The military personnel and recruits who come through the USO office at O’Hare International Airport are any combination of the following: hungry, world weary or just looking for a familiar sight. During the routine restocking of kitchen supplies and sandwich making, an enlisted man asked me about having a hot dog. I readily complied with the usual question: “One or two?”
He hesitated, and I urged him to go ahead and have two. I prepared them and provided some mustard and pickle relish, if needed, then went back to the tasks at hand.
He meekly asked for ketchup, to which I replied, “Of course, not! In Chicago, we don’t use it on hot dogs! It’s just not done!”
I had him for just a second, then laughed and went to get the ketchup. He was from Texas and wasn’t familiar with our no-ketchup rule.
