Sit Down and Shut Up

 Recently at my job as a front desk clerk , I met an elderly man that was traveling from Boston. He asked me, " Young man, who is the greatest basketball player of all time?" I immediately said, " Michael Jordan !"
He said, " What makes you believe this?" I said, " it's because he has 6 championship rings to prove it !" He looked at me and he laughed loudly. Then he said something that messed me up ! He said, " Young man, where I am from there was a man that played for the Boston Celtics years ago by the name of Bill Russell that won 11 of 13 Championship games that he played. He is also the first ever player/ coach.When you get a moment, you need to look him up. Sure Michael Jordan has shoe deals and he has been in commercials, But if you are going on rings alone, then you need to think again son." I was so heated when he said all of that to me. However, when you look back the record books, there you will see the name of Bill Russell. The moral of this story is this: Don't always allow the media to be your sole source of information when it comes to sports and other topics. Sit down, shut up, and learn to do your own research.

Greedy Granny

 One day I  took it upon myself to go and see my grandparents. When I arrived there my grandmother was nowhere to be found. I told the orderly that I brought her some candy. No sooner than I said that here comes granny in her wheelchair. She says , " They told me that I had a visitor. So how are you doing boy?" I said, " I'm doing fine grandma. I just wanted to stop by and check on you all." She said," it's good to see you........ Now where is that candy?" I showed her where it was and then I opened up the bag for her to get a few pieces. She then looked me in the face and said, "Good looking out son! " Then she turned around and rolled herself to the dining hall. At first I thought that she had come to see me. In reality, she had just come for that candy!
The moral of the story is this. Sometimes old people will do or say things that may seem insensitive as they get older. You have got to learn that its nothing personal. Its just that they have developed a one track mind.

How I learned How to Speak Good English

People always ask me the following question: Where did you learn to speak English? The following scenario will answer this question. Once upon a time in my early childhood life, I could not speak very well.
Therefore there was a decision made for me to be placed into a speech pathology class. It was at the point where I learned to pronounce my words correctly. The woman that I give credit for my success today is none other than Clara Rose Simon. I can only imagine what her struggle was like to teach me at that age, because I know for a fact that I was quite an unruly child. I am here today to tell you that her hard work and dedication to instructing me has truly paid off ! I haven't seen this woman in years but if you just so happen to run into her, just let her know that I truly commend her for a job well done. The moral of this story is this: When you have finally made it to a successful point in your life, it is always a good thing to pay homage to the "bridges" that have allowed you to cross over.

Showing off my 1st Car to my Grandpa Rogers

One of my worst critics in my life was my Grandpa Rogers. When I was younger, i told him that one day I would pull up to his house in a car. He doubted me. In exactly ten years after I made that statement I bought my first car. It was a 1981 Buick Century. It was a complete POS, but I loved it ! The first place that I drove after getting my license
plate tags was to see my grandpa. I jumped out of my car all excitedly and I ran inside to get him to show him my new accomplishment. 
 When he came out to the car, he made me open up all of the doors so that he could get a good look inside. The one thing that he did continuously was stare at the ceiling. I asked him, " Grandpa, what are you looking for?" He turned and smiled and said, " I am looking for FOOTPRINTS." It took about several minutes for it to dawn on me what he had stated. After I had figured it out, it was at that moment that I realized just how cool he was! 
On March 16, 2016, he passed away due to natural causes. Prior to his death, I used to visit him while he was bed ridden and confined to a nursing home. Our conversations are just as they were when I used to visit him at home. If your grandparents are still alive, please go and visit with them. You just may learn information about them that they may never share again.

Adapting to a new enviroment

Once upon a time, I was a social member of a local country club. I took a young woman that I admired out there on a date. Instead of just enjoying the environment, she complained the whole evening about there not being people there that looked like us. It made me realize that sometimes you just can't take everyone with you when you move up in the world. When you move up in the world, you are going to have to learn to adapt to your surroundings. Point Blank! If not, you will remain in an uncomfortable state for a very long time. Although you may have to adapt, always remember to stay true to your character.

