The Skeeter Daddle Diaries

Big Walter was looking for a high five down at the Pilot Lounge a couple of nights ago after showing the Kentucky congressman’s photo of his entire family assembled happily in front of their Christmas tree with semi-automatic weapons in every hand. ‘Nothing says Happy Holidays like a warm gun,’ Walter was crowing. Under the photo was a P.S. to Santa to please send ammo. Ho ho ho.

Two Toke shook his head sadly. ‘I don’t know, Walter, but doesn’t it seem like bad taste to post something like this right after that kid in Michigan shot up his school? Sort of tone deaf, isn’t it?’ Big Walter, not exactly attuned to nuance of any variety, snorted loudly. ‘No, Tom, it sends a message to you snowflakes that we’re not cowering to all of you who want to take our guns away.’

Jerry put his beer down and applauded that sentiment, another yule log on Walter’s fire. ‘Damn right,’ he practically shouted. The Lounge quickly divided on party lines as usual, the Bud Lite crowd vs. the craft beer boys. Well, okay, not exactly. Jerry was quaffing his third South End IPA and Two Toke and I were drinking Rainiers. Actually, party lines drawn at the Lounge were fairly elastic, depending on the topic du jour. On abortion, the lines were agnostics vs. the Chapel in the Ravine camp although I have friends who are fairly progressive but want more restrictions on abortion rights. Guns, sometimes the lines were hunter vs. peacenik but other times they blurred. Fairlane Fred fought in Viet Nam, knew guns a little more firsthand than he’d ever dreamed, voted Republican but wanted a ban on semi-automatics. You never know. And probably shouldn’t try to assume. You know, unless you’ve been drinking….

‘I ought to make my own Christmas card, ‘ Walter said and Tom smirked, ‘What, Peace on Earth?’ ‘Piece, like as in check out my piece? I like it, Tom, I like that a lot. Piece on Earth. That’s great. Thanks, Buddy.’

And so it went, another joyous evening of holiday spirits down at the Pilot Lounge. Like we always say most meet-ups, we can always agree to disagree. Hopefully without firearms. Feliz Navidad!

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