Big Guy and I were among those lucky enough to celebrate Valentine's Day at White Castle. We enjoyed candlelight, flowers and the attention of two waitresses and the maitre'd. A photographer took our photo. Our favorites were on the menu. Service was fast. And the food was beautifully prepared, with each item served in an individual container. The white plastic tablecloth was an especially nice touch as I knocked over the flower vase. On the day setaside for sweethearts, between 5 p.m. - 8 p.m., dinner at White Castle requires a reservation made several weeks in advance. As the evening was my treat, Big Guy didn't know he would end up at onion-laden, slider burger central. He dressed more for a night of Italian fare on the Hill. White Castle didn't mind. The maitre'd seated us anyway as we had shirts, shoes and, most important, a reservation. Our evening proved a perfect fit for our 30 years together. Paper hearts and crepe streamers hung from the overhead ceiling tiles. Pink and red tissue paper covered the windows. Huge Valentine greeting cards were taped to the walls. Music faded in and out from a boom box. We were part of the final 7:30 p.m. seating. Once the clock hit 8 p.m., the waitresses pulled crepe paper streamers loose from the ceiling, removed tissue paper from the front windows and gathered up the plastic tablecloths. The photographer packed up his photo booth. And two house painters walked in straight from the job. Both looked tired and more interested in sliders than sweethearts. The maitre'd, now suddenly the night manager, encouraged us to stay as long as we liked. But we had commitments to keep. I promised Big Guy dessert, too, an ice cream cone from Dairy Queen.
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