How old do you think I am, he said?nI said, well, I didn't know.nHe said, I turned 65 about 11 months ago. nnI was sittin' in Miami, pouring blended whiskey downnWhen this old gray, black gentleman was cleaning up the lounge. nnThere wasn't anyone around, except this old man and me.nThe guy who ran the bar was watching Ironside on TV.nUninvited, he sat down and opened up his mindnOn old dogs and children and watermelon wine. nnEver had a drink of watermelon wine, he asked.nHe told me all about it, though I didn't answer back.nAin't but three things in this world that's worth a solitary dime,nBut old dogs and children and watermelon wine. nnHe said, Women think about themselves, when men-folk ain't around.nAnd friends are hard to find when they discover that you're down.nHe said, I tried it all when I was young and in my natural prime,nNow it's old dogs and children and watermelon wine. nnOld dogs care about you even when you make mistakes.nGod bless little children while they're still to young to hate.nWhen he moved away I found my pen and copied down that linenAbout old dogs and children and watermelon wine. nnI had to catch a plane up to Atlanta that next day.nAs I left for my room I saw him picking up my change.nThat night I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime,nOf old dogs and children and watermelon wine. n