Mind Your Own Business


There is a quarterback in this years Super Bowl whose name I can’t pronounce much less spell…so I will call him K-nick for short. He plays for the San Francisco 49ers. Apparently, he was adopted when he was an infant.

Nothing shocking there.

What is shocking (to me) is that a certain sportswriter by the name of Rick Reilly has taken it upon himself to voice his concerns over the fact that K-nick wants nothing to do with his birth mother.

It seems that Mr. Reilly adopted a child years ago. That child wanted to know her biological history and connect with her natural parents. He made efforts to do so and it worked out very well for his family and his adopted child’s biological family.

20130131-214836.jpg
Kudos for that.

But…

That does not make him a minister of goodwill for ALL adopted children.

K-nick has publicly stated that he wants nothing to do with his biological mother….the couple that adopted him and RAISED him to become the man he is today are his Mother and Father.

20130131-214529.jpg
This is a college photo of K-nick and his parents.

They are the only parents he needs.

Kudos to him for that.

You may wonder…..why do I even care?

I personally was not adopted.

BUT…

I have 3 siblings that were adopted into our family. When we are seen together, we look no more alike than random strangers from other countries, but we are family none the less.

2 of my siblings are much like K-nick. They don’t care to know anything about their biological parents. They were given up…that is all they need to know. My parents are their parents…period. I support them in their decision.

My sister, on the other hand, is actively searching for her birth mother…..and I support her in her quest.

Personal choice and independence. Our parents instilled that in all of us.

People love a good dramatic story. It sells papers. It makes headlines.

If K-nick wasn’t a quarterback on a team playing in the Super Bowl this weekend….then there wouldn’t be a story.

Just let the man enjoy the biggest game of his life. Let his parents enjoy watching the son they raised play in that game.

Mr. Reilly….just report on whether his team wins or loses….

Other than that…

Mind your own business.

Advertisement

The Ultimate Last Laugh


As a general “social rule”, funerals are not funny. They are a celebration of a life that has ended…….

But,

I have away to find humor in everything. It’s a gift.

I wrote a post once about my involvement in a funeral.

My Wife’s ex-husband’s mother passed away. I was asked to be a pall bearer and was involved in the arrangements and such. The link is listed below…so you know what you are getting into…

Funeral Music

That was then….
_______________

A few weeks ago, I was blessed to go to a funeral for the son of an AA friend of ours. Their 17 year old son lost his life after a galliant and long battle with a cancerous brain tumor. It seemed like the entire high school was there to pay respects to the young man. It was very touching.

After the church service, we all got into our cars and followed the family to the gravesite for the final service.

We live in a small town in Texas….the final service was at a cemetary in an even smaller town. As we travelled down the just off the highway gravel road to our destination, I noticed that signs of basic civilization were getting farther and farther behind us. As we passed a few broken down covered wagons I said to my wife,

“This road reminds me of a scene from every horror movie ever made, where the group of friends travels to a cabin in the middle of nowhere and they all get killed off one by one…”

She instinctively looked over at the gas gauge and replied,

“And that’s why I don’t watch those movies..”

After about 39 potholes, 6 right turns and 1 left turn, we reach the small cemetary at the top of the hill. We exit our vehicles and button up our jackets to protect us from the 30 degree weather.

We walk up to the area the service will be at and stand amongst the 200 or so people that are there. The pall bearers are waiting patiently at there marks behind the hearse, awaiting the driver to open the back.

But where is the driver?………..

He would be the one trying to break into the front of the hearse with a slim jim.

He locked the keys inside the car…..

I look at some of my shivering AA buddies and dryly say,

“Best funeral ever……the driver cant get the coffin out..” and let out a chuckle.

“You can’t be serious?” one of them says as they finally see what I was talking about. “What is this his first day?’

“Probably his last.” Another replies.

As more of the attendees are catching a glimpse of the fiasco, a female AA friend leans over to me and says,

“Hey, good2begone? Why dont you go help them out? I know you know how to break into cars…”

“Not a chance.” I reply

“Why not? It’s freezing out here!!”

“Look I don’t want to be known as the guy who broke into a hearse, before I got to AA I was known as the guy who hotwires ice cream trucks. It took me a long time to live that one down. No, I won’t do it.”

People began to look our way with odd looks on their faces.

“Hey, what can I say….I REALLY like ice cream…” I said to everyone in paricular.

“COME ON! You could be the hero!” she begged.

“Nope..There’s your hero.” I said and pointed to the guy approaching with the sledgehammer.

And with a couple of whacks from Thor’s Hammer, the coffin was released and the service was held.

As we returned to our vehicle we heard one of the family members say,

“You know he is laughing right now….a fighter to the end!”

