[aj.lec]

THE BOTTLE OF WINE

For all of us who are married, were married, wish

you were married, or wish you weren't married, this

is something to smile about the next time you see a

bottle of wine:


Sam was driving home from one of his business

trips in Northern Arizona when he saw an elderly

Navajo man walking on the side of the road.


As the trip was a long and quiet one, he stopped

the car and asked the Navajo man if he would like a ride.



With a silent nod of thanks, the man got into the car.



Resuming the journey, Sam tried in vain to make

a bit of small talk with the Navajo man. The old

man just sat silently, looking intently at

everything he saw, studying every little detail,

until he noticed a brown bag on the seat next to Sam.



'What in bag?' asked the old man.



Sam looked down at the brown bag and said, 'It's

a bottle of wine. I got it for my wife.'


The Navajo man was silent for another moment or two.


Then speaking with the quiet wisdom of an elder, he said:


'Good trade.'