Nashville Eye

Election season is upon us. I've started getting lots of campaign literature in the mail trying to convince me why I should vote for this or that candidate. Many of them include a little bio of the candidate and usually finish with where the candidate attends church.

I find this to be a curious bit of information and assume that the revelation is meant to indicate something about the candidate. What, I'm not sure.

But then, I think maybe where we go does indeed reveal a lot about who we are. Put simply, it's not who we are or what we like but where we are and where we like it. So here are some things about me that might help you as you make your decision to vote for me or talk to me or buy my record or read this or whatever. Written in the third-person of course:

Joe Pagetta lives just outside of Nashville in Brentwood. He shops at Harris Teeter because they always have fresh Rappini and the brand of crushed tomatoes that he likes. He drinks coffee at Panera Bread, enjoying the free refills and wireless. When in Nashville, he enjoys Bongo Java or Fido and especially likes the Sumatra blend, always black with no sugar. If finding himself at a Starbucks with a few extra bucks, he likes a grande no-fat latte with a couple of Splendas. In fact, come to think of it, he'll drink coffee just about anywhere.

The coffee at the BP station is fairly palatable, and they'll give it to you for free if it has been sitting there for awhile.

In the summer, he dines at Bobbie's Dairy Dip on a cheeseburger and a root beer float. Yummy! For books, if not in a hurry, he checks Amazon first but shops at Davis-Kidd and Borders as well. Rhino's got some great stuff for the book collection he maintains. He drinks and eats at the Family Wash in east Nashville frequently.

He gets his dry cleaning done at Brentwood Cleaners but used to go to Village Cleaners before he moved. He has no loyalty to either Home Depot or Lowe's, going to whichever he's closer too, but he tries to shop at ACE hardware whenever he can, though he sometimes thinks the people there don't like him. Wow, Target has some great stuff.

Joe Pagetta bikes at Crocket Park and enjoys walking around Maryland Farms. Speaking of Maryland Farms, Joey's House of Pizza is the best. Joe Pagetta eats there. He also prefers Jersey Mike's subs. He likes the No. 4 dressed up Mike's Way, but for some reason it's not on the menu board anymore. You have to ask for it. Bring back the No. 4!

I could go on like this, but I'm hoping this is enough information to help you in your decision. I could include information on the music I listen to or the books I read or the shows I watch, but that's not important. The important part is WHERE I buy the books I'm reading, right? Or borrow them, which is usually the Downtown or Edmondson Pike branch of the public library.

Or where I get the music I'm listening too, which is either iTunes, Tower Records or Grimey's, although I sometimes get self-conscious at Grimey's, afraid someone is going to ask me about some obscure band I've never heard of or criticize a record I'm looking for or purchasing.

But now I've revealed an insecurity, haven't I? Something that goes deeper than where I shop for goods and services. I should stop writing now.

I hope this information is of use to you. You can now make an educated decision as to whether I'm the guy for the job. If you're a Home Depot person, you can't be certain about me. I waffle. If you're a Kroger or Publix person, I believe our values may differ. Get your books at Barnes & Noble? I'm afraid we see the world completely differently.

Now ... if you drink coffee, just about anywhere on the planet, we have something in common. I am clearly your man. We share the same values and worldview, and you can feel comfortable putting your trust in me. Thanks for your vote. See you around town. •