Journey

Journey

The moon is smiling at me tonight.

A gigantic glowing golden orb; hanging heavy and low in the sky.

He sighs and breathes that summer has slipped away.

Celebrating the autumnal equinox with grandeur and majesty.

We have almost forgotten how time was measured for a millennium,

by the phases of the moon as it travels the sky.

But my heart remembers and whispers to me,

life is just a journey carried on the tail of the moon.

A Man of His Word..

Today is Veterans Day. A day we publically recognize and honor those who have sacrificed much to protect the freedoms we enjoy. It's a day that always brings memories of my father.  To honor him and the life he lived  I offer this little essay on how he affected my life. 

He was born in 1923. To a family rich in history, tradition and honor but poorer than most. By the end of the roaring 20’s his life had become a struggle for survival.  He was extraordinarily bright but as the only son in a family of 7 he left school at 14 in 1937 and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was sent to the lumber camps in Washington state and his income supported his family back in South Carolina.  He stayed there for 3 years working 6 days per week.

 At 17 he joined the Army and was sent back to South Carolina for basic training; seeing his mother, father and sisters for the first time in 3 years.  It was 1940.  After basic training he was sent to Europe and then in 1944 to the Philippines.  he was almost 23 before he saw home again.  He returned a highly decorated war hero.  He married his beautiful red haired green eyed angel in 1951 and  7 years later they adopted me. Three years after that my sister.  He was a man of extraordinary strength, honor and intelligence..  

He spent 28 dedicated years serving his country in the U.S. Army. His world was black and white.  Right and wrong. Day and night. His internal moral compass and life experience determined his life course.  He worked hard and long to make sure his family would never experience the difficulties he had faced. He instilled that sense of responsibility in me. His blunt and sometimes painfully honest manner has become mine.  He NEVER turned away anyone he thought might be hungry, whether that hunger was for food or an encouraging word. He faithfully helped all who came his way.  He was a product of his generation.  The GREATEST generation.  

He loved his God, wife, family and country in that order.  He didn’t tell me what to do so much as LIVE his life for me to view.   

My life with him was never easy,  we often butted heads and then reached an uneasy truce.  I was never sure of his approval but he cared for me.  And I know my sense of duty, honor and responsibility are because he lived them before me all of his life.

He was my father and I loved him.

Master Sergeant Clifton Capers Bull

1923-1996

MY Holiday Tale....

    This is a true story, I am an inveterate people watcher and some might say I am a magnet for all people and things strange and bizarre.  I will not argue one way or the other; I only know I often find humor in the strangest places.

Everyone has a “holiday” tale, although perhaps not like this one.  It’s unique, much like me I think.  It's the time of year when we begin to get warm fuzzy thoughts about what the holidays will be like...

     Wal- Mart, Waynesboro GA , the “Bird Dog Capital of the World.” It is what the water tower says as you drive into the village and there is a silhouette of a bird dog on the tower! It is the only Wal-Mart I have ever been in that has an entire section of its greeting card department devoted to You might be a Redneck if… It was about 8 pm, my daughter and I were perusing the aisles of the Wal-Mart while waiting on the arrival of my son to come and spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his mother. 

     Suddenly in my peripheral vision comes a sight… WE have all seen folks like her. (well hopefully some of us have been fortunate enough to miss this sort of encounter) She was morbidly obese. Now at this point I must comment on weight.  I am no puny little thing myself and I usually refrain from commenting on people’s size, but her overwhelming bounty is vital to the  picture.  I know women who are very full figured or plus sized, they are beautiful, always dressed stylishly, look and smell good, but this woman was not one of them.  She was seated on a scooter; one of those the store provides for its handicapped patrons.  She was wearing those very ugly gray cotton knit pants that are not attractive on anyone.  Hers were at least 3 sizes too small.  Every bump, bulge and bit of cellulite displayed in magnificence. A Lime green t-shirt, it too at least 3 sizes too small; almost covered her immensely protruding belly that looked much like a beached whale…  Her hair, can I just say it was a red color that has never been found in nature, Bold, startling in its vivid hue and in dips and whirls all over her head.  No apparent style in mind.  Her manner and appearance were guaranteed to bring the eye and hold it. 

Suddenly her voice. Loud shrill and with that distinctive, although I hesitate to say “southern” drawl. I have a drawl, mine is soft and pleasant on the ears; most southerners have a drawl that is similar, hers was Not!!!!
      “Ahmm ova heahe!!  No, not theah, tuhn leafttt, not riahht.”
 Are you getting the picture? Coming towards her is a friend. Their conversation begins when they are at least 50 yards from each other.  It was like old home week, they were whooping and hollering, shouting at each other about children, husbands, ex husbands and a “Girlfriend”  Hmm, very fascinating to watch.  I am sure that at this point my daughter and I both had that deer caught in the headlight look. That same look you get when you come upon a wreck or some other gruesome sight; you want to look away, you really do but YOU JUST CAN”T.  This was the case with us.

The conversation continued something like this.  
     “Whaat Ya’ll doing for Turkey Daay?” 
She asked her friend.
 Said the friend walking towards her.

     “Well, ya know my health ain’t been the best this yeahr!’ 
 The scooter redhead  replied in detail....
     Unn huh!  Mine neither.  Me and Roy both been down in our backs, he aint’ worked in the past couple weeks. Th’ doctor told me I needs to get up and do more, but I just ain’ able, You know I cooks for the entiiire family ever year but this year I just ain’’ able.  So you know what I did, I done called and placed my order for Thanksgiving dinner, yep, I did, I called ARBY”S.  Roy ’s picking it up tomorrow. “

At this point, I am visibly shaking with emotion, so is my daughter, we lunge down the next aisle, Finally the hysterical laughter escapes, we are both crying from the seemingly endless giggles, guffaws and snorts that just roll out.

Thanksgiving Dinner!  AT Arbys!  Who knew they did Thanksgiving dinner?   Do you want curly fries with that?  Or Arby’s special “horsey” radish sauce????

  You might be a redneck if…  You order your thanksgiving meal from the local Arby’s fast food restaurant.

  As I often say -"Southern truth is ALWAYS stranger than fiction!"