Celebrating a Birthday With My Mentor

On September 26, 2014, I helped to celebrate the 83rd Birthday of my mentor Mrs. Annie Mable McDaniel Abrams. When I arrived there, she gave me a great big hug and kiss on my cheek. Next we walked hand in hand around the room as she told me a brief story about the different pictures and awards that she had on display.
She did so because it's her way of passing along the torch of knowledge. Even though it was her birthday celebration, I ended up being the one that felt special. Go figure ! The moral of this story is this: Your presence at an event always matters to someone. So always make the effort to share precious moments with those of whom you care about the most !

Campaigning For a Good Friend

During the campaign season of 2014,  I helped a dear friend of mine by holding up their sign to get voters to vote for them. I noticed quite a few things while being posted up on that sidewalk. I noticed drivers that were talking and even texting on their cell phones. I even had a few ladies smile and yell out of their windows that they would in fact vote for my candidate. The most interesting thing that happened to me was a conversation that I had with a gentleman that took a break from work to come and witness his 18 year old son vote for the first time. He told me that he explained to his son that from now on, when they are having a discussion around the dinner table about politics and how it is structured, his son can now have a say so because he exercised his right to vote. I don't know about you all but, I was proud to see that there are parents are still encouraging their children to be more productive citizens. My only regret is that I didn't ask this guy for his name. He deserves the spotlight for a job well done. Stay tuned for more wild tales from yours truly !

A Special Bond

Back when I was 21, I bought my first car. It was a 1981 Buick Century. It was a complete "Bucket", but it was really great on gas. Oh how I loved it. However, every thing that could go wrong with a car did! Prior to me having car trouble, me and my step- father never really shared any father son time. This car gave us a reason to finally form a bond. By the time we got finished with this car, it had so many new parts on it that that it should have been considered a new car! The moral of this story is this: Fathers, always find way to pass down knowledge to your son. When he is older, he will reflect on this intimate moments that you have shared with him.

Learning What It Means to Grind Hard

 When I was about 15 years old, I received my first summer job working for JTPA (Job Training Partnership Act). In order for me to get to work, I had to pay my step-father $100 every two weeks for gas money, because he had to leave his job to come and get me. Keep in mind that we lived at least 5 miles outside of the city limits. What an unfair situation ! I got smart one day and I went a bought a bike from a cousin. It was a heck of ride into town, but at least I saved some money a long the way. The moral of the story is this: In life you are always going to come across some sort of obstacle when you are on your way to your destination. Learn to keep your head up, inhale,exhale, and think about how to adapt and overcome your obstacles. Where there is a will there is a way !

Teaching My Neighbor How To Drive

There is no greater feeling that being able to teach someone something new. Today, I gave my Indian neighbor a lesson in driving. I had to give him baby steps. In order to truly learn how to drive, it is a good idea to first learn how to park. There are too many people out here that claim that they know how to drive, but can't park correctly in a parking space ! He did really well for someone who has NEVER driven before. He thanked me for being able to sacrifice my time to help him learn to drive. The moral of this story is this: At one time or another, someone took the time to show you something that was new to you. Therefore, when you have the opportunity to do the same for another, you should always pay it forward !

What A Child Believes Is Real It Is Real to Them

During the Christmas season of 2014, my little niece D' Mya was taken to the local Christmas parade in her city by her mother. While she was there, one of the elves gave her a plastic slinky. A few hours later, she ran to her mother crying hysterically because she had broken it. Later she called me because she wanted to know if I could give her a ride to the North Pole so that she could get another slinky from one of those elves. I told her that I would see if I could get in touch with one of those of those elves or maybe even Santa himself to hook her up with another slinky. You have got to love the way kids think !

Fond Memories at Age 4

At the age of 4, my favorite show on television was Bozo The Clown. I thought that this clown was so amazing because he was always doing fun games on his show. Well, one day, my mother found out that he was coming to the Village Shopping Center in Conway, Arkansas and she took me to see him. He flew in town in a news station helicopter. It was the most amazing thing that I had ever seen in my life at the point. It was even cooler that he walked up to me and shook my hand and me a generic autographed picture of himself. When I saw him fly away in that contraption, it was even cooler than when I had seen him appear.
Years later, I was outraged when I found out that had only been a guy dressed up in a suit. However, the memory of my experience with him would last for a long time.
The moral of this story is this: During the Christmas season, Billions of children across the globe will be excited to see a man in a red suit, because he has the power to travel across the globe , in one night, to bring each boy and girl their favorite toy. Don't be tempted to spoil the excitement of hope for them just because you know his true identity.

