[DMcCunney]

An old Irish guys walks into a bar. He steps up and raps on the counter to get the bartender's attention. "Barkeep! Three pints of Guinness, please!"

The bartender pulls his pints, he pays for them, drinks them down in succession and leaves. He's back the following afternoon at the same hour. "Barkeep! Three pints of Guinness, please!"

This goes on for a couple of months, and the bartender becomes curious about what is obviously a ritual. The next time the old chap comes in, the bartender says "What's yer name, laddie?" "Me name's Sean", says the old fellow. "Good to meet you, Sean! I'm Paddy.", says the bartender, extending his hand for a shake.

"Sean, lad, I'm curious." says Paddy. "Every day for months you've been coming into me bar at the same hour each day and having three pints of Guinness. What's going on, laddie?"

"Well, Paddy", says Sean, "When I was a young man, I had two close friends. Every day we'd step out to the local at this hour and hoist a pint together. They're gone now, the good Lord rest their souls. So I honors their memory by having their pints for them!"

"Ah, it's a good thing you do, Sean!" says Paddy.

A couple of more months pass, and Sean walks into the bar and raps on the counter. "Paddy! Two pints of Guinness, please!"

Paddy turns, wide eyed in shock. "Sean, lad!", he exclaims. "Every day for months you've come into me bar each day and had three pints of Guinness. Today you only want two! What happened, laddie?"

"Oh, Paddy", say Sean, "I quit drinking!"
______
Dennis