Toke It Up

I was talking to my mom yesterday and she said she and my dad went to Junkman’s Daughter in Little Five Points. That’s an area in Atlanta that has a unique feel to it. Where punk, trendy and Rastafarian motifs all come together. This shop is a huge building that has just about everything you can imagine under one roof. You can buy Doc Martin’s, sex toys, costumes for any occasion, vintage clothes, and specialty items for habits that are...hmmm…how to put it…illegal.

Which brings me to my story of the day. My folks walk to the back room where the black light glows and the posters on the wall are of Bob Marley and mushrooms with faces. On the shelves are pipes, bongs, and hookahs that are all hand blown from multi colored class. They are each on their own a work of art, but together a room of pot smokers dreams.

My mom is a lady of the moment and knew what the articles where and knew how to use them. My dad on the other hand stepped off the turnip truck and began to ask questions. Now, I have to interject; If you do not know my dad this is will not be as funny, but if you do know my dad, you’re going to piss yourself because I know you can picture him doing this.

So the folks are standing in a room of bongs and my dad asks the girl behind the counter “What are these used for, smoking tobacco?” She just looks at him and shrugs her shoulders. My mom smiles at her. Then he asks her “How do you smoke tobacco in one of these things?” Once again she shrugs her shoulders. My mom is beginning to laugh. My dad is now holding a 3 foot bong and turning it around as to exam it and really try to understand the workings of the newfangled tobacco smoking device.

At this point, my dad has cause so much commotion two more guys that work there come into the room and begin to educate my dad on the world of “tobacco” smoking. They point out the water bongs and that just blows his mind. He asks, “You smoke that though the water, how does that work?” The guys explain the process and he still proceeds to ask the girl behind the counter, “Do you smoke tobacco using this water pipe?” She looks at my mom and my mom says, “You can tell him he has no clue.” She tells him she does and it is better than a regular pipe.

I still don’t think my dad gets it because now he asks the question that would get most people shot. “Where do you buy tobacco for these pipes?” The guys look at him and I guess they figure his is not a cop and tell him you can get it at any street corner around here. So of course my dad doesn’t let it go and asks, “what kind do you use?” One of the guys tells him it is an exotic tobacco and they all laugh; the lady behind the counter, the guys, my mom, everyone, but my dad. As they are all enjoying their laugh my mom tells them thank you and starts to leave. As they are walking out, one of the guys says to my dad if he wants to try a pipe out to let him know. The tobacco will be on him.

You just gotta love Little Five Points! If you’re ever in Atlanta it is a must see place on your agenda.

Peace,
DeMo