The Ashtray

The famous bar in all it's wacky, tilted glory.

It said, "Bass Ale" on each of four sides.

The two Air Force Medical Service Corps officers 

Sat at the famous original Liberty Bar

In San Antonio Texas

Around thirty-five years ago

He was fairly fresh from a 

Trip to Europe where he had given

MSC Career Development presentations

At Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany

Torrejon in Spain

And Aviano in Italy

While in Italy he and his former boss

A physician and commander there

Made a side trip to Venice for a day

There, he had proudly

Purchased a fine Burberry trench coat

It was a rainy evening in the Alamo city

So he wore the coat to suit the circumstances

They met for dinner and drinks

To discuss the state of affairs

In the Corps and health care in general

For they were both fierce members

One doing staffing for what was then Systems Command

The other doing assignments and career support for MSCs

At the Air Force Manpower and Personnel Center

Before the evening was over

They would also discuss many personnel and health care delivery issues

Often veering from one topic to another

Interesting how beer can redirect topics

Such was the state of affairs

At the Liberty Bar

The one with the slanted floor

And the slanted opinions

As it happened

Bass Ale was their beer of choice

So the evening was filled with many

And the stage was set for a lifetime friendship

As it also happened

There was a Bass Ale ashtray

At each table there.

To commemorate the occasion

He resolved to place

Their ashtray under his Burberry

Melamine Bass Ale ashtray

When the evening was done

He walked out with it

Today, the Bass Ale ashtray

Resides on the patio

Of his home in Sacramento

It is the only ashtray in the home

It is used on evenings

When friends are over

For an after dinner collegial stogie

For times when friendship is shared

It never fails though

When he does bring it out

He thinks of his dear friend

And their time at the Liberty Bar

Of his friend thirty-five years ago

His friend still of today...

And the views they share

About the wonders of life

Maybe he will return the ashtray

To the Liberty Bar one day

So that it may find a new owner

And travel as stolen goods under the folds of a raincoat

Maybe it will begin to commemorate

An enduring friendship anew.

Maybe.

(Update:  In May, 2010 the famous Liberty Bar closed and relocated due to a rental dispute.  Good thing I rescued that ashtray so many years ago... On another front, the Burberry remains stashed in a garage coat closet, serving as a moth magnet.)