LEE KRAMER'S ROOM: With Views

[lee kramer]

zab: My girlfriend and I were invited to spend few days at my college roommate's home in Cincy. "Let's take the Southern route," I said. We left from Boston. Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee. Wow. Great country; green, hills, lush. We loved what we saw.

We stopped in Knoxville, Tenn. for a bite to eat. Max and I were both white, but I looked a bit, er, different. Max was simply dressed, blond and beautiful to my eyes. I wore tight dungarees, sneakers, and a pull over jersey. My hair was longish. We weren't 'hippies' just travelers.

Everyone in the place put an eye on us. The vibes were heavy. They didn't know us, but they surely hated us. It got uncomfortable, very much so for Max. If I was alone I would have stayed, eye'd 'em all back, smiled and eaten. Max got up and left. I threw some money on the table and I followed. "Y'all come back now, ya hear!" Sure.

Had you been there zab I have no doubt you'd have walked to our table, said "Hi," and extended your hand in greeting.

We'd have grabbed a chair and asked you to join us for lunch.

I've never gone South since then.