against the dying if the light!

Today has been a sad, melancholy, blissful and exciting day for a few people I know. A dear, longtime friend of mine lost her father. I cannot begin to imagine the pain, suffering and feeling of loss that they are experiencing. Another friend has come to the realization that they are designed for a greater and more driven stature than their current position. For them I am excited and ecstatic at the possibility of someone staking their claim in this world. 

Both of these stories have impacted me in such a way, that I have realized two things in which we all deny daily. One is that our time, no matter how much we fight to prolong it, is ultimately running out. Secondly, that we should never settle for less than greatness. We all have a way of getting caught up in our day to day routines. However, what is your place in this world? Are you happy with your current state of affairs? What is the "unicorn" that keeps escaping your grasp? 

The elephant in the room, so to speak; is none other than Desire. Have you accomplished all you desire? I would hope that the majority of you look at life through the same slitted, determined and steadfast eyes as I. I look at the clock as these words fall onto this virtual page, and think. I, myself will not as Dylan Thomas says; go gentle into that good night. My prayers are that each of you, look deep into the chasms of your abysmal souls. Then determine where you want to stop on this ride. When you make that hat decision, do not be afraid to put in the work, blood, sweat and ultimately tears that propel us forward. To quote Thomas again, I want you to " Rage, Rage against the dying of the light".

Cleanliness is next to Godliness!

Cleanliness is next to Godliness! We have all heard this saying before. The correlation between these two acts, is two pronged. First, one could draw the following obvious relationship, whether religious or not. That the statement is referring to the purification or rebirth of a person who takes the moral high road as it were. The scripture refers several times to the baptism and washing away of sin, or the old person. Secondly, to this writer, there is a underlying reference that when most persons go in public to a place of worship or just amongst their peers, the generally attempt to impress. For me going to church is one of the times I am able to wear a suit or blazer and no one second guesses it. In my youth my father would always wear impeccable suits to church, and to me the entire process of getting ready as a man was a fascinating one. From the shaving process, the shining of shoes to the seemingly impossible feat of tying a necktie. Both of these ideals are rare at best in these modern times. Keep in mind this is not an attempt to force religion on anyone, just a statement that for me the two ideas of being a gentleman and church are married together inseparably.  In church the band was playing and  singing the following lyrics, from a Hillsong song. During this I couldn't help to think whether or not, our modern culture of men could use a baptism or rebirth of their collectively, lackadaisical presentation of themselves. A washing away of the old dirty jeans and wrinkled tee shirts. These lyrics represent the two pronged idea,  previously mentioned. 

"I see a generation

Rising up to take the place

With selfless faith, with selfless faith

I see a new revival

Starting as we pray and seek"

So again, will you join me in this revival, it doesn't matter to me which prong you choose as either one will ultimately better you. Whether it is cleaning up morally or just cleaning up your appearance.  Of this I am certain.  

A hillbilly's history of bourbon

Just west of Bath County, in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, lies Bourbon County. Once a mighty and royal piece of land that consisted of some thirty odd counties, had been traded and handed down from the French to the State of Virginia. When this  terra firma was part of Virginia it was named for the House of Bourbon This name was taken from a European family in an attempt to give praise and accolades to Louis XVI, for his assistance to our blue blooded American Revolutionaries. Without which, the shaping and forming of this nation, against the wishes of King George and his Loyalists would have; most likely not been successful. During these times of trouble, conflict and birth anew of this land people were in thirst. Being my great state was an agrarian one, there were farmers who struggled to navigate the daunting mountain passes when trying to sale their crops at market. Corn whiskey was initially made in attempt at using crops to make a product that was easily transported without worrying about spoilage. This spirit native to the bluegrass state, was eventually marketed and sold to the rest of the country. This business is how it came to be known as bourbon. In those days, goods were transported by boat down rivers, mostly down the mighty Ohio. During this slow, rolling journey the corn whiskey was contained in good ol Kentucky oak barrels. This packaging would then lend itself to creating the mellow oak taste and rich brown color, that came to be indicative of Kentucky corn whiskey. In an effort to distinguish itself from Pennsylvania rye whiskey, the barrels were stamped with "old bourbon", again paying homage to the geographical origins of what has became known as America's native spirit. In a 1964 resolution Congress stated:  "Bourbon whiskey is a distinctive product of the United States and is unlike other types of alcoholic beverages, whether foreign or domestic; and whereas to be entitled to the designation 'Bourbon whiskey' the product must conform to the highest standards … and whereas Bourbon whiskey has achieved recognition and acceptance throughout the world as a distinctive product of the United States" . This excerpt was taken from the Regans' " the book of bourbon". Point being its been written an argued about for years and probably for many more to come. As for this writer, nothing evokes the pioneering and enterprising past of this great nation and my beloved home state, quite as well as a glass of Woodford Reserve or a Maker's Mark Old fashioned in my table as I craft this writing. Both sides of my family hail from the bluegrass state. If after reading this you have a taste for some Old Bourbon corn whiskey. Then saunter on over to http://kybourbontrail.com/ and sample some of the finest, traditionally distilled bourbons the commonwealth has to offer you. Cheers! 

