Comments on: The Best Reason to Drink with Old Guys

By: Ex-Restaurant Manager

Ex-Restaurant Manager — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:17:43 +0000

Refugee, that reminds me of when I was in England while serving in the Air Force. I was staying in a small Inn that had a bar downstairs. I gravitated to a small group of men who played dominoes every Monday. They were aged 45ish, 60ish, and 70ish while I was 25ish (hard to tell their age, they’re not preturnaturally aged by the sun like us Yanks).

I enjoyed their banter immensely. They loved us Yanks because of the Great War and were lovely hosts. I learned SO much from them and treasure my 4 months there.

Thank you for your service, and for sharing that story. I hope that we are all encouraged by it to reach a bit outside our usual wheelhouses when given an opportunity.

By: k8

k8 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:02:20 +0000

It makes me cry, mostly.

I may or may not have had a similar reaction in that moment.

By: Gofahne

Gofahne — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:23:31 +0000

You make me want to talk to more strangers and pay more tabs. Love this!

I am a huge fan of talking to strangers. For every time the practice has caused me grief, there have been ten times that it has caused a smile, a friendship, a good story or some other immeasurable benefit.

By: Jay Dell

Jay Dell — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:55:31 +0000

Thanks.

I’ve enjoyed your writing for quite a while.

As a veteran (and military retiree…) who rarely conforms with the Dem hating, “stuck in the cold war” attitude of many of my military peer group, it’s a breath of fresh air to read something like this.

Jay, thank you first and foremost for your service.

I was truly stunned by the simple elegance of that statement.