It paid off

Walt asked me to attend the next meeting of his organization to share some ideas. They’re suffering from the same challenges other groups are encountering, including a lack of interest from younger generations.

Their facility was an old bungalow, set back in the woods. It had seen better days. Whether that was because of decreasing funds from a shrinking membership or a lack of youthful elbow grease wasn’t apparent.

They were all cordial and unpretentious people and the meeting was quite enjoyable. Or, maybe it’s just that it was a rare opportunity for me to be below the median age in a room. I had several suggestions, but didn’t get the feeling they were embraced. These guys had been carrying the load for so long, it didn’t feel like they were going to take on many new projects.

They adjourned the meeting and I was invited to join them in refreshments. As we were going down a hallway lined with vending machines, one of them stopped in front of me and turned. “You seem like a bright young fella. Maybe you can help us out with this one.” Young fella. How could I demur? “Someone donated this here old machine and we got it working okay. Except, it only takes coins and has a limit. That ain’t gonna cut it for beer, which is what we’re wantin’ it for.”

“Leave ‘im alone, Bennie. That isn’t his game.”

Actually, it is. In college, I figured out how to convert a soda machine like this in our housing into a beer dispenser. “Put empty bottles between the full ones, depending how much you want to make. All someone has to do is buy an empty or two to get to a full one.”

I knew college would pay off someday.