A Simple Birthday Celebration Guide for Hunter S. Thompson
Today is a day to celebrate for on this day, back in 1937, Louisville KY delivered one of our finest Amercians to us; Hunter S. Thompson. Having celebrated Hunter’s life and works for the past 25 years of my life, I offer this simple celebration guide for those who may not yet know or appreciate this author and the “Gonzo” form of journalism and lifestyle he created. Feel free to celebrate by following these simple steps for Hunter’s birthday, your birthday or any day that you’re feeling a bit “Gonzo”.
Step 01: Begin your day by eating two grapefruits and cutting the acidity and tartness with two Heineken.
Step 02: Play your favorite album by Warren Zevon or Neil Young. Any other real rock and roll will do in a pinch.
Step 03: Invite over a handful of your real friends. Life is to short to play politics with people you don’t really like, so establish your group and a setting where everyone can be at ease.
Step 04: Fill a rocks glass with rocks and then fill with Wild Turkey. Keep Wild Turkey at hand since your glass will cause said friends to request their own glassful as well. Additional cases of Heineken and Guinness are handy for those who may be overwhelmed or overcome by the Turkey.
Step 05: If you smoke, please make sure on this day you use the iconic HST cigarette holder. If you don’t smoke, today would be an acceptable day to try.
Step 06: Select a favorite HST book from your shelf (You do read, don’t you? You ignorant swine!) and go to your kitchen where your group of friends has likely already congregated. Read an entire random chapter out loud enjoying smoke and drink along the way. While reading, during pauses feel free to throw in a “hot damn” or “shit” in appreciation of the writing and the experience.
Step 07: After completing your chapter feel free to hand the book to a friend in the kitchen and let them take their turn reading aloud. Repeat reading, drinking and smoking until well mixed.
Step 08: In the early morning hours,when the Turkey, Beer, Drugs, Music and Smoke have all gone away, take your high powered pistol into the backyard and shoot something. Anything really - preferably not yourself (this is a celebration of Hunter’s birth not a tribute to his death). Ideally, something that will remain for the next few years to send a clear signal to pesky neighbors, thieves and other onlookers that this may not be a place welcoming to even well-intentioned visitors.
Step 09: In the fog of the next morning, I recommend plenty of fluids, more fruit and watching the following movies, in this order: “Breakfast with Hunter”, “Where The Buffalo Roam” (staring Bill Murray), “Buy The Ticket, Take the Ride”, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” (staring Johny Depp), “Gonzo” and “When I Die”.
After this two-day celebration, you can revel in the fact that you HAVE celebrated the dirty life and times of one Hunter S. Thompson. Did I miss anything?
-pjc
PS: If Anita Thompson is reading this by some strange stroke of luck, please consider allowing me to write an article for the Creeker about Hunter’s music collection. Everyone knows how important music was within Hunter’s life and that music should be a part of our celebration of him. We want to know he listened to at different times and in different moods. What albums did he wear out - what was his driving music? Please allow me to tell that story. I will meet you in NYC or CO for the interviews or by phone. PLEASE!?