(A conversation with Preston Stevens)
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Last name of the Atlanta “Fats” who sold wood alcohol which killed 10 blacks, including our Lawrence Lewis?
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HARDY
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I REMEMBER THAT LAWRENCE DRUG AROUND A LEG FOR A WHILE. THEY CALLED IT "JAKE LEG" -NOT JACK LEG, BECAUSE THE NAME CAME FROM PEOPLE DRINKING JAMAICA GIN WHICH OF COURSE WAS DURING PROHIBITION. MY DADDY AND MY UNCLE DISTILLED ALCOHOL IN THE TUB. MY UNCLE WAS A STUDENT AT TECH AND MANAGED TO GET THE STILL FROM THE CHEM LAB. HE LIVED TO BE 100 AND DADDY MADE IT TO OUR AGE. I NEED SOME OF THAT STUFF.
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Afraid that Lawrence drug that leg around until Fats Hardy got to him.
Interesting that I know nothing about my parents alcohol activities during prohibition. Never mentioned. Of course my mother was mostly a teatotaler, a little sherry here or only a sip from a glass of Scotch and water.
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DRINKING SOMEHOW GOT TANGLED UP WITH THE PROTESTANT WORK ETHIC. THERE ARE MORE PLACES IN TH E BIBLE THAT ENCOURAGE DRINKING THAN NOT. SO IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
I NOTICE THAT IT STILL PREVAILS IN THE BLUE COLLAR CROWD, PROBABLY BECAUSE THEIR WORKING AND FAMILY SITUATIONS ARE SO MISERABLE THE BREAD WINNER IS PRONE TO SQUANDER THE FAMILY'S MEAGER STIPEND UPON DRINK JUST TO FORGET THAT LIFE.
BUT THE UPWARD BOUND PLUS THOSE LONG ON TOP WERE SHEDDING THIS ISSUE ABOUT THE TIME PROHIBITION ENDED. I THINK THE SENTIMENT "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH" PREVAILED.
NOW TAKE MY FOLKS AS AN EXAMPLE. MY GRANDMOTHER NEVER HAD A DRINK BUT I NEVER HEARD HER OBJECT TO IT. I THINK HER METHODIST BACKGROUND PUT A GUILT TRIP ON HER. METHODISM WAS A CORN FED AMERICAN ENTITY. AND WAS ONE OF OF THE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS THAT GUIDED BY THEIR CONCERN FOR THE BLUE COLLAR FAMILY SITUATION. BUT THE PRESBYTERIANS, WITH THEIR SCOTTISH HERITAGE, THE LUTHERANS, MOSTLY GERMAN BACKGROUND AND THE WHISKEY PALIANS GENERALLY HAD NEVER BEEN UNDER THIS STRICTURE. SO MY MOTHER WHO CONVERTED FROM METHODISM AND MY FATHER WHO NEVER HAD A FAITH PREFERENCE DID HAVE AN EVENING DRINK WHEN THEY COULD AFFORD IT.
OUT OF SOME DIM TOUCH OF CONSERVATISM DADDY KEPT HIS BOTTLE IN A BROWN PAPER SACK IN THE BEDROOM CLOSET. I WATCHED HIM TAKE IT DOWN ON OCCASION.
WHEN WE MOVED TO W. PACES FERRY DADDY BECAME TOTALLY OPEN TO THE SITUATION AND HAD A TINY BAR OFF OF THE DEN.
YOUR FATHER BEING PRESBYTERIAN WOULD, I THINK, HAVE REGULAR TODDYS. MR. BROOME CERTAINLY MADE IT AVAILABLE!
TELL ME WHAT YOU OBSERVED.
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Steve,
Interesting.
My father always had a drink before dinner, rarely two. Mother had her tiny Scotch. Never wine with dinner.
I don’t recall ever seeing either one drunk, though I expect the gin and tonic did loosen Big Charlie up a bit.
Neither ever got a drink off of Big Stock. He would come over some times looking for a drink and my father alway said all he had was Scotch which Big Stock would not drink!
I do recall my mother’s mother drinking a bit of sherry on occasion.. I doubt if my father’s mother did but do not know.
As you know, my parents both came from Scot/Irish Presbyterian stock.
I do wonder whether my balance issue is a result of too much alcohol over the years. I believe I told you the reaction I got from my great country doctor, Michael Whitt, in Inverness, CA when I mentioned that I listed a bit to starboard (he was a great sailor) when I got up at night to pee. He responded: ”Rig, how much do you drink?” I said "one or two a day or so”. He came right back: “cut out the “or so””.
Good advice I have never taken…
Alcohol is my drug of choice. I look forward to it and enjoy it!! A gin and tonic every day at 5pm(never two) and then one to two glasses of wine. So be it.
Your buddy in booze,
Rigdup
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MY FOLKS WERE PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.
I THINK YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE BEEN A BIG DRINKER MOST OF MY ADULT LIFE AND I HAVE NO BALANCE PROBLEMS--WHEN I AM SOBER.
NOWADAYS MY DRINKING HAS GONE WAY DOWN. AFTER MY OPERATION 8 WEEKS AGO I HAVE NO DESIRE FOR MORE THAN ONE BEFORE AND DURING SUPPER. I DO NOT MEASURE THE BOOZE SO IT IS LIKELY PRETTY BIG.
ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK I HAVE LUNCH OUT AND HAVE A MARTINI THEN.
TOMORROW I AM INVITED TO A REMEMBRANCE LUNCH FOR CLAUDE AND I WILL DRINK TO HIM.
FUNNY THING I HAVE NOT OPENED BUT ONE BOTTLE OF WINE SINCE THE SURGERY. JUST DON'T LIKE IT MUCH. STILL LACKING SOME OF MY TASTE BUDS.
ENJOY YOURSELF . WHO IS QUALIFIED TO TELL A 93 YR OLD TO CUT BACK?
S
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Steve,
Precisely!
I shall try to squeeze as much pleasure out of life as I can.
One of my greatest pleasures now is having a few buddies like you!
I am also most fortunate to still have Trish as my companion.
And our Dudley gives us so much pleasure. He is a great little dog & well behaved.
I am enjoying doing my web-based biography so expect more questions & IDs. I will give you access to this soon so you can follow the “progress”.
I am having trouble getting the nerve to call Hugh, why I don’t know…but I will soon.
Bubba
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SO MUCH NEWS IN ONE LETTER. DOES WEB BASED MEAN THAT YOU WONT HAVE IT PRINTED ON PAPER? I PAID BIG BUCKS FOR AN EDITOR. I WAS INSULTED WHEN THE PUBLISHER ALMOST INSISTED THAT I DO IT. WELL, I LEARNED THAT I HAD FORGOTTEN MY ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION RULES. AND THAN GOD FOR SPELL CHECK. THE EDITOR WAS WELL WORTH IT.
I AM REALLY EXCITED YOU ARE WRITING IT. MY ONLY ADVICE AT THIS POINT IS TO WRITE LIKE YOU TALK. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE IT PRINTED.
SEND ME STUFF ON OCCASION AND I WILL COMMENT.
HUGH WOULD BE THRILLED WITH A CALL. HE WILL FIRST TELL YOU THAT HE IS PEEING IN HIS DEPENDS.
S
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