BEER
by Blaise Miller

     Ummmmm . . . . . . Beer. I like the sound of that. Beer . . . . . . . Yes Please! Golden frothy love. I’ll take the tallest one you got. True! Beer is good. Beer is something that is meant to be enjoyed. The nectar of the gods, sort a thing.

     The other day I was thinking over a nice cold one, outside in the wilderness. The wilderness you ask, yeah the wilderness. Trees and such, thinking life is good and it really can’t get any better than this - well maybe if those damn mosquitoes would stop biting me. I have sweet skin. Anyway . . . . . Beer. Beer. I had my first beer when I was ten. Ten years old, I was tough. I had the first big wheel on the street. I remember how horrible it tasted. It took me until college to really appreciate beer. Milwaukee’s Beast, tastes like water and goes down just as smooth. We used to drink those like soda, we were definitely tough. Beer was everywhere in college - - beer signs, beer shirts, beer posters, beer chicks, beer hats, beer ornaments on your Christmas tree. I mean you are at college to study something but for most people beer was the source of examination, experimentation and questioning. Cans or Bottles? It’s a tough call. Beer was what the social circuit was centralized around. The weekend freaking started on Wednesday, some kind of hump day thing.

     And when you graduate into the workforce things don’t change all that much. You work 8 to 5, pay bills and have a whole hell of a lot to worry about. Maybe things do change a little but there is still a weekend. People’s idea of social activity is still drinking beer. The multitude of bars are packed, lines are out the door, people will pay a cover charge to drink and pay $4.00 and up for “a” beer. Tons and tons of people across the nation in cities, towns, wherever. Rushing to their local watering hole to be social. I mean c’mon there is nothing more social then going to a bar with your friends filled with a bunch of strangers. It’s social. Seems even like the whole week is centered around the weekend- the middle between weeks. Friday is the light at the end of the tunnel. The time to let loose, drink beer. Maybe this doesn’t apply to everyone but many people look forward to popping the top of a coldie at 5:30 on a Friday, and then heading downtown where it doesn’t stop flowing until last call.

     I often think there has got to be something else for the masses to do on the weekend. There are people that choose to live a healthy lifestyle, I would personally like to meet them. Maybe it’s the atmosphere that we have surrounded ourselves with. Do you ever ask why you go out and drink for entertainment? It’s fun, its what our age group is supposed to do, might as well do it while you can, the beer commercials are funny. They sound like excuses for something that can become a problem. Now, I’m not casting judgement because I am as guilty as the next. It is just something to think about. Everything in moderation is what I heard growing up. Sometimes things don’t sink in until later, but we choose our own path. This beer commercial is over, so be responsible, friends don’t let friends drink and drive, I do not condone illegal underage drinking and I am not a role model. Late.

     Helpful Hints: Things to do on the weekend besides beer

          A movie - - Cinema and Draft House

          Hiking - - Tap the Rockies

          Sporting Event - - Gotta have a beer at the game

          Bowling - - They have beer

          The Beach - -Corona with a lime

          Putt-Putt - - Bring a flask

          Take 5 Show - - Definitely have to be drunk for them to be funny.

          Diner - - Legend on tap?

          Golf - - Drown your sorrows.

7/2k1