We had a few couples over last weekend for a belated ringing in of the New Year. A second annual sharing of resolutions & hopes for the coming year, lots of levity & storytelling, and a few rousing rounds of the party game "Apples to Apples." On top of other snacks & beverages, I was happy to provide a nice selection of quality craft beer from which our guests could choose. However, I made sure to tuck away a Schell's Firebrick Ale & Schell's Pale Ale, as I was not going to finish off my sampler pack without trying a couple of those notable and well-regarded brews.
I actually started the evening with a Firebrick, and it was wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that I finished it in short order and moved on to my Pale Ale. Also wonderful. One of my guests brought over a six pack of his favorite beer, Harp Lager, and made me an offer of one, to which I acquiesced. Suddenly, I was buzzing.
Understand, I am having beer every night or every other night these days, but I am generally a one-beer guy. In fact, strictly a one-beer guy unless drinking with friends on a special occasion. So tonight, I was not really "tipsy," as they say, but definitely "feeling it," as those same people, and others besides, say. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Roy!!! How's it going, buddy? He stepped through the door and before I knew it, he was living it up, laughing, and regaling the assembled folks.
Now, anyone who knows the history of Roy knows that his presence used to annoy Sharon. He was a bit overbearing, exceedingly loud, and not very sensitive to how she was feeling at social events. It hit rock bottom when, returning from a party in St. Paul where Roy had been in "fine form," Roy stumbled and fell when getting out of the car and actually had to be helped to his feet and into the house. It was the next morning when I was informed that diplomatic ties with Roy were being officially severed. He was not allowed in her presence anymore. That was a promise that I kept for probably around six or seven years until, I guess, last weekend.
Whether its me getting a little wiser and softening my presentation or Sharon mellowing a bit, or just both of us understanding one other a little better, it was after beer three and before beer four (a tasty Snowstorm) that I realized that yes, Roy was there and yes, Sharon was having a good time, too. It may have even been Sharon that looked over at me and said something like, "Am I talking to Roy, here?" I may have responded with "Yeah...is Roy fun to be around?," to which she allowed a playful "Maybe..."
As further evidence of wisdom through age (and, perhaps, fatherhood), I capped it at four and rounded out a splendid evening.
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6 comments:
My principle memories of Roy are making sure he drinks enough water, and has a garbage can to throw up in.
The whole 'Roy' phenomenon is something that most people have experienced in some form or other. In its worst forms it has been referred to as 'beer goggles' and otherwise represents a reduction in inhibition that allows a sense of free expression. Nothing wrong with that of course, although there are no shortage of drunk dicks that thought they were hilarious, when in fact they were simply, dicks.
Glad to hear the Roy has found a happy place.
It's sort of like the "I know that a lot of people that think they don't stink actually stink, but I'll telling you I don't stink" phenomenon. I just know what I know, and I really do believe that Roy's company is enjoyed by a large percentage of the population-has been for years.
Sharon just hasn't been part of that large percentage. But if a scaled back Roy is what it takes to bring that remaining 15% of the people into the fold, I'm happy to oblige.
I'd be curious to see the polling on that 85%.
Just to set the record straight. I have no recollections of you being a drunk dick, just that you may have blinders on relative to your drunken persona. Sharon, on the other hand, may have been the ONLY person giving you the straight poop.
Lots of people think the drunk guy is funny. He does funny things, says funny things, but many of those people are whispering to one another saying, "boy is that guy drunk", and not in a good way.
Think Homer Simpson dancing for the other patrons at Moe's.
True enough. But I think the majority of Roy's public appearances have been in the midst of a crowd of people in a similar state of inebriation.
Notable exception: that "party" at Bubser's mom's house.
I like it when Roy tells everyone how drunk they are. I dont think Roy is just another drunk guy. He has a special quality of brutal honesty mixed with humor. I'm definately in the 85%.
I love you man!!!!
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