Madden Gracy is hungover. She doesn't appear any worse for the wear though. That's because she's young. They say youth is wasted on the young which may be true unless the youth in question is wasted.
We joke but let's face it- when you're in your twenties and working on Block Island for the summer you're most likely going to attend a few parties. And while we certainly don't make light of the problems that can come with the consumption of too much alcohol on a too frequent basis, there is something to be said for sewing some wild oats when you're young.
And Madden has sewn some oats and come out unscathed. For the most part. These days, she's an editor living a professional life in Silver Springs, Maryland. And ever since her Grandparents (Jack and Helen Lynch) built a house on Block Island in the 1980's, Madden and her Mom always had a place to stay when they weren't working in the island's summer service industry or sewing oats.
That all changed though when the Lynches sold their island home a few years back essentially leaving Mother and Daughter to pound sand like so many others looking for suitable summer housing. Luckily, they did and celebrated with Pinot Grigio and Cucumber Vodka.
Much of this episode revolves around Madden's experiences working at the Oar. We discuss how the tough love dished out by her boss ended up teaching her some valuable life lessons. We also discuss the scene at the now infamous Race Week Tent and...well...we pretty much talk a bunch of smack about it. Sorry, not sorry.
We learn that NOBODY gets special treatment when it comes to the wait list for a table at the Oar (the wait can be hours-long in peak season). Not even the daughter of a former U.S. President. We also talk about the dangers of a mudslide/clam chowder diet and the intense vetting process for those seeking to have their own decorated oar hung up in the rafters.
But mostly we talk about the ins and outs of surviving as a server and provide some helpful hints to those who seek to dine out on Block Island. Spoiler alert- don't NOT tip.
Along the way we also randomly discover that Rich is 6.25% Jewish.
So put down that mudslide and hit, "PLAY", Cap'!