I Forget To Remember….So I Go Back To Move Forward


I have blogged about a lot of stuff.

To keep myself from repeating repeating myself (see what I did there?) I have to revisit the past.

OFF I GO!!

To the Batcave!!

To anyone who is new to my “humble space of words”, there may be some posts that are so far hidden in the archive chamber that they are missed or lost. I hate to leave you out of the fruit loops.

Here are a list of a few that I had the most fun sharing-

Toopid Moose– a fiction story that rattled in my head for a few days. It started with only those two words.

Q Without the A– My stepson and his unanswerable questions

You’re So Cool-Me…..and one of my not very cool moments

The King of Fashion Advice– My stepdaughter asking me for fashion tips for the first and quite possibly the last time….

The Triangle Buffoon-My first venture into instrument playing greatness

Audio Estrogen– My wife and her music

Soulhat-the origin of of the blog name

Ahh…memory lane. I revisited….I relaughed…I think I peed myself a little…

The Fundraiser, The Federal Marshall, and The Left Behind Beer


The Fundraiser

Last night, we held a fundraiser for a dear friend of ours called The “Angels for Britney”. For background information on her and her journey to recovery from 2 strokes at the age of 24, please visit these posts that I have written about her-

(Re)learning to Walk
(Re)learning to walk 2

It is hard to gauge how much a community cares for its residents…..until someone is in need. For the past 2 weeks, arrangements have been made to attempt to gain community support to help a family in need.

Web page
Tv spots
Radio coverage
Newspaper coverage
Word of mouth

By event time there were donations of food from Major disrtibutors, items to auction and raffle, a venue to hold the event in and a live band.

The Mayor of the community showed up and gave a speech.

Britney’s husband, Matt, and their 2 boys showed up to thank everyone for their support and to give an update on her condition.

By the end of the night everyone was tired and overwhelmed by the awesome outpouring of support.

Britney's Angels
Britney’s 2 Angels were exhausted!

The Federal Marshall

Featuring a live band at the fundraiser meant that alcohol would be present. With alcohol being present, a police presence was also necessary.

Live music and beer are like rodeo and boots in Texas….one does not occur without the other.

One of the organizers has a relative that is a federal Marshall. He donated his time to the effort, along with 1 member of the 3 member small town police force.

The majority of the organizers for this event are alcoholics in recovery. In order to distinguish “us” from “them”, we wore t-shirts that stated-

“Do not offer me alcohol, because I am an alcoholic….and that would be bad.”

ok….so that is a lie.

As I am standing in the back of the room with my freshly shaven head and arm tattoos a blazing, a man strikes up a conversation with me.

Him-“Is that your local police presence?”

Me-” Yeah, there is supposed to be a federal marshall here too, but he must be a ninja federal marshall or something….that bastard has not been seen anywhere.’

Him-‘”Really, that’s pretty cool… You all don’t know what he looks like?”

Me-“Nope. I suspect a Tommy Lee Jones type with a cowboy hat and a scowl…”

tommy lee jones

He sticks ou his hand for me to shake and with a chuckle and says,

“We haven’t met yet….you are?”

I shake his hand and reply,

“Good2begone, and you”

“I’m the federal marshall…nice to meet you.’ and he pulls out his badge.

The Left Behind Beer

This event was my first opportunity, in a long while, to listen to live music and observe the consumption of alcohol in its natural habitat.

I was giddy with anticipation.

The deal was-

$5 cover

$10 charge per cooler containing alcoholic beverages.

When I used to drink, a cooler meant filling up the bed of the truck with ice and beer. I was hoping for a drunkfest of country music, fights, table dancing and police backup!

I didnt get it…..

What I got was respectable drinkers who brought small to regular size coolers….. and someone left behind a 12 pack case with 9 chilled beers still in it….

WHO DOES THIS???????

I was literally running around bitching about it and showing the left behind beer to all my other non drinking friends. We all circled around it and gazed upon the dew dropplets as they were dripping off the sides of the cans like it was the Holy Grail.

I BE HYPNOTIZED…

I ended up giving it to the band as they were cleaning up.

I hope they will write a song about it.

(Aftershocks From) The Fault Line 3


COME ON…You aren’t seriously going to start from Part 3, are you?

The links to parts 1 & 2 are listed right below this statement….only a click away!

Part 1

Part 2

Don’t cheat yourself….read those and then come back to read the following continuation….

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dr. Williams looked at David and asked the only obvious question there was to be asked,

“What happened here.”

David’s mouth began to quiver and was about to cry but he held back to tell him what happened.

“Mr. Gains went to sleep and and and I got to come out and play…..but I started feeling my head hurt and and that’s when I heard the yelling.”

