Drinking and Driving

By: 
Gerry Goode

My dad would work on some task in the morning that didn't take much time, before he got ready to leave for work at ten o'clock.  My mother would pack his lunch and coffee to drink on the hour's ride to Louisville.  The thermos he always took his coffee in had been broken, so my mother substituted it with a pint whiskey bottle that held the two cup size, same as the thermos.

Dad never did drive the old International truck over 40 to 45 miles an hour.  Besides, as he ate his lunch he didn't need to be in a hurry.  He would have a cigarette after lunch.  He tolled his own, using Bull Durham tobacco.  It was kind of tricky to dump the tobacco onto the little paper and hold the steering wheel at the same time.  He asked me to steer as he completed making and lighting the cigarette.  That made me feel kind of big for a few minutes.

When we got to the toll house on the Kentucky side of the Ohio River and stopped to pay toll, a police officer had him pull over and get out of the truck.  Dad asked, "What's going on, officer?"  He had him walk a line and smelled his breath.  The officer said, "A motorist came through here a few minutes ago and reported a truck fitting the description of yours and the driver was driving slow and drinking from a whiskey bottle, and drank it dry."  My dad laughed and said to the officer, "I was drinking my coffee with my lunch.  My wife put it in a whiskey bottle till I could replace my thermos that was broken."

The officer couldn't see the humor in it.  He was expecting to write a citation, instead he unwittingly became part of a humorous situation.  He ordered dad to get a thermos as soon as he could and not to be drinking from a whiskey bottle while driving.

Writer's Information

I have been attending Writers Bloc for six years. I would recommend to anyone interested in writing to attend future meetings to hone their writing skills.  We are an informal group that share our writings in progress.

My area of writing is focused on stories and memories starting with the 1937 flood that devastated Louisville, Kentucky and all areas located on the banks of the mighty Ohio River.  Memories from childhood reflect a kinder, gentler time in spite of our n ation fighting in WWII for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Share your memories with the younger generation.  You are a walking, talking history booking.  Join Writers Bloc soon and get started.  The fun of learning awaits at every meeting.

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