🍹Little Taste of Grandpa’s Cough Syrup 🍹

Mike Kraus

He places a couple of large glasses of whiskey on the table and lights a cigarette. “Ya shouldn’t be smokin’.”

“Worried I might get cancer or somethin’?” Grandpa retorts with a laugh. “Don’t worry. I need some pleasure before da cancer, I do have, kills me.” He takes his seat on the dark patio overlooking the backyards of several homes. “So, have ya thought ‘bout what I said? Ya know, ‘bout who ya are ‘nd whatcha gonna do with yerself?”

“Is dat what da alcohol is fer?” I joke. “Yeah, I’ve actually thought ‘bout it every day since I can remember. Still don’t have an answer though. Do ya have da answer?”

“Do I have da answer? Ha! I’d hafta be quite an asshole ta say dat I did. Do ya think I know what’s in yer heart ‘nd how ya should be livin’?”

“Probably better than anyone else would.”

“Well, I’m no fool ‘nd I’m tellin’ ya I can’t answer those questions fer ya. But, ya gotta find a purpose fer livin’. Ya either live fer yer purpose or ya float ‘round doin’ nothin’.” He swirls his glass and the ice races around the amber liquor.

“So…” I look up at the stars and coyly ask, “How do I come up with a purpose ’cause I don’t know what mine is.”

“Good question… I s’pose before ya get a purpose ya hafta know who ya are. No sense tryin’ ta become President if ya hate politics.” He smashes his cigarette butt into a pile of ashes and lights another. “From my view, ya become who ya are ’cause of a hodge-podge of experiences ‘nd yer reactions to ’em. Makes ya grow by seeing things dif’rently.”

“Reactions ta my experiences, eh? Hmm…” I think I better top off our glasses. “So, my reaction is bein’ tired nd’ watchin’ TV ’cause my experience is werkin’ two shifts atta terrible job. What’s dat mean?”

“I dunno. We gotta find da meanin’ of life out tagether, I guess.”

“This is gettin’ too deep fer me,” I tease. The smell of the neighbor’s burning leaves act like meditating incense for the evening. “Think we’ll figure out da meanin’ of life tanight?”

“A smartass like ya’s purpose should be comedy. A real Johnny Carson. Do ya take anythin’ seriously?” I get a stern look.

“Nah. Dat’s da secret ta a ‘good’ life. Anyway, what do ya think I should do? Go back ta college ‘nd earn another degree ‘nd debt? I’ve been applyin’ fer jobs every day with little-ta-no response. I’m barely livin’ off of side werk. So, I’m not sure what else ta do.”

“Ferget ‘bout a career ‘nd money. Dat’s da way da Devil gets ya. We hafta focus on what’s important. We have ta be ourselves. Luke, ya hafta matter.”

“Okay…” It’s difficult not to roll my eyes. “Great. How can I be ‘myself’ ‘nd ‘matter’?”

“What do ya want outta life? If ya could do anythin’, what would ya do?”

“Umm… I dunno. I’d be a rock star or somethin’. Ya know, something fun ‘nd creative.”

“Good! Yer a ‘musician’. I like it. Now, how can we improve yer skills with singin’ ‘nd da guitar? Buy ya some lessons? Fix up yer equipment in the basement ‘nd start practicin’. Ya need music in yer life. Ya may not become rich ‘nd famous, but at least ya’ll do somethin’ ya enjoy. Takin’ yer life ‘nd turnin’ it inta songs is who ya could be.”

“Sounds nice. I’ll be da most talented bum livin’ under da bridge. I can’t afford my lifestyle now. How could I bein’ all artsy-fartsy?”

“Luke, listen ta me.” He leans over and stares with an intensity. “Ya gotta decide what ya wanna do or someone’s gonna do it fer ya. Either ya choose ta pursue music or ya become a slave fer dat restaurant, bar, landscaper, or whatever crap ya’ve been doin’. But, if yer not happy, ya gotta make a change. Once ya know how ya wanna live, then ya can worry ‘bout payin’ da bills. Yer at a point in yer life where ya can walk ‘way from everythin’ ‘nd start clean.”

“What ‘bout you?”

“Me? I’m atta dif’rent part of life. Soon, ya won’t hafta worry ‘bout me either. But, as I said before, I’d be a fool ta tell ya ta be a musician or anythin’ else. Dat’s somethin’ ya hafta tell yerself. But, life’s too short ta be doin’ somethin’ ya hate.”

To read more, please visit: Intro: 🏡 History of Walnut House 🏡: https://readmedium.com/c01d241376bf 1) — 🚶‍ Ramblin’ Man 🚶‍♂️: https://readmedium.com/e7e0ea6355ff 2) — 👁Just Don’t See It 👁: https://readmedium.com/c93db0285d52 3) 🍸 Awakening 🍸: https://readmedium.com/b72e7dcbd17c 4) 🎸 Gazed In Wide Wonder 🎸: https://readmedium.com/626ce857b1cd 5) 💊 Tattered 💊: https://readmedium.com/a0422087f4e0 6) 🏭 Warehouse 🏭: https://readmedium.com/31bb79506dee 8) 🍳🥓☕ Breakfast With Anabelle ☕🥓🍳: https://readmedium.com/0839cce6bc47 9) 👾 What Lurks In the Basement 👾: https://readmedium.com/e8e7525f9bcc 10) 🌙 Night Time Is the Right Time 🌙: https://readmedium.com/6f6bbaef1e8e 11) 🖼 Refuge From An Indifferent World 🖼: https://readmedium.com/8ef888cb076c 12) ☠ Skull & Crossbones Memory ☠: https://readmedium.com/3f18f90ac784 13) 💚☕🚚 An Enchanting Evening At the Golden Ticket 🚚☕💚: https://readmedium.com/2f8284be509f 14) 🌭 Gotta Have Some Fun Before Ya Go 🌭: https://readmedium.com/2ca6412ca654 15) ✋ Handsy Hubert 🤚: https://readmedium.com/d7151e07870b 16) 🤵 Fake It ’Til Ya Make It 🤵: https://readmedium.com/f82ade21a44d 17) 🐴📦 Funny Little Box 📦🐴: https://readmedium.com/ea4b2fb0002d 18) 🍕 Tommy’s Pizza, Can I Help Ya? 🍕: https://readmedium.com/4ea3d996da9c 19) 🍺 Dusty’s Saloon 🍺: https://readmedium.com/09d9328ba48f 20) 💣 Does It Matter? 💣: https://readmedium.com/71218e31b858 21) 🥀 Hospice 🥀:https://readmedium.com/c7e330448393 22) 📢 ESTATE SALE! Today 10am-3pm 📢: https://readmedium.com/864c65a8c544

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Center, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Lurie Children’s Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold thousands of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

For more information, please visit: Store: http://MikeKrausArt.etsy.com Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/BrightscapesArt/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MikeKrausArt Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/MikeKraus/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikekrausart LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/mkraus

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