First things
first: I sincerely had no intention of making another blog post here. I set out
to do what I wanted. That said, some of you fine people have told yours truly that
you miss the good old days. That you need a little positivity in your day. That
you want a few words baked up in the dark recess that is my mind. Although I
can’t fathom why, who am I to deny your wishes? I only hope I don’t disappoint.
So, without further ado, this is for you, friends.
Damn, I wish there was a way to bottle up inspiration when it
strikes and save it for another day. How sweet the world would be if only we
could dial up The Great Muse on the phone whenever we yearned for a hookup and
know that she’d head right over without a hint of hesitation.
But The Muse doesn’t work that way. For whatever reason, Miss Inspiration
sprinkles her goodness on our heads when she sees fit, not when we do. But that
doesn’t mean we can’t anxiously await her. It doesn’t even mean we can’t seek
her out. You only have to keep your eyes open and accept her gifts willingly
and wholeheartedly when she does surface.
I’ve been running into inspiration seemingly everywhere of late.
Today, if even only for a brief period of time, inspiration swallowed me whole.
She dangled a big, fat carrot in front of my face; led me down a path of deep
personal fulfillment; and she didn’t disappoint when we arrived. No pain. No
doubt. No hesitation. I’ve never felt better. The Muse truly gets around, and
that’s a good thing. You just have to recognize her and treat her right.
I’ve been fortunate to have been inspired by countless people
through the decades. I only wish I would have paid respect to each one along
the way. While it might not be the equivalent of a firm handshake, sincere hug,
or words of gratitude delivered face to face, here’s a rap-style shout-out
(because I’ve always wanted to deliver a rap-style shout-out) to the peeps I
owe a debt of gratitude to for inspiring me in some way. I’m sure I’ll forget a
few, but trust that my aim is true.
My Familia
What up, sweet
RJ, my Little Fists of Fury: Your pure smile and unadulterated joy get me out of bed every
morning to fight the good fight. Gift from above.
Easy-E, “you
ugly little spitter”: You’re the truth, straight up. No punches pulled, and I respect
the hell out of that. Fighter’s fighter.
My Boo: It takes a
mighty individual with mighty strength to come correct. You do it consistently,
and you’re a damn strong soul for it.
El-Shayne-yo: You walk the
walk and don’t care who follows. I don’t always like where the path leads, but
I admire greatly that you embark on journeys few have the guts to. Much
respect.
My Misses: You had a
rough start, but you dropped haymakers on fools who tried to hold you down.
Strength is infectious, and I’m glad I caught your disease.
My Pops: Work ethic.
Work ethic. Work ethic. Work ethic. Work ethic. Work ethic. Lessons taught by
example, and I learned from the best.
Mamma: Every home
needs a foundation that won’t break. You kept the walls upright, and that’s the
real deal.
Sis: You spit in
the face of convention every day in the name of love. Screw convention. Praise
be to love.
Miles: Gone but
never far away. A best friend doesn’t have to have hands and feet. Paws and a
tail will do just fine. The king of all dogs and the sweetest soul I’ve encountered.
Tear in the eye, brother from a furry mother.
My Crew For
Life
Super D: Noble. True.
Sincere. Devoted. Always striving and never jiving. No bigger compliment I can
give.
G-Money: Remember in
the trailer court climbing the tree to connect the cable TV because we lacked
the dough? You worked from pauper to being the man. Much pride.
C-Keck: The filter.
The BS detector. The God of Humor. We’re all recipients. You’re so money, and
you don’t even know it.
Key Players
Weiner: Back In the
day you let a wanna-be drummer play the Go-Gos on your drum set after school?
You don’t know it, but you shared the gift of music early on, and it changed my
life.
Della D: What a
soul. What a smile. What a beautiful spirit. Never change.
The Linder
Bros:
You shared your toys. You shared your food. Your shared your booze. You even shared
your ma and pa, and it meant the world. Great memories.
Rivermud
Doug:
You listened to my bad poetry and offered up honest critiques. They may have
hurt, but I had it coming. A kindlier, gentler soul I can’t imagine. Much
inspiration I’ve drawn.
Clarky: Mountain
man. Wild man. Word man. Joke man. Law man. Daughters’ man. Man’s man.
Georgie: The older
brother I never had. You gave, gave, and gave. I regret what time and space
have done. I’ll never regret a minute shared.
K: You believed. You listened. You trusted. Life’s greatest gifts
bestowed.
Scho: My Basketball
Jones. RIP.
Brenda K: Your sweet,
sweet nature is contagious. More goodness like yours is what this world
desperately needs.
Special K: I’ve never
seen you angry. Never seen you down and out. Never seen you quit. If you think I
wasn’t paying attention, you’re crazy. Great, great man.
R-Stop: Chairman of
The Father’s Club. You’re the real deal, Holyfield. You hate the Yankees, but I’ll
forgive you.
Jody Simps: The woman
who taught me that birthdays matter. I’ve never forget that lesson.
Mighty
Marge:
Just thinking of your laugh makes me feel good. What a gift.
Chef Randy: A true
shining spirit. Spreader of warmth.
Ginny B: Spreader of
love.
Sono: You don’t
have to be born in this country to appreciate all it has to offer. You’re proof
positive. Long live 2U.
Thomas
Martin:
You put Plato in my head and Solzhenitsyn in my heart. Much thanks.
Liz Watts
and Jill Clafin: You humbled me early. I didn’t like it then, but I damn sure
appreciate it now. #Payingdues
Stevie P: Wisdom +
virtue = game changer.
Little
Jerry: You
played basketball with a little kid when you didn’t have to. Thank you.
Jerry V: See above.
Simone: Thanks for
The Police and the best summer of my youth. Motivated to be bigger and better.
“Chief”: We painted
many a house in the day. Long, miserable days weren’t so long or miserable with
you around.
Mother Agnes
and Aunt June, Marianne, Peg & Bernadette: You taught
me in-laws are family, too.
Kay S: A man can
never have too many moms looking out for him. Thanks for always looking.
Pam: Thanks for
reading, and thanks for the long-time crush I’ve had on your voice.
Hammers: Happy
birthday. Thanks for sharing “The Wizard of Oz.”
Snakeulus: You went
back to Cali, and I couldn’t be happier. Living the dream.
Tamra: The darling
of all darlings. So fortunate we crossed paths.
Codr: Co-chairman
of The Fathers Club. Perpetually searching. Perpetually creating. Embracing
life doesn’t take wealth. It takes doing.
Kent T: Co-co-chairman
of The Father’s Club. I constantly learn about patience from your teachings.
Brother Ray:
Never a dull
minute. Never a party unintended. Thanks for sharing.
Duncan: My spiritual
beacon. You baptized me in my 30s. You saved me seemingly every day. I can
never repay you for the doors you opened.
