Wow, brings back my own memories of stupid antics. God Bless America! P.S. - Dave, I hear the Sphere is Vegas has been having a very patriotic display this weekend.
I was about 100 miles from you at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic in Gonzales. My friend drove me and two others in his AMC Javelin. We got pulled over on the way but somehow the cop let us go. We were 17 and like you said the legal age was 18 at the time.
We arrived after dark into a giant traffic jam/party. We finally found a spot and slept outside the car. I woke up looking at a guy in a big pickup driving by me saying don’t worry I ain’t gonna hit you.
It was in the middle of the outlaw craze and Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff, Leon, Kris K, David Allen Coe, Ray Wiley, Doug Sahm and others were supposedly there. It was hard to get near the music and it wasn’t really that important.
It poured rain the last day and the place turned into a giant mud hole. I remember walking in a line along a path going somewhere. The path crossed a small ditch and a guy a few people ahead fell face down in it. The next guy rolled him over and we continued on.
It was quite an experience. I cant believe my parents let me go. In the words of Three Dog Night, “ I seen so many things I ain’t never seen before”. I’m told I had a great time. A close second to was the Grateful Dead at Manor Downs near Austin a few years later.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hard to believe it’s been 50 years. Two of my friends that went aren’t with us now.
Year before, maybe, 4th of July, me and BF, his little brother, DK and RB, hell, you may have even been there, camped at Little Beeville, with BBQ pit in tow, tents, large quantities of beer and a fresh killed javelina. Police came by that evening and just kinda joined in the fun for a bit, sans imbibing, eating some javelina and cut up with us for a bit. We played at a little fishing and swimming, all the while hawking at the bikini-clad troublemakers, and just had a good time. Woke up the next morning (day) feeling rough and somebody had killed a rattlesnake that night and coiled it up at the passenger side door where BF would step out. We were all waiting (not quite breathlessly but truly hungover) and he finally got up and stepped out of the truck right next to the snake saying, “Who put that there,” killing a possible great moment at Little Beeville, Port A, Texas, 1970ish. God bless America.
Ha ha great “coming of age” story as I would call it, the carefree days when the day after consequences were never an issue (…nor a consideration. And most police were sane and had a sense of humour).
To all of you yanks celebrating please accept my best wishes for a great celebration and for another great 250 ahead! Yeehaw! (I know but I can be a bit cliche can’t I)
That's funny, and *real* in the sense that that sort of thing happened to us all, one way or another when we were also 'young and stupid'.
The ironic thing about this is that the Democrazies have a very selective view of 'young and stupid'. Conservatives can and were 'canceled/harassed/fired/removed from social media' for 'young/stupid' transgressions of any sort, but 'progressives' are forgiven for anything, including blackface antics and even having (and proudly displaying) literal nazi tattoos. For the chosen few, *everything* is forgivable - because they are the 'chosen few'. And this dichotomy doesn't bother the DemoCrazies at all - they can simultaneously cancel Dr. Seuss for a 100-year-old cartoon and praise nazi-tattoo-wearing Platner.
As Kurt Vonnegut famously wrote in the frontispiece to The Sirens of Titan: All the people and events in this story are completely true. No names have been changed to protect the innocent because God Almighty protects the innocent as a matter of Heavenly routine.
Wow, brings back my own memories of stupid antics. God Bless America! P.S. - Dave, I hear the Sphere is Vegas has been having a very patriotic display this weekend.
It was pretty amazing last night!
My bladder hurts just thinking about it!
Mine never recovered!
Good story. Based on my experience, you would have to drink a lot of Miller Lite to get that plastered.
I was about 100 miles from you at Willie’s 4th of July Picnic in Gonzales. My friend drove me and two others in his AMC Javelin. We got pulled over on the way but somehow the cop let us go. We were 17 and like you said the legal age was 18 at the time.
We arrived after dark into a giant traffic jam/party. We finally found a spot and slept outside the car. I woke up looking at a guy in a big pickup driving by me saying don’t worry I ain’t gonna hit you.
It was in the middle of the outlaw craze and Willie, Waylon, Jerry Jeff, Leon, Kris K, David Allen Coe, Ray Wiley, Doug Sahm and others were supposedly there. It was hard to get near the music and it wasn’t really that important.
It poured rain the last day and the place turned into a giant mud hole. I remember walking in a line along a path going somewhere. The path crossed a small ditch and a guy a few people ahead fell face down in it. The next guy rolled him over and we continued on.
It was quite an experience. I cant believe my parents let me go. In the words of Three Dog Night, “ I seen so many things I ain’t never seen before”. I’m told I had a great time. A close second to was the Grateful Dead at Manor Downs near Austin a few years later.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Hard to believe it’s been 50 years. Two of my friends that went aren’t with us now.
Alright, alright, alright!
Don’t try that now! It may hurt worse in the morning.
Ahhh, the memories. ❤️
Year before, maybe, 4th of July, me and BF, his little brother, DK and RB, hell, you may have even been there, camped at Little Beeville, with BBQ pit in tow, tents, large quantities of beer and a fresh killed javelina. Police came by that evening and just kinda joined in the fun for a bit, sans imbibing, eating some javelina and cut up with us for a bit. We played at a little fishing and swimming, all the while hawking at the bikini-clad troublemakers, and just had a good time. Woke up the next morning (day) feeling rough and somebody had killed a rattlesnake that night and coiled it up at the passenger side door where BF would step out. We were all waiting (not quite breathlessly but truly hungover) and he finally got up and stepped out of the truck right next to the snake saying, “Who put that there,” killing a possible great moment at Little Beeville, Port A, Texas, 1970ish. God bless America.
Back in that innocent time when being stupid didn’t include things like “gays for Hamas”
Ha ha great “coming of age” story as I would call it, the carefree days when the day after consequences were never an issue (…nor a consideration. And most police were sane and had a sense of humour).
To all of you yanks celebrating please accept my best wishes for a great celebration and for another great 250 ahead! Yeehaw! (I know but I can be a bit cliche can’t I)
That's funny, and *real* in the sense that that sort of thing happened to us all, one way or another when we were also 'young and stupid'.
The ironic thing about this is that the Democrazies have a very selective view of 'young and stupid'. Conservatives can and were 'canceled/harassed/fired/removed from social media' for 'young/stupid' transgressions of any sort, but 'progressives' are forgiven for anything, including blackface antics and even having (and proudly displaying) literal nazi tattoos. For the chosen few, *everything* is forgivable - because they are the 'chosen few'. And this dichotomy doesn't bother the DemoCrazies at all - they can simultaneously cancel Dr. Seuss for a 100-year-old cartoon and praise nazi-tattoo-wearing Platner.
"He had somehow driven back there without killing both of us." that's because a host of guardian angels were watching over y'all
were the kegs empty?
you could have at least bought Coors instead of Miller Lite
Re: street signs.
"We all swore if we ever got rich
We would pay the Mini Mart back"
As Kurt Vonnegut famously wrote in the frontispiece to The Sirens of Titan: All the people and events in this story are completely true. No names have been changed to protect the innocent because God Almighty protects the innocent as a matter of Heavenly routine.
Port A is an amazing place 🇺🇸
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.