Rodney Strange's Blog, page 17
April 22, 2013
'Trust, It's Not Always A Matter Of Choice...'
More on my website: http://www.rustygoat.texasgoat.com/
I had a strange dream right before I woke up this morning. It went like this: I stood at the checkout at the local grocery store, paying for my groceries and as the clerk handed me the receipt, I turned around and...my basket of groceries was gone! I proclaimed the fact to the girl who had taken my $69.59 and she replied with a silent curl of her lip and a 'sucks to be you' look, then began checking out the next customer. I frantically rushed from cart ot cart in search of my groceries then spotted an employee who appeared to be a supervisor of some sorts. I rushed to her and told her my story. She gave me an unconcerned look and replied, "Sure, Pops...nice try!" I then demanded to see the store manager who appeared after a very lengthy wait. I explained the situation to him. He smiled and shook his head, "Tell ya what, let me buy you a Coke and a candy bar. I won't let you leave hungry." I bristled and replied, "I want my seventy bucks worth of groceries...not a freakin' candy bar!" His face grew stern, "What are you going to do, report me to the media?" I drew my face close to his and said in a low tone, "I AM the media!"
Well, I woke up without resolving my problem, but I did make my point with the man. With an average of a quarter million visitors each month stopping the Rusty Goat site, I do possess a certain amount of ability to get a message or two broadcast to, lets say...lots of folks. Perhaps my dream stems from a recent rash of local media 'exposures' on local businesses that have shafted a customer here and there, who in turn, turned to the media for help in getting their viewpoints aired, and hopefully getting their issues resolved to their satisfaction. We really shouldn't have to call in the big guns to force a business to play fair, but hey, we do what we have to do?
It's a matter of trust. So many times we are forced to trust someone...there is no choice. When you receive your monthly electric bill, you trust someone really did read the meter. When you sign up for a two year contract for satellite TV or a cell phone provider, you are forced to trust that a) they really will provide the service they promise and b) they won't jack your rate up every time the dog farts.
This website is made available to you at no cost to you. It is subsidized primarily by Google ads. When you click on an ad, I get a nickle (if you click really hard, sometimes I make a dime.) Every month Google sends me a check. I trust that they are playing fair. I sell my books on Amazon.com. They send my royalty check every quarter...I trust they are playing fair. I have no choice. When I fill my gas tank up, I trust that I really got all the gas I paid for...I have no choice.
Trust is defined as one party willing to rely on the actions of another party. Notice it said 'willing.' I'm not forced to do business with Google or Amazon, nor am I forced to trust the electric company. There would be lots of dark, lonely nights without them, though.
There is a trust available to us all, not a forced trust like those mentioned above, but a trust in God. He never forces us to trust him. We are given free will to choose how we live our lives. I freely choose to place my trust in Him. I think many folks out there believe in God, but don't really put their trust in Him. They see their belief in God as a way to heaven. Folks, that's not what it's all about. Sure, we all want to go 'there,' but if we base our beliefs solely on getting to heaven while continuing to live a haphazard and freewheeling life here on earth, we miss out on the daily gifts that God is so willing to give us...when we put our trust in Him.
What might had been the outcome of my dream? Perhaps I had decided to take matters into my own hands, pulling out my pistol, firing off random rounds while proclaiming, "I ain't leaving till my get my freakin' groceries!" Yeah, I'd been dining at some state prison for a very long time. But had I instead, gone home and dropped to my knees and told God, "Lord, that was my last seventy bucks till payday and I have nothing to eat. Please help me get through this," I guarantee you I would not miss a meal. In all my fifty something years, I have NEVER gone hungry. I've always had a roof over my head and socks to put on my feet. I trust my God.
There's a new dollar coin floating around. It is missing one familiar phrase, "In God We Trust." Yes, shame on the ones who made the decision to leave that off the coin...but that's between them and God. I personally don't need a coin to remind me that I need to place my trust in Him. My relationship with God is a personal one...just between me and Him. I have seen the power of God when I put my trust in Him. Trust me, it's magical!
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3: 5-6
I had a strange dream right before I woke up this morning. It went like this: I stood at the checkout at the local grocery store, paying for my groceries and as the clerk handed me the receipt, I turned around and...my basket of groceries was gone! I proclaimed the fact to the girl who had taken my $69.59 and she replied with a silent curl of her lip and a 'sucks to be you' look, then began checking out the next customer. I frantically rushed from cart ot cart in search of my groceries then spotted an employee who appeared to be a supervisor of some sorts. I rushed to her and told her my story. She gave me an unconcerned look and replied, "Sure, Pops...nice try!" I then demanded to see the store manager who appeared after a very lengthy wait. I explained the situation to him. He smiled and shook his head, "Tell ya what, let me buy you a Coke and a candy bar. I won't let you leave hungry." I bristled and replied, "I want my seventy bucks worth of groceries...not a freakin' candy bar!" His face grew stern, "What are you going to do, report me to the media?" I drew my face close to his and said in a low tone, "I AM the media!"
Well, I woke up without resolving my problem, but I did make my point with the man. With an average of a quarter million visitors each month stopping the Rusty Goat site, I do possess a certain amount of ability to get a message or two broadcast to, lets say...lots of folks. Perhaps my dream stems from a recent rash of local media 'exposures' on local businesses that have shafted a customer here and there, who in turn, turned to the media for help in getting their viewpoints aired, and hopefully getting their issues resolved to their satisfaction. We really shouldn't have to call in the big guns to force a business to play fair, but hey, we do what we have to do?
It's a matter of trust. So many times we are forced to trust someone...there is no choice. When you receive your monthly electric bill, you trust someone really did read the meter. When you sign up for a two year contract for satellite TV or a cell phone provider, you are forced to trust that a) they really will provide the service they promise and b) they won't jack your rate up every time the dog farts.
This website is made available to you at no cost to you. It is subsidized primarily by Google ads. When you click on an ad, I get a nickle (if you click really hard, sometimes I make a dime.) Every month Google sends me a check. I trust that they are playing fair. I sell my books on Amazon.com. They send my royalty check every quarter...I trust they are playing fair. I have no choice. When I fill my gas tank up, I trust that I really got all the gas I paid for...I have no choice.
Trust is defined as one party willing to rely on the actions of another party. Notice it said 'willing.' I'm not forced to do business with Google or Amazon, nor am I forced to trust the electric company. There would be lots of dark, lonely nights without them, though.
There is a trust available to us all, not a forced trust like those mentioned above, but a trust in God. He never forces us to trust him. We are given free will to choose how we live our lives. I freely choose to place my trust in Him. I think many folks out there believe in God, but don't really put their trust in Him. They see their belief in God as a way to heaven. Folks, that's not what it's all about. Sure, we all want to go 'there,' but if we base our beliefs solely on getting to heaven while continuing to live a haphazard and freewheeling life here on earth, we miss out on the daily gifts that God is so willing to give us...when we put our trust in Him.
What might had been the outcome of my dream? Perhaps I had decided to take matters into my own hands, pulling out my pistol, firing off random rounds while proclaiming, "I ain't leaving till my get my freakin' groceries!" Yeah, I'd been dining at some state prison for a very long time. But had I instead, gone home and dropped to my knees and told God, "Lord, that was my last seventy bucks till payday and I have nothing to eat. Please help me get through this," I guarantee you I would not miss a meal. In all my fifty something years, I have NEVER gone hungry. I've always had a roof over my head and socks to put on my feet. I trust my God.
There's a new dollar coin floating around. It is missing one familiar phrase, "In God We Trust." Yes, shame on the ones who made the decision to leave that off the coin...but that's between them and God. I personally don't need a coin to remind me that I need to place my trust in Him. My relationship with God is a personal one...just between me and Him. I have seen the power of God when I put my trust in Him. Trust me, it's magical!
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3: 5-6
April 2, 2013
Prologue to Nineteen Seventy Something
This book is available here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACD1OC8
April 8, 2011
Josh Williams focused his gaze on the almost deserted street that lay thirty feet on the other side of the glass window of the coffee shop. He ran his fingers through his scraggly hair as he mentally tried to shake off the despair that weighted down his very being. The Texas Tech campus on the opposite side of the street was all but abandoned. Another Friday evening had come, signaling a mass exodus of students as they headed out for the weekend. The nineteen year old stared down at the iced vanilla latte sitting before him and stirred it absentmindedly while his mind replayed the event that had happened only a couple of hours earlier. A sigh escaped from within him as if attempting to relieve the unbearable weight upon his heart. His eyes darted around the empty coffee shop. He couldn't remember ever feeling so alone.
The glass door swung open and a well dressed man stepped inside and made his way to the counter. A pretty little brunette behind the counter greeted him as she scampered from somewhere in the back, adjusting her green apron. A distinguished looking man, Williams thought to himself, well dressed, probably around the age of his own father, shot a big smile to the clerk as his eyes turned upward toward the menu.