“What yelling Davey…tell me…you know I am hear to help you.” The doctor carefully stated as he knelt to be at eye level with the boy inside the man.

“The yelling…in here…” Davey said as he pointed at his head and continued.

“Mr. Gains went to check on the bad man….but he was not really locked up…..they started fighting….and then Amanda told me to as long as I stay away I would be safe….then I heard her scream…..then nothing. Just nothing….so i just started coloring…everything……. and looking for something to eat…but but I couldn’t find anything…so I started breaking stuff and screaming….I’m only 7!!!”he loudly stated and the tears started.

Dr. Williams put his arms around Davey and told him it would be alright. He needed to get him out of there. The only option was his office. He had no staff or clients until noon. His decision was made.

“I am going to take you to my office. Let me get you into the car and I will talk to the police, ok son.”
________________________

The Doctor walked up to the officer and spoke,

“I am taking my patient. He needs mental attention.”

“That’s fine but what am I supposed to put in my report?”

“How about this….the resident of the house has been taken by his Doctor for treatment for his multiple personalities. He is much safer with me than in a cell.”

“….ok. But I will be in contact with you.” The officer stated concernedly.
____________

They reached the office without incident. Dr. Williams led David in and directed him onto the couch.

“I will get you something to eat. In the meantime try to rest.”

David did as requested but instead of sitting and waiting for food, he laid down and fell fast asleep.
_________

As David slept, the Doctor returned to his note taking to journal the new events and the steps he planned to follow from here.

If,  in fact,  the other personalities have destroyed each other, then I have a new problem. The only personality left is that of a child….in a grown mans body. I cannot turn him over to the authorities….they will rightfully believe he is crazy. It will be best to keep him under guarded watch for the time being.

He put his pen down and went to get food from the deli, so DaveyDavid would have something to eat when he returned.
_________

He purchased the standard turkey sandwich and chips. He didn’t know what else a 7 year old man child would eat. As he walked back into the office he was startled to see the couch….with no sleeping man child on it.

He turned around to shut the door and look for him and was greeted by the same evil eyes and smirk that smashed a hold in the door at the previous session.

Introducing Chaos

“Hey there, Doc. I’m Chaos.”He smartly said as he punched him square in the nose and rendered him unconscious.
________

When Dr. Williams awoke, a short time later , he was gagged and bound to the couch that his patients usually found comfort on.

He was not comfortable.

David sat in the Doctor’s chair with his legs crossed and palm on his chin.

He was quite comfortable.

“I am here to tell you that the sessions are over. I WIN…..I read your assessment of me. You gave me what I wanted. You not only wrote in your notes that I was mentally unstable, but you told the police as well. You shrinks are all alike. Multiple personalities…Ha!”

The Doctor looked at him wide eyed but of course couldn’t speak with the gag in his mouth. So he continued to listen.

“How’s this, Doc?” He crossed his armed, sat up straight and morphed into the confident Mr. Gains.

“I’m I charge here. I do things because I know how to get things done”

“Or how about this?” He uncrossed his arms and pretended to wipe hair out of his face and took on a feminine pose.

“Oh, Mr. Williams…please don’t be so formal call me Amanda…”

“I got 1 more….” He defiantly stated as he pulled his legs up to his chest and cried out with a childlike whimper.

“I only 7 and I like to color…”

He stopped. Leaned back in the chair and spoke dryly.

“There has ALWAYS only been Chaos. Well…at least since the year 2000. You remember what you did in 2000, DOC?”

The Doctor couldn’t reply. He just shook his head back and forth in a “No” manner with wide eyes and a racing heartbeat.

“You had a client of yours committed. That client was my Mother. The drugs you had her on made her crazy. You knew that….but you also knew she had a will and a lot of money. You conned her into changing the will. You got it all. I got nothing….NOTHING!…nice office and extra certificates on the wall it got you. So I have been plotting since then to get revenge. Crazy wasn’t enough…I thought….what drives shrinks like you? I answered myself with….fancy diagnosis to get in the medical review books is what drives you. Here I am,  a well documented multiple personality with violent tendencies….that will be taken out on you. At the same time your notes will eventually set me free.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a syringe.

“This is filled with a drug that will speed up your heartrate until it explodes. I am going to inject you with it and watch you die. Then I will untie you and call that cop…in my Davey voice…and let the legal system do its thing.”

He got up and cracked his neck. As he leaned in with the syringe Officer Delaney busted in through the still open door and tazed David/Mr. Gains/Amanda/Davey/Chaos.

He fell to the floor, syringe in hand in a convulsing heap.

As he untied and ungagged the Doctor he said,

“It’s not your fault, Doc. Some people are just plain crazy.”