The Start and The End

If you walked in during the winter, the blast from the propane heater made you sick for a minute. By the second minute you had alcohol in your hand and were looking for a place to sit. It was party central and there was someone for everyone: grads, undergrads, philosophy majors, bio majors, engineers, country boys, sorority girls, locals, and depending on the weekend, even moms. All of em’ drunk, drinking, or both, dancing in the living room, while the line for the keg strangled the kitchen. Alcohol was the start and alcohol was the end: it livened you up and passed you out, it got you out and did you in. Alcohol was essential.