"Jessica, what am I in the mood for tonight?"
He took an index finger and pushed the brim of a black Stetson up on his forehead to enable an unobstructed view of the menu.
"Umm, maybe an Expresso Macchiato?" the clerk giggled.
"Umm, nope. I think I'll just have my usual."
The girl turned away from him to pour a cup of coffee as she replied, "One of these days, Mr. Steele, I'm going to get you to try something different...one of these days."
Josh Williams returned his stare to the dark street again, allowing himself to slip back into the depths of the turmoil inside his mind.
"I should get me one of those!"
The young man glanced up to see the cowboy standing only two tables away watching a 2011 Camaro idling slowly down the narrow street. Williams involuntarily smiled as his mind pictured the old man cruising around Lubbock, Texas in a Camaro.
"What? You don't think I'd look good in a car like that?"
"Aw, I just..." Williams shook his head as he grinned, "You just look like a pickup man to me."
"Yeah, I already have one of those. I bet a sports car like that might get me one of these young college girls, ya think?"
He now stood beside the table, his hand extended.
"Steele's the name."
"Josh Williams" he muttered as the two shook hands.
"Mind if I sit with you?" Without waiting for a reply, the cowboy seated himself across the table, "I hate to pass up an opportunity for good conversation. Besides, you look like you just lost your best friend."
Williams scratched his forehead and peered down at the table.
"Yeah, something like that."
He glanced back up and looked at the man's face, noticing the wrinkles and the crows feet accenting the age around his eyes. The old man's sparkling blue eyes watched the quiet street as he lifted the steaming cup to his lips.
"This side of Lubbock gets pretty quiet on the weekends, huh? So, tell me about her."
Williams shot him a woeful, forced grin, "How you know it's a girl?"
"Always is...one way or another."
The youthful face seemed to freeze momentarily as if trying to decide whether to share anything with this stranger. Finally, he spoke.
"I said 'goodbye' to the only girl I've ever loved today. She had to quit school and go back home. Her dad's dying of cancer and she's going home to help her mother get through this. I'm sure she ain't coming back."
Steele paused for a brief moment in thought, "You're a fairly young fella. What makes you so sure you were really in love with this girl?"
Oh, trust me..." their eyes met, "I never knew love like this ever existed. I mean, it was a love so profound..."
"...a love of such magnitude that anything less will never be enough." The cowboy finished his sentence.
Josh Williams locked onto the blue eyes from across the table, "Yes, exactly."
"So, surely she's not so far away that you can't keep in touch...maybe some weekend visits?"
"I dunno. She's from somewhere up in north Texas, some wide spot in the road called Delight, three hundred miles from here. I'm barely making it financially. There's no extra money for gas. I can't afford any road trips."
The cowboy dropped his gaze to the table and sat silently for an uncomfortable period of time. Finally he spoke.
"I suppose I could tell you that you'll forget about her someday. I could say that the pain you're feeling in your heart will ease in time. I reckon I'd probably be lying to you, though." He paused again, staring into the darkness out the window. "I've been right where you're at when I was your age, and if there's any good advice I can give you, It would be to never let a woman like that get away, It's rare that a man finds love like that even once in his lifetime. Pretty safe bet, he'll not see it twice."
The man named Steele lifted the cup to his face and blew the steam before taking a sip of coffee. The young man watched him patiently, waiting for the cowboy to continue. The old man's facial expressions softened as his eyes focused on the wall behind Williams. A smile crossed his face.
"I found a girl like yours a long time ago, believe it or not in Delight, Texas...if you've got the time, I'll tell you the story."
Josh Williams shrugged and grinned, "I suppose I've got all night."
The two men sat in a corner of the empty shop while the young waitress named Jessica began her nightly duties of wiping down tables and cleaning up. The street outside showed no sign of traffic as the city began shutting down for the night. The clock on the wall was the last thing on either of their minds as a man named Rusty Steele began telling his story of a love of such magnitude that few have ever experienced.
The cowboy rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward and with a gleam in his eyes, began, "I believe it was nineteen seventy something..."
Get the book here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACD1OC8
April 8, 2011
Josh Williams focused his gaze on the almost deserted street that lay thirty feet on the other side of the glass window of the coffee shop. He ran his fingers through his scraggly hair as he mentally tried to shake off the despair that weighted down his very being. The Texas Tech campus on the opposite side of the street was all but abandoned. Another Friday evening had come, signaling a mass exodus of students as they headed out for the weekend. The nineteen year old stared down at the iced vanilla latte sitting before him and stirred it absentmindedly while his mind replayed the event that had happened only a couple of hours earlier. A sigh escaped from within him as if attempting to relieve the unbearable weight upon his heart. His eyes darted around the empty coffee shop. He couldn't remember ever feeling so alone.
The glass door swung open and a well dressed man stepped inside and made his way to the counter. A pretty little brunette behind the counter greeted him as she scampered from somewhere in the back, adjusting her green apron. A distinguished looking man, Williams thought to himself, well dressed, probably around the age of his own father, shot a big smile to the clerk as his eyes turned upward toward the menu.
"Jessica, what am I in the mood for tonight?"
He took an index finger and pushed the brim of a black Stetson up on his forehead to enable an unobstructed view of the menu.
"Umm, maybe an Expresso Macchiato?" the clerk giggled.
"Umm, nope. I think I'll just have my usual."
The girl turned away from him to pour a cup of coffee as she replied, "One of these days, Mr. Steele, I'm going to get you to try something different...one of these days."
Josh Williams returned his stare to the dark street again, allowing himself to slip back into the depths of the turmoil inside his mind.
"I should get me one of those!"
The young man glanced up to see the cowboy standing only two tables away watching a 2011 Camaro idling slowly down the narrow street. Williams involuntarily smiled as his mind pictured the old man cruising around Lubbock, Texas in a Camaro.
"What? You don't think I'd look good in a car like that?"
"Aw, I just..." Williams shook his head as he grinned, "You just look like a pickup man to me."
"Yeah, I already have one of those. I bet a sports car like that might get me one of these young college girls, ya think?"
He now stood beside the table, his hand extended.
"Steele's the name."
"Josh Williams" he muttered as the two shook hands.
"Mind if I sit with you?" Without waiting for a reply, the cowboy seated himself across the table, "I hate to pass up an opportunity for good conversation. Besides, you look like you just lost your best friend."
Williams scratched his forehead and peered down at the table.
"Yeah, something like that."
He glanced back up and looked at the man's face, noticing the wrinkles and the crows feet accenting the age around his eyes. The old man's sparkling blue eyes watched the quiet street as he lifted the steaming cup to his lips.
"This side of Lubbock gets pretty quiet on the weekends, huh? So, tell me about her."
Williams shot him a woeful, forced grin, "How you know it's a girl?"
"Always is...one way or another."
The youthful face seemed to freeze momentarily as if trying to decide whether to share anything with this stranger. Finally, he spoke.
"I said 'goodbye' to the only girl I've ever loved today. She had to quit school and go back home. Her dad's dying of cancer and she's going home to help her mother get through this. I'm sure she ain't coming back."
Steele paused for a brief moment in thought, "You're a fairly young fella. What makes you so sure you were really in love with this girl?"
Oh, trust me..." their eyes met, "I never knew love like this ever existed. I mean, it was a love so profound..."
"...a love of such magnitude that anything less will never be enough." The cowboy finished his sentence.
Josh Williams locked onto the blue eyes from across the table, "Yes, exactly."
"So, surely she's not so far away that you can't keep in touch...maybe some weekend visits?"
"I dunno. She's from somewhere up in north Texas, some wide spot in the road called Delight, three hundred miles from here. I'm barely making it financially. There's no extra money for gas. I can't afford any road trips."
The cowboy dropped his gaze to the table and sat silently for an uncomfortable period of time. Finally he spoke.
"I suppose I could tell you that you'll forget about her someday. I could say that the pain you're feeling in your heart will ease in time. I reckon I'd probably be lying to you, though." He paused again, staring into the darkness out the window. "I've been right where you're at when I was your age, and if there's any good advice I can give you, It would be to never let a woman like that get away, It's rare that a man finds love like that even once in his lifetime. Pretty safe bet, he'll not see it twice."
The man named Steele lifted the cup to his face and blew the steam before taking a sip of coffee. The young man watched him patiently, waiting for the cowboy to continue. The old man's facial expressions softened as his eyes focused on the wall behind Williams. A smile crossed his face.
"I found a girl like yours a long time ago, believe it or not in Delight, Texas...if you've got the time, I'll tell you the story."
Josh Williams shrugged and grinned, "I suppose I've got all night."
