Traditions.

"The handing down of information, beliefs, or customs from one generation to another."

There have been a lot of events that have been put on hold due to the pandemic and our annual trip to visit the cemetery where my grandparents are laid to rest was also put on hold. With the increased availability of the Covid vaccine I was glad to hear this annual trip (that we now considered a tradition) could be resumed and we could once again go.

Cemetery visits are always a somber reminder of those that lived and are no longer with us, but it also serves to remind us to live our lives fully and without regret. It's amazing how many different ways people are able to remember deceased loved ones and pay their respects. Flowers, cleaning up the grave stones, silent conversations, and so on. It seems everyone finds peace at the graveyard.

The Silver Grill.

One of the tastier traditions we participate in is the annual trek to a Leicester, MA food staple called "Hot Dog Annie's". My dad would boast of taking dates to a "restaurant" (a term used loosely here) called The Silver Grill. His dates would think with a fancy name like that they too should dress fancy and would put on their best dresses expecting a sit-down restaurant dining experience. What they received was a trip to Hot Dog Annie's.

Hot Dog Annie's is a staple of Worcester, MA (Leicester is the official home of this establishment according to my GPS), and has been around for approximately 70 plus years, serving its iconic hot dogs to thousands of hungry travellers. The stories told about this place and how good the hot dogs were finally put to rest when I was finally able to experience this storied establishment a few years back, and since then we've been going back year after year.

The first thing a person sees is the little red shack. This is where the magic happens. A simple in one end and out the other building with a generous counter, it gets the job done. Every time we've dropped in for a visit, there are always four ladies behind the counter hustling to get everyone's orders out. Orders that range from the plain wiener in the bun to the exotic "Everything Plus" (a hotdog with onions, relish, mustard, ketchup, and BBQ sauce), and hardly anyone orders just one hotdog! Our typical order is two hot dogs each, and this year was the first time we got to experience their house root beer (very refreshing and can compete with the bigger brands!). Outdoor picnic style seating is a popular option on fair weather days and eating in ones car in the ample parking lot is another.

Inheritance.

Traditions hold a special place in my heart, because they are passed down from family member to family member, but they are also backed with tales and experiences that people care enough to share. If these shared memories are the only things I have that are passed down from my living relatives then I consider myself rich beyond my imagination. There is nothing more precious in the world than to be able to share experiences with loved ones and help those that have passed before us continue a legacy.

I hope to someday be able to experience some wild adventure at one of my parents childhood haunts and share that with other family members, and possibly continue the traditions passed down to me.

Now that's a pretty deep thought surrounding a hot dog stand, and all this philosophical talk is making me hungry. If you don't mind I'm going back for seconds. Care to join me?