Sophon doesn’t carry ESPN and Thai TV was breaking from early morning soaps to broadcast the Patriots-Giants final game of the year, so I rode my scooter to Donovan’s Sports Bar on 3rd Road, where I had watched the Red Sox win the World Series in October.
Me and a tired Thai waitress.
The entire Red Sox Nation of Pattaya minus my daughter.
It was a little different the Patriots challenge to the 1972 Miami Dolphins’ perfect season, every stool at the bar was taken by a over-50 man nursing a glass of soda water.
I knew the feeling well.
Listless, pounding headache, thick tongue.
Layman’s diagnosis.
Hung-over, but not me.
I had remained home the previous evening, since Pattaya is about 15% over capacity this high season and sitting in most bars is strictly economy class.
So I was sober and might have remained in that condition, except the game was really a game with the Giants threatening to ruin the Patriots’ shot at a perfect season. After the half I ordered a beer, then another and another and another and another, transforming me into a fist-pumping rabid fan for New England.
The owner Steve had a beer and ordered a #1 pizza.
Man, was it good after three beers.
Anchovies, pepperoni, mushrooms, and cheese.
38-35, five beers, pizza, and not even noon.
Drunk and I went home to sleep it off.
A perfect Sunday morning like Johnny Cash’s SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN.
“Well, I woke up Sunday morning with no way to hold my head that didn’t hurt.”
Upon my return home I flopped onto the bed and crashed with the grace of a hypo-shot hippo. 3 hours later I opened my eyes. My head the density of wet wood.
My wife smiled and said, “Som num nah.”
Thais like telling you ‘serves you right’ so I repeated the words.
“On a Sunday morning sidewalk wishing I was stoned.”
Sing it Johnny and I’ll be at Donovan’s for the next Patriots game.
Pizza beer and football.
Donovan’s Sports Bar 394 3rd road across from E-zyte Disco.
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