The two men sat in a corner of the empty shop while the young waitress named Jessica began her nightly duties of wiping down tables and cleaning up. The street outside showed no sign of traffic as the city began shutting down for the night. The clock on the wall was the last thing on either of their minds as a man named Rusty Steele began telling his story of a love of such magnitude that few have ever experienced.
The cowboy rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward and with a gleam in his eyes, began, "I believe it was nineteen seventy something..."
Get the book here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ACD1OC8
March 30, 2013
'What Spice Do You Use To Flavor Your Words?'
See my weekly blog here: http://ow.ly/jBbnN
Out here in west Texas we tend to say what's on our mind and say it in a way that leaves little doubt that we are pretty serious about saying it. We tend to embellish and we tend to flavor our sentences with spicy words now and then. Fact is, we've been known to punctuate here and there with words that may not be accceptably spoken around preachers and our mamas. Yes, cursing is as much part of many of us out here as chicken fried steak. But...let me clarify by saying ...when we cuss around here...we tend to cuss good.
What is the difference between good cussing and bad cussing? I think the vast majority of us from around these parts know there is a time and place for everything, even for uttering one of those 'spicy words.' I'd say my social circle is pretty much the norm, as normal as any group of Texans gathered together could be. When the guys get together, talk may become as spicy as a delicately blended habanero sauce...but we know when the ladies come around, it's time to clean it up. We never cuss around the preacher, women, or children ...it's the way we were taught. I call that good cussing.
There's not a foul word that could be spoken that I haven't heard...or tossed out into the right crowd myself. But I must admit, in recent years, I heard words thrown around in everyday language that make me blush. I see these words in print, generally with the users name and photo proudly displayed right beside it. Yes, twitter and facebook has become a devil's playground for those who have never been taught better. What makes me sad is often these most vulgar words are being used by our kids...teens and even tweens. I learned my lesson the hard way. My parents were good, upstanding Christian people and I never heard a curse word escape from either of their mouths, but as I ventured into my teen years, naturally I began to pick up a few 'spicy' words here and there. I had a friend whose parents were, I'll say, pretty easy going. They said nothing about us smoking around them, drinking a beer, or saying a few colorful words in the course of conversation. So, me being the dumb neighbor kid, uttered a word outloud to my friend within hearing range of his mother one day. It was, what the evening news now likes to refer to as 'The F-Bomb.' That woman dropped the boom she was sweeping the porch with and approached me in a fury, wagging her finger in my face.
"Let me tell you, young man, I don't know what the rules are at your house, but around here THAT WORD is NEVER spoken around ladies!"
My eyes grew wide and perhaps even teared up momentarily as I stood there and took my tongue lashing. It would be a lashing I would never forget. That, my friends, was bad cussing.
I've tried really hard lately to obliterate all curse words from my everyday language and it's been a real challenge. Decades of letting loose with 'ample spice' to enhance my verbiage has proven this to be a hard habit to break.
The preacher found it his place to address this topic last Sunday, and while he chose his words carefully, with a congregation of hard core west Texans listening to his sermon, he reminded us all that as Christians, we're better than that. In fact, he challenged us all to make an effort to enrich our vocabulary by discovering new and exciting words to add the 'spice' we seem so tempted to include in our everyday conversations. He reminded us we have a duty as Christians to set a shining example to the rest of the world. Then, with a smile, he reminded us that it wasn't his rule...it was God's.
Ephesians 4 Verses 29-31 says this: 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Perhaps we as a society should work on finding some new 'spices' to enhance the flavor of our vocabulary with. Can you accept this challenge? I think I can, by-golly-G-bum!
My newest novel Nineteen Seventy Something
Out here in west Texas we tend to say what's on our mind and say it in a way that leaves little doubt that we are pretty serious about saying it. We tend to embellish and we tend to flavor our sentences with spicy words now and then. Fact is, we've been known to punctuate here and there with words that may not be accceptably spoken around preachers and our mamas. Yes, cursing is as much part of many of us out here as chicken fried steak. But...let me clarify by saying ...when we cuss around here...we tend to cuss good.
What is the difference between good cussing and bad cussing? I think the vast majority of us from around these parts know there is a time and place for everything, even for uttering one of those 'spicy words.' I'd say my social circle is pretty much the norm, as normal as any group of Texans gathered together could be. When the guys get together, talk may become as spicy as a delicately blended habanero sauce...but we know when the ladies come around, it's time to clean it up. We never cuss around the preacher, women, or children ...it's the way we were taught. I call that good cussing.
There's not a foul word that could be spoken that I haven't heard...or tossed out into the right crowd myself. But I must admit, in recent years, I heard words thrown around in everyday language that make me blush. I see these words in print, generally with the users name and photo proudly displayed right beside it. Yes, twitter and facebook has become a devil's playground for those who have never been taught better. What makes me sad is often these most vulgar words are being used by our kids...teens and even tweens. I learned my lesson the hard way. My parents were good, upstanding Christian people and I never heard a curse word escape from either of their mouths, but as I ventured into my teen years, naturally I began to pick up a few 'spicy' words here and there. I had a friend whose parents were, I'll say, pretty easy going. They said nothing about us smoking around them, drinking a beer, or saying a few colorful words in the course of conversation. So, me being the dumb neighbor kid, uttered a word outloud to my friend within hearing range of his mother one day. It was, what the evening news now likes to refer to as 'The F-Bomb.' That woman dropped the boom she was sweeping the porch with and approached me in a fury, wagging her finger in my face.
"Let me tell you, young man, I don't know what the rules are at your house, but around here THAT WORD is NEVER spoken around ladies!"
My eyes grew wide and perhaps even teared up momentarily as I stood there and took my tongue lashing. It would be a lashing I would never forget. That, my friends, was bad cussing.
I've tried really hard lately to obliterate all curse words from my everyday language and it's been a real challenge. Decades of letting loose with 'ample spice' to enhance my verbiage has proven this to be a hard habit to break.
The preacher found it his place to address this topic last Sunday, and while he chose his words carefully, with a congregation of hard core west Texans listening to his sermon, he reminded us all that as Christians, we're better than that. In fact, he challenged us all to make an effort to enrich our vocabulary by discovering new and exciting words to add the 'spice' we seem so tempted to include in our everyday conversations. He reminded us we have a duty as Christians to set a shining example to the rest of the world. Then, with a smile, he reminded us that it wasn't his rule...it was God's.
Ephesians 4 Verses 29-31 says this: 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Perhaps we as a society should work on finding some new 'spices' to enhance the flavor of our vocabulary with. Can you accept this challenge? I think I can, by-golly-G-bum!
My newest novel Nineteen Seventy Something
March 13, 2013
'The Universe... What's Really Out There?'
'Space, the final frontier...' You heard it too, didn't you? William Shatner's voice echoed in your eardrum when you read that. Then that oh so familiar tune of the Star Trek theme beamed through your mind for just a split second. Okay, enough of that. I read just the other day that some individual who has entirely too much money to waste wants to send a man and a woman into orbit...destination Mars. The trip is estimated to take over 500 days to complete. During this time, this man and woman will be secluded inside a small space capsule together. If I were that man, I'd insist on picking the woman who would be my traveling companion. Think how horrible this mission could turn out to be if these two people are not compatable!
Man's fascination with space fascinates me. We will never stop searching for answers. We have this driving force within us to verify that there surely is life out there somewhere. I personally think we will never get our answer. I don't think God will allow us to solve the mystery. Presuming that there surely must be someone else somewhere else in this vast universe, let's also presume for a moment that God gave them the same choices we were allowed at the dawn of our civilization. There's a good chance that the first woman of their species DIDN"T eat the forbidded fruit. If that's the case, then that world we seek to discover would be one void of sin. Our very entry into that world would nullify everything. We would not only bring beads and trinkets to this new world, we would also bring sin. When that occurs, we have in effect become the Satan of their civilization. Perhaps we should all just stay home and patiently wait for the new Star Wars movies instead.
Personally, I do not think there is anything or anyone else out there. Let's go back to the moment that Satan and his demons rose up in defiance of God and threatened to overthrow His rule. What did God do? He didn't send them all to Mars or Venus...or that Vulcan planet. He banished them all to earth. These were angels, fallen angels granted. they were...are supernatural beings. Why not sentence Satan and his evil band to some foreboding asteroid or perhaps a tiny obscure moon in a galaxy far, far away. I think because God realized that mankind would never be satisfied until we were allowed to have the freedom of 'free will.' Had our civilization never experienced sin, we'd not have the freedom to choose the life we wish to live. Under God's grand design, we can do anything...ANYTHING we want. Were there not any of those pesky laws our society imposes on us, the sky...the universe would be the limit! Of course, ultimately in the end there would be a price to pay if we choose to live a life filled with sin. The Bible is clear when describing Hell as being here on Earth, apparently deep within the earth. Those who choose to live a life of sin ultimately find their way to hell...for eternity. That's a shame, for those of us who choose to live our lives by God's standards will someday leave this planet...and when we do...we will have the answer. We will know what is really OUT THERE!
