I just got off the phone with Jeanie. She is a counselor in Relief Society up there and was telling me about her visit to the Allred's this week. Charles and Erlene were friends of our parents when we were growing up. I was sad to hear that they're both failing mentally and physically right now. It is hard to hear that about those two. They were stalwarts in the ward when we first joined the Church. One of my favorite memories of them is a party they invited us to at their home shortly after our baptism. I think it must have been an Elder's Quorum activity or something similar. Anyway, it was an outdoor potluck and, as we were all getting our food, they brought out a box of homemade root beer for the kids. Brother Allred apologized a bit saying it wasn't their best batch and that it had kind of a funny taste. He wanted the kids to drink as much as they wanted as he was eager to get it used up so he could free up the bottles for his next batch. Well, Dad, being Dad, decided he wanted one too- to see what it tasted like. He took one big swallow and got the biggest grin on his face. And, in his usual 'quiet' voice announced; "This isn't
root beer, its just plain old beer!" Brother Allred assured him that it was indeed ROOT beer, that he had made it himself and that it was perfectly fine.. it just had kind of an off taste. Then Dad's funny bone was REALLY tickled! He could hardly stop laughing. Finally he said; "Brother Allred, have you ever tasted beer?" "No!" was the reply. "I've been a member all my life and I have never broken the Word of Wisdom!" "Well, you have now! Believe me, I know beer when I taste it!" He dragged mom over to verify it. And, she sheepishly agreed that it had certainly fermented into beer. (she could have cheerfully throttled Dad about then). At that point, Brother Allred quickly gathered up all the bottles and kind of went off mumbling to himself. Of course, this became one of Dad's favorite stories and he loved to tease Bro Allred about his 'root beer'. (I'm not sure Bro Allred ever made homemade root beer again!) Anyway, that memory always makes me smile. God bless, Charles and Erlene, you'll be in my prayers.
Well yeah he made it again...that is funny I never heard that story, but I do remember they left "Root Beer" in the basement too long and it exploded...they could hear it popping down there and when they went down it popped open all over their basement...when I was there yesterday I told them I remembered that story and Bro. Allred made some comment about he didn't know it would make beer if you left it too long...LOL guess that comment made more sense after this story...anyway, when I said "Sister Allred that must have been a nightmare to clean up" she just said with a sheepish smile "oh cement obsorbes things quick enough!" My story is a little more creepy but now is more funny understanding how frugal the Allreds were. They had rabbits in pins in their back yard and I often went over after Sunday School to play with Polly and then would hook back up with the parents for Sacrament mtg and go home after that. Anyway, I had gone over and found I had a great fondness for one of their bunnies and wanted it soo much...the next time I came over they had rabbit for dinner and proudly gave me a well taxidermied rabbit foot for a good luck keep sake...yes...it was my bunny...I was very sad, but yet intrigued by the rabbit foot. Mom was NOT ammused...the rabbit foot landed in the garbage with Mom grumbling nasty rabbits...so now you all know one of the many reasons I am a bit disturbed!
ReplyDeleteOh that is hilarious. I can seriously imagine grandpa chuckling so hard after he tasted that "root"beer. Good thing he and grandma went to that party...those kids might have gotten a little loopy/sick.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to love Bowser legends!!
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