The Maserati Fella

Uncle Bubba was sittin’ in the ol’ Ford at a traffic light and that guy that owns the Maserati pulled up next to him. You know the fella; he’s always looked quite a bit older for his age ‘cause his hairline receding the way it has; except for a few of them hairs making one last stand on top, the rest have retreated to form a new defensive line around the backside. His pocked complexion is ruddy and rosacie piebald. He wears them flowery Tommy Bahamy shirts over his bulbous belly and a funky lanyard on his sunglasses. You know the guy; he wears all the gold I-talian jewelry: necklaces and bracelets and such. Yeah, that feller; I’m happy for him havin’ that car ‘cause he ain’t got much else goin’ for him.

A Blue Sunflower

One of Bubbie’s sisters, Sunflower, buzzed him on the telephone to give him the 411. Coincidentally she was grooving on the same vibe as Bubbie; he could hear it in her voice.
“What’s wrong?”
“What ever happened to common decency?” she replied.
“Oh, I know what you mean!” Bubbie exclaimed, “Please, tell me what’s going on.”

She proceeded to tell him how in a series of events she had hurt feelings due to the insensitivity and thoughtlessness of so-called friends and acquaintances. She had urgently taken a friend to the hospital, the emergency room namely, and had spent the better part of the day with her waiting for an indeterminate treatment. Surely, she thought, her family members would be along to sit with her, but hours passed. When a couple did arrive, they failed to even ask if they had eaten, which they hadn’t for 8 hours; Sunflower had not left her friend’s side for a moment during all that time and was ready for a break. Unfortunately it was late and the cafeteria as well as all the local stores were closed. Feeling worn and weary she walked outside and phoned a friend who abruptly cut her short. She later found out that she was dissed for a coquettish conversation with a cute neighbor. Sunflower was blue, and hurt. Her flirty friend never even said, “Sorry.”

We can all expound countless experiences of thoughtless exchanges where we were left standing aghast; if not physically, at the very least emotionally. What has happened to common decency? Is it so difficult to be kind? No; it’s just a manner lost. Our priorities are such that they revolve around our own crass agendas. We find entertainment in “reality” TV where rude hosts find sport in villainously crushing the hopes and dreams of willing self indulgent sycophants. We spill our guts and air our dirty laundry to anyone who will sit still long enough to listen. We purge our conscience by blaming our circumstances on others. It’s the decline of our society. We’ve had rules of decorum in place for thousands of years that have been replaced by punishable offenses of broken laws. Focus on one’s self chokes the light of society. In Bubbie’s view, that’s what has happened to common decency—but there is always hope for tomorrow.

Cattle Bidness

Well them four walls of Raiford, closing in on me
Doin’ three to five hard labor, for armed robbery
I had two years behind, but I could not wait the time
Every time I thought about it, well I died some more inside
– Lynyrd Skynyrd

The Duke stopped by Uncle Bubba’s to give notice that cattle had to be moved. He has 206 head at the prison in Raiford and needed to ride out pairs and get a count to fill an order for delivery in Texas. His crew along with the inmates could work them, but an extra hand is always welcome. Raiford, located on the backside of one of the few remaining tobacco farms in Florida, and namely the prison is ingrained in a sandy prairie, prostrate, baking in the sun. The Duke’s cattle graze slowly, contentedly on large pastures surrounding the caged men soundly incarcerated. Upon early arrival the cow hands rounded up 140 head and ran them through the pens to run a count and separate the bulls and young calves.


The calves were moved to a small holding pasture to mammy up with their mamas. The remainder of the mooing, moaning, bellering bovines were moved to low greener pastures to await shipping day.






Now let me just tell ya that the melodramatic matadors in Spain feign a prosaic display compared to the uncompromising dance of a cow hand in a crowded cattle pen. And for a few hours in the sweat of a July day of dusty dirt and cattle cakes there are no inmates, just men. And the work they do is for them as much as vein things since neither the inmate nor the cowboy can truly make a material living. The cowboys' day ended late on handshakes, stories, and a cold beer. But ironically, the inmates were rounded up, counted, and put back in their pens.

To Friendship And Beyond

In the course of human relations we find a kinship to others in regard to affection and trust. In Bubbie’s view, friendship is an unspoken mutual reciprocation from associates who provide affection as well as cooperation or assistance. In general, he believes that a true friend promotes goodwill and positive support in the lives of friends. It comes from the heart. Seems simple enough; then why does it appear to be such a rare commodity? Could it be because, as Emerson stated, “Let it be granted that our life, as we lead it, is common and mean…” and in the daily scrap to get by we partake of evil customs and limitations to isolate one’s self from a corrupt community? No one will argue that misery loves company and holds a powerful attraction much like a magnet cleaves to razor sharp iron filings; try to wipe them away and heavy price will be paid. Isolation as a form of self preservation, and misery, are prevalent to be sure and to distance one’s self from these takes a disciplined desire to prevail. Friendship is waiting at the other end. In Bubbie’s view, a friend is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient, and cheerful; and separates itself from a mere acquaintance by actions and deeds. A friend is upright and “cuts a straight road to everything excellent…and not only goes honorably himself, but makes it easier for all who follow him to go in honor and with benefit.”


Thank you for being my friend,
Bubbie

Giddy Up-n-Go

I stopped by to visit with Uncle Bubba since it had been a while. It seems as though things have been very busy lately. Bubba has been really getting after it and was at a low coming off another busy week. We sat on the porch and he gave me his view of some things on his mind. He was somewhat annoyed that he has had to tackle many things on his own; there never seems to be anyone available to lend a hand. This may have something to do with Bubbie never asking, but I didn’t want to bring that up in the mood he was in. But one thing that he said stuck in my mind and got me thinking. He was lamenting that so few of us go out of our way or one another. We’ll entertain and help others and even offer sanctuary in our homes; we’ll do a lot for others as long as we can do it from the refuge of our own comfort zone. But honestly, how likely are we to drive a few extra miles out of our way to visit a lonely friend, especially after a long work day? Maybe we don’t care to shop, but a friend needs help picking out some special items and it requires going to numerous stores. Perhaps we don’t like in depth conversations, but someone close to us needs our ear and some sage advice. What if you had plans to go somewhere and just had to postpone it for a few hours; would you do it unquestionably and not make a person feel as though you were annoyed or in a hurry? That’s love. It may be as easy as a warm smile and is hard as taking care of ourselves so that a loved one doesn't have to worry about us.

We as organic human beings are often most in need of time, effort, and affection but if we seldom give it, why would we think we would receive it? Maybe you’re lucky. Maybe you have people in your life the treat you especially nice, you know, its human nature to take them for granted. Think about it and take the time to appreciate them by returning love with action behind it. If you’re not so lucky, consider where your thought’s points of origin lie. Like Uncle Bubba, are they centered on yourself; your busy days, your routines, your job, your days off? Perhaps in the course of your busy days you can begin to find a little time to go out of your way and do something nice for someone else, no matter how tired or busy you are. I promise you’ll be surprised how easy it is and how good it will make you feel. Live life—get out of your comfort zone and giddy up-n-go love someone.