Man's fascination with space fascinates me. We will never stop searching for answers. We have this driving force within us to verify that there surely is life out there somewhere. I personally think we will never get our answer. I don't think God will allow us to solve the mystery. Presuming that there surely must be someone else somewhere else in this vast universe, let's also presume for a moment that God gave them the same choices we were allowed at the dawn of our civilization. There's a good chance that the first woman of their species DIDN"T eat the forbidded fruit. If that's the case, then that world we seek to discover would be one void of sin. Our very entry into that world would nullify everything. We would not only bring beads and trinkets to this new world, we would also bring sin. When that occurs, we have in effect become the Satan of their civilization. Perhaps we should all just stay home and patiently wait for the new Star Wars movies instead.
Personally, I do not think there is anything or anyone else out there. Let's go back to the moment that Satan and his demons rose up in defiance of God and threatened to overthrow His rule. What did God do? He didn't send them all to Mars or Venus...or that Vulcan planet. He banished them all to earth. These were angels, fallen angels granted. they were...are supernatural beings. Why not sentence Satan and his evil band to some foreboding asteroid or perhaps a tiny obscure moon in a galaxy far, far away. I think because God realized that mankind would never be satisfied until we were allowed to have the freedom of 'free will.' Had our civilization never experienced sin, we'd not have the freedom to choose the life we wish to live. Under God's grand design, we can do anything...ANYTHING we want. Were there not any of those pesky laws our society imposes on us, the sky...the universe would be the limit! Of course, ultimately in the end there would be a price to pay if we choose to live a life filled with sin. The Bible is clear when describing Hell as being here on Earth, apparently deep within the earth. Those who choose to live a life of sin ultimately find their way to hell...for eternity. That's a shame, for those of us who choose to live our lives by God's standards will someday leave this planet...and when we do...we will have the answer. We will know what is really OUT THERE!
March 3, 2013
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something' - The Relationship
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"Please Julie Ann...no more Barry Manilow!"
"Fine then, Rod Stewart it is!"
Julie Ann crammed the 8-track into the stereo and sat back down beside me on the couch.
"It'd be fine with me if we just sit here in complete silence. Hell, we could even strike up a conversation with each other if you turn off that music."
The girl stormed across the room and turned the stereo off, spinning around and glaring at me.
"Rusty Steele, you are becoming increasingly difficult to live with!" She spit the words out with venom, her hands on her hips.
"Me? I'm the same guy I've always been! It's YOU that's being difficult!"
This was what our relationship had become in the six months since I had agreed to give Julie Ann Mathis another chance back in October. We bickered about everything...what music to listen to, what to eat, where to eat, what I'm wearing, what she's wearing...we even bickered about...
"Rusty, I'm late again. I think it's for real this time." Julie Ann teared up and dropped her face in the palms of her hands.
"Oh, you were late last month and the month before that. Have you ever stopped to think that just maybe you start thinking you're late way too early every month?" I remained seated on the couch with an indifferent look on my face.
"How many times do you think we've had unprotected sex, Rusty?"
I shrugged, "I dunno, thousands of times, I guess."
Julie Ann rolled her eyes, "No, not thousands...but the point is, the odds of me getting pregnant increase every time we 'do it', you know?"
"Well, how about we just don't do it anymore? That should take a load off your mind. You could spend all that brain power coming up with some different ways to make me miserable...that would be a refreshing change of pace." I gritted my teeth and looked through her as if she were invisible.
"Fine...we WON'T do it anymore! I should go home."
"Maybe so...surprise your parents." It had now become a game and we both knew how it would end.
"I won't go home. You just want me to go home so you can go be with HER!" She turned her back to me, faking a pout.
"Well, she doesn't listen to Barry Manilow...and she never tells me she's late on her period." I held back a grin.
"Of course not...SHE'S not giving you any!" Her back remained turned to me.
I sat there silently, holding my tongue. A smile spread across my face as I patiently waited for her next wave of over-reactions to come. Less than a minute had passed when Julie Ann whirled around and faced me.
"She's not giving you any, is she?" Sparks flew from her eyes as I looked at her, struggling not to laugh.
"Fine! I'm going to bed!" She stormed out of the room as I yelled to her.
"You can't go to bed in my bed! You have to be home in an hour!"
"I may not go home...maybe my daddy will come over here looking for me. Maybe he'll kick your ass...you deserve it, you know."
I lit up a Marlboro and blew smoke rings, watching them circle above my head, eventually evaporating. I managed to smoke the entire cigarette before her whiny voice called from the bedroom.
"Rusty? Rusty...will you come lay with me?"
I sighed and snuffed out the cigarette then made my way toward the bedroom. We had the perfect relationship as long as we didn't try to talk to each another.Nineteen Seventy Something
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"Please Julie Ann...no more Barry Manilow!"
"Fine then, Rod Stewart it is!"
Julie Ann crammed the 8-track into the stereo and sat back down beside me on the couch.
"It'd be fine with me if we just sit here in complete silence. Hell, we could even strike up a conversation with each other if you turn off that music."
The girl stormed across the room and turned the stereo off, spinning around and glaring at me.
"Rusty Steele, you are becoming increasingly difficult to live with!" She spit the words out with venom, her hands on her hips.
"Me? I'm the same guy I've always been! It's YOU that's being difficult!"
This was what our relationship had become in the six months since I had agreed to give Julie Ann Mathis another chance back in October. We bickered about everything...what music to listen to, what to eat, where to eat, what I'm wearing, what she's wearing...we even bickered about...
"Rusty, I'm late again. I think it's for real this time." Julie Ann teared up and dropped her face in the palms of her hands.
"Oh, you were late last month and the month before that. Have you ever stopped to think that just maybe you start thinking you're late way too early every month?" I remained seated on the couch with an indifferent look on my face.
"How many times do you think we've had unprotected sex, Rusty?"
I shrugged, "I dunno, thousands of times, I guess."
Julie Ann rolled her eyes, "No, not thousands...but the point is, the odds of me getting pregnant increase every time we 'do it', you know?"
"Well, how about we just don't do it anymore? That should take a load off your mind. You could spend all that brain power coming up with some different ways to make me miserable...that would be a refreshing change of pace." I gritted my teeth and looked through her as if she were invisible.
"Fine...we WON'T do it anymore! I should go home."
"Maybe so...surprise your parents." It had now become a game and we both knew how it would end.
"I won't go home. You just want me to go home so you can go be with HER!" She turned her back to me, faking a pout.
"Well, she doesn't listen to Barry Manilow...and she never tells me she's late on her period." I held back a grin.
"Of course not...SHE'S not giving you any!" Her back remained turned to me.
I sat there silently, holding my tongue. A smile spread across my face as I patiently waited for her next wave of over-reactions to come. Less than a minute had passed when Julie Ann whirled around and faced me.
"She's not giving you any, is she?" Sparks flew from her eyes as I looked at her, struggling not to laugh.
"Fine! I'm going to bed!" She stormed out of the room as I yelled to her.
"You can't go to bed in my bed! You have to be home in an hour!"
"I may not go home...maybe my daddy will come over here looking for me. Maybe he'll kick your ass...you deserve it, you know."
I lit up a Marlboro and blew smoke rings, watching them circle above my head, eventually evaporating. I managed to smoke the entire cigarette before her whiny voice called from the bedroom.
"Rusty? Rusty...will you come lay with me?"
I sighed and snuffed out the cigarette then made my way toward the bedroom. We had the perfect relationship as long as we didn't try to talk to each another.Nineteen Seventy Something
February 12, 2013
'At Some Point In Time You Will Become Invisible'
Out of sheer boredom the other night I found myself cruising the dating site. I'm allowed...I'm single. My boredom continued as I randomly clicked on pictures of beautiful women until I finally ran across a profile that caught my attenton. Beside a pic of a super hot twenty eight year old woman was a headline that read, 'If You're Old Don't Contact Me...' There she was, a woman with enough spunk to put into words what most other women fear...OLD AGE!
I must make myself clear. I am NOT the least bit interested in younger women. Been there, done that, and got the scars to prove it. This young woman's honesty was like a bolt of lightening shooting through a darkened sky. Our American society has no tolerance, no respect, truthfully...no use for those of us now approaching the far side of our prime... commonly known as the Baby Boomers.
Even those now seeing forty looming before them still slam those of us who paved the way for them. Blake Shelton, that charming country singer/The Voice judge, recently made his feelings public, stating that 'nobody wants to hear music from the old farts anymore' I was surprised at the remark. I was disappointed as well.
