Life in the mountains

So, Snoop Dog has given up his “gangsta rap” and will put out a Reggae CD in
the fall and he’s changed his name to Snoop Lion!  He said during a recent visit
to Jamaica, he connected with the spirit of Bob Marley and is now Bob Marley
reincarnated.  So, you think he has smoked too much ganja?

Well, how about if, after living in the mountains for the past 10 months, I
suddenly announce I have changed paths in my life after connecting with the
spirit of Popcorn Sutton.  He was a well-known moonshiner who lived deep in
the woods near Maggie Valley, North Carolina not far from where we live.

For many years he carried on the livelihood handed down from his father, making
the best moonshine in these hills – if you knew someone who could get it for you.
He was busted by Federal agents several times but went right back to what he
knew best…making ‘shine.  He committed suicide in a moment of depression after
being sentenced to 18 months in prison.

I could say that I have now changed my name to ‘Popcorn’ Garen and take up
moonshining.  Now, the only problem with that is I wouldn’t have the slightest
idea how to even start.  I know you need a large vat or cooker..with copper tubing
leading to a fermenter….or something like that.  Then you need jugs to put it in
after you’ve completed the process.   And, of course, a place to hide everything.

If I remember the story, Popcorn Sutton made corn liquor…I don’t know if he ever
used potatoes or apples but I’ve had a nip or two of moonshine made with apples
and potatoes and it was pretty good…but it had the kick of a mule!  That was a
number of years ago in Georgia.

Last year at a festival in Franklin, North Carolina we saw Harold Corbin who bills
himself as “Macon County’s Only Legal Moonshiner.”  He had samples in mason jars
sittin’ on his table with an old rifle layin’ across it.  He asked if I wanted to
try it and handed me the jar.  I took a good sized swig and swallowed slowly.  I
had to because it was taking my breath away!

As we walked away from his “booth” my wife turned to me and asked, “Do you
know how many people have drank out of that jar before you?”  I replied, “Hell,
there isn’t a germ in the world that could survive that moonshine – it was just as
sterile as if it was in an operating room!”  And I never did catch anything!

Now, back to Snoop Dog….errrrr….I mean Snoop Lion.  After being a gangsta
rapper for all these years I wonder if he can really make the transition to reggae?

Snoop Lion says he always felt he had a bit of Rastafarian in him and has now
made the change to produce music that kids and grandparents can listen to and
enjoy.   I guess we’ll know if the spirit has really entered him when the CD comes
out.

Bob Marley’s son has given Snoop Lion his blessings.  Ahhh..maybe that’s the secret.
No kin of Popcorn Sutton has given me their blessings so, I guess I can’t make
moonshine but I can still try to make whoopie until the sun comes up!

Posted by Gary on Aug 2 2012. Filed under Arts/Media/Culture. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.