Moonshine, Hooch, & Remember To Honk Your Horn

While visiting some relatives as a teenager, for a few years, I got an education in keeping my eyes and mouth shut. My aunt, my father and I were sitting in the swing when my father decided to take a stroll down the hill. When he returned, he showed us a perfectly hollowed out rock about eight inches long.

When my aunt and father started discussing the rock I decided to wander off looking for my own rock. (I have been collecting rocks practically my whole life.) I gave up after a while and turned just in time to see my uncle standing next to a contraption I figured was a moonshine still. He yelled over at me to get back up the hill. This was a revelation that changed my opinion.

After that I knew why so many neighbors came to visit them but they only stopped in back of the house after honking all the way down the driveway, an old ante-revenuer trick.

I learned a lot. I just thought they had a friendly bunch of neighbors.

Happy 4th of July 248 years ago. Let’s keep it that going that way!