I began noticing the change a couple of years ago. For as long as I'd been 'scooting a boot' at the clubs on Saturday night, I'd always been able to turn the heads of the ladies. Fewer heads turned as I approached the magic age of fifty. For years I held the belief that a good bar on a Saturday night was the best place for a man to go all alone and not be alone. There came a point in time when that statement was no longer true. I found myself suddenly in a crowded Texas bar on a Saturday night surrounded by hundreds of people ...with an eerie feeling of complete alone-ness. My time had come. I had joined others before me who had become invisible.
Disheartened, I began searching for someplace where I wouldn't be invisible. It wasn't the library, or Walmart or the grocery store, certainly not the park. (Folks are suspicious of men my age hanging around parks.)
Finally I forced myself to do something I hadn't done in years. I went to church one Sunday. It was a whole 'nother world. Little children looked up and smiled. Their young mothers shook my hand and greeted me. Their dads introduced themselves. I became acquainted with doctors, lawyers, government officials, the weatherman, and a whole lot of regular guys like me. I even found really OLD people there, who came out of their way to make me feel a part of this brand new family...and it felt good! In fact, last Sunday an elderly gentleman stepped up to me and asked, "You a single man?" I nodded. He grinned and replied, "I've got a daughter that I'd like you to meet..." I was not invisible anymore. What I found inside that church was a good enough reason to keep going back, and after awhile I discovered why nobody is invisible at church. It's in the Bible...'God is Love.' I had found love. It's what I'd been looking for all along!
One last point I'd like to make. Your day is coming...if you're lucky to stay alive long enough, you will become invisible, too. Keep that in mind next time you pass one of 'us' in the grocery aisle and stare right through us as if we're invisible. Just a smile to let us know you really could see us standing there...easy enough?
I must make myself clear. I am NOT the least bit interested in younger women. Been there, done that, and got the scars to prove it. This young woman's honesty was like a bolt of lightening shooting through a darkened sky. Our American society has no tolerance, no respect, truthfully...no use for those of us now approaching the far side of our prime... commonly known as the Baby Boomers.
Even those now seeing forty looming before them still slam those of us who paved the way for them. Blake Shelton, that charming country singer/The Voice judge, recently made his feelings public, stating that 'nobody wants to hear music from the old farts anymore' I was surprised at the remark. I was disappointed as well.
I began noticing the change a couple of years ago. For as long as I'd been 'scooting a boot' at the clubs on Saturday night, I'd always been able to turn the heads of the ladies. Fewer heads turned as I approached the magic age of fifty. For years I held the belief that a good bar on a Saturday night was the best place for a man to go all alone and not be alone. There came a point in time when that statement was no longer true. I found myself suddenly in a crowded Texas bar on a Saturday night surrounded by hundreds of people ...with an eerie feeling of complete alone-ness. My time had come. I had joined others before me who had become invisible.
Disheartened, I began searching for someplace where I wouldn't be invisible. It wasn't the library, or Walmart or the grocery store, certainly not the park. (Folks are suspicious of men my age hanging around parks.)
Finally I forced myself to do something I hadn't done in years. I went to church one Sunday. It was a whole 'nother world. Little children looked up and smiled. Their young mothers shook my hand and greeted me. Their dads introduced themselves. I became acquainted with doctors, lawyers, government officials, the weatherman, and a whole lot of regular guys like me. I even found really OLD people there, who came out of their way to make me feel a part of this brand new family...and it felt good! In fact, last Sunday an elderly gentleman stepped up to me and asked, "You a single man?" I nodded. He grinned and replied, "I've got a daughter that I'd like you to meet..." I was not invisible anymore. What I found inside that church was a good enough reason to keep going back, and after awhile I discovered why nobody is invisible at church. It's in the Bible...'God is Love.' I had found love. It's what I'd been looking for all along!
One last point I'd like to make. Your day is coming...if you're lucky to stay alive long enough, you will become invisible, too. Keep that in mind next time you pass one of 'us' in the grocery aisle and stare right through us as if we're invisible. Just a smile to let us know you really could see us standing there...easy enough?
February 10, 2013
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something - The FFA Trip
Get your copy of this book here: http://ow.ly/hAohS
(Specially Priced for a Limited Time!)
The bus rolled to a stop at the 'Old West Motel' an hour later. Mr. Day killed the motor, then stood up and faced us and began reciting us 'the rules.' I half-heartedly paid attention until the end of his speech, when his voice grew louder and much more stern.
"Listen up! Everybody is to be in their own room by ten-thirty...lights out! One more thing! We have a lady with us...under no circumstances will ANY of you enter Miss O'Reilly's room at any time. Anyone caught inside her room will feel the wrath of my paddle AND undoubtedly be expelled from school for the rest of the semester. Is there any one who DID NOT understand that?"
Teddy and I sat our belongings just inside the door of Room 213. The musty room reeked of stale cigarette smoke. Richie Post and one of his running buddies unlocked the door to the room next to ours and Richie yelled out to the rest of the group,
"Hey, y'all come to our room and we'll find something fun to get into!"
Teddy looked at me and I grinned and shook my head,
"Not me! I got no desire to spend time with Richie Post. I'm taking a shower...you do whatever your heart desires!"
When I came out of the shower, Teddy was nowhere to be seen. I dressed and stepped outside and heard a commotion coming from the room next to ours. The door to Room 212 was standing wide open and the entire group of guys were crowded inside. I stared toward the back of the room and spotted Teddy wearing nothing but a black cowboy hat sitting on the toilet. Richie and several others were gathered around him, jeering and cheering at him. I stepped inside and made my way to the toilet.
"Teddy! What the hell are you doing?"
The youngster looked up at me and grinned,
"They say if I can pass their initiation, I'll be one of the guys! I won't be a Greenhorn anymore."
I gave him a puzzled look, "What exactly do you have to do to pass?"
"I gotta poop in the toilet...damn sure wish I needed to!"
I shot a glance at Richie who took a step back away from me.
"Teddy, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Get your clothes on and let's go!"
He shook his head, "Nope, I wanna pass this initiation. I think I feel something coming!"
I shook my head and walked out of the room, making my way down the stairs in search for a coke machine. Shannon O'Reilly stood at the bottom of the stairs and grinned when she spotted me.
"Whatcha doin', Shannon?"
"Rusty! I am soooo bored!"
"Why they got you way down here?" I glanced at the open door behind here.
She shrugged, "I suppose so they can stand guard over me. The teachers are rooming right next to me."
Suddenly we both fell quiet and stood there in tense silence. Shannon's eyes twinkled as she placed a finger to her lips, signaling me to remain silent. She then took my hand and led me quietly back up the stairs.
(Thirty minutes later)
Shannon O'Reilly pushed me down on the bed and dropped her body on top of mine. There wasn't much left for us to discover about each other from the waist up. We had found very little to say once I had closed the door to Room 213. Her lips had discovered mine before I had the chance to lock the door and we had spent the last thirty minutes discovering passion...a passion that up to this point I was unaware of. Now we found ourselves tangled together, unable to press our bodies any closer to each other, sharing our sweat of desire. My hormones raged out of control while my mind stumbled in search for the next move. This was nothing like I had ever experienced in all my seventeen years. Our tongues intertwined as I moved my hand below her waist. Her breathing became heavy as I....
The door burst open and the two of us immediately rolled off the bed to the floor, hiding ourselves. I peaked around the bed and there stood Teddy wearing nothing but that big, black hat and his Fruit-of-the-Looms.
"I seen you guys! Mr. Day is doing bed checks! He's right next door and headin' this way!"
Shannon whispered an 'oh shit' and began trying to scoot beneath the bed.
"No, that won't work! He might already know you're not in your room!"
Teddy thought for a second then exclaimed, "I'll stall' em while Shannon gets out of here!'
In a flash Teddy disappeared. Shannon scooted toward the door and peaked out. She then leaped for the banister and disappeared over it. I stared at the crumpled bed and scurried under the covers and immediately fell into a faux sleep just as Ag Teacher Kenneth Day stepped into Room 213.
"Now see there, Teddy...Rusty ain't running around all over the motel in his drawers! He's the only one doing what he's suppose to do. I suggest you get to bed!"
I heard Teddy reply in his country accent, "I can't go to bed...Rusty's in my bed!"
Get the book at Amazon.com http://ow.ly/hAohS
(Specially Priced for a Limited Time!)
The bus rolled to a stop at the 'Old West Motel' an hour later. Mr. Day killed the motor, then stood up and faced us and began reciting us 'the rules.' I half-heartedly paid attention until the end of his speech, when his voice grew louder and much more stern.
"Listen up! Everybody is to be in their own room by ten-thirty...lights out! One more thing! We have a lady with us...under no circumstances will ANY of you enter Miss O'Reilly's room at any time. Anyone caught inside her room will feel the wrath of my paddle AND undoubtedly be expelled from school for the rest of the semester. Is there any one who DID NOT understand that?"
