the plane entered the building.  We both watched on our own tv's, in silence, grasping tightly to the phone.  Neither one of us made it to playgroup that day.

     On the tv reports we heard about the Pentagon and the United Flight Airlines 93 that went down in Pennsylvania.  I just wondered how much more do we have to see!  What building will be next?!  We were certainly under attack.  You couldn't help but think of the people on board those flights.  You knew there had to be children, and there were.  Did the passengers know?  Could they see the buildings approaching?  Tears for those people and their families were unstoppable.

     Then the unthinkable happened.  The towers collaspe.  At 9:59am the south tower went down first.  It was very hard to watch.  At 10:28am the other town collasped.  All those people in a matter on seconds were gone.  The police, fire department and recuse teams were great at getting out many people.  So many more lives could of ended that day if not for the brave men and women who went into those towers.  I don't think people realized the towers would of collasped.  Most thought several floors would be damaged, obviously, but it did not cross anyone's mind that these towers were coming down.  All around the area soot, ash, rubble blanketed the earth.  It looked like the aftermath of a war scene after a volcano spewed it's ash.  Papers from people's desks fluttered down what looked like a mean spirited ticker tape festival.  This was not a festival.  Those papers were like tears falling from those who lost their lives.  American's were sad and we were getting upset. 

     It was hard being a parent that day.   All I wanted to do was scoop them up and hold them yet, with them being young, they didn't want to sit in my lap all day watching the horror that is unfolding in America right before our eyes.  They still wanted to play.  They still wanted lunch.  They still wanted to be read to.  I played out the roll of mommy threw my actions but my heart and my thoughts went to those suffering from these vicious attacks. 

     Later on that evening we debated on going to the fair.  Neither Brian or I were in the mood.  The kids were wanting to go and we did promise them.  The Allegan County Fair, one of the largest county fair's in the state is also known for it's largest county fair parade in the country, is normally a wonderful place to visit.  They have a historical village complete with a working blacksmith shop, a church, a school where the local schools even use it for a day and homes set in the 1800's time period.  The barns are full of animals you would expect to see at the fair and then the midway that is chock full of rides for all ages.  On this day it was very somber.  There were young kids and teens riding rides having fun.  The adults, however, looked sad.  I don't remember seeing a smile on anyone's faces, even the carnival workers.  Usually in the aisle of games the carnival workers push parents into playing a game.  It was quiet today.  Radio's were on all over the place with coverage of the attacks.  In the exhibition booths where people are showing off their wares and their small businesses it was quiet.  Some had tv's playing at their stations.  The Kalamazoo Gazette had a special edition paper already there for people to take.  I was impressed how quickly it was in the papers.  I still have my copy. 

     Eariler that day President Bush ordered all planes down for several days.  I remember looking up at the sky and just seeing traces of clouds.  No contrails left over for passing airplanes.  I kept my gaze upon the sky.  So this is how it looked before the invention of the airplace.  I tried hard to memorize what was in my vision.  I knew people haven't seen a sky like this in about 100 years and I may never see a sky again without airplanes.  Even at night looking at the stars above it was peacefully quiet.  No moving blinking lights from a passing plane.  Everything was still.  Everything needed to be. 

         The next day I went to college.  Our English class was a big group discussion about what happened the day before.  Everyone was still walking around in a daze.  The little things in life didn't matter.  People were hurting, people were missing, and a lot of people died that day.  Nothing else was on people's minds.  The world seemed like it stopped and the focus was on New York, Washington D.C., and the crash site in Pennsylvania.  People could not stop talking about it.  There was a blood donation site set up at the campus.  There was a long line for people wanted to give.  This was the least American's could do at this moment.  I stood in line waiting for my turn.  No one worried about how they would feel giving blood.  There were people who might need it desperately.  It was the American duty to give.

