And yes, there were establishments on Bourbon Street where 16 year old kids like me could drink. The drinking age in Louisiana at the time was 18. there were those of us who filtered through the cracks.
The first time I ever ordered up and drank at a bar was at the Moonlight Inn in French Settlement, Louisiana. I was 15 years old at the time and they served 10 ounce cans of Schlitz. I drank five cans then went out in the parking lot and puked. I got the dizzy spins. I puked my guts out.
I remember the time my Uncle Herman (he was my dad's first cousin but in line of respect he's my uncle) fed me a bunch of bonded whiskey. I was only 16 years old. I puked my guts out.
What was funny about that spot is I remember falling out of his truck when he got me to his house and my Aunt Ann, Herman's wife, came out there on the porch and cussed him out for getting me so drunk. I was drunker than a pig at the time but that was funny stuff. She lit into his ass hard. It was one of the rare few times when I seen Uncle Herman not knowing what the hell to do. That bitch wanted to kill his ass.
Herman Crimm is dead now so I guess I can tell the story. He was a bootlegger in Scott County, Mississippi. He got away with it all his life. He got busted for it a few times but he never went to the pen. Everybody liked him. He was a crook with a heart of gold.
Scott County is a dry county but Herman would tell you "I can get you all the whiskey you want." Just pay the money and you get the whiskey.
Yeah, he was a bootlegger from hell. But he also raised every kid in the county. When folks weren't strong enough to raise their own kids, Herman did the chore for them. He had a sure born weakness for kids. He just didn't like kids going without.
There was always a big feed at Herman's house and all the kids showed up because Herman was a pretty good cook too. I was one of those kids.
Herman Crimm was the nuts. He was the most unique person I have ever met. He carried two pistols in his belt. But he was a sucker for every kid.
He's buried at Ephesus Baptist Church Cemetery, Ringgold, Mississippi.
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Posted by: mickeycrimm@yahoo.com
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