Wrinkly Bits
A Blog by Gail Cushman
Uncle Sam!

Gail Decker Cushman

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3 min read

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Nov 11, 2023

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Today is the Marine Corps Birthday and being a Marine, I celebrate its 248 years, unhampered by progress, as some say. The ads repeat, “The Few, The Proud, The Marines,” and those of us who served as jarheads, understand the button-busting pride that accompanies being one of the few, the proud, and always a Marine.

Columbus, Montana, hosts a tiny, boutique sandwich shop, open only about 30 hours a week, known as Uncle Sam’s and I eat there every chance I get. It is a two-woman show, a cook and an owner, who triples as the hostess, cashier, dishwasher, and conversation starter, and sometimes cook. They serve sandwiches, just sandwiches, made with bread, some vegetables, meat and cheeses, as well as mystery sauces that are excellent. I can order a half or a whole sandwich along with freshly made iced tea, and that’s about it, although the menu always offers a side. If you want a burger or fries, you won’t find it here.

Each sandwich is named for a President or founding father, and I personally enjoy the Lyndon Johnson, which is pastrami, Swiss cheese, and sauerkraut on Rye Bread. You can order the President of your choice, the Jimmy Carter (make a wild guess), the Warren G. Harding (a little of everything), or Bill Clinton (a meatball sandwich). A couple non-presidents like Betsy Ross and Benjamin Franklin are available, too. Just reading the menu is delightful, trying to figure out why Betsy Ross doesn’t have any meat and Grover Cleveland is the chicken salad guy. I’ll bet Carol, the owner, has an answer!
The décor in Uncle Sam’s Eatery is, of course, patriotic, the red, white, and blue, everything, flags, and signs and banners all spell American Pride. Her library is admirable, probably a thousand books, all about America. The wall space is covered with paintings of Presidents and American events and the history of America is visible in this tiny eatery Even the bathroom is covered with facts and information that we learned in school, but sometimes have forgotten.

One of the best things about Uncle Sam’s is the camaraderie, people know each other and talk to each other. They look each other in the eye and talk, really talk. You can hear laughter and chatter about everything from the cost of gas to the price of hay to the level of the Stillwater River and when, oh when, will the construction on Highway 78 be finished?

Carol says that when she opened her eatery 25 years ago, offering no hamburgers, no French fries, people told her she would fail, but here she is day in, day out, crowded with people munching on sandwiches, looking a wall of history. You don’t need a reservation (yet), but if you arrive after 11:30 am you might have to wait. Find the sandwich of your choice, and order by name, a Teddy Roosevelt, with extra horseradish or the George Washington, hold the mayo. You’ll love it but leave the Lyndon B. Johnson for me. In the meantime, Semper Fi, Marines!

If you enjoy Wrinkly Bits, please share. Gail’s newest book Murder in the Parsonage is on Amazon. Mark your calendars…Friday, December 8, 6–8 pm…you can meet Cowboy Bob and have your book signed if you want. Potter Winery on Chinden. We hope to see you!