Drinking Liberally: Feels Its Age

Greetings all my language and cocktail muddlers,

First off, I will not be able to host Drinking Liberally tonight, as I’ve agreed to host an impromptu bachelor party. (Word up to DL member, George, who only has a few scant days of man freedom.)

Sorry for the last minute, irresponsible notice. My name is Ritchie. I do things at the last minute. I am irresponsible. And we move on …

So, this morning I heard a story about European healthcare. Those dudes have it made. (“Having it made” is defined in this case as exchanging 8% of one’s salary for complete and competent medical coverage.) Toward the end of the story, the reporter stated that the European population is aging faster than its U.S. counterpart. What does that even mean???

Now I’m imagining eight-year-old Germans in lederhosen and gray beards, hobbling around on walkers, quoting Kant. Geriatric French toddlers with pencil thin mustaches, striped shirts and beanies, smoking unfiltered cigarettes at the corner bar.

And as the European population ages faster. I get the feeling that a large part of America is getting younger. A lot of us are looking around and seeing an approaching opportunity to redefine this country. An opportunity for change. And, like any teenager faced with the chance to redefine their style, we’re running out to buy hair dye and new jeans. These are exciting times, and we should dig down and find the youthfulness and vigor that’s been hidden for the passed 8 years, pull it up and use it to our advantage.

Now, as you celebrate this July 4th, look forward to the same day next year. By then we might have a better government, a cleaner conscience, the energy to climb mountains and purple hair.

Meanwhile, Twelve-year-old Swedes will be eating meatballs through a straw.

Ritchie Rozzelle
Chapter Host
Drinking Liberally
Greensboro, NC