Mrs. Knotts with the Ribniks and Others

***** WARNING: EXCESSIVE NOSTALGIA CONTENT AHEAD. *****

Welcome to what has to be the most well-documented trip to get fried chicken EVER!

A long time ago, it was established that if we were in town on my birthday, January 1, we'd go with Susie and Molly to Mrs. Knotts Chicken Dinner Restaurant down in Buena Park.


(The restaurant's long lines necessitated building rides and attractions for those waiting in line; yes, it became Knotts Berry Farm.)


On January 1, 2005, the Alffs and Ribniks went to Mrs. Knotts. Here is Deacon earlier that day, age 2 (he would turn 3 three weeks later, on 1/22/05).


And just because she's so cute, here's 6 month-old Maren on that day.


So the legendary, epic story about that day is that at some point while we were enjoying our fried chicken, Deacon left the building and made his way, all alone and unsupervised, to the Snoopy Store across the street.


At some point while we were eating, Susie asked where Deacon was. I assumed he was hiding under our large dining table; we started looking under our table, and other diners' tables, to find him. No Deacon. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw 8 year-old Molly bolt out the "EXIT" door to the street. UH-OH. But Deacon was a cautious toddler, not one to take risks or get into very much trouble; I still thought he was in the room.

INDEED, Molly was right, and she caught up with him across the street at the Snoopy Store!

Here is the closest thing that would qualify as photographic evidence of the Incident; Molly and Deacon in the van that evening, getting ready to go back to Burbank.


Well, needless to say, we were all very relieved and THANKFUL to Molly for having good instincts and taking action. She was far more "on it" than Deacon's parents, that's for sure. We'll never live it down.

To complete our nostalgic tale - later that evening, they gave me a cake! All's well that ends well.


Fast-forward to yesterday, July 27, 2014. Technically 9 1/2 years since the Snoopy Store incident.

I hastily made a "Previous Trips to Mrs. Knotts" slideshow, with sappy music, for our enjoyment!


We had a fun ride down - everyone took selfies!


I've never done a blog post with pics from 6 different cameras before!


Joining the Alffs & Ribniks on this Chicken Dinner Odyssey were family friends Elizabeth, currently of Burbank, and Jordan, who is visiting from Denver.


Susie repeatedly asked Deacon and Molly if they'd re-create the Incident; she was met with repeated, emphatic "NO"s from both. Here are Deacon and Susie when we arrived, trying to determine if he's taller than her yet; I think he still has a half-inch to go. Maybe by Thanksgiving?


Enjoying food and fellowship!


We finished our meal and began to make our way back to the car. We had been walking for a minute or two when I looked around and asked, "where's Deacon?" I assumed he was lagging behind.

Everyone started to look around... and then Maren said, "I see him, he's over there."

On the other side of the street, way behind us, casually making his way to the Snoopy Store. The timing was perfect, and he didn't stop or turn to look at us or do ANYTHING to derail the momentum of the joke; he just walked calmly inside the store, which had been his plan all along.

We all began laughing loudly and looking at poor Molly, who sighed, but set off at a slight jog to do her duty.


Deacon and Molly, re-creating Molly's heroic retrieval during the Incident almost 10 years ago!!


And that's the story of the Snoopy Store Incident and comedic re-creation. We'll have to do this every 10 years! I'm putting it on the calendar now.


Thanks to the Ribniks, as always, and to Elizabeth and Jordan for listening to this story over and over again yesterday. You're part of Ribnik/Alff lore now!

UPDATE 3:53 PM 7/28/14
Derek suggested I include this Google Maps aerial view of the Chicken Dinner Restaurant, crosswalk, and Snoopy Store. Here it is!