September 14, 2019 (I was 74)
My grandfather owned Joe’s Tavern
a three-two beer joint with a few old regulars
He was Croatian but some Serbs were among them
A couple thousand miles from home
can turn enemies into drinking buddies
My Uncle Pete owned the Vene Qua
just up the alley and across Hwy. 169 from Joe’s
The Qua had a hard liquor license
since it was home to the Legion Club
Anyway after Sunday Mass my cousin Peter
would have to clean up the place
It was an Iron Range mining town
One time I must have been 11 and Peter 13
I was with him sweeping up
(I refused to empty and rinse the spittoons)
After restocking the coolers
we would sample a recipe
from Uncle Pete’s Bartender’s Guide
Peter decided we’d try a martini
gin vermouth ice and an olive easy
It was so bad we tossed it and ate the olives
burnt our lips and couldn’t figure out
why they were so popular in the movies
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