TALK about winers and whiners. And a few in-betweens. The image of the drunken master, a forefront character in Chinese martial arts films of long ago, always comes to mind.
As I remember, that Jackie Chan character, despite his drunken state, was still able to execute flawless techniques in subduing his attackers. And that, I believe, must be what was in the minds of the boisterous drinkers presently at the other table across from me. My companion shushed me, no worries, they are just having a good time.
In contrast, drinking buddies of long ago beg to differ. In fact, they’ve a term for their kind: “Walay kamatayon,” a loose Visayan expression meaning fearless, reckless, and not afraid to die.
Who knows, perhaps in it for the drama, I fear some of them must either think of themselves as Jackie personified or living in the Wild West saloons of lore.
Either way, they’re perfect icons of how one should not drink. (As if there was ever a decent way to do so also, as my strict late Victorian grandma used to say)
Needless to say, in all fairness, not all “maoys“ are like that. My companion might be correct; they just view their loudness as merely clean and innocent fun. (Tongue in cheek, whether you like it or not.)
However, some say there’s a third kind. They also wear their hearts on their sleeves, but are in it just to let alcohol smooth out their blues and frustration. No more.
Bullocks, don’t tell anyone, but all these types are one and the same. Even though I was born yesterday, do not tell me you are having a bad day. Pick a number and get in line.
As always, a profound and mysteriously appealing aura surrounds any lone and quiet drinker at any time. In the movies, women find them attractive enough that these men will actually believe they’ve sex appeal.
Meanwhile, if you chance upon a segregated group, quiet and drinking among themselves, be wary enough to read an invisible sign floating like a cloud above their heads saying, “Warning: approach with extreme caution.” Unless you’re the waiter.
In all, there’s no rocket science or philosophical analysis involved in why people drink. As one writer put it, “Don’t romanticize it. It does not matter if the glass is either half full or half empty, just drink it anyway and stop complaining.”
If you’re drinking to dull your brains and forget your problems, just remember and be glad. You are still here. On the other hand (your free one, of course, and not the one with the bottle), happy or not, try to reserve a wee bit of your reasoning to think you’re not disturbing other people when you begin your tipsy trip.
Even as we like to say, entitlement fears no consequence; it has a darker cousin, usually sitting in a faraway corner, nicknamed regret.
