R.I.P. Delorey's

About a year ago, a man who was very dear to my mother and I passed away and left his bar, his home, to his son. Early this morning, that bar, which was very dear to me, my family and my friends, burned to the ground. The bar's name was Delorey's, the man's name was Chuck Delorey, and here's one of my favorite memories of them both.

It was a Friday night about three or four years ago. Friday night meant karaoke and my Uncle Jim tending bar. Naturally, my friends and I could see no reason not to have a drink or twelve, the bar being walking distance from my Mom's house, the Mom working an overnight shift and the gang planning to crash there in her absence.

A little too timid for solos, we started doing ensemble numbers. We did some Beatles and the bar regulars shifted uncomfortably in their seats. We had a couple shots. We did some solos, and the karaoke regulars went to check their place on The List. We had some drinks. We got very, very drunk. The bar patrons looked as though they were planning to stone us. We did a very loud, very drunk rendition of Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.

Chuck: That's it. You're banned.
Me: Banned? From the bar? Are you serious?
Chuck: On Fridays, yes. No more karaoke.
Me: Do we have to leave?
Chuck: Get out of here.
Me: [grumble grumble] Fine, I'll see you at home.