But today brought the sad news of yet another death.
As I sit back and look at my own life, I can easily see it in various stages.
Stage one.....The Childhood stage
You know, there's not a whole lot you can say about childhood. I think that with little exception most people experience a childhood very similar to anyone. After all, you're a child. True, some children are raised in the city, some in the country. But childhood being what it is, basically, most are the same or at least very similar.
Stage two.....The Teenager stage
Teenage years like childhood are similar among lots of people. Teenage years though do have variances. A teenager raised in the city may be a little more independent than a teenager raised in the country. But on the other hand a teenager raised in the county usually knows how to drive a vehicle long before city teens. Us country kids grew up driving our tractors, moving our trucks in the pasture, etc. But still, basically otherwise, similar experiences. I know my teen years were not remarkable. I started working when I was about 13, working with my Dad at his service station, except when he needed me to help move cattle, sit with a cow about to give birth, or things like that.
Stage three.....The I just turned 19 and I know everything stage.
Now in my case, I did believe that I knew everything, but I also knew when to express this belief and when to keep my mouth shut. If Daddy was around, it was time to keep my mouth shut.
And finally, Stage four..... The I just realized that I don't know jack stage.
At about age 22 or 23 I really did realize that I didn't really know anything at all, and that at best, I will ill prepared to face life. I decided then and there that even though I didn't know anything at all, that I was going to try to figure it out. I've been working on that every since. Still don't know much, but I know enough to know that I'm still working on it.
At about age 23 I met the three people, in my case three men, that has by and large helped to shape the man that I have become. That is, outside of the influence of my parents and my family, these three men have influenced me greatly.
Neal Boortz. For those of you that don't know who he is.......well, if you know me, you know who he is............ but Neal is the host of the Neal Boortz Radio Show, airs locally on WSB Radio. Neal has been on WSB for close to 20 years now, I'm not sure exactly how long, but close to that I am sure. Before WSB, Neal was on another Atlanta station, but as I write this, for the life of me, I can't think of what that station was. Maybe it was WGST??? I don't know. Anyway, Neal is a straight shooter, of that you can say for certain. He is known as The High Priest of The Church of The Painful Truth. I was listening that day when a caller called him this. What he said as I recall was that his show was like the church of the painful truth, and that Neal was the high priest. Well, that stuck with him. If you listen to Neal whatever you hear him say you can know is the truth, even though he will tell you not to believe him until you can verify it independently of his word. I have taken that philosophy to my own life. Whenever I tell someone something, what I am telling them is the truth, but I always tell them to check it out themselves, don't take my word for it. Neal remains a strong influence in my life. I listen to him almost daily.
Lewis Grizzard. Lewis at the time that I learned of him, wrote for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He had also written several books; Don't Sit Under The Grits Tree With Anyone Else But me; Shoot Low Boys, They're Ridding Shetland Ponies; They Tore Out My Heart and Stomped That Sucker Flat just to mention a few. And one of his last, if not his last, my favorite, Don't Bend Over In The Garden Momma, You know Them Taters Got Eyes. Lewis wrote about growing up in the south. I thought the very first time that I read one of his books that he was describing my life. The things he wrote about, his experiences, his family, all of it sounded like me. Lewis passed away several years ago, succumbing to a life long battle with his heart. Lewis taught me to cherish the memories of your youth, because it is from those memories that you will reach back for and draw back to you the most valuable lessons of your life. Lewis Grizzard taught me simply the wonderfulness of memories.
Ludlow Porch. Ludlow did a radio show on WSB am radio. It was called simply enough, The Ludlow Porch Show. Ludlow was one of those people that found humor in almost everything. And he could make you laugh without any effort at all. He was a kind man with a very gentle spirit. I believe that Ludlow continued to do a show somewhere on a smaller radio station for a few years after leaving WSB but I never did hear him again after his days on WSB. Ludlow though taught me the value being gracious when dealing with people, no matter how absurd that they may be treating you, if you simply treat them with respect you will make a far deeper and longer lasting impression on them than any negative response could ever leave. Just be kind, and laugh as often as you can.
Ludlow Porch passed away this morning around 6:15. I smiled when I learned the news. I know that he graciously greeted death as he came knocking on his door. He probably paused just a second and then opened the door to death and calmly said to him, "well, I guess we better get on our way, I don't want to hold you up." Ludlow Porch was a great and gentle man.
I'm still in that I just realized that I don't know jack stage, and I expect that I will never escape it. But with truthfulness I've learned from Neal Boortz, the memories that Lewis Grizzard taught me to hold on to, the gentleness and kindness that I learned from Ludlow Porch, along with the love of my family, and the encouragement of so many friends, I may make it out of here some day myself without causing too much damage to those around me. And if I can do that, nothing else really matters, I will have lived a successful life.
To God goes all the glory. It is his wisdom that guides me to success, his strength that holds me up in my failures, and his belief in me when I'm not even sure I believe in myself.
God Bless you all..........and so long Ludlow, I'll see you 'round the corner.
Gary
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