Teddy and I sat our belongings just inside the door of Room 213. The musty room reeked of stale cigarette smoke. Richie Post and one of his running buddies unlocked the door to the room next to ours and Richie yelled out to the rest of the group,
"Hey, y'all come to our room and we'll find something fun to get into!"
Teddy looked at me and I grinned and shook my head,
"Not me! I got no desire to spend time with Richie Post. I'm taking a shower...you do whatever your heart desires!"
When I came out of the shower, Teddy was nowhere to be seen. I dressed and stepped outside and heard a commotion coming from the room next to ours. The door to Room 212 was standing wide open and the entire group of guys were crowded inside. I stared toward the back of the room and spotted Teddy wearing nothing but a black cowboy hat sitting on the toilet. Richie and several others were gathered around him, jeering and cheering at him. I stepped inside and made my way to the toilet.
"Teddy! What the hell are you doing?"
The youngster looked up at me and grinned,
"They say if I can pass their initiation, I'll be one of the guys! I won't be a Greenhorn anymore."
I gave him a puzzled look, "What exactly do you have to do to pass?"
"I gotta poop in the toilet...damn sure wish I needed to!"
I shot a glance at Richie who took a step back away from me.
"Teddy, you don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Get your clothes on and let's go!"
He shook his head, "Nope, I wanna pass this initiation. I think I feel something coming!"
I shook my head and walked out of the room, making my way down the stairs in search for a coke machine. Shannon O'Reilly stood at the bottom of the stairs and grinned when she spotted me.
"Whatcha doin', Shannon?"
"Rusty! I am soooo bored!"
"Why they got you way down here?" I glanced at the open door behind here.
She shrugged, "I suppose so they can stand guard over me. The teachers are rooming right next to me."
Suddenly we both fell quiet and stood there in tense silence. Shannon's eyes twinkled as she placed a finger to her lips, signaling me to remain silent. She then took my hand and led me quietly back up the stairs.
(Thirty minutes later)
Shannon O'Reilly pushed me down on the bed and dropped her body on top of mine. There wasn't much left for us to discover about each other from the waist up. We had found very little to say once I had closed the door to Room 213. Her lips had discovered mine before I had the chance to lock the door and we had spent the last thirty minutes discovering passion...a passion that up to this point I was unaware of. Now we found ourselves tangled together, unable to press our bodies any closer to each other, sharing our sweat of desire. My hormones raged out of control while my mind stumbled in search for the next move. This was nothing like I had ever experienced in all my seventeen years. Our tongues intertwined as I moved my hand below her waist. Her breathing became heavy as I....
The door burst open and the two of us immediately rolled off the bed to the floor, hiding ourselves. I peaked around the bed and there stood Teddy wearing nothing but that big, black hat and his Fruit-of-the-Looms.
"I seen you guys! Mr. Day is doing bed checks! He's right next door and headin' this way!"
Shannon whispered an 'oh shit' and began trying to scoot beneath the bed.
"No, that won't work! He might already know you're not in your room!"
Teddy thought for a second then exclaimed, "I'll stall' em while Shannon gets out of here!'
In a flash Teddy disappeared. Shannon scooted toward the door and peaked out. She then leaped for the banister and disappeared over it. I stared at the crumpled bed and scurried under the covers and immediately fell into a faux sleep just as Ag Teacher Kenneth Day stepped into Room 213.
"Now see there, Teddy...Rusty ain't running around all over the motel in his drawers! He's the only one doing what he's suppose to do. I suggest you get to bed!"
I heard Teddy reply in his country accent, "I can't go to bed...Rusty's in my bed!"
Get the book at Amazon.com http://ow.ly/hAohS
January 27, 2013
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something - The Shooting of Donnie Ellis
The entire book is available on Amazon.com http://ow.ly/haQFF
Darkness settled in and the four of us settled in comfortably in the living room. Jack lounged in the orange chair with Savannah sitting on his lap. Carrie cuddled beside me on the couch. We chatted about whatever crossed our minds and the evening passed quickly. From time to time Carrie would look up at me and smile, her lips well within range for a quick smooch. I knew she would readily accept one if I made the effort. I decided I'd wait until the time was right and catch her by surprise. Jack stood up and headed toward the bathroom, pausing at the refrigerator on the way back.
"Hey, we have eight beers...two apiece...any takers?"
We all shouted a 'yes' as he appeared with an armload of Coors.
It was a little past eleven when a knock came at the front door. I immediately knew it was nobody we knew...only a stranger would go to the front door. I opened the door and came face to face with a man well over six foot tall, his belly even larger than Big Ed's. I looked into his eyes and saw that they were the same eyes as the girl that had cuddled beside me all evening.
"Hello, I'm Donnie Ellis...is my sister Carrie here?"
I stepped aside to allow him through the door. He stood in the middle of the room staring at his younger sibling.
"Carrie! Mother is worried sick! I've been out looking for you all night!"
The large man paused and turned his head toward Jack, "Hello Jack...how are you?"
Without waiting for a response, he returned his attention to Carrie, "YOU are drinking BEER! Oh, Mother is going to kill you when we get home. Come on, Carrie, let's go!"
The girl defiantly shook her head, "No Donnie, I'm not ready to go home. You go tell mom I'm fine...I'll be home later."
"No!" he paused and took a deep breath, "I can feel evil in this house...no offense guys..." he turned toward us briefly.
"Donnie, go away! I'm a big girl."
"This is not the way you were raised! This is a house of sin! Come with me quickly...I can't stay in this place much longer!"
"Donnie...kiss my ass!"
Jack motioned for me to follow him and we made our way down the hall to his bedroom. I could hear Donnie Ellis still chastising his sister. Jack took a double barrel shotgun from a gun rack on the wall.
"Hold this for a sec..." as he picked up two shotgun shells and opened his pocketknife.
"What are you gonna do?"
He giggled, "I'm going to shoot Donnie Ellis!"
He cut the shotgun shells just below the brass cap, tossing the lead pellets into a trash can.
"This will just go boom...nothing will come out of the rifle."
Jack placed the two brass caps loaded with gunpowder into the chambers of the gun.
"Come on...let's do this!"
We stepped around the corner into the living room where Carrie's brother continued to preach her sins to her.
"Alright Donnie Ellis! I've had enough of your bullshit!"
Donnie's eyes fell to the gun as his hands went out in front of him.
"Whoa! Jack...you...you don't want to do this! Think about what you're doing! I know you're drunk out of your mind..."
"I'll see you in hell, you son of a...." BOOM BOOM
There was a deathly silence as the smell of gunpowder floated through the air. Donnie Ellis stood motionless, his eyes wide with fright.
Jack stared into his eyes, then a grin spread across his face. He tried to conceal a snicker, then burst out into mad laughter. I fell onto the couch, clutching my stomach, laughing heartily. The girls, realizing what had just taken place, joined in...all laughing at the fat man standing in the middle of the room.
"I knew you didn't shoot me...they say you never hear the shot...I heard the shot!" Donnie blushed at his foolishness as the rest of us laughed with tears streaming down our faces.
We had almost regained our composure when Carrie pointed to her brother's pants and snorted another round of laughter, "He..he pissed his pants!"
We all finally settled down and Jack and I spent a good fifteen minutes assuring Carrie's big brother that no sins had been committed...that four friends had simply spent an awesome day together. Once he was finally convinced, Donnie rose from the couch and stepped toward the door, then paused and turned toward us.
"I know y'all will have to tell this story to everyone you know. Could you please at least leave out the part about me peeing in my pants?"
We grinned and nodded.
Carrie smiled at her brother, "Tell mom I'll be there in just a few minutes..." she burst into another laugh "because I just have to be there when you tell her about getting shot!"
Donnie Ellis waved and disappeared through the door. We walked the girls to the back door and exchanged hugs with each of them. We stepped into the dark night and kissed our 'girlfriends for the day' goodbye and watched them drive away.
"It was a great day." Jack Walker said quietly.
"Yes, it was." I replied quietly...then let out a snort of laughter, "Can't believe he pissed his pants!"
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Darkness settled in and the four of us settled in comfortably in the living room. Jack lounged in the orange chair with Savannah sitting on his lap. Carrie cuddled beside me on the couch. We chatted about whatever crossed our minds and the evening passed quickly. From time to time Carrie would look up at me and smile, her lips well within range for a quick smooch. I knew she would readily accept one if I made the effort. I decided I'd wait until the time was right and catch her by surprise. Jack stood up and headed toward the bathroom, pausing at the refrigerator on the way back.
"Hey, we have eight beers...two apiece...any takers?"
We all shouted a 'yes' as he appeared with an armload of Coors.
It was a little past eleven when a knock came at the front door. I immediately knew it was nobody we knew...only a stranger would go to the front door. I opened the door and came face to face with a man well over six foot tall, his belly even larger than Big Ed's. I looked into his eyes and saw that they were the same eyes as the girl that had cuddled beside me all evening.
