Temper Fi

Fred and Bill are in town for a visit and it's becoming a tradition on these visits that we make a pilgrimage to our local watering hole,  Bamboo Bernie's.   Bernie's has a nice patio bar which has become a favorite place for them to cool their heels and get their drink on.

We (Fred Bill and Myself) went there last night to have a cocktail and enjoy the local flavor.  Because it was a Sunday night it wasn't crowded so we were able to bellie up to the bar with no problem.  The outside bar is a rectangle with stools around three of the 4 sides and friendly young bartendress (her name escapes all of us, Fred insists it's Pam).

We were enjoying our first drink as the evening air cooled and started to chat with the older man on the short side of the bar where he was having one of that days many Budweiser long necks.  I don't know how it came up but he told us he'd been a marine in his younger days and had been discharged after serving 9 months because he'd ben shot.  We all gave him an atta boy and returned to flirting with Pam.

The subject of marines perked up the ears of a younger guy who was sitting across the bar and he came over to talk with his comrade because he to had served and was discharged after 12 years.  It must have been about 2 Buds later (the younger guy was drinking Corona with a splash of grenadine??) when the older ex marine said something in our direction about how he bet we'd never be willing to get shot for our country.  Fred, being Fred and loving a good argument, flatly said that no, he wouldn't fight and/of die for his country.

This was not the right answer.  Aside from being a drunken marine, this guy was also a redneck and he instantly took offense that we we're willing to die for the greatest country on earth.  Now I've known Fred a long time  and I can honestly say that I would sleep a lot better knowing that he was not out there fighting because I can tell you from past experience that he would only make things worse.  Case in point, he was pressing the buttons of sergeant psycho just to be contrary.

Luckily for us, as the older marine was getting more and more pissed, his younger comrade deftly moved the empty  beer bottle out of his reach.  I firmly believe that had he not done so, that bottle would have shortly made its way to our side of the bar.  I'm betting he would not have been able to strike his intended target (Fred) because he was too drunk, but I sure there would have been collateral damage (Bill or myself who were sitting on either side of Fred).

Things settled down shortly there after and we told the guys that we did truly did appreciate their service and sacrifice.  More beer was consumed and toasts were made to the greatest country on earth.  It turned out the the younger marine had served as part of a sniper team and was also discharged after being shot.  The day he was shot he also had his best friend die in his arms.  He's a carpenter now like his new role model Jesus Christ.

Blessed be the peace keepers.