..and thy neighbor as thyself.

Some few little pieces of dreariness have been brought to my attention today. These are sins we are all guilty of; until declared innocent by ourselves. In some reading today I have stumbled plainly upon a subject that usually we strive for but never put forward; Recognition. How often have you whether at work or in your personal life felt badly because this was not received? The bigger and better question is simply; how often have you paid it forward? I have my self been guilty of Old Abe Lincolns philosophy of " Do not worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition". The opinions of others have never held much water in my life. On the contrary I have realized that not revealing my opinions of other to them sometimes leaves folks on an unsteady ground. Proverbs 25:27 says " It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory". My point to be made in this is: Do not worry yourselves if you do not receive recognition, for our works should not be based on such a lowly goal. Work as you would appreciate being done for you. It has been my experience that in such times of crisis, certain people work only for recognition, while other work tirelessly towards others receiving the glory, knowing that there is great personal satisfaction in knowing that without their hard work and assistance the goal would never have been achieved. I am not always this full of selflessness, but I strive to be. The concept of being a part of a bigger picture is great when you understand that you might only be the film. A similar concept is that an Olympic runner may win first place, but the persons who designed the shoes they ran in are just as much a part of the victory. In this world we have all gotten caught up in the race for "I", Individuality, Personal Gain and Recognition. Never once stopping to think that this very thing we thirst for cost nothing of us to quench another’s thirst. Pay it forward, let someone know that you appreciate them and the things they do. For as it is written in Luke 10:27 "And he answering said, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself"

Dew on the Pines

After this long day, I am in my driveway under the moon and my mind is enveloped in thoughts. I am pondering the upcoming events in the next few weeks. First off, I  can smell the dew on the pines and this time of year I am constantly reminded of the birth of my darling daughter almost 6 years ago. It takes me to a place of self discovery and wonderment at how these times and years have molded her into the wonderful young woman she is becoming. Innnocent and pure with a thirst for learning. I am beyond words at the humbleness I feel in her presence. I am glad to be able to see her angelic face in a few short hours. Second, I am nervously confident at the prospect of marrying my true best friend and partner in this world in a couple of weeks. These last almost two years have molded me and shaped me as clay in a potters hands into the man I was born to be and created by God to strive towards becoming. With all the perilously paved roads my life had travelled these paths I follow now, are with purposeful stride and unwavering endurance. That said, I could not have succeeded on this road without the guidance, steady hand and support of my bride to be. Third, I have seen the benefits of my struggles most nearly in my life blossoming into the gorgeous rose that is my stepdaughter. Surrounded by thorns but opening to the world, she has fallen many times but with this guidance and structure she has most definitely come into her own. Fourth, I have seen the grace of God in my immediate familys lives. I see the struggles and tribulations turning themselves into a tightening of bonds and a closeness never before seen by these eyes. This fall is a transformation from the old to the new. A dying off to what was before and preparing for the hard roads ahead. I must confess that it is with slight trepidation that I tread these ways in front of me. However knowing that I have the devotion and helping hands and wondrous spirits of these mentioned previously, I will succeed. I am victorious and heads above the rest. This charmed life I lead is my reward for endurance and fortitude. You see what you conquer, survive and put out into this life is brought back folded, compounded and overflowing. I stake hold of my claim and set guard against its place. The needles are blowing and my eyes fall heavy. Blessed be all of you who have entered, left or stayed in my life.