     A few days later there was a vigil at the Gerald Ford Museum in Grand Rapids, Mi. that my sister, our children and I went.  Some people gave speeches and prayers to those families affected by this terrorist attact.  We held candles and songs were sang.   I tried to tell my children the best I could about what was going on, that we were to remember those who died in the attacks.  We, as a city, all became like one.  As a nation we were as one during that time.  It didn't matter if you were rich or poor, republician or democrat, black or white, christian or athesist, young or old.  We all came untied as a country. 

      We found out al-Qaeda was responsible for planning and delivering out the attacks.  On tv you can see them jumping for joy and celebrating the collaspe of the towers.  These muslim terrorists, on this day, took away a bit of our freedom.  But as a country we united as a whole and didn't sit back for long.  On that day thousands were injured and 2,973 people have died.  There were only 20 people that were pulled out from the rubble from the World Trade Towers.  20!   There were 372 foreign fatalities that represented over 80 nations.  From the south tower (the one that collasped first) one 4 people above the 81st floor survived.  The fires from the towers burned for 99 days, finally being put out on December 19.  This didn't just effect a City.  This effected the world!

     Today when we watch movies, and if they are older, the kids point out the twin towers.  Just yesterday we watched the cartoon Ants and at the end the camera pans out to reveal Central Park in New York City.  The camera still pans out over the city.  Standing tall in the backgroud was the World Trade Towers.  They would be too young to remember the day but I am glad to know my children know about the terrorist attack and what the World Trade Towers are. 

    

A Unique Dining Experience.

     It was around the year of 1984.  I was 7 years old and we took a trip to Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit my Aunt.  I don't remember much of the trip.  I remember it was my first time out of Michigan and it was my first time flying on an airplane.  But one event I do remember and that was eating at Molly Murphy's House of Fine Repute. 

     Molly Murphy's House of Fine Repute was started in 1976 in Oklahoma City, Ok.  A second one was built in Tulsa a few years later.  The whole atmosphere was something out of the ordinary.  The waiter/waitress staff was dressed up in costume.  It looked like it was Halloween in this building.  It was such much fun watching different characters walking around, playing the part they dressed up as.  Our server was Raggedy Andy.  I used to have stuffed dolls of Raggedy Ann and Andy so seeing him walk around in person was a real treat. 



I was standing in front of our waiter. 
My brother is just behind me wearing the Bacchus Feast bib.





Here I am again with our server, Raggedy Andy, and my brother.


     In the middle was an old car that was transformed into a smorgasbord of wonderful tasty foods.  There was another salad car (that while doing background on the place I found out was a 1963 red Jaguar XKE) for diners who didn't get the Bacchus Feast could use.  The Bacchus Feast was the meal most people came to the restaurant for.  You had to have at least 4 people in your party to order it.  This wasn't just any regular trip to the buffet either.  You HAD to wear a plastic bib while you ate.  I don't remember exactly what foods they served but I don't remember complaining about anything either.  When you ordered the Bacchus Feast the server isn't quiet about it either.  He chants and yells out that another table ordered the Bacchus Feast and other servers will chime into the chants as well. 

     At one point I had to use the bathroom.  I asked my aunt where it is.  She laughed and said I had to ask the waiter.  The waiter came up and I mentioned I had to use the bathroom.  He shouts out as loud as he could, "POTTY TRAIN!!!!  POTTY TRAIN!!!" 

     Being a kid I thought it was thrilling.  As an adult I can see the embarrassment in it.  Raggedy Andy grabbed me by the hand and started walking me up and down every row of seats shouting out potty train.  Other servers fell in line behind us like a long locomotion all shouting, "POTTY TRAIN!!!!"  The bathrooms where in back of the restaurant so you couldn't use them unless you asked. 

     The restaurant made the top 100 resturants in America.  Sadly, on January 1, 1996 Molly Murphy's closed forever.  Poor managment with money and an arguement with a news reporter made Bob Tayar, the owner, decided to abruptly close. 

     I am glad to have the opportunity to experience a restaurant like this.  Never again have I been there, nor have I came close to a dining experience like this one.