The Bar Chronicles: #25, ‘How Fast Can Mosquitoes Fly?’

Bar Night 2

Mosquitoes! We talked about mosquitoes. Sober and provocative conversation has never been a priority at ‘Bar Night’. We’re just content to gather, wish each other well, have a cold beer, and talk about whatever! When we leave, we’re relaxed, a little smarter, happy and ready to sleep.

A warm July summer evening found us around a wobbly wooden table, by the screen door at Caverly’s Irish Pub. This was our 25th gathering and what began for two of us as a night to ‘howl at the moon’, two years ago, has become a relaxing evening of beer, brotherhood and BS for six of us, although only four tonight, a ‘quorum’.  We reached high to the center and touched our glasses in a toast, then began.

Sometimes, it’s a slow beginning. But we up the tempo a bit, find a topic, hash it around, then move on.

Books, underground cities, poetry, UFOs and the paranormal, Asian worms, ants, first jobs, wives (how we met them), and more, Aristotle, Fibonacci and recalling our favorite teacher. We’ve touched it all, but no politics. You might say that we’re an ‘eclectic’ group, but that would be presumptuous.

I’ve heard the same tale more than once with the same funny lines and same embellishment, nevertheless, we listen and drink. We’re Seniors, when telling and retelling is a right of passage.

As for Caverly’s, it’s become our favorite watering hole. Relatively quiet, if there’s such a thing for a bar, I like the intimacy. It’s small with old hardwood floors, old furniture and even old dogs. A perfect setting for old guys. I hope you visit it and are impressed with its wide assortment of beers and excellent prices.

House Dog

I had hoped to plan something more exciting than just picking up the guys, driving to the pub, ordering a round, talking and going home. However, we enjoy getting picked up, driving together, ordering a beer, talking and driving home. So, we kept the routine. Order and familiarity are comforting to Seniors.

As for the mosquitoes, well, it’s been a warm and buggy summer, lots of pesty insects and nasty bites. One of us* suggested a fan to repel them, after all, and here’s tonight’s takeaway, a mosquito’s top speed is ‘1 1/2 mph’.

Not too many can get excited about tonight’s adventure or this story, but I know a few who will…might.  Until next time, Happy 25th to my ‘Bar Night’ friends.

Steve (July 2019)

*reads The NY Times

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srbottch

Retired in 2013 after 5 years as an elementary school teacher and 40 years as a sales representative to begin anew as a school crossing guard. SMy essays/stories are a way to communicate through the telling of personal experiences. One reader said about my blog stories, "...these are like a cold sip during a marathon run, simple, real life events". Another offered about my blog, “it brings some sense of normalcy not easily found in the modern world.”

23 thoughts on “The Bar Chronicles: #25, ‘How Fast Can Mosquitoes Fly?’”

  1. Listen :I’m diabetic, I have cholesterol and I do take drugs such as morphine, legal cannabis.
    THINK ABOUT MOSQUITOS PICKING ME… THEY ENJOY THE MEAL, THE DESSERT AND AT LEAST THEY GOT A SHOT AND FLY AWAY IN LOOPING…..
    I HATE MOSQUITOS… THEY LIKE ME.. 😊 🤣

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    1. Mosquitoes are the worst creatures and they seem to be particularly bad this year. I’m scratching my itchy spots as I write. As for you, ‘What’s not to like?’

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  2. Hi Steve,
    A nicely documented event.
    Always a great time.
    Think I misspoke though.
    Meant to say mosquitos do not
    enjoy wind speeds of 1 1/2 mph.
    Hence fans are a good deterrent.
    And chilly weather.
    Great times.
    Thanks.
    Jim Murdock

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  5. It sounds like a lovely evening, Steve. I remember reading a story as a girl about a mother mosquito and her three daughters who were all planning to annoy and then bite a poor old chap during the night. It was funny and I have always remembered it.

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    1. As far away as possible, I hope. If I smack them, they won’t have to worry about sweating!😂🙀😎Thanks for commenting. Happy weekend to you, as well. Stay away from mosquitoes!

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