Fat Tire and Patsy Cline

Priscilla and I went to a Rotary Club fundraiser last year at the Arkansas Repertory Theater. “Forever, Patsy Cline” was the program that night.

Before the program, though, people mingled and made polite introductions and conversation, nibbled or devoured hors d’oeuvres and other kinds of small foods.

Right after we arrived and before I grabbed a plate and filled the plate with broccoli and cauliflower and small meatballs and little sausages, Priscilla said, “There’s beer.” Ever mindful that I had no cash, but too much plastic, I asked, “How much is it?” Priscilla said, “It’s free.” I spent 15 years working on newspapers and three in radio, plus 16 years a soldier, and learned in those years never turn down a free meal. (OK, so the ticket prices that night more than made up the cost of various hors d’oeuvres and such.) I found the free beer place and asked the kinds of free beer there were. The free beer person replied, “Coors Light, Miller Lite and Bud Light.” “Free” doesn’t always mean “Real,” but (see 16 years a soldier), here is a rule: Never turn down free beer.

A couple of months later, Priscilla and I went to a Girl Scouts get together at the River Market in downtown Little Rock. The soiree was at the end of cookie sales season and a “Thank-You” for adults who gave time and money to Girl Scouts.

Right after we arrived and before I grabbed a plate and (see above about filling the plate), Priscilla said, “There is free beer.” OK, said I to myself, remembering the last free beer episode. But, free is free, so I went to the free beer and asked what kinds of free beer were available. One of the free beer people said, “Fat Tire, Sunshine and Heineken.” (You notice “Light” or “Lite” followed none of the brands named.) I had not tried Fat Tire or Sunshine before, but that night I certainly did. And Heineken as well. One each.

If there’s a moral to this tale, maybe it is: You get better beer at a Girl Scouts function than at a Rotary Club fundraiser.

Fat Tire and Sunshine are good beers. “Forever, Patsy Cline” is a good program, too.”