The Ashtray

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

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

They sat at the famous Liberty Bar

In San Antonio Texas

On a rainy evening

Around twenty-five years ago

He was fairly fresh

From a trip to Italy

Where he had proudly

Purchased a fine Burberry trench coat

It was a rainy evening

So the coat fit the circumstance

They met for dinner and drinks

To discuss the state of affairs

In the Air Force Medical Service Corps

They were both fierce members

Before the evening was over

They would also resolve many issues

Related to religion and politics

Not so many with the Corps

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

To commemorate the occasion

He resolved to place

The ashtray under his Burberry

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 twenty-five years ago

And 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...)