In Between

In between the break downs and fake sounds
I can hear the growing of nothing and it's silence
In between the heartbeats and nights sleep
I can feel the pounding the war drums and foot thuds
Hard against my will and softly eroding my demeanor
This pace I'll keep marching and this battle is hard won
My faith in this righteousness, is what keeps me holding on
Though storms, weakness and famine shall come
I'll stand tall and endure
I'll see this life done

Iron sharpens Iron

Be strong and courageous, is what the verse says Try and fall, rise and conquer Leading my family down the hard road Having faith in the things we can't see This is my calling, this is my flag I will be strong with my God at command I will not falter for my quiver is full Surrounded by lions deep in this den Surrounded by the wages of iniquity and sin Stand up all you who hear this bold call Stand up and be counted we cannot stumble or fall The city on the hill, the light in the dark The sword in the stone, well finish what we start "But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24 This is our motto, our creed, our call This is our defiance as the world falls Reach out to your brother and stand fast hand in hand. Lock shields with your brethren and fight to set free our land. Iron sharpens iron and the same goes for man. We were saved together when the spike pierced the hand Of the God who called me his Son Of the man, the Father, the One

Will you help?

Those of you who know me, also know that I have always been one step out of the crowd and marching to a different beat. This has always been my modus operandi. I have my whole life strived to be and sometimes failed in my goal of being a decent person. Recently several facets of my life, past and present have combined themselves into a driving force. I am on a journey to not be a plainly common and decent man, but am training, learning and working towards becoming a great man. I have as we all have, made mistakes in life. I do not regret those errors, but embrace them as they have forged me into who I am at this moment. I failed a marriage as I feel we both did not take into account the seriousness of the commitment we uttered. I do not believe we were meant to ever marry but we did it anyway and made a mockery of it. This is an action which I will constantly pay the price of my youthful foolishness. In doing so, I hope to make my daughter and stepdaughter better understand what a relationship between a man and woman, should truly be. Admitting my mistakes is no less hard than making a learning example from them will be. I have denied my faith for many years, due wholly and partly by mistakes made by other persons and myself in life. I shuttered out greatness and became a solitary warrior against the world. A lyric strikes me at this moment "we do together what we cannot do alone". This being said, I am asking each of you to hold me accountable for my mistakes and transgressions. If you would do this, the reward is my daughter and step daughter knowing without error what a man should be. In doing such I hope they would in turn strive to be as great and wondrous women as they could find the strength and guidance to become. This is my paying it forward. I will not falter as failure is not an option. I care not for your opinions or personal beliefs on this undertaking of mine. I am only asking for your support. I know that my God and my Family will carry me across this bridge of change. I ask sincerely that you understand my reasons and support them, however different they are from yours. I am tired and disgusted of our current collective of "men" and the general lackadaisical way they as I have in the past, shrug responsibility and refuse to take up the sword and fight back all the “demons” that have ruined what we should be. Our actions affect not only the opinions of our women and children as they pertain to us. If you have not been the man and person you should be and have burnt your bridges, then build another one. I am trying with every fiber to stand tall, chain myself to the mast and become what we all have refused to be: A man! The time is now to put away childish things and lead by example. I am not asking you to become Christian, Hindu, Buddhist or any other faith. I am asking only to stand with me and change this downward spiral of decadence we have become. It is not enough to want change, but as Gandhi said we must be the change we want to see. I am with you and you will not be alone. If I use profane and vulgar language around you, please call me on it. If I judge you or others, I command you to correct my wrongs. If I fail in my fatherhood and manhood then I expect you to point out my faults. I am becoming truth. Will you help me?

Valentines Day 2012

My Dearest,
I could write volumes, and speak for hours on the topic of how much adoration, affection and trust I have for you. Due to the time constraints and the pressures of this world around us with its impending timeline of daily monotony closing, I'll be as brief as one can when describing the effects of you on me. There is a memory that begins with 19 hours of work followed by an almost 9 hour drive. One could think that this sounds hellish, but my reward was arriving finally on Kelley Street, in front of a small house with the yard scattered with leaves. The tiredness had beaten my eyes almost to closing, so focusing on the figure on the porch was hard. My neck wouldn't turn without searing pain and my hands were nailed to the wheel. I turned to exit and the figure was no longer in the porch but looking in my eyes. Those ocean waves almost knocked me to the ground as my knees struggled to maintain strength. I don't remember the words spoken but I remember thinking that the image burned in my mind of you smiling was what perfection would look like if you could frame it and hang it on the wall. That day in the end of August over eighteen months ago, was a pivotal and critically refreshing point in my life. The long, sweltering, humid talks on the banks of the Mississippi followed by the highs and lows of Beale Street, will forever be the foundation of us. Character is the driving force for me. You darling have improved mine tenfold, I am a vastly greater, gentler and blessed man, since you entered my life. Your maternal nature benefits all around you and your stoic grace exudes a timid radiance that is as millions of hugs and affectionate kisses punching me in the face. I am a charmed man with a truly undeserved blessing. That blessing is You!

Happy Valentines Day
With endearing regard,
Travis 2012

We cannot receive a holier name!

