Just Living the American Dream

Webb Farm near Colmesneil, Texas

After spending a Saturday at one of my friends  annual BBQ,  I was reminded of a line from an old Eddie Arnold song.

"I've got a hump-backed mule, a plow and a tater patch and eggs that are gonna hatch some day... I'm the luckiest man in the world"  It really doesn't take a lot to be successful if you are comfortable in your own skin.  Each year Don's family assembles at the old farm house for a couple of weeks.  They cut fire wood,  fix up things, hunt deer and hogs and play copious amounts of dominos. 

One weekend they invite friends and other family members up for some washers, bean bag toss,  BBQ and some good country eatin'.  We usually make it up for the Big BBQ day.

While I was looking at some of the pictures I took, I realized that any of us could have been Eddie Arnold.  Analyzing the picture I noticed that there were doctors, lawyers, engineers, educators and many other succussful folks.  These were just hard working people from humble roots that were living the American Dream.

I noticed that we had several Vietnam Era Veterans.  There was also a recent Army vet that had just been discharged after several years of tough combat in Afghanastan.  But the most amazing attendee was a WWII Vet with two combat jumps under his belt as a member of the 11th Airborne in the Pacific.  One of those jumps was into the POW camp of Los Banos near Manila to free civilians and prisoners before the Japanexe  excecuted them. 

A collection of Americans enjoying the simple things of life. 

One and Done

I just saw on the news that Justin Beiber is being investigated for assault of a Los Angeles photographer.  I must admit that I don't know much about Beiber or his music.  But, I believe that he is about 5'6" tall and a 16 or 18 year old kid that probably weighs about 105 pounds soaking wet.  Sounds like an ambulance chasing lawyer might be involved somewhere.  The photographer will probably show up in court with bandages on his head claiming permanent brain damage, a ruined career and a sex life in shambles that even the best Cialis commercial can't help.

This "Breaking News" story reminded me of one of my employees in Tennessee during my early years in management.  Howard (his real name) was a mechanic in a textile fiber plant.  Like many of the senior employees in the mid-60's, he was a WWII veteran.  Well, Howard had a daughter that was married to some young man and they lived in a trailer park.  Apparently their marriage was a little rocky and Howard had been involved more than once in reconciling some of their differences. 

During one particular mediation, Howard used the son-in-law's guitar to help the young man see the error of his ways.  He wasn't playing Willie Nelson Ballads, but used the stringed instrument to beat the kid about his head and shoulders.   When he finished persuading him, all he was left holding was the yoke of the guitar. 

The young man was not satisfied with the conclusion and filed assault charges against Howard.  Howard got himself a lawyer.

A little known fact at the time was that Howard was not just any WWII veteran.  He had lost a leg during the War.  He wore a prosthesis and walked without a limp.  I did not know he only had one leg .  Well, when it came time for Howard to appear in court, his attorney had him take off the wooden leg, pin up his pants leg and come into court on crutches. 

Verdict:  Not Guilty

Was it a Boondoggle?

It was in the early 1990s and I was attending a business meeting in Hilton Head, South Carolina. Some people might refer to that as a "boondoggle".  But, that was usually the people that didn't get to go.  Anyway, I was attending this business meeting.  The lodging was a block of condos with several rooms. Somebody assigned five or six attendees to each condo.   I was assigned to a three bedroom condo.  It had two bedrooms down stairs with two separate beds in each one.  Upstairs was the third bedroom, containing one king size bed.  Since I was the first to arrive, I staked claim on the room upstairs so I wouldn't have to share a room.  It was later that day I discovered six people had been assigned to that particular condo.  Do the math!!

Turned out not to be a problem as my "roommate"  stayed out all night and didn't bother my sleep pattern.

After working diligently all day in the business meetings, the organizers treated us to an outside shrimp boil along the pine tree shaded Atlantic shore.  Dress was "business casual".  For me that meant blue jeans and a polo shirt.  Since I only knew a few of the participants, I randomly selected a seat and introduced myself to those around me.  As we peeled a few shrimp, the discussion turned to the dress code.  The guy across from me was wearing a white shirt with what looked like embroidery all over the front.  Someone asked him what kind of shirt he was wearing.  He replied, "It is a Mexican wedding shirt."   I promptly responded, "Who wears it, the bride or the groom?" 

After a few seconds of quite, the guy responded,  "Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between sarcasm and ignorance"

Turns out he was some pretty high ranking guy in the company.

That was the last boondoggle I was invited to.

Why Me...?

Many years ago when we lived in  Chattanooga we lived across the street from the Hudsons.  One day we were visiting with them while we stood in their drive way in front of their garage.  The kids were playing in their front yard and we were engaging in some "neighborly talk".  The Hudson's Siamese cat had some baby kittens and she had moved them to the first landing on the stairs leading to the back door inside the garage, about three feet above the floor.

As we visited two small dogs wandered up.  They were  part beagles or some other small dog breed.  Both dogs were friendly and and enjoyed attention.  One of the dogs drifted into the garage totally unaware  of the Mama cat and her kittens on the landing.  As the dog got close to the landing the Mama cat came off the landing and attacked the unsuspecting mutt.  Whereupon, the dog took off running and yelping.   When it got to the second dog, it attacked his perfectly innocent buddy.

