The recent hurricane that hit Galveston, Texas didn’t scare some residents. In fact – it turned out to be the best excuse for a good old fashioned par-tay. A few locals who didn’t want to leave the island headed over to The Poop Deck – a island bar that has hosted a “ride out the Hurricane” party for every major storm in the past few decades. The patrons drink beer, listen to the wind, and hope it doesn’t turn into a good ‘ol fashioned drownin’.
Hurricane Ike was no different – about 20 bar goers huddled around the bar and clutched their cocktails for dear life. The patrons gave a variety of reasons for refusing to leave. “We ain’t never punked out before”, “I’m too drunk to evacuate”, and “Didn’t you ever see Death Wish, I’ve been trying to grow my mustache like that Bronson guy” were offered as storm-riding-out rationale.
The patrons seem to know that they are, in grand Texas style, fuckin’ askin’ for it (which also happens to be the Texas State Motto – interestingly enough). One of the brave drunkards, quoted in the New York Times, motioned to some fleeing rodents and pointed out “Even the rats have more sense than we do.” It was difficult to ascertain the veracity of his statement, but it was soon determined that the rats did not consume 15 cans of Miller Light and therefore had more sense.
The mayor of Galveston is said to be a fan of this particular party, but promises to shut it down if things get too out of control on the Island. “We don’t want to see these people hurt or maimed because they stay at a bar – that’s the type of thing that’s supposed to happen in the comfort of their own homes.” The mayor also promised to check in after the storm passed and enjoy a few mai-thai’s before she got around to, as she put it, “I suppose they’ll be some rescuin’ in order”.
Barfly is impressed with these few brave souls who exhibited such valor. It reminds us of a storm of our own – once, while at an outdoor café, it started raining. While the other patrons ran inside like babies – we braved it out. Yes, we happened to be under an umbrella, but come on – we’re so valor-full it’s not even funny.
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