Bill Cosby jokes that "Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is Soap on a Rope". We fathers should know that Mr. Cosby was joking and playing on the issue of sacrifice and moral building in the eyes of those who look up to us. Research in several studies to include those of which place under a glass, the relationship between adolescence and psychological distress in adulthood and paternal involvement in the developing stages, point to the fact that absence of a father can directly be linked to low academic scores. Some studies have indicated and confirmed that children in single mother families, as opposed to families with a father figure present, generally tend to have lower academic scores and cognitive ability. Also, they may have a higher risk of delinquency, deviant actions, school drop out rates and pregnancy outside of wedlock. Some of these are alone not necessarily anything to be concerned with, however the attainment of all of these factors, tends to suggest that we "patriarchs" play a bigger role than most of us realize. Freud states that a child’s greatest need is that of a father's love and affection. Freud also says that a child who is denied this great need will have low self-esteem, be prone to depression when faced with real or perceived losses and grow to be an adult never being able to feel deserving of love. Whether you agree with Freud or not, it is easy to trace statistics to the undoing of the traditional "nuclear" family unit due to growing social and economic changes. Generally these changes develop into one with a lack of the "paternal" figure. Freud also goes on to suggest that the lack of a paternal figure in children’s lives prior to the age of five has severe, long-lasting, and profound effects. The father/ daughter relationship commonly is referred to as "Daddy Issues". This is a factor most men in our generation are familiar with, as it may have affected our mothers, sisters, girlfriends or wives. The lack of a this positive relationship is directly connected to the a daughter's ability to trust and relate to men as well as in the son to be able to treat women as the people they are, and not as property to be abandoned, neglected or reclaimed when the male figure decides. As a father to a wonderful, smart and gorgeous daughter, who lives 15 hours away, and the stepfather to a talented, eccentric, and stunning and equally outgoing to my stepdaughter, I am well familiar with both sides of this equation. The simple idea is that, we all, admitted or not crave the attention of our fathers. It is and was detrimental in the developing of our ideas of success, failure, integrity and ethic. I am looked on everyday professionally and privately as a man who has the answers. I admit that I am no scholar or great genius. However, I am as I should, we should be a dedicated and hardworking paternal figure. Whether it is to my actual family or my extended, I have made a commitment to teach, learn and grow with my brood. I will always strive to be the man, father, brother, son, friend, husband and confidant I would choose for myself. This is a thought for the day. How do your actions, perceived or invisible affect those around you? And are you being the man you want the world to remember? I should hope we are, because it matters to more than we realize. William Wordsworth states in his ecclesiastical sonnets that "Father! - to God himself we cannot give a holier name."

Time Discipline

   Shakespeare said "Time is the Justice, that examines all offenders". For many long years in my young adult life, Time or the lack of it was paid no attention by me. I did not follow time or the effects and consequences I had because of it. I remember on a few occasions, in my young law enforcement career, as a Patrolman, where I was reprimanded and suspended for my lack of planning. Over the years I developed a profound, regimental respect for Time and the passing of it. I could tell you the time of day my daughter was born, the time of day when I was promoted to Detective and almost to the minute on August 11, 2010 at approximately 2100 hours, when I wrote this poem for the wonderful, loving and gorgeous woman who is now my fiancé;

When She Laughs

I read in Proverbs that "A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than a steak with someone you hate".

And it brings it all full circle and reminds me that I am a captain of my own burdens but an the mercy of fate

I see how the planets line up and I'm behind the heavens trying to catch a glimpse of this angelic light

I feel her warmth on my face and soul, and I know that my good days will lead me to her gracious nights

I am humbled in the presence of the idea that we have conquered all the past misery that weighed us down

And I am enlightened that when she laughs...the heavens themselves and God's grace couldn't turn it to frowns

I hear her whisper as sleep drags her eyes, and I know that this life has never meant more than it does in dreams

I wake and think of only two, my soul Riley Beth and silly laughs of youth and my sweet Amanda and her radiant eyes of 1000 queens

If this is what I have been looking for , I am so glad that the red seas have parted and pointed the way to our drained swamps and depots

Of far away sister homes that have forged this thing since birth and gave us the grace to hold those dreams and never let go

If I could put it into prettier words I would...but there is no such language to describe the passion in my heart for you,

No such paper that could hold the weight of the gallons of ink I'd pen trying to discover and explain how feelings could be this true

Sitting alone and crawling this floor, is worth every second of anxious envy that I bear waiting till the times that the mercury melts

And the lithium burns brighter than those eyes, which appear to have been stolen straight from the nighttime diamonds of Orion's belt

