Back By Special Request: Inspiration, Doubts & Shout-outs

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.