Beer, Bourbon and Memories #SoCS

If we were having a beer, you would be questioning my fashion sense.

“You know, I never realized until today how much I appreciate your wearing a denim shirt or a fleece pullover over your otherwise questionable clothing choices.”

“I am wearing a fleece pullover.”

“Yes, but you normally have it zipped farther up.”

“I’m showing support for my brother’s alma mater.”

“In other words, ISU beat the stuffing out of WVU on Tuesday and you lost a bet.”

“You could say that.”

“Oooh, I like it when people lose bets. That usually results in purchases from the top shelf.”

“I lost a bet, Cheryl, but not with this old man.”

“Dang, I was hoping to breathe some life into a slow day.”

“Well, I’ll have a Corona, and I’ll buy him a round of whatever he likes.”

“Cheryl, what’s that Bourbon John Howell recommended?”

“Willet – why is that so hard for you to remember?”

“Because he never buys it for himself. I’ve seen him in the package store, buying wine in a box.”

“Number one, I happen to like that wine. Number two, it’s easy to pour, and number three, I enjoy marking time with good friends, with a glass of good Bourbon.”

“Especially…ah, what the heck. Let’s not ruin this afternoon with an old argument.”

“That’s the spirit. One Corona, frosted glass and a freshly cut lime wedge.”

“And…”

“…I know, your Bourbon ensemble is coming right up.”

“I wasn’t going to complain, but could you toss a couple of cherries in there?”

“Seriously? I mean, yes ma’am.”

“I know, but I like cherries and I don’t often get the chance to have them.”

“Here you go, Willet, with three cherries, a glass of ice and a snifter of seltzer on the side. I’d ask if you wanted to order food, but I’m not sure where I’d put the plate.”

“You’re sweet, Cheryl. Thank you.”

“You guys are my best customers, whatever keeps you coming in that door.”

“I know I’ve asked you before, but why the switch to Corona?”

“I decided to drink Corona in February as a way of remembering my sister-in-law.”

“That’s right. Do you think she’d understand your drinking a beer in her honor?”

“Yes, I do. Barb liked it when people were enjoying themselves and she liked Corona. I think she preferred Rolling Rock, but we can’t get that up here.”

“Rolling Rock. Interesting choice for a girl from Iowa.”

“Well, she was from Pittsburgh originally.”

“So why not Iron City?”

“I think they moved to Iowa before IC Light was invented. Rolling Rock was the milder choice in Pittsburgh in the 70s.”

“In other words, Iron City is awful.”

“It’s not that bad. I grew up on that stuff.”

“What was the drinking age in Pennsylvania?”

“21, but if you went into a bar and ordered a ‘draft’ they would pour you an Iron without much fuss.”

“That probably didn’t matter. It’s not like there were a lot of good beer choices back then.”

“Schlitz, Pabst, Miller and Budweiser.”

“Did you guys have Schaefer?”

“Maybe. I remember the ‘one beer to have when you’re having more than one….’ jingle. We had Duquesne – ‘Have a Duke’ – I still have a coaster from the bar where my father tended bar.”

“Your father tended bar?”

“He did, Cheryl.”

“Is that why you’re so nice to bartenders?”

“Not entirely. He raised us to be nice to everyone. But sitting at a bar does remind me of him.”

“Did that bar serve food?”

“Slim Jims and Pickled Eggs.”

“Eeeww.”

“Actually, it was a bar and grill, but the bar was open much later than the restaurant.”

“Well, your next Corona is on me, for Barb and for your dad.”

“Thanks Cheryl. I’ll take care of the old man’s next Bourbon, and you can toss in an order of wings.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks for the Bourbons. 1970s…had wings made it to Pittsburgh yet?”

“Maybe but you would have needed a bucket of them. You could probably still order chicken in wholes, halves and quarters, back then.”

“With a side of fries?”

“Yes, maybe onion rings, maybe fried mushrooms.”

“But no Bourbon.”

“Well, maybe a shot and a beer.”

I told the voices they had to behave for today’s post. Fortunately, Linda G. Hill gave us a flexible Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. Click that link if you want to join in, or just see the other entries:

“Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is ‘in other words.’ Use the phrase at least once in your post. Have fun!”

Also, click here if you want to check in on the latest from Cheryl, the best bartender on the Internet. Some relevant stuff in the gallery, along with the fur kids. If you want to see the captions, click on any to start a slide show.

Extra-Extra – See Cheryl’s response to this prompt. You’ll love it!

WVU and ISU are both in the Big-12 now. If WVU loses, I have to wear this to work. if WVU wins, my brother wears a WVU Tee to Beer Club.

Maddie realized that Broccoli still has some stuffing in his head.

“I’m kinda cold. Do you think you guys could build a fire?”

The fire is humming and MiMi has melted.

I think I’m warm enough now, but you can toss another log on the fire.

Pinky is my favorite toy. Maddie brings it to me when she wants me to sit with her but I don’t want to sit. I can’t refuse.

“I got Pinky. Dad always sits with me when I have Pinky”

This is Lucky’s, but it’s about the size of the place my dad worked.

It’s not Willet, and the ice isn’t on the side, but there are no cherries.

Always best in bar bottles.

Have a Duke!

I’ve had this can since I was in college.