The world steps aside and all that is left is whatever she desires

And for the touch of her, I'd set this place into 1,000 empty fires

- The Thousandth Man

   The point is that Time is the frame for the things that we will remember after the sand runs through our glass. This measuring of seconds and days is the entire format for our lives. There are usually two dates on a headstone, the date of birth and the date of death. If one was to keep a detailed log of all the important and life altering events in their period of life, they could have a headstone as large as the Grand Canyon. After all, what is more important at the end of a man's life? The time he was born, or the time he knew that he was going to marry a woman, or when he discovered that he was a father. I think the overall lack of concern for time I have observed lately is that men, generally think they do not have enough of it. I have witnessed that there is always time for what is important; it is a matter of prioritizing the time dedicated to the other moments.

   On Christmas Eve of 2011, my fiancé gifted me a Citizen Eco Drive wristwatch. This is by far the most elaborate, expensive and definitely meaningful gift I have ever received. The monetary value of this gift bears, no emphasis. The principle I adore most about this gift is that it allows me with accurate detail, to document the times of our events together and the times of sublime nothingness. The idea of being able to pay attention or not to the time, but always knowing that Time is literally at hand, leaves me with a disciplined comfort. What I would hope the reader ascertains from this writing, is that Time is yours, respect it because you cannot get it back. Just know that should the need arise you can bend time to meet your needs.

Our country, Our home, Our mother

If I told you a story of where the old sweet tea rivers
Gently roll till they collide with the salty brackish sea
Could I paint you a dream of waving mossy oaks and a whipporil's quiver
If you could walk the fields and lie under the moon with me
and our generals, our slaves,  our preachers, our ghosts
If you could walk these clay roads with your best gun in hand
floating so gently in the sweet wind, like the shrimp boats on the coast
Or see where our wars of aggression has changed forever our land,
Or hear our parents and children singing those old church songs
About glory, forgiveness, redemption and loss
See the generations of children trying to right their kin's wrongs
Knowing their losing, the south will never be as majestic as it once was
I cry for the loss of our heritage so proud
I hope you'll listen as we sing this sad tune
We are the poor but our heads are held high and our voices are loud
This changing of our culture is coming too soon
If we embrace ourselves as we hold tight our past
Glory is ours, our south is forever and our ancestry is us
If I'm to lose all this suffering and pain. If I am finally so free at last
I want to go hand in hand with our ghosts as we're chained to the mast
The railways lead us away from this home
Away from our beaches, swamps and mountain of stone
If we tear down old boundaries drawn with stature and race
You'll see as I see, that heavens a place
Where you and I and our children run free
Where God has blessed us with his golden shore's sun
Our country, our home, our mother ....Georgia

Do a Good Turn Daily

   January 17, 1927 marked the passing of a great southern American and founder of one of the greatest youth organizations in this great country of ours. This group has inspired many young Americans to become legendary citizens and doers of good to the generations descending from them. This organization is the Girl Scouts of the United States of America. On this day in 1927, Juliette Gordon Low, left us this gift after her almost 70 years of life. Juliette"Daisy" Gordon Low was a product of my fair state of Georgia. She was born in Savannah, to a Confederate Captain during our nation's time of hostilities. After her first marriage,"Daisy" met Robert Baden-Powell, the Second Boer war hero and founder of the Boy Scout's of America, while living in England.  "Daisy" founded three girl guide troops in the United Kingdom and had such success that she felt compelled to found this movement in the United States.

   On a visit back to Savannah, Georgia in 1912, "Daisy" registered 18 young girls as the first American troop of Girl Guides. Behind her residence in Savannah, a family named the Nash's converted a carriage house into club rooms for the American troop. The Nash's son, Ogden grew up to become a famed poet, and one of his works pays tribute to this structure. In World War II, Liberty ship was commissioned, hull number 2446, and launched out of Savannah, Georgia. This ship was named the SS Juliette Low. In July, 1948, one day before Independence Day, President Harry Truman signed a bill certifying a stamp which held an image of "Daisy". She was the eighth woman to be on a stamp. The lists go on to include her home being named a National Historic Landmark, to having at least 3 schools and a federal building in Savannah named after her.

   The catch to the story is she did this all while being legally deaf. The point the reader should take is that one life affects countless others, one deaf woman started a movement. A movement that has spawned such greatness as famed columnist Ann Landers, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Governor Janet Napolitano, Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Reagan, Janet Reno, Lt. Col. Eileen Collins ( the first female Space Shuttle Commander and Astronaut) and hundreds of other elected officials to the house and senate, educators, CEO's, writers, doctors and wonderfully inspiring women. 

