Except for one lone stool, the bar was full, most likely due to the fact that Hank was working. She grabbed the stool and looked around to see if she recognized any faces.
“Jesse! Welcome! How are things?”
“Good, Hank! How are you? Nice and busy in here!”
“What brings you out on this snowy night?”
“I came for some of your legendary advice.” Hank laughed as the guy seated next to Jesse said, “That’s why I’m here!”
“Wine or beer tonight, Jesse?”
“Surprise me with something hot, Hank. My bones are getting too old for this climate.”
Hank slid a mug across the bar and said, “Cider and Fireball – the only thing that’ll do the trick. As far as advice, I dunno about that, but what’s on your mind?”
Jesse sighed and said, “Of course this is about my kids, particularly the 20 year old. I want to encourage, not discourage. I’d like to motivate without pissing him off. I wrote a little bit about courage, but before I send it to him, I wanted your take.”
“Sure. Let me see what you’ve got.”
Hank held her phone as he read:
I am no expert, but I think one of THE important aspects of a good life is courage. Have courage to try new things, meet new people, go new places.
That’s what keeps a person moving along their path.
You have courage in spades!!!
I think the saddest lives are lived by folks who are stuck because they don’t have the courage to try something new.
With courage you might try something and hate it, or try something else and mess up. That’s not failure, that’s experience! The real important thing is that you have tried, and that you keep trying. It’s so much better to have a long list of things tried, places seen, foods eaten, people met …. than a short, boring list of STUCK.
I love you.
“What would you add, Hank? What do you think I should take out?”
“Well, let’s put it up to the group!” Hank looked to the other end of the bar. “Sam, how do you define courage?”
A woman at the end of the bar put down her wine glass, looked Hank in the eye and said, “Courage is deciding to be single and staying that way!”
The guy next to Jesse slowly shook his head.
Hank looked at the guy next to Sam and said, “How about you, Ron. What’s your take on courage?”
Ron didn’t hesitate before saying, “Giving up the great paying job for the job that doesn’t crush my soul!” He raised his beer glass in salute. The others clapped in agreement.
Hank looked at the couple seated next to Ron. “What’s courage to you two?” She looked at Hank and said, “Ignoring what my dad said about who to date.” The couple looked at each other and laughed. He said, “Meeting her dad,” and they all laughed.
Hank said, “It’s your turn, John. How do you define courage?”
John paused a moment before responding. He looked at his glass and said, “Getting the diagnosis that changed my life, undergoing chemo and beating cancer.” Everyone at the bar raised a glass in honor of John.
Hank turned to Tom. “Good luck beating that one, Tom.” Tom looked a little nervous before he said, “Making my wife and kids a priority over my job.” Ron raised his glass in Tom’s direction.
There were two folks left at the bar, Jesse and the guy to her left, who had appeared downtrodden when Sam declared her status.
Hank skipped over Jesse, smiled and said to Jim, “So now that you aren’t going to approach Sam, tell us how you define courage.” The group laughed. Jim cleared his throat and looked at Jesse. “Courage is parenting a 20 year old.” They all raised their glasses to Jesse.
Jim said, “Wait a darn minute! What about you, Hank? It’s your turn. How do you define courage?”
“Well, it was one thing when I was 20. Skiing the cliff. Skiing out of bounds. Any risk I could take on skis. As I got older, it was having the courage to end one relationship and start another. Now that I’m in my 50s, well, courage is knowing when to keep my mouth shut, and doing just that.” He grinned and winked at Jesse. “Now what do you think about courage, Jesse?”
“It’s pretty clear that courage is different to everyone. I ‘spose I need the courage to let him figure it out himself.” The group nodded their heads in agreement and Jim said, “Great idea, Jesse.” Jesse stood up from her stool. “I’ll still send the message, but then I need to have the courage to leave him alone while he figures things out.”
Hank smiled at Jesse, “Good plan, Jesse, and you think I’m the one with good advice!”
As Jesse put her coat on she saw Jim gulp the last of his beer. He shouted, “Here’s to liquid courage!” Then he got off his stool and walked over to approach Sam.