A Pint at Ned’s

Paul bought me a pint of Guinness at Ned’s tonight.  It was brilliant.  Not my first pint of Guinness since arriving here, but certainly the best.  Apparently, it’s not just about how it’s poured but about how it’s left to settle, then topped off properly and allowed to settle one final time.  I think the man behind the bar would have slapped my hand silly if I would have reached for my glass prematurely.  Nothing to worry about, though, because Paul had my back.

I strolled down to Ned’s with my beautiful lady on my arm.  It was dark outside, and the night air was cold.  A hint of the sea was on the gentle breeze.  The wind smelled crips and clean and just a bit salty as we got closer to town.  Light twinkled on the other side of the inlet.  At one point on the way back home, a ferry slid across the black water.  It was a surreal vision.

At Ned’s people were laughing and talking and having a good bit of fun.  A rugby game was on the TV, in the corner.  Nobody really paid attention thought.  Why would you with so much good conversation around you.  Somebody dropped a glass, and beer splattered all around.  A young man rolled his eyes from behind the bar but came out and cleaned the mess all the same.  Nobody chided, nobody cat-called.  Shit happens, even at Ned’s.  Paul ordered the culprit another pint before the young man from behind the bar got to the mess.  

My lady drank a glass of wine while I enjoyed my Guinness.  She talked to some people.  I talked to some people.  Paul ducked out before we could thank him.  We left early because…you know…there’s stuff to do during the weekend.  I cajoled my lady into walking back up the hill.  She wanted to take a cab, but I so love the walk up that hill.  Besides, I just wanted to spend some more time with her, enjoying the view from the hill, the cold night air, and those ephemeral traces of the sea on the wind.

To think I didn’t want to walk into Ned’s because I felt like I didn’t belong.  Maybe I didn’t; maybe I don’t.  And maybe nobody cares.  Maybe all that matters is that you walk into a place like Ned’s and just enjoy the simple pleasure of spending time with other people.  Maybe keeping it simple makes all the difference in the world.

Happiness comes from simplicity.  Few things are as simple as enjoying a pint at Ned’s.