I have thought about this incident many times since those days.  Every time I see someone take out their frustrations or wrath on some unsuspecting person, I am reminding of that second dog in the Hudson's yard. You just never know when you might be one of those dogs.

You Always Have a Choice.

Sometimes the things people say just stick in your mind.  Some of those conversations I recall as if they were yesterday.  Some because they were embarrassing, some were prophetic, some provided key learning's and some were just funny. 
One of the first examples occurred in my high school math class.  Miss Lera MacFarland was an outstanding math teacher and probably one of the biggest influences in my life.  I remember when we were discussing the use of the slide rule and its importance in college.  Most engineering students wore their slide rule on their belt like a holster.   Miss Mac said that someday college students would wear computers on their belts instead of the slide rule.  I remembering snickering and thinking that old fool was loosing her mind as the computers of the day were vacuum tube monstrosities that occupied large rooms in climate controlled environments.  By the time I graduated. Texas Instruments had developed and was selling the SR10 Calculator.  A mini computer that could more accurately do everything a slide rule could do.  You guessed it!  It could be worn on your belt.

Another incident occurred many years later.  I was responsible for the operations and maintenance of all plant utilities, services and logistics.  I preferred time in the field where the action took place over time in the office.  One day I visited a job several of my mechanics were working.  Larry Plant was one of the best mechanics I ever worked with.  Larry, obviously not used to superintendent's visiting the field asked me,  "What are you doing out here"?  Upon which I replied, "I am trying to catch y'all goofing off".  Without hesitation, Larry said, "Well as little as you know about maintenance and as much as we know about goofing off, you will never catch us"

Another incident occurred within that same group of mechanics.  In order to improve our efficiency, I had developed a process of increasing flexibility of the skilled mechanics and operators.  During peak periods of work, we would move people around to avoid sending work to off-site contractors, thus reducing costs and saving jobs.   Planning for a large shutdown I told, Ray Strickland, one of the auto shop mechanics, I needed him to work in the valve shop during the shutdown. Ray expressed his displeasure, whereupon I told him,  "you are just going to have to take one for the team".   Being the quality of person he was he said no more.

After a couple of days into the shutdown, I decided to give the valve shop a visit to see how things were working out.  During that period of time Barry Switzer was still the Cowboys coach but was catching a lot of heat.  When I showed up, Ray came up to me and said he had been thinking about what I had told him about the team thing and declared,  "We are a lot like the Cowboys,  We need a new Coach"!!  I loved that guy!!

Another thing I remember came from one of my peers, Lloyd Brumfield.  He was discussing some of the work done by David Bleakley.  Dave is one of the BEST people I have ever known.  A top notch electrician with a super attitude.  Lloyd, speaking of Dave, said, "It is hard to lead someone that is moving faster than you are"

One time while riding to the Houston airport with Jack Hodge, he said something that I have remembered from that day forward.  We left my house about an hour later than I would normally do when traveling alone.  About half way there Jack was driving about 85 mph.  I blurted out, "You are making me nervous".  Jack, a rather deep thinker, responded, "Nervous,  Can I make you rich?"  After pondering what he said, I realized that meant I was the one choosing to be nervous.  He had just created the environment.  From that day I have realized that we all choose the way we act.  We can blame it on the surroundings, but individually, we make our own decisions.   So, the next time someone "makes you mad", just remember YOU are the one that chose to be mad. 

You always have a choice.  And, you are responsible for that choice

Excuse Me

In December 1979 I accepted a job transfer from Chattanooga, Tennessee to the Beaumont, Texas plant.
It took about a month to get my family moved and in the meantime, I stayed with my parents while the kids were finishing the mid term in school.  At that time I was still riding dirt bikes and training for 10K road races.  I was probably in the best shape of my life.

While staying with my parents I renewed my relationship with Blue Bell Ice Cream.  Mainly Homemade Vanilla with chocolate syrup.  I put on a few pounds the first three or four months back in Beaumont.

I still had not adjusted to the more casual dress code of Southeast Texas.  I wore slacks, shirt and tie each day to work.  It was one day when Blue Bell and Sartorial Splendor led to the following event.

In addition to the slacks, shirt and tie, I usually wore wing tip shoes over a pair of black or brown
over-the-calf socks.  While bending over to pick up something off the floor, I ripped the seam out of my pants.  A number of female clerks worked in the building.  I asked one of them, Mary Crippen, if she had a needle and thread as I planned to sew up my pants.  Mary asked why I needed them and upon finding out volunteered to do the patch work for me.  Knowing that my seamstress skills were limited, I accepted her offer.   She told me to go into the men's room, take off my pants and hand them to her on the other side of the door. 

Before entering the bathroom, I got a cup of coffee to take with me while I waited on her to make the repairs.  There I was standing in the men's room with shirt and tie, wing tip shoes and knee length nylon socks and my jockey shorts drinking coffee when one of my employees walked in.  He took one look at me and said, "Excuse me", turned around and walked out.