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The Story:
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to travel to Ireland on someone else’s dime. The old man just felt sorry for me, I suppose, with no wife and no career. But I never asked him to feel sorry for me. I didn’t. What’s the point of hating your life for not having something you don’t know what it’s like to have?
So, after a few days of beautiful landscapes, I go to this tavern to get the real Irish experience. Inside are several older men sitting around drinking and watching a news station, each one with his mouth turned into a permanent frown. Eventually, I get into a drunken conversation with one of them.
“What’s the one piece of advice you have for a young guy like me?”
If I’d realized how many pints we had guzzled, I wouldn’t have bothered asking him that question, but he answered without hesitation.
“If you ever see the red door, take her. She only appears once to those who’ve heard of her. Lead you to adventure, she will. To another time when men fought for honor and sought justice. When valor was the man’s soulmate. When she appears, take her.”
He was nuts, I know. But just like someone telling you not to push a red button, I began opening every red door I saw. If for no other reason than to humor myself.
I think it was a December weekend. The hot tub called my name with its rhythmic bubbles and lazy steam. Walking down the path to the pool house, I looked up and there it was. The red door. Open. Inviting me in.
The red door was slowly closing, and I understood that was my hourglass for making a decision. It would’ve been nice to have more on than a towel and flip flops when it appeared. Apparently, the door had a sense of humor.
I couldn’t resist the door’s offer. After all, who hot tubs alone? Only this bored guy, that’s who.
As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I found myself in the middle of a medieval battle with knights, wizards, and dragons, wearing nothing but my towel. And I knew that my tavern friend had given me sound advice.
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