Different Things to Different People

As adults, we hear the phrase "Gentlemen's Club," and it means something distinctly different than a congregation of nattily dressed men---surely with English accents---enjoying civilized, good-natured company. For our eight-year-old twins, undoubtedly that visual's the first picture in their delightfully naive mind(s).

My daily parking spot (of my own choosing) for work is a few blocks from the office...flanking one such neon-labelled "Gentlemen's Club." The occasional syringe or prophylactic peppers the lot; but the monthly price is fair, and the short jaunt to and fro provides a mini-dose of much-needed exercise.

Last week, we took advantage of the pre-paid parking and met much-loved friends for a day stroll and dinner downtown. Upon departure early that Saturday evening, a couple of enthusiastic bikini-clad ladies (again, term applicability open for discussion) were actively enticing drivers-by to enjoy the "clubhouse" camaraderie.

Sarah (with incredulity): "That is so silly! Look at those girls in swimsuits goofing around and waving in front of a gentlemen's club!"

Thankfully, the magic-markered "Honk If You're Horny" posters were unseen---or illegible---to the four typically all-absorbing eyes in the backseat.

Wednesday night, Double Daddy dropped Sarah and Darren off at the office so I could wrap the night's business and he could go practice with the band. A temperate walk to the car was all that stood between the three of us and our regular rendezvous with the Friendly's Restaurant. Alas, the light went red (humming Roxanne now...) and to the starboard side of our Hyundai Santa Fe? Two suggestively adorned Hummers (no comment) with the "Club's" name and larger-than-life (in more ways than one) images of scantily-dressed girls seemingly enchanted with one another's attractiveness.

Sarah: "Pictures of young girls on the vans for a 'gentlemen's club!' Why do they even need vans?"

Darren (with worldliness): "Sarah, they are using the pictures of the girls to get the men's attention so they'll be interested in the club. When I get bigger, I'm going to join that club."