The Challenge of Running In My Underwear

Back when I was in my 3rd year of college at the University of Central Arkansas, I was challenged by some friends to run with them in the inaugural Underwear Run. We all met in front of the school cafeteria. Keep in mind that it was in the month of December when we did this. Therefore, you know that it was ice cold out there. I decided to wear my black silk boxers. I should have worn some Fruit of the Looms ! Right as were getting ready to run this girl and her 3 friends came and stood right next to me in plain clothes. The girl that stood the closest to me said to her friends, " Hold this!" Within three minutes, she stood there next to me in what I suspected were Victoria's Secret under garments. I looked at her and replied, " You're running with me !" We ran all over campus. We ran in the library, and even in the campus police department. We ended our run by plunging into the school fountain. I ruined a good pair of Jordans doing that. The moral of this story is this: Throughout your young adult life, you are going to do random things to take up your time just because you feel that you have nothing else better to do. Although you may enjoy doing these wild things, always remember to be in this process of planing a better life for yourself. If not, as you get older you will be in your old age pondering about what you could have done better with your time. Check out this clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CGExNLBAoI

The Red Light Special

Once upon time in September of 2013, I came to a stop light and the car next to me had their radio blasting Jamie Foxx. It was a car full of middle aged women that was keeping up this racket. So I turned down my radio, rolled down my window, and commenced to flirting with the chick on the passenger side. Next thing that I know, for at least a minute and half all of us sang that Jamie Foxx song at the stop light. Ahh, Fun times !

Treyvonne Martin Case viewed by the Elderly

One evening in July of 2013, I decided to take a break and visit with my aunt. I love to spend time with my elders. They allow us to look at life at a more simple perspective. Tonight's conversation was about the Treyvonne Martin case. I was looking for a profound answer when I asked her the following question: I said,"Auntie what are your thoughts about this case? " She said, " That young lady that they put on the stand sure was stupid ! I sure hope that her testimony doesn't hurt the case." I was floored ! I just knew that she going to tell me something insightful. Instead, I got the answer that I had already thought myself. I love older people. They aren't as different from us as we might think !

Getting Spanked For The First Time

Back in July of 2013, I went to an undisclosed location to see one of my favorite rap groups from my teenage years perform. I was pushed up against the stage. While I was there, this young attractive woman grinds up on my behind and spanks me ! She said that I had a nice booty and she couldn't help but smack it. I was highly confused on how to feel at that point. I didn't know whether accept it as a compliment, or to feel violated !  Now I know that having a strange person feel on your bottom really doesn't feel all that great. The lessons we learn as we get older .....

The Importance of a Good Credit Score

When I first started selling cars, I saw something that I have never seen before. I saw someone with a 352 credit score! With that kind of a score you can't even get a Discover card!  Some people really don't understand the concept of what it really means to have a good credit score. Let me enlighten you. It symbolizes whether or not we can trust you to pay us. For those of you who have a 0 credit score, the following information is a quick way to establish credit. Go to a place like Rent-A-Center. Get something like some lamps and pay on it until you pay it off. It works ! Well, that is all for now. And remember to protect your good name at all times!

Why Get Married If You Are Going To Cheat ?

It really does bother me to hear married men brag about how many other women that they have slept with. In fact, me and a co-worker had a friendly discussion about it. I asked him, "Why did you get married if you know that you were going to sleep with other women?" He said he likes different body types and that he loves his wife. And that men are going to do what men do. Ladies and gentlemen, that is just a foolish way to try to justify infidelity. The sad part is that as men, we have been using this explanation for years. I truly believe that a " Real Man" honors his commitments. Marriage is supposed to sacred. When you take those vows and say I DO, you agree to forsake all others. I know for a fact that I am smart enough to know that I am not ready to be married, due to unresolved issues. The moral of this story is this: If you are not ready to be involved in a committed relationship, just be honest with yourself and to the other person. You come out a lot better in the end by saving yourself a whole lot of misery."

