The Bars

I grew up in an Irish/Jewish neighborhood

the Jewish lads went to school and studied

the Irish went to the bars.

To be sure, many of us also went to school

and played sports and went out with girls

(no sex, though)

but we went to the bars

underage

after games

after dates

after softball games

before and after dances

to watch the Sunday football game

and for every other damn reason.

The Broadstone

the Wiilow Tree, Erin's Isle

Chambers', McSherry's, the Inwood Longue

Doc Fiddler's, Cassidy's, Jimmy Ryan's, Keenan's Corner

Dolan's, The Pig n' Whistle, Freehill's, Terminal, Old Shiling

Markey's. McGolderick's, Carmor, Roonry's, Grippo's, Minogue's

well, you get the idea

We knew the bartenders by name

George Lynch, Pat Gallagher, "Sunshine", Georgie Costello, Chris, Fred, Tommy, Mara, Dan, John, Joe, Kathy-in-Erin's

and they all bought back "The next one's on me, Mac"

(and you never leave after a buyback).

We hung out there

we talked

we laughed

we sang

we sometimes fought

... and we drank.

But we didn't just drink in the bars

we drank in the park

we drank at parties

we drank at football games

we drank at dances (from a hidden flask).

Many slowed down as they grew up

many stopped altogether

and some were stopped only by the grave.

"The drink" was a macho factor.

If you told a fellow he had diabetes,

he'd stop taking sugar.

If you told some of my friends that

they shouldn't drink, they'd say

"What do you mean? I can hold my liquor."

They planned to drink until they died

and they did.

I still think we had more fun

than the Jewish guys

(unless they were getting laid).

~John F. McMullen