ON MY OWN

 JR: Before my dad passed away, my mom and dad got separated and I had my own apartment at the age 16. And then my dad moved back in with us and I went out on my own, so I've worked most of my life. I dropped out of school in my high school years. I was seventeen. Then I went back at nineteen and finished up and graduated in 1958. We was born on the wrong side of the track, that’s what they used to say, right in this neighborhood. This is kind of my area growing up and when I was young. Actually, this was my dad’s favorite hangout. This bar here. He would probably roll over in his grave if he knew I was running a gay bar here. But I cut my teeth in here on a beer bottle.

Lauren: Oh really?

JR: Yeah. Mom would make him bring me so he’d come home early.