A very 1985 Thanksgiving part 1.

     Picture it.  1986 the age before cell phones, atm machines, internet, just picture it.  I was driving my 1976 Ford Granada still.  Paying my way by washing dishes.  Wearing seat belts had just become mandatory the year before.  Ronald Regan was still in power.

     For me it marked the passing of my Dad in October of the previous year.  Unexpectedly.  I was in my first year of college and was rocked.  I'd been at a community college so was still near home.  But it's not about my dad, just setting the full table.

     I was at my friend Dave's house.  Were we drinking?  No but we were discussing it.  It was probably the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.  That's why it's a Thanksgiving tale.

     We were discussing our disgust about the drinking age becoming 21.  Now as anyone who was just about to be 19 at that age can tell you.  We were 17, almost 18 when they changed the age to 19.  And now just on the precipice of 19 they were changing to 21.

     We'd decided to go to Paris.  What?  We were young and stupid and of course without passports.  The idea fell flat after we phoned to inquire about tickets.  $500 one way.  Not sure if that's good or bad by the 21st century mark.  So back to the situation at hand.

     Now the drinking age, well it's not exactly what you would call a law.  Oh no, don't you remember history at all?  You see as of December 1st, any state not raising their drinking age would not get certain funding.  Vermont was the last holdout we could reach.

     With our righteous indignation, and the fact that Vermont was going to change it, we planned a road trip.

     It was a mere 8 hours.  We could have a drink and be back.  Now let me say this much.  We had plenty of resources for drinking. Had no troubles buying or even drinking in bars.  This was purely about youth full indignation. I went home to deliver the news and we'd planned to start by 4 in the morning.

     My mom was less than pleased. But I gave little choice.  I've no idea what Dave's parents said or if he even told them.  We were off on yet another road trip together.  Did I ever tell you about Graceland?  Oh but that was the 90's so never mind.

     Foreshadowing:  As I said no atm machines, no cell phones.  I should mention no weather channel either.

-t.b.c.