A WORLD OF OPTIMISM

There are still a few old shepherds left roaming the hills of Wales, on horseback, accompanied by alert working dogs. Many years ago one of these old shepherds made his way down off the hill, as he often did, to his local watering hole. A journey on horseback, that he took at least once a week and of course the dogs went along and sat obediently around his favorite barstool, which, as anyone who knew him, would immediately vacate out of deferential respect, as he entered the establishment.

One evening he had just drank down half of his favourite pint when a designer dressed tourist, an English man, wandered into the bar remarking, as if leading a major inspection, of the taverns antiquated quaintness.

After assessing this previously, un-encountered environment, with expansive gesticulations, his eyes settled on the shepherd’s glass. It was now his opportunity to show everyone that he had knowledge, and wisdom. “I say, would you say, my good man, that your glass is half empty or half full?”

The shepherd dressed in a 1940’s woolen three piece suit, that had gained much lanolin from its frequent contact with sheep, looked the man up and down and then glanced at his glass of beer, half of which he had consumed, and replied. “Half empty.”

The English man, who had at this time purchased his own pint of exquisite Welsh Ale, was in all fairness, playing his part in satisfying the tourist quota for the area’s economic welfare, replied in his polite congenial manner. “Aah, so you are a pessimist?”

The shepherd straightened himself on his barstool and looked the man up and down again before responding. “No, boy bach, I am a Welshman, raised on these bald hills of Wales.” His arm pointing through the window at a distant hill under a darkening sky.

The English man displayed a look of apology. “Oh, no sir, what I meant was half empty rather than half full. I suppose when all is said and done it doesn’t really matter. Half full or half empty, I suppose there is no real difference.”

The shepherd had taken a most definite notice of this man’s observation. “Difference, let me tell you, bach, all is not said and done yet, there is a major difference.”

“Oh. So you think, perhaps there is a difference?”

“Oh, indeed, bach, a big difference, indeed.”

“Please explain.”

The shepherd pointed to his glass and picked it up. “This glass is half empty, and now, when I drink the rest of the beer it becomes empty.” The shepherd poured down the half and placed the now empty glass on the bar. “Now, if I take your glass of beer”, which was still full, “and pour half into my empty glass, it is plain to see that your glass is half empty and my glass is half full.”

The Englishman contemplated the explanation and the visual demonstration and spoke. “Do you realize, you have resolved one of life’s major philosophical questions. A question that has bothered mankind for millennia?”

“Well, indeed, I will tell you now, that I may have resolved a philosophical problem, but it doesn’t help me manage dogs that don’t always mind.”

He called to one of the dogs back that had strayed. It slinked back to the bar stool, one ear pricked, and one ear flat, acknowledging his masters command with an all knowing, silver eye.

The Englishman was delighted with his new found knowledge. “Well, I have to say, that I have been very impressed with your observations, so please allow me to buy you a drink.”

The drink was purchased and the Englishman, after finishing his half empty glass, left to continue his touristic adventures. The shepherd drank down the half of the beer that he had poured into his glass and then with a positive look, contemplated the pint that had just been purchased for him by the generous English tourist.

The landlord smiled at the happy shepherd. “By damned, boy, that is another pint you have gained from your shepherding philosophies.”

The shepherd grinned revealing the gaps between his few remaining teeth. ”Indeed, that is what you get when you are an optimist.”