while i was driving back from the lake a shooting star dropped from just above my head and dripped down the left side of the windschield.  i didn’t have to think hard to know what to wish for.  the words were coming out of my mouth -out loud- before i had a thought.  as i entered the town and passed the local bars on main street, i felt the urge to stop in for a drink.  i’ve never been in solon at night, so why not check out the only place there is action – the towny bar?  i pulled a u-turn and parked the 88 saab on main street, literally right in front of the door to the bar.

when i entered, every one of the nine middle-aged patrons as well as the bartender paused for a second to see if i was one of their friends.  a regular.  after they noticed i wasn’t they all went back to their drinks and conversation.  well, i take that back, when i entered the bar there was one guy that didn’t skip a beat – he was standing on the lower rung of his chair, proudly singing over CCR on the juke box.  bob was getting the party started with some karaoke of his own.

i think some people might be a little taken aback at this entrance and develop a self aggrandizing paranoia that they are being judged.

i took a seat at the one open bar stool at the end of the bar, next to bill.  ‘miller lite please’, i requested the bar tender after taking note everone perched on the bar had miller lite bottle, or wine for the wives.  the bar tender and i made small talk for a bit, the older guys behind kept the tunes pumping with Johnny Cash, Allman Brothers, while others shared stories about yoga, golf, and their kids’ sports and graduatoin.  many took a break from their conversation to join in unison to sing along with the song climax.  i wasn’t sure how i was going to be received.  i’m a college age guy with a hoody and a stocking cap and a couple of chipped front teeth, due to  a recent biking accident.  i sipped my beer and watched the end of tebow’s college career as florida demolished sad-story cincinnati.  my gaze was fixed awkwardly on the flat screen in the corner.

before i knew it i learned a lot about the past 8 yars of bills life, the guy not much over the hill, sitting next to me.  an east coaster who fell in love with a beautiful iowan -annie- which has landed him in iowa.  he’s a painter who enjoys golf,  with a simple viewpoint:  ‘just live life up.  have all the fun you can have.’  i believe it’s the mantra he lives by.  you can tell he’s madly in love with life, with his wife.  as i got to know this couple, i kept picturing bill interacting with my dad and his brothers.  after i listened to her humorous care-free perspective in a story about being the “chubby older lady” at yoga classes i n iowa city, annie landed a new years day kiss on my cheek as she and bill departed for the night.  before i knew it i was introduced to the entire group around the bar, one by one.

truth is, they just want to get to know you, learn your story, and have a good time while you’re together.  if you’re willing to open up, step out of your own shell, you’ll make friends that will never turn their back.  sure, you have to get over the innocent questoins like ’what’s your name’ and then the ‘what’s your last name’ that surely follows, and of course the ‘where are you from?’  they’re just trying to see if you’re related to anyone from the town, or maybe even county in some parts of the state.  it might be easy for someone from the city to feel they are prying.  in the words of bill, the guy sitting next to me, who moved here 8 years ago from trenton, nj, slurring every word, ‘you go to say hi to a person at the supermarket in jersey, and they look at you like what the fuck do you want?  never interested in conversatoin.’

we carried on for a while, the crowd getting rowdier, everyone singing louder.  when a slower tune by, you guessed it, garth brooks came on the juke box bill was not in the mood for a downer song, he wanted to rock out.  he was having a good time, making us laugh, booing the song, belting out ‘sweet caroline’ lyrics over the top of garth.  the bartender was solemn, told bill not to ruin the song.  the song is a powerful and an emotional song that carries meaning for manydifferent people, usually associated with life’s ending.  bill didn’t get it at first, he was joking around with others, but then all of the sudden stopped and asked the bartender why she liked the song.  ‘it’s the song they played at my sister’s funeral’ she coyly replied.  bill turned into a teddy bear, asking her what she loves about the song.  she said the song is an encouraging reminder to live life to the fullest.  ‘you’re doing it, aren’t you?  you’re living life to the fullest, having a good time’ bill raised his drink, turns to me – ‘that’s what life’s all about, living it up.’  the bartender smiled, and gave a nod.  cheers.  you could see in the bartenders eyes and dropped bottom lip that life used to be more full.

when i went to leave, my tab was only the price of one beer.  the bartender kindly replied, $2.25, after i asked her for my tab.  i thought she was joking.  she had written four tally marks next to ML on her carbon copy tab book.  the bar tender simply said yeah, they bought you a couple of rounds.  i had no idea.  i thanked them all for the beers, wished them all a happy new year.  the bar tender extended her hand, ‘nice to meet you, reuben’, she validated with a firm shake, nod, smile.  ‘nice to meet you’, others said, ‘good luck going abroad’  they told me to come back when i get a chance, if i come up here ice fishing.  “drive safe.”