Manci's

Well, friends....my daughters and I finally went to Manci's in Daphne for lunch. I've always heard their food was good, so today was the day to find out for myself.

We had the sweetest waitress who was on top of her game. She was very kind to the girls and even complimented them on their manners. She told me she would take them anytime over some of the children she'd waited on before.

After our meal, Liv took Marilyn to the ladies room. When she came back, Liv smiled and whispered, "There was a statue of a naked man in there. All he had was a fig leaf. Marilyn kept asking me what it was." I smiled and told her the joke about the nun in the ladies room that lifted the fig leaf to take a quick peek...and when she came out of the bathroom, the whole place cheered. (When she looked under the fig leaf, the lights blinked, letting the whole place know what she'd done.)

Next, Ava and I went in and luckily Ava wasn't as interested as Marilyn. I was so temped to look, but too chicken about what the consequences might be. On my way out, I admitted to our waitress I was so tempted to lift the fig, but chickened out. She giggled, and send me right back in there: "Oh, honey, you can't come to Manci's and not take a peek...go ahead!" With Ava hot on my heels back in the bathroom, I bit my lip and slowly started to lift the fig leaf. I bet I didn't get it lifted a centimeter when the LOUDEST ALARM(slash)SHIP WHISTLE(slash)FIRE STATION BELL screamed out filling the bathroom AND entire restaurant!!! I hollered and laughed...then had to face all the people still left in the restaurant. Of course, they were all staring and smiling -- obviously they'd peeked at least once, too. Our waitress said smiling, "It rings outside the building, too." It scared Liv, Marilyn and Ava...then I had some explaining to do once we made it back to the car.

So, if y'all ever go to Manci's, and you've got the guts, LIFT THE LEAF!

--dpg