Chapter 20 – Fly Me to the Moon

Lazo's Taco Shack – 641 N. James Lovell St., Milwaukee

There was another blizzard, for the second Saturday in a row, and because I'm someone who says he likes the snow (I actually do), I had to put my money where my mouth is and go out in the driving wind, on the icy walkways, through the drifts and slush, and put a taco where my mouth is (so to speak). This time I went to the Central Library, on Wisconsin (unread books were due), and I checked out DVDs in case it kept on snowing for three weeks. Then headed for this new place my google map located, called Lazo's, which is a few doors off Wisconsin on James Lovell Street—named after the astronaut who, like me, is from Ohio but relocated in Milwaukee. It's called Shack, which is funny, since it's new, a little design-y, and doesn't resemble a shack at all. Upon entering, I panicked a little and asked if I could sit at a “low” chair—as opposed to the high chairs—there are both. I'm glad places have both—but I don't know who can sit at those high ones—giants, I suppose. I could have eaten those chips and salsa all day, fresh, citrus-y, onion-y, cilantro-y. I had two tacos, carnitas and al pastor—and it was the perfect lunch. I felt that not over-ordering (and thus overeating, as in three tacos, rice, and beans) was a major coup in judgment. One of the owners asked how I heard about the place, told me how they've been working on it awhile. The spot used to be a Subway, when the Badger Bus was next door. Every time a Subway closes, an angel gets his/her wings. In a world that seems like it's turning to shit daily, what fills your heart with song more than stopping in a new, privately owned taco restaurant where the people are nice and the food is delicious? In other words, life-affirming.