Uncle Buck’s is our local watering hole, my three sisters and I, for girls’ night out. When I lived on the south side of Ottumwa it was three houses down my ally. Deb, Marion, Marj and I could walk down the cinder path in under ten minutes, and there was no need for a designated driver.
Uncle Buck’s in Ottumwa, Iowa is the first thing that comes to mind when an Irish Pub is mentioned. Before it was Uncle Buck’s it was called Hooligan’s. All of the local “watering holes” will be getting in the mood for Saint Patrick’s Day any minute now, but when we think Irish around here, we all still think Uncle Buck’s.
Uncle Buck’s has Guinness on tap, and although I have passed my faded Guinness t-shirt onto my younger son, Ian, I’ll have you know, I’ve owned one at one time. I’ve worn it to sing Karaoke on a Saturday night with my three sisters at the local pub. If I remember right, we sang “Going to the Chapel,” because, thanks to the generation gap, we don’t always know the same hit songs. I’m seventeen years older than my youngest sister, but the older you get, the less such things really matter. She’s a teacher. I’m a teacher. We have a lot in common.
For the teetotalers, I just want to share, you haven’t really lived until you’ve had a mug of green beer. (I like red beer. Actually red beer is my favorite, but in honor of St. Paddy’s Day, I’ll tip a mug or two of the green.) I respect everybody’s right to abstain from any kind of alcohol at all, though. Uncle Buck’s serves a great tenderloin and coke.
Uncle Buck’s is getting ready to get the Saint Patrick’s Day decorations out and deck the halls. Be ready for a fun time to be had by all. We have a lot of talent in this town, and they show up to sing Karaoke at Uncle Buck’s on a regular basis.
This particular night when my sisters and I were having our night out on the town, we were slipping and sliding back down my ally when we suddenly noticed Marj was flat on her back on the ground. She may have had a beer or two too many, but we let her blame it on the ice. She was loose enough at the time I don’t think she even suffered any aches or pains the next day.
We’ll be having another girls’ night out one of these days, and we have fond memories of those spent at Uncle Buck’s. We’re looking forward to making some new ones.