Post #356729 by dwig on Wed, Jan 23, 2008 9:12 AM

I just wanted to post a few words about growing up in the Aku Tiki room. My brother and I were fortunate enough to call the 'Farm' home for much of our childhood. The place remains one of my most endearing childhood memories.

We knew the 'Farm' from when Glen still lived in the little red house attached to the restaurant and were there when the new home was built.

The restaurant had distinct stages for my brother and and I, and my mother as well.

Very young, the Aku-Tiki room was a place that held a mystique. It had smells that I can still recall today.

The actual tikis scared the hell out of us and were a vivid part of our nightmares and were places where army men and matchbox cars would wind up. More than once we were scolded for leaving them in the mouth or in the displays.

Being little tykes, we were always 'exploring' the place. The bar in the tiki room always had a presence to it. You could feel it. The rubber mats behind the bar were usually just on the sticky side from the fountain sodas and in those days a lingering smell of smoke permeated. The real neat thing was the UV lights, the tikis and that room in particular when there was nobody there. It was spooky quiet except for the sound of the water coming out of the mouth of that tiki.

We used to pull out that wonderful toast garlic bread like candy and watch 'the boy's' making those wonderful steaks. The buffet was always a treat as well.

I had my first dance there (older girls from weddings :wink: ) stole a few kisses from when I worked there in my teens visiting and it is so much a part of my childhoold from birth to my early twenties that it pains me to see it go.

When I would visit, Glen would always pinch my gut (even if I was in great shape and I usually was) to make sure I was taking care of myself. He had a great sense of humor and will be sorely missed.

I do have to say that the 'Farm' was always a great place because of the people who worked there. It has always been a reflection of the combination of personalities that were involved and had stages of life like any person.

Carol, I plan to visit next time I am in town. I hope you and your family are doing well.

That phone number is iconic. "Andris Wa-nee faaarm, may I help you"

[ Edited by: dwig 2008-01-23 09:28 ]