"Hello, I'm Donnie Ellis...is my sister Carrie here?"
I stepped aside to allow him through the door. He stood in the middle of the room staring at his younger sibling.
"Carrie! Mother is worried sick! I've been out looking for you all night!"
The large man paused and turned his head toward Jack, "Hello Jack...how are you?"
Without waiting for a response, he returned his attention to Carrie, "YOU are drinking BEER! Oh, Mother is going to kill you when we get home. Come on, Carrie, let's go!"
The girl defiantly shook her head, "No Donnie, I'm not ready to go home. You go tell mom I'm fine...I'll be home later."
"No!" he paused and took a deep breath, "I can feel evil in this house...no offense guys..." he turned toward us briefly.
"Donnie, go away! I'm a big girl."
"This is not the way you were raised! This is a house of sin! Come with me quickly...I can't stay in this place much longer!"
"Donnie...kiss my ass!"
Jack motioned for me to follow him and we made our way down the hall to his bedroom. I could hear Donnie Ellis still chastising his sister. Jack took a double barrel shotgun from a gun rack on the wall.
"Hold this for a sec..." as he picked up two shotgun shells and opened his pocketknife.
"What are you gonna do?"
He giggled, "I'm going to shoot Donnie Ellis!"
He cut the shotgun shells just below the brass cap, tossing the lead pellets into a trash can.
"This will just go boom...nothing will come out of the rifle."
Jack placed the two brass caps loaded with gunpowder into the chambers of the gun.
"Come on...let's do this!"
We stepped around the corner into the living room where Carrie's brother continued to preach her sins to her.
"Alright Donnie Ellis! I've had enough of your bullshit!"
Donnie's eyes fell to the gun as his hands went out in front of him.
"Whoa! Jack...you...you don't want to do this! Think about what you're doing! I know you're drunk out of your mind..."
"I'll see you in hell, you son of a...." BOOM BOOM
There was a deathly silence as the smell of gunpowder floated through the air. Donnie Ellis stood motionless, his eyes wide with fright.
Jack stared into his eyes, then a grin spread across his face. He tried to conceal a snicker, then burst out into mad laughter. I fell onto the couch, clutching my stomach, laughing heartily. The girls, realizing what had just taken place, joined in...all laughing at the fat man standing in the middle of the room.
"I knew you didn't shoot me...they say you never hear the shot...I heard the shot!" Donnie blushed at his foolishness as the rest of us laughed with tears streaming down our faces.
We had almost regained our composure when Carrie pointed to her brother's pants and snorted another round of laughter, "He..he pissed his pants!"
We all finally settled down and Jack and I spent a good fifteen minutes assuring Carrie's big brother that no sins had been committed...that four friends had simply spent an awesome day together. Once he was finally convinced, Donnie rose from the couch and stepped toward the door, then paused and turned toward us.
"I know y'all will have to tell this story to everyone you know. Could you please at least leave out the part about me peeing in my pants?"
We grinned and nodded.
Carrie smiled at her brother, "Tell mom I'll be there in just a few minutes..." she burst into another laugh "because I just have to be there when you tell her about getting shot!"
Donnie Ellis waved and disappeared through the door. We walked the girls to the back door and exchanged hugs with each of them. We stepped into the dark night and kissed our 'girlfriends for the day' goodbye and watched them drive away.
"It was a great day." Jack Walker said quietly.
"Yes, it was." I replied quietly...then let out a snort of laughter, "Can't believe he pissed his pants!"
Get the book here: http://ow.ly/haQFF
January 12, 2013
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something - The first break-up
(Download this novel here http://ow.ly/gMjBE )
"I have no idea what you think this THIS is," Becky stared out the dark window of the Road Runner at the cars passing down Main Street, "I don't even know what I think THIS is..."
I gazed at the silhouette of her face in the dark. Becky had told me at work earlier that she wanted to talk...here we sat on the Piggly Wiggly parking lot at eleven o'clock on a Friday night. My heart beat rapidly in my chest. Was this the end of us? Becky glanced over at me briefly, then returned her eyes to the road in front of us as she continued,
"Rusty, I think the world of you but the past two months have been difficult for us. I struggle in my mind to find a place for us, to bring some peace to my mind."
We were six weeks into our senior year. I had lived on my own for a whole two months and hadn't missed a single meal yet. In spite of my grueling schedule, I had managed to find time to spend with Becky...but things just hadn't been like they use to be. Something had changed in Becky's mind.
"Rusty, I have decided I don't want to date. I don't want to be any body's steady girl. Obligations come with all that...obligations that I don't want to make."
I stared into the darkness, thinking. I'd never experienced a break-up, but if this was one, it was seeming a bit peculiar to me. I cleared my throat and finally spoke,
"Becky, what obligations are you talking about? I've never expected anything more from you than this."
"Sex, Rusty." The blonde lowered her head and stared at her clasped hands in her lap.
"Becky! I've never...we've never...why are you talking like this?"
"My mom and I have been talking about...things. I've made a commitment to myself that I will remain a virgin until I have met the man I want to spend my life with. That may not be fair to you if we were dating, so we aren't going to date...so you can find someone to have sex with."
I shook my head and reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Becky, you are talking nonsense. What have I ever done to make you even think I would think about that...with you?"
"My mom says that guys have needs...and wants...and expectations."
She continued to stare down at her hands, then I noticed her shoulders began to shake. She sat there sobbing silently and I scooted across the bench seat and threw my arm around her. She burst out into loud sobs.
"Oh Rusty! I don't want to get hung up like dogs do...(sob) and the ambulance has to strap both of us on a gurney and take us...(sob) to the emergency room to get us un-hung! Everybody in town would find out that we had sex!"
I burst out in uncontrollable laughter, "Becky...what the hell has you mama been telling you! I've never heard of anyone getting hung up like dogs! She's just trying to scare you!"
She buried her hands in her face and her palms became wet with tears. I placed my hand beneath her chin and gently brought her face up to mine.
"Rebecca Cavander, look at me...it's me, Russell Steele. I'm not some varsity football jock trying to get in your pants. You have my solemn promise that I will NEVER try to do ANYTHING to you that you don't feel good with! Do you understand me?"
Becky nodded and sniffled as I wiped the tears from her face. I wiped her runny little nose with the back of my hand and gave her a few minutes to compose herself.
"So...we aren't going to date. What do you want THIS to be, Becky?"
She laid her head on my shoulder and in a broken, sobbing tiny voice, said,
"I want you to be my friend. I want you to be my best friend in the whole world!"
I almost felt a tear come to my eye, but forced it back.
"Becky, I already am your best friend in the whole world. What more could a person ask for than that?"
The blonde sat upright and ran her fingers through her hair.
"I want to drive out to Lake Pearl and look at the lights." She smiled and handed me her favorite 8-track tape, the Doobie Brothers.
I plugged it into my Craig stereo and started the Road Runner, then smiled at her.
"If we were dating, I'd kiss you right now!"
Becky grinned, "If we were dating, I'd let you!"
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something
Available on Amazon.com http://ow.ly/gL5Xj
"I have no idea what you think this THIS is," Becky stared out the dark window of the Road Runner at the cars passing down Main Street, "I don't even know what I think THIS is..."
I gazed at the silhouette of her face in the dark. Becky had told me at work earlier that she wanted to talk...here we sat on the Piggly Wiggly parking lot at eleven o'clock on a Friday night. My heart beat rapidly in my chest. Was this the end of us? Becky glanced over at me briefly, then returned her eyes to the road in front of us as she continued,
"Rusty, I think the world of you but the past two months have been difficult for us. I struggle in my mind to find a place for us, to bring some peace to my mind."
We were six weeks into our senior year. I had lived on my own for a whole two months and hadn't missed a single meal yet. In spite of my grueling schedule, I had managed to find time to spend with Becky...but things just hadn't been like they use to be. Something had changed in Becky's mind.
"Rusty, I have decided I don't want to date. I don't want to be any body's steady girl. Obligations come with all that...obligations that I don't want to make."
I stared into the darkness, thinking. I'd never experienced a break-up, but if this was one, it was seeming a bit peculiar to me. I cleared my throat and finally spoke,
"Becky, what obligations are you talking about? I've never expected anything more from you than this."
"Sex, Rusty." The blonde lowered her head and stared at her clasped hands in her lap.
"Becky! I've never...we've never...why are you talking like this?"
"My mom and I have been talking about...things. I've made a commitment to myself that I will remain a virgin until I have met the man I want to spend my life with. That may not be fair to you if we were dating, so we aren't going to date...so you can find someone to have sex with."
I shook my head and reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Becky, you are talking nonsense. What have I ever done to make you even think I would think about that...with you?"
"My mom says that guys have needs...and wants...and expectations."
