moonshine? sure.

I've met Shawana's mother and sister and a few other of her close family members since May. They gave me a insight of southern personalities and how Shawana acted in her comfortable family environment. We come from different backgrounds, Shawana's family represents MS and MS style. My family comes from the Carribean. If you venture onto an island in the tropics, there is a good chance that I have family there.

So its New Year's Eve and I've just flown into MS for the first time. Shawana meets me at the airport and we are driving back to her family's neighborhood. Over the hill and through the woods to Shawana's house we go. The drive has to be taken at a steady pace because of all the deer in the area. Shawana pointed out that everybody in her family at some point has met up with a deer while driving through the woods. We're not talking about happy times on the side of the road feeding them, but accidents with Bambi and his cousins bounding into the middle of the road. We get to Hawthorne Road, I deem it that because at the corner is a small country church her grandmother attends. Across the street from there is her dad's house; continuing further down the road, we pass her grandmother's house on the same side of the church followed by her mom's house. We pull into her driveway, but look down the road you can see her brother's new house. There's something about having so much family so close together.

As we get inside it becomes apparent that Shawana's mom has setup my family introduction tour for this evening. First stop is to Shawana's brother, Troy. Though I described the family as being close by, its still far enough that getting in the car is an ideal option. Escpecially up here in MS because it is significantly colder compared to St. Petersburg. Troy's kids, Antroya and Troyman, were down in St. Petersburg visiting last year so I've met them before. Going there first also helped squash the rumor that I was a rotundasly short individual to Troy and his wife. Antroya saved me from witnessing Troy strutting around in his underwear on my first visit over there. Though she wasn't able to save me from this sight the second time around, her efforts were appreciated. The family was cool, and Troy is definitely a talker. He was quick to give me insights to the family members and MS in general.
Our next stop was to her dad's house. Leroy also falls into the cool category and it after a few minutes of visiting with him, its clear where Troy and his father are very similar. They love to talk. This is illustrated to me even more when Troy and his family show up at Leroy's while we are still there. One funny story after another rolls out from both of them. The stories get even funnier to me after Leroy whips out some home-grown bottled goodness. I received several geers to relax and have some; they were hoping I was a cool cat who could hang with the big dogs. Troy poured me one drink of this high-grade battery acid mixed with Coke. Damn that moonshine was good, it reminded of the only other time in my life that I drank from a batch of homemade alcohol. Obviously the recipes are the same, strong and to the point. One story really stuck out in my mind, seeing that it came after I had a drink. Where the Hawthorne's live is very rustic, wildlife and the great outdoors are very abundant and the area has both types of family entertainment: Hunting and Fishing.
Leroy shared the story of his front lawn deer hunting. One night he's getting ready for bed when 5 deers show up outside the window. He carefully takes the screen off his bedroom window. He then eases his rifle carefully out the window until he is about butt-up against the neck of the biggest deer in the bunch. He fires and the buck jumps straight up in the air and takes off. The questions sound out, "Did you get him?" Leroy felt assured he got him, closed the window and went to bed. He found the deer the next day.
Not to be outdone Troy tells his recent tail of Bambi Shooting. He is up in a tree waiting for his prey to come along. Off in the distance he sees his target deer. He aims and shoots, he misses and catches the deer's attention. Strange thing is the deer doesn't run, he walks towards Troy. Troy fires again and misses, the deer keeps coming towards him. By the 4th shot Troy describes the deer as being at the end of the rifle. Being shot the deer jumps straight up and Troy searches and finds his prize.
Whew that was a full evening and I was too worn out to stay up and watch the clock strike midnight on the New Year.