R.I.P. Porky's

This isn't going to be funny, but it is something that's been on my mind.

Porky's Drive-in, one of my favorite childhood restaurants closed recently. It had cheap hamburgers, Friday night fun with classic cars driving up and down University. I was too young to truly know how special it was, but I had a pretty good idea. Something about the wonky 50s roof, the smell of frying oil in the tiny space, and god that Neon sign. That was from an era when you could be showy without being gaudy.

What's going in its place? More housing for the elderly. That's right baby boom generation. You helped create this place and now you're taking it away. Whatever happened to appreciating the past? What's the better aroma: French fries and onion rings, or old person smell?

If there is any consolation coming out of this, it's that the neon sign will be sold and preserved, and the State fair will get a mini-porky's on it. But that's a bit like being told that Johnny Rocket's, or some other faux-50s chain will come in and take its place. Some things can't be remade.

Long live Mickey's diner. Long live Flameburger. But alas, poor Porky's, we hardly knew ye.