Lemon Meringue Pie at Lucille and Otley's

This one gets around a lot.

I think I actually have three specimens of this card!

This must have caught on and become some sort of cult classic of cardiana.

I'm fairly certain the poet Robert Gregory (who I do believe lives in the state where the restaurant is located) sent me this card.

And I received another from someone else (don't think it was a literary figure).

This third I found in Middletown, PA, at Saturday's Market (giant rural indoor/outdoor flea market and farmer's market that's been going for decades).

I'm guessing Lucille and Otley have passed on into the great beyond by now since this card is date stamped 1959 and has its 3 cent stamp cancelled with the six old wavy lines.

The short note is addressed to Colonel & Mrs. Blizzard, who at that time resided in Ocean City, New Jersey.

It reads, "On our vacation--at present visiting in Delray Beach. So far we have had perfect weather. Best regards from The Hagers."

A thoroughly original message, as you can see.

I'm not quite sure why postcard companies didn't have print pre-written postcards (with fake handwriting reproduced convincingly).

They would just need the 1) "Weather beautiful. Wish you were here." and the 2) Unfortunately it's rained the whole time. Just our luck!"

And they would have ninety-nine percent of us covered.

Of course, I'm going to go Google this now to see what comes up, and see if either Lucille, Otley or both of them are still kicking.

And if the restaurant lives on.

It was located at S. Federal at 10th Avenue in Boynton Beach, Fla.

Notice how they used to abbreviate names of states?

You just stopped writing wherever you wanted, whenever your hand got tired, and put a period there.

My state was often written as "Penna." That was before draconian two letter abbreviations became the rule.

I think sometimes my Mom still writes "Calif." on some of her correspondence to her sister who lives there.

Oh, just in case they are still serving this wonderful pie....

"Serving 5 to 8 P.M.--Sundays 12 to 8 P.M. Closed Mondays."

Clearly Lucille and Otley had lives outside of the restaurant.

I think people love this card so much because 1) the hideous aesthetic of the photo 2) the Verboten and wrong-headed inclusion of blackness, the Void which lingers just beyond all lemon meringue pie and 3) the awareness of what's really important in life.

I salute the designer of this card.

That would be Charles Justus Wick, who resided or had his studio at 27 S.E. 4th Ave, Delray Beach, Fla.

Back in the day.

Here it is at Cardcow.com and they want fifteen simoleons for it. That's an expensive slice of pie!

Pie for sale!

And surprise surprise!

I think the restaurant's still there. Well, it was in 1997 and it's sort of become legendary.

While Lucille and Otley retired in 1975, it continues to be a family business and continues to delight customers.

And the hours have virtually never changed! It's still noon to eight on Sundays!

They serve a "high tea," which is a vanishing ritual.

You can read all about the venerable restaurant's history here:

And the meringue goes on...