I have never been to the state of Tennessee yet I have a document making me an official Tennessee squire. It was offered as an advertising gimmick some forty years ago. The Jack Daniels distillery company deeded a piece of property in the hollow to me. This property is duly and legally recorded according to the document I have. One year I received a letter from that company saying they were hosting a coon hunt that would take place on that property. It included a polaroid photo of the land. I still have that as well, tucked away somewhere. They even included a “business” card that identified me as an official Jack Daniels field tester.

It being over forty years ago I don’t recall all the details, perhaps Jack Daniels had something to do with that as well. What I do remember is mailing off a form of some type and receiving that deed and documents some time later. At that time I was still frequenting the bars and honky Tonks imbibing old number 7. I had a collection of Jack Daniels tins and labels. They are still in the attic. I’m not sure what I will do with them now, perhaps there is a collector of such things that would be interested. I haven’t heard from Jack Daniels in many years now, that campaign is long over I suspect. It had to cost quite a bit of money at the time but I suspect it was all a tax deduction.

Today all of that is just a curiosity. A memory of mine from a time long ago. I smile when I think about that. The things that interest you when you are younger often turn out to be rather silly later on. It’s what I thought was “cool” at the time. All grown up and doing adult things. Well, at least itis only tins and some paper, could be a lot worse, like foolish tattoos. I’ve certainly seen my fair share of those over my Naval career. Yeah, getting Ganja University with a pot plant tattooed on your forearm wasn’t really a great idea, but it was “cool” at the time. I’ve seen others just as silly. Fortunately I only got one tattoo while in the service, a small flower. No idea why I choose that or why I even got the tattoo in the first place. I suspect Jack Daniels had something to do with that as well.

But I’m a country squire and have the documents to prove it. I wonder if I went there if that deed is indeed registered as the document claims. I’m certain the property would be little more than a postage stamp size of ground. Do I really have any legal claim to that? It’s fun to think about. I’m certain someone has tried that also received a deed and the title of country squire. I wonder just how many were issued?

Dated Jan, 8 1986.