August 2003

The Boones Farm Saga
by Jan Sopshier

Coming home from town one day, I stopped at a local convenience store. Everyone is aware of the products you can purchase at these quick stop markets when you don't want to face the crowds in a grocery store. Gas, milk, cigarettes and gasoline for your gas guzzling automobile are the main products sold at these little stores. Most of these markets are referred to as "quick" shopping stores though the prices they charge are outrageous.

Standing in line, I noticed this rack beside the check-out counter. Lined up perfectly in rows of 10 were these long-necked bottles. Squinting my eyes, I clearly saw the labels that read, "Boone's Farm".

There was this man behind me with his 6 pack of beer in tow, and I asked him if the "Boone's Farm" was an alcoholic beverage. He said he thought it was because there was this "flavored malt beverage" text on the front of the bottle.

Memories started flooding back. I can't explain "why" but I picked up one of the bottles, which had a price tag of $2.49. I left the store and proceeded to get into my car with this new found treasure. My youngest daughter Stacy was waiting patiently for me and when I got into the car, she asked me, "mom, what's in that bag?"

I told her it was a bottle of "Boone's Farm" and I was taking it home. She wanted to know if I was going to "get drunk" with it. I told her I bought it only because it brought back memories. She really wasn't sure what I was talking about and probably thought I was crazy at the time.

Then I told her my story. Thirtysomething years ago when her daddy and I double-dated, we would buy 1 pint of Apple flavored "Boone's Farm" and go to the Drive-In theater. There we would split that single bottle amongst 4 young folks. Nobody got "drunk" nor did we ever finish the bottle. We were all underaged and thought we could get by with anything. Splitting the bottle of "Boone's Farm" with 3 other teenagers was almost a ritual; four ounces per person never went far.

The bottle I bought that day is still sitting comfortably in my refrigerator. I won't open it, nor will I drink it. Perhaps it will remain chilled in my 'fridge' for the next 30 years. I really think I bought it as a keepsake because Stacy was only 6 when her daddy passed away. Seeing the bottle on the store shelf brought back memories of yester-year.

Jan Sopshier