Spring Break
My traveling companion is 9 years old and we are going to Graceland
Not the news
Elizabeth St. John
Issue date: 3/26/07 Section: Life & Style
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I remember the first time I went barhopping like it was yesterday. I was a 9-year-old visiting each bar at Westport in St. Louis with my parents. I've been barhopping with my parents ever since.
The bouncers at the bars have never questioned my age when I've been with the 'rents. I mean, my dad's a white-haired big guy, and my mom is one of those little women with a really threatening glare. In all actuality, my dad can be really nice, and my mom's the one to worry about. So the bouncers are probably just avoiding trouble with a petite madwoman.
When I was younger, bartenders saw me as a novelty. Sure, let the fifth-grader in … she's just cute. But, by the time I was 14, I was assumed to be 21, and I have been 21 ever since. Don't get me wrong. I didn't start drinking in the bars until I was 16. Just kidding. Seriously, though, going to bars with your parents really works out quite nicely when you're underage.
My dad and I went to Memphis for spring break this year, and we went barhopping on Beale Street. That was a pretty cool experience. We ate a lot of good food, saw a lot of live music, and most importantly, saw a lot of people dancing like weirdoes. It's amazing what a little alcohol will do to even a talented person's dancing skills. Did you see the footage of Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush dancing in Brazil a couple of weeks ago? It was pretty square at first with Condoleezza tapping her toe and Laura standing as still as a statue. And then it just got embarrassing, arms flailing and feet stomping out of time. Let's be glad these people are known for other talents, like being an, um, international diplomat and doing whatever it is that Laura Bush is supposed to do. This presidential administration dancing, though, was similar to what we saw in the Memphis bars. It was just plain goofy, but at least everyone was having a good time. And actually, this is how we felt about our entire trip to Memphis. My dad and I did some goofy things, but we sure did have a lot of fun.
The bouncers at the bars have never questioned my age when I've been with the 'rents. I mean, my dad's a white-haired big guy, and my mom is one of those little women with a really threatening glare. In all actuality, my dad can be really nice, and my mom's the one to worry about. So the bouncers are probably just avoiding trouble with a petite madwoman.
When I was younger, bartenders saw me as a novelty. Sure, let the fifth-grader in … she's just cute. But, by the time I was 14, I was assumed to be 21, and I have been 21 ever since. Don't get me wrong. I didn't start drinking in the bars until I was 16. Just kidding. Seriously, though, going to bars with your parents really works out quite nicely when you're underage.
My dad and I went to Memphis for spring break this year, and we went barhopping on Beale Street. That was a pretty cool experience. We ate a lot of good food, saw a lot of live music, and most importantly, saw a lot of people dancing like weirdoes. It's amazing what a little alcohol will do to even a talented person's dancing skills. Did you see the footage of Condoleezza Rice and Laura Bush dancing in Brazil a couple of weeks ago? It was pretty square at first with Condoleezza tapping her toe and Laura standing as still as a statue. And then it just got embarrassing, arms flailing and feet stomping out of time. Let's be glad these people are known for other talents, like being an, um, international diplomat and doing whatever it is that Laura Bush is supposed to do. This presidential administration dancing, though, was similar to what we saw in the Memphis bars. It was just plain goofy, but at least everyone was having a good time. And actually, this is how we felt about our entire trip to Memphis. My dad and I did some goofy things, but we sure did have a lot of fun.
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