   This writing takes place during the 100 year anniversary of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America and just mere hours before I take my step daughter to her Girl Scout meeting, where not only am I a proud father and supporter. I am a member. The Girl Scout promise is: On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.  That law we should all aspire to live by is a basic and good law that states: I will do my best to be:
honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place. All of this was started by a young southern woman who lost her hearing, but strived to " Do a good turn daily" as the slogan says.  What greatness will you do or receive today and how will you pay it forward.

Duty, Honor and Excellence

   Today is January 16, 2012 and in my beloved south land, this day is a celebration of two heroes and champions of our heritage and culture. January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Ga, Michael Luther King was born. Michael later changed his name to Martin and went on to become a Reverend, Civil Rights Pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize Winner. January 19, 1807 in Stratford, Virgina, Robert Edward Lee was born. Lee struggled through life and went on to become a West Point graduate, chief engineer of the army, and the rank of General while commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. While on the surface appearing to be two completely opposite men, underneath and inside the core, is two southern gentlemen. King was born to Martin Luther King, a minister and Alberta Christine Williams a teacher, and as a result one can easily draw the connections and influence in Dr. King's life to his parents. Lee was born the son of Revolutionary war veteran and Governor of Virginia, Major General Henry Lee and Anne Hill Carter. Lee's father's death when Lee was 11 resulted in Lee being raised by his mother in such dire times. A review of this and a direct connection can be laid between Lee's success and his upbringing.

   These two great men had a fire and vigor, which is rare in this generation. They lack the willingness and fortitude to succeed in the face of great opposition. I have seen many times in my life; men figuratively curl up and die because of the odds stacked against them. In these times, it is easy to become frustrated and discontent with not having your wildest dreams. However, these will not come without great sacrifice and gallons of sweat laid upon the altar of improvement by you. I have spoken with persons born in other parts of this country, who often stereotype us as either poor dirt farmers or spoiled nobility of times gone by. I am proud to say that I can still catch a glimpse of class, no matter how fleeting in both sides of this equation, of our culture of honor. The ideology that respect, chivalry, honor, class and a "nobility of soul" as Dr. Samuel Johnson published in his book, A Dictionary of the English Language. I am proud to know many men that will without regard for personal safety or exhaustion; do by whatever means possessed by them, the mundane and dreary work of succeeding in life and providing without complaint for their families.

   I hear men of our generation speak fondly of such video games and other entertainment with great names as "Call of Duty", "Uncharted", "Resistance" and the list goes on and on. Generally these men will never answer their unchartered call of duty with vigor and zeal, but more often with resistance. Thoreau stated that “While civilization has been improving our houses, it has not equally improved the men who are to inhabit them. It has created palaces, but it was not so easy to create nobleman and kings". This author believes that Thoreau was directing this at the ever increasing appearance of our nobility, but the decreasing reality of our rogue stature and intent. Do not place stock in the cards you were dealt in this life, but rather in the willingness to learn the game and play with sportsmanship regardless of the outcome or victor. Do right because it is right, not because you have to. Defend with all fiber of being your place in this world, so that you may carry on our famous culture of honor. In the closing of this writing and in remembrance of our two great southern men, I will leave with you, a quote from each that should remind us daily of their legacy and sacrifice.

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be taken with painstaking excellence. -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Duty then is the sublimest word in our language. Do your duty in all things. You cannot do more; you should never wish to do less. - Gen. Robert E. Lee

