David Watkins hero

 

David Watkins hero

 

     The glorification of imbibing seems a bit foolish looking in the rear view mirror but Greg always viewed  his drinking as a part of the good life. Many of we South Gate lads had Irish blood and were proud to be sons of the olde sod. We revelled in stories of people who enjoyed the taking of spirits and sometimes quoted Willie Nelson who wrote "there are more old drunks than there are old doctors so I guess I'll have another round. Unfortunately the unstated importance of moderating the intake got lost sometime over the years. There was Jimmy Tomorrow in the "Iceman Cometh" who had many memorable quote to demonstrate his need for spirits and the great Fred Exley who observed happy hour for all of his waking moments. I liked to tell the story of the sad Englishman David Watkins who was banned from using alcohol in his own home by an teetotalling wife. There was no information why she found the ban necessary but it must have had a basis in bad behavior. Anyway, Watkins just went out to his garden shed one afternoon and wrote a note that said "Life is not worth living if I cannot have me pint" Watkins then took his final drink but this time it was  a gulp of fatal insecticide that probably caused a terrible amount of suffering. David Watkins did make his point and was celebrated by the men in his village as a sort of alcoholic martyr. At the heart of a lot of unbending denial of the damages done by demon rum to homes and health is this fear of losing the moments of joy provided by intoxication. Poor David Watkins could have turned to mint tea but maybe not.