Dancing Machine

It seems as if the wildest things happen to me when I decide to go to the mall. I was minding my own business, when a woman from my past comes up to me and hugs me with her husband in tow. She told her husband about how when I used to dance with her at the Conway Skating Rink parties that I used to make her feel as if she was the hottest woman in the room. Granted, this was not the first time that I have ever heard this from a woman.

All that I wanted to do back then was have fun. It just so happens that whenever I danced with someone, it seemed as if the whole room was watching ! Ahhh.... fun times ! I am just glad that she still had those memories of me. It made me feel as if I had done something right ! Especially since she shared that info with her husband. Who does that ?

Very Bad Business

Once upon a time when I used to sell cars, On a Friday, this woman came to my job to solicit her catering business. Keep in mind that my manager wasn't going to give her a chance because we have other caterers that give us a great deal. So after much persuasion from me, they decided to go with her in a couple of weeks. Moving on to Saturday, I called her to deliver a personal order for me. She tells me that she may be 30 minutes late with my food. I was okay with it at first, because that was the time limit that she quoted. She actually showed up an hour and 45 minutes late ! Keep in mind that she had my number the whole time. Am I wrong to ask for some kind of discount for making me wait for half-way cold delivered food ? I ended up paying full price for it because, well, I was hungry ! Notice to small business owners: Customer service is way more important than price tag. If you deliver the best in customer service, your clients will generally pay you what you need to operate your business. When you give up customer service, in essence, you are asking for business failure.
I promise you that she will never get another dime out of me again.

Mind Your Own Business

A few years, I told a woman that I see almost every morning that my prayer for her is that she would quit smoking. She replied, "Sir there is a reason why I smoke. My kids stole $2,700 out of my account. I was only $5,000 away from paying my house off and they still evicted me." I then said, " Forget what I said. Let me get you a cigarette lighter!" The moral of this story is this: just because people are doing things that we don't agree with, doesn't give us the right to pry. In other words, sometimes it just a good idea to mind your own business!

What A Big Flirt I Am

Anyone who really knows me knows that I am a huge flirt. What can I say ? Old habits are hard to break. Well check this out. I am at this nightspot flirting with yet another older woman.What can I can say? It's what I do. After my little spill, she smiled said It feels good to know that a younger man still thinks that I have it going on. The moral of this story is this: you know that you are a child of the 90s if you have ever used the phrase " got it going on !" Ah , fun times !

I Caught You Looking At Me

A while back, I was in Wal-Mart  buying groceries for the week. I am in the check-out line when I noticed that this young woman was checking out my rear end. The look on her face when she noticed that she was CAUGHT was PRICELESS ! LOL. The moral of this story is that men aren't only ones that check out the posterior anatomy !

House Party Confessions

A while back, I attended a house party of a close military friend. This party was filled with notorious celebrities such as Bud Light and Jim Beam. It truly amazes me how much of the truth will come out when someone is intoxicated. Okay, we all were gathered around a table when the subject of theft come up. The majority of the people in attendance confessed of the many things that they had stolen over their lifetime. I sat in my chair dumbfounded and bewildered with some of the things that they had mentioned. Then they got to me and asked what I had stolen. I told them NOTHING! They treated me as if I were not a member of the club when I told them that. Forgive me for being a square or even an octagon, but I grew up knowing that the bible clearly states that thou shall not STEAL! Maybe they didn't get that memo. The moral of this story is that sometimes you really don't know the type of person that you are dealing with until they have been high or intoxicated !

Missing in Action

My father was not in my life for the majority of my young adult years.
For a long time, it was hard for me to forgive him for not being there. It wasn't until years later that I found out that he wasn't present because he wasn't allowed to be there for me. I will say that he was there for my high school and college graduations. So that made it easier for me to forgive him. Now is he the jerk that my mom said that he was ?YES ! But that is something that I had to figure out for myself. I still love him just the same. One important thing that I have learned over the years is the following: You can't get back lost time with your parents. However, you can make sure that you at least try to make a better future for the both of you. As long as God gives you the precious time to have with your parents, do the best that you can to enjoy one another. Time stands still for no one. Remember that.