Stand up straight and hold the door

"Colonel Grangerford was a gentleman you see. He was a gentleman all over...His hands was long and thin, and every day of his life he put on a clean shirt and a full suit from head to foot made out of linen so white it hurt your eyes to look at it; and on Sunday he wore a blue tail-coat and brass buttons on it...There weren't no frivolishness about him, not a bit, and he weren't never loud" --Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain. In the adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Col. Grangerford was a true southern gentleman of the time, but he was not without fault. The Colonel was a slave owner, and what appears in the pages to be a materialistic man. He was kind to the young stranger Huck, but completely full of hatred and contempt for his neighbors. This hatred was passed down to his son, Buck, who ultimately died as a result. One is drawn to believe, that Twain was intending to put onto a hilarious pedestal the over zealousness of the American well to do's of the time. The theme appears to be that a gentleman should not be surmised by possessions or status, but by his conduct in all environments. A recent complaint to me by a young woman was addressed to the area of the common conduct of men. This complainant stated that, modern southern men, base their status as men on, the size of the rack on a buck taken in the hunt, the quantity of beer they are able to consume and the winnings or losings of their favorite sports team. It seems that the majority of southern men are caught up in a Col. Grangerford approach of appearing on the outside to be a gentle man, but on the interior being a generally inconsiderate person to their true actions and the repercussions of those actions. Recently, I observed a young man of no more than 35 years of age, address a young woman concerning a possible physical relationship. The young man seemed by outward appearance to be rather dapper and clean in dress and grooming. The two did not appear to know each other and were in a public business. The man addressed the woman, by stating "hey girl! You wanna fu$k with me? Let me get your number". I was infuriated that this man would represent all men, by implying that this is an acceptable way to talk to a woman. The most deeply saddening part was that the woman appeared to have heard this type of comment several times before. I don't know which to be concerned with more. Either the fact that this is apparently common behavior, or that more than likely the average young woman probably believes that this is an accurate representation of our "southern men". This is call to all you true southern gentlemen, and all you rude, yellow bellied pigs of men, stand up straight, hold the door, pay a compliment, help with their jacket and quite speaking rudely of our women. Without our budding southern magnolias, there will be no more solid, stoic trees.

Pluck this Day

   Today is Friday the 13th, 2012. Several of you may suffer from a severe phobia of this date, but what is it exactly that is at the root of this day. Pope Gregory XIII ordered the Catholic Church to adopt the Gregorian calender in 1582. This created a maximum of three Friday the 13th's a year.13 has been considered an uneven number based on the repetitive patterns of 12. 12 months in a year, 12 apostles of Jesus, 12 tribes of Israel and12 zodiac signs. However, what is the cause for all the superstition? Is it related to the Last Supper? Is it because Judas was the 13th guest to the supper? Or is is because of Norse mythology? Is it because Balder the Beautiful, was the target of a mistletoe tipped arrow that  struck down this god of Joy and Gladness? Loki, the mischievous god, was the 13th god to arrive at a party in Valhalla, he arrived uninvited and convinced another to kill Balder. Whatever the cause this superstition has become an epidemic, We all know that bad misfortune can find any of us at anytime.

   The simple idea that we have let this superstition take hold of our architecture and our daily activities is ridiculous. Y'all would be hard pressed to find a 13th floor on a building, gate at an airport or in some cases even a 13th building at an apartment complex.  Also, adding to this is a loss of business or more importantly persons failing to do everyday tasks on this day, due to Triskaidekaphobia, or the fear of the number 13. According to an interview with the founder of the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute, Donald Dossey in an interview with National Geographic. Dossey estimates that 800-900 million dollars are lost in business and commerce on this day due to people refusing to fly or conduct their routine business. This is a ridiculous idea to me. Knowing what poets have known for centuries and what Hollywood portrayed in Robin Williams character, John Keating in Dead Poets Society, "We are food for worms, lads, Believe it or not, each and every one of us in this room is one day going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die."  The rebel yell of this fictional classroom was "Carpe Diem" or pluck the day. The moral of this article is to follow in the footsteps of poets instead of superstitious persons.

   In 65 B.C. Roman poet, Horace wrote in "Odes" ,
Scale back your long hopes
to a short period. While we
speak, time is envious and
is running away from us.
Seize the day, trusting
little in the future.

  French poet, Charles Baudelaire tells us to "Be Drunk, Wine, Poetry or Virtue as you wish. But be Drunk"

  Walt Whitman, demands action, meaningful and full of vigor in his poem O Me! O Life, by answering a question asked of life "That you are here - that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse".

  Rudyard Kipling speaks to us on how to be better, through the best collection of words in my opinion, "If"

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master;
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools;

and finally Mark Twain tells us to stay away from "safety" by Sailing away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.  So in the event that misfortune is coming for you today, Do not be deterred or routed from your dreams. Love loud, Fight for Truth and Stand on top of your desk and scream with all intent "CARPE DIEM".

Mightier than the sword

May 14th, 1839 Queen Victoria attended a play at London's Covent Garden. The play she was attending, was about Cardinal Richelieu. In this play, the author Edward Bulwer-Lytton, wrote the lines for the part of Cardinal Richelieu. The line was spoken as follows onto the Queen's royal ears;
True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand! — itself a nothing! —
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyse the Caesars, and to strike
The loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —
States can be saved without it!

The essence and deep definition the Queen should have taken from this was most certainly: The pen is mightier than the sword.

There are several documented predecessors, who penned such variants of this profound statement.

In Hebrews 4:12, the scripture tells us "Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart."

