The other day as I was listening to tunes on my mp3 player, a particular lyric from Canadian musician, Edwin, caught my attention. The emotionally positive song, “Alive,” that deals with finding the silver lining in a life unavoidably mingled with bummers stated:
Every year another promise is made
A pint of beer raised towards a better day
[...]Ain’t it good to be alive?
Basically, the line seemed to indicate that one of the positive qualities of the fallible human creature is our ability to look ahead for better days; to attempt to see the glass half full. Whether he realized it or not, Edwin linked the obvious: Beer is complimentary to “better days.” I think we all know this, but spend less time dwelling on it than we ought.
Beer not only lends itself to an experience, it is an experience! It creates a common bond, and is a common bond. Beer has always been equated with joy: It is served at weddings, at graduation parties, and at funerals, as mourners celebrate the closing of a life on earth and look forward to life.
I feel sorry for Neo Prohibitionists who, while searching in a haystack for the evil needles of beer, miss out on the absolute joy of human bonding when moderate beer is added to a social setting, or is the focus of a gathering.
Of course beer is not the only common denominator to be found. Yes, there are other things that can unite a group: knitting, books, ideologies, etc. But in my clearly subjective opinion, nothing is quite as positively positive and emotionally binding as beer.
As I listened to the song, I thought back on a recent vacation my lovely wife and I took to Kansas City, Missouri to visit my wife’s family. I have always enjoyed a great relationship with my in-laws and extended family, and was looking forward to the visit. When we arrived in KC, we quickly realized we were walking into what most would consider the bottom of the half empty glass. My wife’s parents had just adopted a rambunctious 3 year old, were taking care of my wife’s elderly grandmother who has been struggling with severe pneumonia, nursing back to health my wife’s spirited aunt who was recovering from chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma, and trying to cope with a million other physically and emotionally crippling calamities .
At some point I pulled out some home brew. I had never enjoyed a brew with my wife’s parents, and was unsure how it would go. I poured about 2oz in small glasses for everyone. Even my wife’s aunt, a lapsed beer enthusiast (due to the Lymphoma) came out for a taste. You should have seen the appreciation on her face at the taste of the brew! For the next few hours, we all sat around and laughed, moderately drank, reminisced, talked politics, and bonded like never before. This is not a result of feeling “tipsy,” as each person had a maximum of 4oz of beer (after I poured another variety of home brew). For some reason, the beer, just like in Edwin’s song, paired well with, if not facilitated, “looking forward to better days” and realizing, “it’s good to be alive.” The stress of life disappeared for a few malty moments.
While there are so many wonderful qualities about beer: the smell, the taste, the nutrient,etc., the greatest quality is found in the experience!
Feel free to share yours.
[...] by admin on August 24, 2009 At some point I pulled out some home brew . I had never enjoyed a brew with my wife’s parents, and was unsure how it would go Go here to see the original: Thinking Positively About/With Beer | Thank Heaven for Beer [...]
That’s a great story Nate. I was just thinking how much better my work environment would be – people bonding, working toward common goals, camaraderie – if only there were beer allowed!
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Here, here, Scott! If only…
I note that most of the gatherings on my side of the family involve beer (albeit much of it of the light lager variety). Good times to be had by all! Likewise, when spending time with the guys, more than likely there is beer involved. I agree, it provides a setting for good conversation and laughter.
Some good times were had in college like this as well. I lived in a house with 4 other guys. We often would stay up late beer in hand talking about girls & God or God and girls. Politics would sometimes enter the fray as well. One notable evening, we stayed up until 5 am to watch teletubbies at the behest of one of my roommates. Our lives have never been the same since.
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@Scott: Thanks! I actually sneak beer into work in my thermos everyday. Just kidding. Actually, you are absolutely right. In fact, I have brought my homebrew in and we have all split it at my work. We are a small firm, only 4 employees
@Big Tex: The same is true over here. Beer is a must at both family gatherings and hanging out with the guys. I’ll be honest, I have never experienced a lifechanging night of teletubbies. I may have to make time this weekend!
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My life changed such that I will never stay up that late to watch a children’s television show. A change for the better, I’d say.
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