You May Have Wondered
I've mentioned this story before, but now it's to introduce a song and an idea or concept. One child would, in the teen years, mouth the words to the stories I would repeat. Stories I heard my mama tell me and our own family stories.
This story came to mind as I was listening to this song. Another thought came to my mind as I was listening to this song. The majority of us grow up to be average. Most won't be in leadership in a Ward or Stake, a local or state or federal government office-nor do we need to be. Not everyone is cut out for military service either (whew! propitiation of the species could be at stake here). We do, however, need to be about Father's business. This song is a great reminder of this truth.
So kids, grandkids-do NOT roll your eyes or mouth the words when you hear your mom or dad tell that same old "blah-blah" story again. They'll either stop telling them, slap you one, or give you a lecture about how you're not respecting your elders.
Oh yes, and where it says cane-switched raised-my dad used a belt, a 2" diameter bamboo pole and sometimes anything he could throw at me. Not saying that was a good thing-but you did learn to respect your elders. At least, I did. I also loved hearing my mom's stories. One time I looked like I was sick of hearing them yet again and I got the lecture and part of that was, "One of these days I'm going to be gone and you won't have anyone to tell you the stories. What-are-ya-gonna do then?" She's gone now. I haven't had her since I was 35 years old. I do miss her. I do miss her stories. She wrote a very few down.
Montgomery Gentry - Something To Be Proud Of
There's a story that my daddy tells religiously
Like clockwork every time he sees an opening
In a conversation about the way things used to be
Well I'd just roll my eyes and make a bee-line for the door
But I'd always wind up starry-eyed, cross-legged on the floor
Hanging on to every word
Man, the things I heard
It was harder times and longer days
Five miles to school, uphill both ways
We were cane switch raised, and dirt floor poor
'Course that was back before the war
Yeah, your uncle and I made quite a pair
Flying F-15's through hostile air
He went down but they missed me by a hair
He'd always stop right there and say...
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
Son graduatin' college, that was mama's dream
But I was on my way to anywhere else when I turned 18
Cuz when you gotta fast car you think you've got everything
I learned quick those GTO's don't run on faith
I ended up broken down in some town north of L.A.
Working maximum hours for minimum wage
Well, I fell in love, next thing I know
The babies came, the car got sold
I sure do miss that old hot rod
But you sure save gas in them foreign jobs
Dad, I wonder if I ever let you down
If you're ashamed how I turned out
Well, he lowered his voice, then he raised his brow
Said, lemme tell ya right now
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
You don't need to make a million
Just be thankful to be workin'
If you're doing what you're able
And putting food there on the table
And providing for the family that you love
That's something to be proud of
And if all you ever really do is the best you can
Well, you did it man
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Yeah, that's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Now that's something to be proud of
This story came to mind as I was listening to this song. Another thought came to my mind as I was listening to this song. The majority of us grow up to be average. Most won't be in leadership in a Ward or Stake, a local or state or federal government office-nor do we need to be. Not everyone is cut out for military service either (whew! propitiation of the species could be at stake here). We do, however, need to be about Father's business. This song is a great reminder of this truth.
So kids, grandkids-do NOT roll your eyes or mouth the words when you hear your mom or dad tell that same old "blah-blah" story again. They'll either stop telling them, slap you one, or give you a lecture about how you're not respecting your elders.
Oh yes, and where it says cane-switched raised-my dad used a belt, a 2" diameter bamboo pole and sometimes anything he could throw at me. Not saying that was a good thing-but you did learn to respect your elders. At least, I did. I also loved hearing my mom's stories. One time I looked like I was sick of hearing them yet again and I got the lecture and part of that was, "One of these days I'm going to be gone and you won't have anyone to tell you the stories. What-are-ya-gonna do then?" She's gone now. I haven't had her since I was 35 years old. I do miss her. I do miss her stories. She wrote a very few down.
Montgomery Gentry - Something To Be Proud Of
There's a story that my daddy tells religiously
Like clockwork every time he sees an opening
In a conversation about the way things used to be
Well I'd just roll my eyes and make a bee-line for the door
But I'd always wind up starry-eyed, cross-legged on the floor
Hanging on to every word
Man, the things I heard
It was harder times and longer days
Five miles to school, uphill both ways
We were cane switch raised, and dirt floor poor
'Course that was back before the war
Yeah, your uncle and I made quite a pair
Flying F-15's through hostile air
He went down but they missed me by a hair
He'd always stop right there and say...
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
Son graduatin' college, that was mama's dream
But I was on my way to anywhere else when I turned 18
Cuz when you gotta fast car you think you've got everything
I learned quick those GTO's don't run on faith
I ended up broken down in some town north of L.A.
Working maximum hours for minimum wage
Well, I fell in love, next thing I know
The babies came, the car got sold
I sure do miss that old hot rod
But you sure save gas in them foreign jobs
Dad, I wonder if I ever let you down
If you're ashamed how I turned out
Well, he lowered his voice, then he raised his brow
Said, lemme tell ya right now
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
You don't need to make a million
Just be thankful to be workin'
If you're doing what you're able
And putting food there on the table
And providing for the family that you love
That's something to be proud of
And if all you ever really do is the best you can
Well, you did it man
That's something to be proud of
That's a life you can hang your hat on
That's a chin held high as the tears fall down
A gut sucked in, a chest stuck out
Like a small town flag a-flyin'
Or a newborn baby cryin'
In the arms of the woman that you love
That's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Yeah, that's something to be proud of
That's something to be proud of
Now that's something to be proud of
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