It does.
The work itself is mean but satisfying. For this long-time desk jockey, there's a certain appeal to digging through 40 years of road grime, hoping to uncover rare parts sought by those bent on keeping their machines running or restoring them to original condition.
What's more, because my mechanical education to this point has been of the shade-tree variety, I'm learning -- big-time. My head is overflowing with the kind of practical information I've been craving for years.
So it's a good thing. I'm walking my talk -- but that's not what's on my mind right now.
This evening we ventured out to see our friend John Schwab, who was playing solo at a restaurant a mile or so from where we're living. Toward the end of his first set he covered a Billy Currington song written by Bobby Braddock and Troy Jones. I'll close this post simply with the lyrics.
This old man and me, were at the bar and we
Were having us some beers and swapping I-don't-cares,
Talking politics, blonde and red-head chicks,
Old dogs and new tricks and habits we ain't kicked.We talked about God's grace and all the hell we raised.
Then I heard the ol' man say,
"God is great, beer is good and people are crazy."He said, "I fought two wars, been married and divorced."
What brings you to Ohio?
He said, "Damned if I know."
We talked an hour or two about every girl we knew,
What all we put them through
(Like two old boys will do).We pondered life and death. He lights a cigarette.
He said, "These damn things will kill me yet;
But God is great, beer is good and people are crazy."Last call, it's 2am. I said goodbye to him.
I never talked to him again.
Then one sunny day I saw the old man's face,
Front-page obituary -- he was a millionaire.
He left his fortune to some guy he barely knew.
His kids were mad as hell.
But me, I'm doing well.And I dropped by today, to just say thanks and pray.
I left a six-pack right there on his grave and I said,
"God is great, beer is good and people are crazy."
