Enlightenment, a la Guinness

Friday night a bunch of us gathered at everybody’s favorite Irish Pub, O’Doherty’s . And, since I’m toying with the idea of giving up all things alcoholic for Lent again this year, I figured I should start stockpiling the liquor in my veins.

As I raised Guinness number one to my lips I noticed a clever little shamrock hiding in the foam and I thought, “Look at that, it’s not even 6 o’clock and already I’ve gotten lucky.” Not a bad way to kick off the long weekend.

While sipping on Guinness number two I couldn’t help but marvel at the timing of St. Patrick’s Day. I mean, if ever there was a test of faith, slipping the booziest celebration of the year into the beginning of the Catholic season of restraint and self-sacrifice has got to be it.

As I started on pint number three my mind began riffling through alternate pleasures I could deny myself to prove my devotion to the Catholic church. Chocolate? Profanity? Vegetables?

By pint number four I realized that if I didn’t stop now I’d soon be praying for mercy and making promises of repentance and swearing to refrain from liquid pleasure for the rest of my life.

And just like that I had to raise my glass to the almighty calendar Gods. They knew exactly what they were doing. Mother Mary pray for us.

You’ll find O’Doherty’s 525 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. in downtown Spokane, across the street from the carrousel.