4:07 a.m., Rotunda, Sober Cannibals, and Drunk Christians

“It’s a great advantage not to drink among hard-drinking people.”
— F. Scott Fitzgerald 

Good morning from our mountain top chalet.

It’s 4;07 a.m. My cat Tee-Tee has decided she loves me again since we left PVHT back in Indiana; I’ve got more cat love since arriving than I have in the past year; she is sitting on my lap as I type these words.  She’s purring; she missed me.  My fireplace is hot; it’s chilly up here, the coffee is strong, my wife will get up at 4:30; this is my time to explore the world.

Day 20 of my no booze adventure, we arrived at the airport about 12:30 for our 2:00 p.m. flight.  We bellied up to the bar and saw an old friend Imogene; she has been a fixture at the airport for years; we got to know her when flying weekly, she said, “the usual?”  I smiled. “Nope, sober October!”  She said, “well, that’s no fun!” So I got a diet soda, my wife grabbed a club soda, we caught up with our friend; she’s had a hell of a COVID ride.

Beside us was a very catholic husband and wife.  She overheard our situation and inquired, “I’m sorry, what are you doing?  Not drinking?”  I smiled. “Yes, it’s our fifth year in a row to not drink in October.”  She asked why October and I laughing said, “it rhymes with sober?”  She said that is so interesting; I don’t think I could do that.  I gave up wine for Lent, but still having all the other spirits, I’ve never thought about just stopping drinking altogether.

I told her about all the benefits, the improved sleep, the clear-minded mornings, the fact that we read more, eat better, lose weight, I could do a seminar on why folks should not drink or at least take breaks, but I’m the wrong cat to do that program. So I think the record is precise; I enjoy my booze but abstain from it to remind myself of the other way to live.  My wife and I do this together; we could not do it alone.

So three weeks in, I’m down 9 pounds, my wife 7; she’s also fasting, so she’s added a degree of difficulty to our gauntlet.  I have stopped eating three meals a day, having a very light breakfast and a sensible dinner, when drinking it’s easy to grab that bag of chips or that KIND bar, but last night I thought about it, but thought, you are stronger than that, just enjoy the hunger.  And so, I enjoyed being hungry as we watched our Netflix movie. 

 We flew back to help set up the event we are sponsoring today.  We left about 2:00 from Indianapolis, we arrived at 4:00, took an UBER to the condo, said Hi to Bay and Nate, and drove to Lakewood Country Club.  My vision of the chain of events was to be there to help the other members set up.  But when we arrived, all was set; my friend Sherri asked, let me help you carry in your stuff.  It was then I realized I had missed a vital component of this trip.  

Our firm has a large banner, an 8-foot sign with our logo our bus, an excellent thing for events, and I, the co-owner, was to bring that from Beautiful Parker City. But, strike one, I forgot.  I was also supposed to get some swag on our sponsor table, strike two; I had nothing. So Sherri was a little worried; what are you going to do? So my wife and I thought a minute; we had swag at the mountain house, we would head home and bring it in the morning, we have a table that is in the rotunda (staff, please check, I think in ten years, that is the first time I’ve used the word rotunda in my soup), but I digress. 

We got home; we had plenty of swag to pass out to those that have a craving for such things.  Posters of our bus, magnets, artistic cards define our mission and purpose; none of our marketing material is traditional.  I sent our CO team a note, meet us there about 6:40 a.m. to help set up; we will be seen, connect with about 100 people, get our little brand out there and participate in a program about mindfulness.  I don’t know what mindfulness is, I have an idea, but I’m intrigued by the topic; I’m sure I’ll learn something and might be able to share via my word soup tomorrow.  We have a good speaker; it should be a good event.

We went to bed about 8:30; I read a half-hour; add to that the three hours I spent with Stephen Kings, Billy Summer’s book on the plane, and I clocked about 4 hours of reading or, in Billy’s case, listening.  The flight was ok; masks are the key to travel. Don’t you dare remove your mask on a plane; people will die. Since I was listening to my audiobook, I didn’t hear the instructions; when she came to get my soda order, I pulled my mask down and said, “diet coke.”  The flight attendant and my wife laughed; I did exactly what they said not to do.  I was to use my fingers and sign 1,2 or 3 for my beverage; I’m a rule-breaker by nature.   

Well, a little after 4:30, my wife is up; we are planning our day; we will attend the program, have coffee with new friends, then lunch with our team, talk about the future, and where we might be taking this ship of fools. We are in control of our destiny, and I like our chances; it’s not easy owning your firm, but if you understand how to read financials, you build a team of quality people, it’s hard not to succeed in any market condition.

Well, back in CO for a few days, we will be here until Saturday, then fly back; my wife has a shower on Saturday, I’m not sure what I’ll do, maybe just find a tiny nook and read or perhaps seek out a friend to catch up or mustard. So you are reading the words of the happiest man you will meet today; I challenge you too to find happiness, I’ve lived sad, and I’ve lived happy, for my money, put all your money on happy and let it ride!

“Better to sleep with a sober cannibal than a drunk Christian.”
— Herman Melville