(NOTE: I’m traveling as I write this story about the good folks of Ballinger, Texas, a small town in west Texas.)
It’s an ordinary eatery, the kind found in most West Texas towns. The Beefmaster Steak House in
Ballinger is an unassuming place that’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pickup trucks are parked outside and the smell of fresh coffee waits for you inside. The Beefmaster doesn’t pretend to be fancy – just welcoming, with hearty fare on the menu.
(Be sure to click on each photo to see the full sized version.)
Frank is often the first to arrive. The 76 year old retiree from the U. S. Department of Agriculture said he “dropped hankies” on Texas Friday nights for many years until age caught up with him. The mere mention of high school football brings on stories from everyone about the glories of Bearcat football, despite a horrible season last year. When playing arch-rival Winters, there are more people at the stadium than live in the town. Though classified as a 2A school (only 1A schools have fewer students), size does not diminish the importance of football in Ballinger.
Frank is also in charge of “The Coffee Game” today, and he has already written the magic number down
on a napkin. It’s a guessing game of numbers, and the winner is the person who selects the magic number. The “winner” gets to pick up the tab that day. Frank usually waits until he’s fairly certain that everyone who’s going to be there that day has arrived. Then the guessing begins, with each guess carefully written down. As might be expected, the newcomer “won” the Coffee Game, much to the delight of the regulars.
Other regulars join in the crowd – the oldest member at 90, a retired hospital CEO and his wife and the twins who do not look like twins. The senior member no longer runs the Coffee Game – in fact, he doesn’t attend often because he can’t drive, but he’s sure to be there when his daughter visits. Now a retired judge he regales the group with stories of World War II when he taught others to fly at the Army Air Field near Ballinger before departing for Europe himself. He may need a walker, but his mind is sharp and his sense of humor sharper.
Eventually, the group starts to thin, each paying for any food he bought – but leaving the tab for the
coffee for the winner of the Coffee Game to pay. Hilda smiles and chats and wishes them all a good day, knowing she will see each of them tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow’s coffee group – when they’ll solve the problems of the world all over again.
They’re there every morning except Sundays. The attendance varies from three to seventeen, but somebody has been there to drink coffee every day since 1948. Hilda, the waitress, doesn’t bother to ask – she just brings a cup of coffee to each new arrival. Some will eat some breakfast, but the attraction is not coffee, but talk.
It’s an ordinary eatery, the kind found in most West Texas towns. The Beefmaster Steak House in
(Be sure to click on each photo to see the full sized version.)
Frank is also in charge of “The Coffee Game” today, and he has already written the magic number down
Eventually, the group starts to thin, each paying for any food he bought – but leaving the tab for the
Tomorrow’s coffee group – when they’ll solve the problems of the world all over again.
I LOVE this post...it so reminds me of what has gone on in coffee shops in Mission for years. Love the old timers!!
Posted by: JB | July 04, 2010 at 08:07 PM
Lovely narrative about cafe life in small town, Texas. Keep 'em coming.
Posted by: Bruce | July 04, 2010 at 09:34 PM
They must have seen ya comin'. Safe travels my friend, it was a blast as always.
Posted by: Russ | July 08, 2010 at 12:43 PM
Thanks for this. I happened on your site while searching regarding Ballinger's airfield, where my own Grandpa (whom I never met) was a flight instructor. If I make it back to Dallas, I will try to swing over to Ballinger and visit that steakhouse some morning. --Jon
Posted by: Jon | October 01, 2010 at 08:18 PM