Tending bar in the 1970s at the American House Tavern in New Egypt, New Jersey created clear images of keen observations of all the people in movement around the author. These character pictures are drawn from behind the bar, where only a few are allowed. The bartender sees it all and keeps what she sees to herself. (Hence the term "keep" in referring to a bartender?) The keep behind the bar can be your best friend when you are in trouble, need a favor, or some information (they know all the secrets in town.) Barkeeps are keen observers of human nature; this one has a sense of humor and a memory of the goings on without judgment or finger-pointing.Her customers came from all walks of life, but the majority came from the horse racing industry that thrived in and the town. She passes stories on to you, creating laughter, a bit of sadness, and maybe a touch of nostalgia for the good ole days. You may enjoy a bit of horse racing history whether you were in New Jersey at the time or not.Stanley Dancer was making horse racing history on his own with Su Mac Lad, Nevele Pride, Super Bowl, and other champion horses. He had the men and women to help him along the way to become the racing giant that he achieved in the industry, setting winning records that made the town proud. Most came into the American House at one time or another. Many were regulars that came in often, sometimes daily.Quiet afternoons, riotous Sunday mornings after entertaining Saturday nights are part of the bar scene. The American House, in the 70s went from pool table to serious dining, to live entertainment, and parties to be remembered by anyone in attendance. Significant business meetings anchored the hilarity of monkey business; they're all included in this narrative form of poetry, easy for even the novice to understand and enjoy.
About the Author: Author Arlene Sandra Bice has put her hand to several different professions along the way. A single mom, raising four sons and supporting a widowed mother often kept her working two jobs. The part-time job of tending bar earned her more in two nights than working all week in an office. Tending bar was her only job while at the American House. She is a keen observer of human nature and has always kept notes, not realizing that one day she would be the writer she longed to be as a youth. Her first job, at seven years old, was delivering notices for the local grocer. She earned a dime for an hour of work. At ten she had steady jobs as babysitter that lasted into high school when she worked in a luncheonette. A divorce brought her to waiting tables in an all night diner, learning that she liked working with people; she soon went into tending bar. Bice worked in the office of a wholesale liquor distributor before graduating to sales representative for the same company in Trenton, New Jersey. When the business was sold she moved into tending bar at the American House until becoming a real estate sales representative, attaining her broker's license prior to moving into real estate appraising with an IFA designation. When that profession dried up during the recession, she opened a gift shop that evolved into a new, used, and rare book shop where she finally began writing books and a book review column for ten years for the newspaper. Under the name of Arlene S. Bice, she has written four books for Arcadia Publishing Company, three books on the paranormal, a history book, and Life & Labyrinth, a book on memoir and poetry. Bice has received the Florence Poets Society Poet of Distinction Award and has poetry published in various journals, anthologies, & chapbooks. She has been leading book discussion groups and writing groups for many years, encouraging others to get their lives and words down on paper or computer. Bice has also won awards with her art work in oils and watercolors. An avid reader and music lover, she loves to cook creatively. Her psychic cat, Lizzie, lives with her in South Hill, Virginia.