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October 23, 2004

 11:10 PM - Rockwell & Edmond

This morning was a quintessentially hometown experience. Firstly, we went downtown to open up a checking account with the oldest bank in Edmond. Turns they have two downtown locations, one of which is open on Saturdays - guess which one we chose first.

Of course, everything in downtown Edmond is within walking distance of everything else, was an unseasonably pleasant morning so we went a walking. It seems that the downtown stores have survived in a WAL*MART town by following a two-pronged strategy of specialization and price gouging. There was one empty storefront, however. (I wonder what will take its place.)

The bank building itself can only be described as ultramodern, which is of
interest as the original building (which still houses the bank's executive
offices) is one of the oldest standing structures in town. The fellow in
charge of new accounts asked us where we'd heard of them and I replied
that the history books written about our town always make mention of Citizens
State Bank. This took him aback a bit, as did the fact that we opened an account with a check for five figures.

After leaving the bank, we strolled on down to the Around the Corner Restaurant, a hometown greasy spoon which may have been more aptly named the “Kitsch Kitchen,” if only the proprietors had had the necessary perspective and sense of self-deprecating humour. That place makes Cracker Barrel look like an unadorned and bleakly corporate fast food joint - truly, it must be seen to be believed. Hardly a square decimetre of the walls is to be found sporting mere wallpaper, for all available surfaces have been covered with Americana gathered over the last ¾ of the 20th century.

Anyone who has known me for awhile knows that I've a particular weakness for Norman Rockwell's America, so I was pleased to find such a quaint little place nestled comfortably in my own hometown. I had feared that Michael Wallis was correct in claiming that Edmond lacks Rt-66 flavour, but it seems he must have missed downtown entirely when he made the turn south on to Broadway from westbound 2nd street.

After finishing off a consummately American breakfast of eggs, toast, and corned beef hash, and after enduring a few pointed stares from the regular patrons, my family and I scuttled along to my mother-in-law's to enjoy another Sooner rout. Hometown banking, cooking, family, and football. Can Saturday get any more Rockwellian?


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