So Dave and I headed out on our Sunday routine around 11:30 and ended up at the recommendation of an acquaintance to try breakfast at Sunnyside Cafe in the beach community of Sunnyside 6 miles from the house. "It's just a hole in the wall, but great food and hashbrowns," he said. So up for our Sunday morning adventure, we went to the roadside cafe across from the most beautiful beaches in the world, and sure nuff, just beyond the door of the flamingo pink house was the hole in the wall cafe created in a space about the size of what was probably a good size living room kitchen combination. It was the perfect example of "Redneck" Riviera style with a wooden counter running in front of the grills and cooking area. Above, the ceiling was clean and white with stippled sheetrock like I watched my granddaddy put in houses when I was a kid. On the sheet metal above the grill and stoves were stickers fun to read like: "Liberalism is giving to others what the rest of us earn," "Don't blame me, I voted for the American," and such. I'm sure you get the picture. And speaking of pictures, anyone could tell the proprietor is an Alabama fan since the opposite wall from the counter honored Bear Bryant with multiple prints, but of course the King himself, Elvis, was represented by a rather nice pencil drawing. Between the counter and the wall celebrating Alabama wth an encased football and a print featuring Joe Namath, were tables and chairs of various shapes sizes that were from grandmother's or maybe great grandmother's yard sale, depending on how old one is. It was a place to be entertained by all the wall effects and the conversations about duck hunting, who knew who from where, and the guy at the end of a community table letting a joke roll now and then. The cook, maybe the proprietor, I'm not sure, wore his baseball cap and a youngster washed dishes over in a far corner. One waitress climbed into a chair to reach the serving tray on top of the refrigerator a spitball throw from where I sat. The other waitress was quick and down home country pleasant taking our orders, mine being a BLT with onion rings since it was already noon and breakfast service ended at 11:a.m., and Dave ordered homemade chicken and rice, which turned out to be a huge chicken breast covered in white rice and buttered rolls. The quaint place was filled when we walked in and a comfortable place to listen to neighborly conversations among those who apparently resided in Sunnyside, to read the wall stickers, and peruse the pencil drawings, quotes on wooden placques like "What we value here most is our sunshine, beach, and beer" And by golly, I couldn't agree more. And it felt good being in a "hole in the wall" where people are just people and humor abounded. And although I am by birth a redneck due to my growing up environment and all, I'm sure no one thought I was as I sat dressed rather pretty with my bright pink ruffle scarf draped around my neck and falling down the front of my nice top over my nice knee pants and wearing a fake pearl bracelet on one wrist and a bracelet of dolphins on the other, (although my diamond rings are very real, my hubby would have it no other way) and with makeup and my hair pinned up all neat and nice. I just like being a classy redneck. I like being comfortable in flipflops, sneakers, cowboy boots, flats or high heels, blue jeans or evening gowns, which makes it a lot of fun to fit in "either/or". There was only one catch when Dave went to pay the bill, Sunnyside Cafe took only cash or checks...all we had was a debit card...but you know, the waitress just smiles and said "we trust you." There's an ATM up the road at the Winn Dixie. But to ensure Sunnyside Cafe we were honest folks, I left Dave at the cafe as collateral while I went to the Winn Dixie. And I played it smart and here's a tip...don't use the blasted ATM, the bank screws you and the ATM screws you for $2 or $3 fees each. Make a purchase like I did, get a bag of chocolate chip cookies for $3.59 and another for free, then go through the checkout, use the debit card and get the cash back that you need. Now had Dave gone to get the cash, he'd just have gone right to that ATM. Anyway, after getting the cash, I returned and paid the bill and learned others were writing checks (but we don't carry checkbooks around anylonger) I went to where the waitress was standing behind a refrigerator door and I poked my head around the side. "I'm back," I told her. She smile, saying "I wasn't worried. You have a nice day."
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