In Hamlet, William Shakespeare authored "....... many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose quills."

In a letter to Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson scribbled the statement "Go on then in doing with your pen what in other times was done with the sword: shew that reformation is more practicable by operating on the mind than on the body of man, and be assured that it has not a more sincere votary nor you a more ardent well-wisher than yours Thomas Jefferson".

A pen and the legacy it spills, is some of the more potent communication, one could deliver. I have recently purchased a Pen & Ink brand sketch model fountain pen. The fountain pen floods my conscious with memories of my father, who it always seemed, was armed with this weapon. This pen is designed with a iridium tip, where it graces the presence of the page, by gliding over its surface. It delivers the ink, smoother than a straight razor shave. This pen has been a delight to scratch with and it comes in the box with three cartridges and a ink converter., so one could carefully avoid the messy past of earlier variants. If you should find yourself in a waging war of written words, the outpouring of carefully crafted love letters or just wanting a fine pen to draw up your grocery list: this author recommends the Pen & Ink Sketch model.

Typographical errors

Ladies and Gentlemen, please bear with my typographical errors, as I am constructing the majority of this blog from my IPhone. Please do not let my error deter you from the content. Any comments constructive or otherwise are openly welcomed.

Articulation Is key

In a court setting this morning, I witnessed a mother trip and fumble over words. This act was a poor attempt to justify the actions of her son. Regardless of the outcome, this spectacle of uneducated speaking, reminded me that we are how we convey ourselves. Whether it be through appearance or conversation. The website of Vocabulary.com claims to be "the quickest, most intelligent way to improve your vocabulary. Regardless of your education level or age, Vocabulary.com will help you to master the words that are essential to academic and business success". I believe this is an accurate statement, and best of all, it is absolutely free. Fellow Kentucky gentleman, drama critic, Naval Lieutenant and Harvard graduate John Mason Brown said "A good conversationalist is not one who remembers what was said, but says what someone wants to remember." So become a crafter of memories, an articulate speaker with deadly precision and click the link below. http://www.vocabulary.com/

The metal that makes a man

Thanks James.

What is the one thing from your childhood that made you distinctly remember becoming a man? For me it was possessing a pocket knife. I remember with fondness owning several. However, the mere thought of possessing a knife, seemed to transform it into a sword on the level of King Arthur's Excalibur, Edward the Confessors Sword of Mercy, Beowulf's Hrunting or Luke Skywalker's Lightsaber. I remember Uncles, Fathers and Grandfathers of every boy I knew possessed a knife. Using these sharply defined tools, they would whittle and create nothing special, but the mere act of wielding such a dangerous weapon to me, seemed gentlemanly yet dangerous. Long gone are the days of boys playing Nerve in it's dangerous 1-2-3-4-5-6-5-4-3-2-1 fashion between the fingers of themselves at school when bored. And unfortunately so is Mumblypeg as played by Twain's Tom Sawyer and this author and all his friends on the playground. A few years back a good friend and co worker of mine gifted me a Victorinox Yeoman Swiss Army Boy Scouts of America pocket knife. Upon opening this package, I was instantly transported back to the days of being a young Tenderfoot. The magic this knife held to me at the time, still captivates me. I have a multitude of tools at my disposal with just one small unassuming red knife. This newer variation of and old blade has helped me dozens of times. The simple act of cutting rope, to tweezing out splinter's from my daughter's hand, to opening a bottle of wine, screwing in a loose screw on the fence starting fire with the magnifying glass leaves me with the knowledge of MacGyver but feeling as if I am Jeremiah Johnson. No childhood should be complete without one. It served me well in my days at school and does me just the same in my years on patrol in the streets. Just knowing that I possess this "Sword of Mercy", takes me back and carries me forward in this life.

The birth of an antebellum man

There is a mystery, in this place I love. It begs an answer to several questions. Somewhere below the Mason-Dixon, flowing on the sweet tannic stained rivers, below the century old majestic oaks, hidden in the hectares of cotton, surrounded by the Blue Ridge mountains and kissed gently by the Atlantic Ocean, is the lost cause of being a true Southern Gentleman. Not for the prestige and not for the accolades of others, just simply my dears, because it is and always has been since the days before we became obsessed with such matters that do not matter, the right way to be. This collection of words and framing of thoughts, is to document and verify the fact that us true to the lost ways in these trying times, are not a dying breed and that the traditions and gestures of those long before us, should never be forgotten. These traditions and ghosts in our souls, were passed down from the men who made us men and the mothers, sisters, aunts and wives who loved us for being them. This is the birth of an antebellum man!