She continued to stare down at her hands, then I noticed her shoulders began to shake. She sat there sobbing silently and I scooted across the bench seat and threw my arm around her. She burst out into loud sobs.
"Oh Rusty! I don't want to get hung up like dogs do...(sob) and the ambulance has to strap both of us on a gurney and take us...(sob) to the emergency room to get us un-hung! Everybody in town would find out that we had sex!"
I burst out in uncontrollable laughter, "Becky...what the hell has you mama been telling you! I've never heard of anyone getting hung up like dogs! She's just trying to scare you!"
She buried her hands in her face and her palms became wet with tears. I placed my hand beneath her chin and gently brought her face up to mine.
"Rebecca Cavander, look at me...it's me, Russell Steele. I'm not some varsity football jock trying to get in your pants. You have my solemn promise that I will NEVER try to do ANYTHING to you that you don't feel good with! Do you understand me?"
Becky nodded and sniffled as I wiped the tears from her face. I wiped her runny little nose with the back of my hand and gave her a few minutes to compose herself.
"So...we aren't going to date. What do you want THIS to be, Becky?"
She laid her head on my shoulder and in a broken, sobbing tiny voice, said,
"I want you to be my friend. I want you to be my best friend in the whole world!"
I almost felt a tear come to my eye, but forced it back.
"Becky, I already am your best friend in the whole world. What more could a person ask for than that?"
The blonde sat upright and ran her fingers through her hair.
"I want to drive out to Lake Pearl and look at the lights." She smiled and handed me her favorite 8-track tape, the Doobie Brothers.
I plugged it into my Craig stereo and started the Road Runner, then smiled at her.
"If we were dating, I'd kiss you right now!"
Becky grinned, "If we were dating, I'd let you!"
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something
Available on Amazon.com http://ow.ly/gL5Xj
January 1, 2013
Excerpt from 'Nineteen Seventy Something
Get it on Amazon http://ow.ly/gsKSz
I pulled the Road Runner up next to a speaker pole on the third row from the back and grabbed a speaker,
"Ahhh! I got this same speaker the other night!" I mumbled as I tossed it to the ground and picked up the other one.
"What are you talking about...the other night?" Julie Ann pulled away from my shoulder momentarily and gazed at me.
"Oh, I meant way back...some other night."
Julie Ann squeezed my hand and pressed her body tightly against mine. Big Ed sat in the back seat on the passenger side, hugging the door. Sherri Warren sat directly behind me hugging her side tightly ...the two were as far from each other as they could possibly distance themselves.
"I'm not going to be able to see through the two of you!" Sherri squawked, "You're going to have to scrunch down!"
Julie Ann glanced over her shoulder, "Oh my God, Sherri! Scoot over to the other side by Ed."
Sherri stared out her window and pouted, "Jack said I could come to the show with y'all. He didn't say I could sit on Ed's lap through the entire movie!"
"Oh hell, I'll sit over there!" Ed shot out, "Matter of fact, let me out and I'll just sit on the hood of the car so nobody will have to sit by me!"
I laughed, "Ed, if you sit on the hood, none of us will see the movie!"
Julie Ann turned around and faced Sherri, "Scoot your ass over there by Ed! Good Lord, It's just Ed!"
"Whaddya mean, 'It's just Ed!" My big friend had taken offense.
Julie Ann shook her head, "Damn Ed, I just meant that...you're like family. Not like you're going to try anything funny with Sherri."
"Oh...okay."
Julie Ann knocked her forehead into my shoulder a couple of times, "Sheesh! Like bringing children to the show!"
Ed and Sherri settled in beside each other as the movie started. I turned up the volume on the speaker so we could hear. Five minutes into the show, Ed lurched his big body forward, pointing to the screen.
"Did you see that! Did you see what that road sign said?"
Sherri screeched, "I saw it! Oh my God!"
I peeked over my shoulder, "What?"
"That sign said 'Childress 30 miles!"
I felt the hair raise on the back of my neck. Childress, Texas was exactly thirty miles from where we sat.
Julie Ann squeezed my hand, "I didn't see it...did you see the sign?"
I shook my head while Ed poked his finger into my arm repeatedly.
"There's an old slaughter house right down the road...about three miles!"
"Yes, there is..." I ran my hand across Julie Ann's arm and felt goosebumps.
"Oh God, I'm so scared!" Sherri whispered from the back seat.
"You said you weren't going to sit in my lap...you ain't far from it right now Sherri!"
Oh damn, it's hot back here...Ed is sweating all over me...and I'm so scared!"
(Five minutes later)
"Alright, Rusty...you're going to have to scoot over by the door more. Sherri, right here by me...Ed, squeeze in and try to get the door shut." Julie Ann tossed her hair and scrunched closer to me as all four of us crowded into the front seat.
"This isn't working! Ed, put your arm over Sherri's shoulder...Rusty, put your arm over my shoulder...Sherri, move your damn bony shoulders, they are poking me!"
I protested, "My hand is touching Ed's hand!"
Julie Ann elbowed me in the ribs, "Hush, Rusty! We're all family here...it's okay."
...and so, the four of us sat like sardines, terrified as the dreaded Leatherface went about his grisly task of killing everybody on the screen...one by one. In fact, we were all so engrossed in the horror that none of us saw it coming...saw him coming. Ed sat with his big arm hanging out the window. In the darkness, a figure crawled out through his own window and stealthily crept toward that big arm.
I pulled the Road Runner up next to a speaker pole on the third row from the back and grabbed a speaker,
"Ahhh! I got this same speaker the other night!" I mumbled as I tossed it to the ground and picked up the other one.
"What are you talking about...the other night?" Julie Ann pulled away from my shoulder momentarily and gazed at me.
"Oh, I meant way back...some other night."
Julie Ann squeezed my hand and pressed her body tightly against mine. Big Ed sat in the back seat on the passenger side, hugging the door. Sherri Warren sat directly behind me hugging her side tightly ...the two were as far from each other as they could possibly distance themselves.
"I'm not going to be able to see through the two of you!" Sherri squawked, "You're going to have to scrunch down!"
Julie Ann glanced over her shoulder, "Oh my God, Sherri! Scoot over to the other side by Ed."
Sherri stared out her window and pouted, "Jack said I could come to the show with y'all. He didn't say I could sit on Ed's lap through the entire movie!"
"Oh hell, I'll sit over there!" Ed shot out, "Matter of fact, let me out and I'll just sit on the hood of the car so nobody will have to sit by me!"
I laughed, "Ed, if you sit on the hood, none of us will see the movie!"
Julie Ann turned around and faced Sherri, "Scoot your ass over there by Ed! Good Lord, It's just Ed!"
"Whaddya mean, 'It's just Ed!" My big friend had taken offense.
Julie Ann shook her head, "Damn Ed, I just meant that...you're like family. Not like you're going to try anything funny with Sherri."
"Oh...okay."
Julie Ann knocked her forehead into my shoulder a couple of times, "Sheesh! Like bringing children to the show!"
Ed and Sherri settled in beside each other as the movie started. I turned up the volume on the speaker so we could hear. Five minutes into the show, Ed lurched his big body forward, pointing to the screen.
"Did you see that! Did you see what that road sign said?"
Sherri screeched, "I saw it! Oh my God!"
I peeked over my shoulder, "What?"
"That sign said 'Childress 30 miles!"
I felt the hair raise on the back of my neck. Childress, Texas was exactly thirty miles from where we sat.
Julie Ann squeezed my hand, "I didn't see it...did you see the sign?"
I shook my head while Ed poked his finger into my arm repeatedly.
"There's an old slaughter house right down the road...about three miles!"
"Yes, there is..." I ran my hand across Julie Ann's arm and felt goosebumps.
"Oh God, I'm so scared!" Sherri whispered from the back seat.
"You said you weren't going to sit in my lap...you ain't far from it right now Sherri!"
Oh damn, it's hot back here...Ed is sweating all over me...and I'm so scared!"
(Five minutes later)
"Alright, Rusty...you're going to have to scoot over by the door more. Sherri, right here by me...Ed, squeeze in and try to get the door shut." Julie Ann tossed her hair and scrunched closer to me as all four of us crowded into the front seat.
"This isn't working! Ed, put your arm over Sherri's shoulder...Rusty, put your arm over my shoulder...Sherri, move your damn bony shoulders, they are poking me!"
I protested, "My hand is touching Ed's hand!"
Julie Ann elbowed me in the ribs, "Hush, Rusty! We're all family here...it's okay."
...and so, the four of us sat like sardines, terrified as the dreaded Leatherface went about his grisly task of killing everybody on the screen...one by one. In fact, we were all so engrossed in the horror that none of us saw it coming...saw him coming. Ed sat with his big arm hanging out the window. In the darkness, a figure crawled out through his own window and stealthily crept toward that big arm.
