You gotta dance with who brung you
You know one thing I miss here in Liberty Hill? The Whittler’s Bench. I think it used to be down town along about where the Fantasia Flower shop is today. I remember going by there and seeing great piles of wood shavings at each of the whittlers’ feet. I think the talking that went on may have piled up higher that the shavings, but you couldn’t see it. I have heard it said a lot of blue smoke was generated in the area. ” But of course where there is smoke there is fire.” “That dog wont hunt.” and of course the classic saying, “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” are just a few of the words of wisdom given the light of day around that bench. I liked the pithy thoughts like, “It is hard to fake a shoe shine”, and “Dance with who brung you.” And of course there were the on going stories of local folks, told over and over. They always generated laughter even though all had heard the story many times. The member, or members, discussed in these stories were not present at the telling. This encouraged a full house most of the time. One such story was when D. Willie Vaught asked Joe Spivey , “You know Joe, I don’t think there is as much kissing going on now as there used to be.” Joe shaved a few more curls of cedar wood then replied, “No D., there is same amount going on; it is just other folks doing it.”
Now Troy’s Information Center is a pretty close mimic to the Whittler’s Bench in down town Liberty Hill, but no one whittles there. They do tell some great stories and a few neat thoughts to guide us through the darkest hours. If you are feeling all alone and unloved, just drive by the Center and you are sure to get a big wave and smile. That will just about cure what ails you.
Recently I was offered another job. Now not one to take the job I have, but one to add to the one I wrestle with daily. It was a great compliment to be asked. This new job could very well add to the glory and fame I am now enjoying. The added income would come in handy when I go to pay my taxes or buy crewing gum. What a difficult place I found myself in. All through the night I tossed and turned trying to decide what to do about the new job.
At daylight upon awakening from the few hours of sleep I managed to get, can you guess what popped into my mind? One of those little diddes from the Whittler’s Bench came rushing from nowhere to the fore front of my mind. Just as clear as the ringing of a silver bell the words and music from the long ago forgotten statement; “Dance with who brung you.” There. That is settled. I will find great satisfaction in working and dancing with the folks that brought me this far.
Now, “That dog will hunt.”