WEBVTT - Ep. 429: This Country Life - Service

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to This Country Life. I'm your host, Brent Reeves

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<v Speaker 1>from coon hunting to trotlining and just in general country living.

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<v Speaker 1>I want you to stay a while as I share my.

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<v Speaker 2>Experiences in life lessons.

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<v Speaker 1>This Country Life is presented by Case Knives from the

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<v Speaker 1>Store More Studio on Meat Eaters Podcast Network, bringing you

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<v Speaker 1>the best outdoor podcast that airways have to offer.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, friends, grab a chair or drop that tailgate.

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<v Speaker 2>I've got some stories to share.

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<v Speaker 1>Service serving others can be a lifelong calling or can

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<v Speaker 1>be a moment of compassion. Either way, our service to

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<v Speaker 1>others is important and necessary. I'm going to give you

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<v Speaker 1>my thoughts on it, but first I'm gonna tell you

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<v Speaker 1>this story. This story is from This Country Life listener

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<v Speaker 1>Ryan Noss. Ryan is a genetic counselor in Bay Village, Ohio.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I didn't know what that was either, but my pile.

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<v Speaker 1>Ryan explains it as helping identify folks with cancer or

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<v Speaker 1>a strong family history of it in ways to fight

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<v Speaker 1>it or prevent it from starting. Ryan's wife is an

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<v Speaker 1>occupational therapist, both of them serving their patients and community

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<v Speaker 1>in very important ways.

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<v Speaker 2>Now.

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<v Speaker 1>Ryan sent this story back in September of twenty twenty four.

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<v Speaker 1>I read them all, folks, and I keep them all

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<v Speaker 1>waiting for the right time. So y'all just keep sending

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<v Speaker 1>them in. And remember they don't have to be about

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<v Speaker 1>hunting or fishing. Ryan's community was hit by a storm,

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<v Speaker 1>and in his words, in my voice, this is how

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<v Speaker 1>they handled it. Ten rooftops. As I look over my

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<v Speaker 1>eighth acre lot in the Cleveland suburb, I can count

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<v Speaker 1>the rooftops of ten neighbors homes. Now this may seem

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<v Speaker 1>a surprising setting to wax poetic on the virtues of

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<v Speaker 1>country living, but his brand has been suggesting all along,

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<v Speaker 1>where you find a country way of life might surprise you.

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<v Speaker 1>It's three pm on Tuesday afternoon, and I finished at

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<v Speaker 1>my clinic early, and I'm driving home. As I drive,

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<v Speaker 1>I begin to consider my options with this extra free

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<v Speaker 1>time before picking up the kids at daycare. Maybe I

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<v Speaker 1>can get a workout in or tackle a house project.

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<v Speaker 1>And then I'm interrupted by a call from my wife.

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<v Speaker 2>Now, let me be.

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<v Speaker 1>Clear, I dearly loved my wife and welcome an impromptu

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<v Speaker 1>phone call. However, history has told me that if my

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<v Speaker 1>wife is interrupting her clinic and potentially my own, it's

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<v Speaker 1>not just a chit chat. Reagan, our youngest, has what

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<v Speaker 1>daycare fears is the beginning of hand, foot and mouth disease.

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<v Speaker 1>For those with our children, It's hard to describe the

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<v Speaker 1>flood of emotions and ensuing logical gymnastics you encounter with

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<v Speaker 1>these unexpected but inevitable calls from the daycare concern for

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<v Speaker 1>her health, Which one of us is going to cancel

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<v Speaker 1>their patience tomorrow? And however many other days won't she

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<v Speaker 1>be able to go to daycare, let alone, fear of

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<v Speaker 1>if any of our other kids will catch it. I

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<v Speaker 1>tell my wife, I'm on my way home. I'll change

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<v Speaker 1>and head over to get Reagan and get her to

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<v Speaker 1>the doctor. And as I walk in my house, my

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<v Speaker 1>phone alarm goes off. There's been a tornado warning issued

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<v Speaker 1>for your area. Seek shelter. I find myself looking out

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<v Speaker 1>our front one to trying to figure out if I

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<v Speaker 1>have time to go get the cares from school or not.

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<v Speaker 1>The rapidly dark in the sky and increasingly intensifying wind

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<v Speaker 1>answers that question. However, while looking out the window, I

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<v Speaker 1>noticed Tom, the mailman.

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<v Speaker 2>Making his rounds now.

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<v Speaker 1>I wait for him to reach our door, and it

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<v Speaker 1>takes a moment or two to figure out who exactly

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<v Speaker 1>of us was warning the other about the tornado, And

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<v Speaker 1>with that sordid he makes a beeline to his truck

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<v Speaker 1>and high tells it back to the post office.

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<v Speaker 2>And I retreated to the basement.

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<v Speaker 1>The electricity blinked on and off several times, and then boom.

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<v Speaker 1>A few minutes later, I discovered that the boom was

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<v Speaker 1>a tree crashing onto the roof of our garage. At

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<v Speaker 1>this point I left to go to my children's daycare

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<v Speaker 1>in school ragging and Barrett picked up first, and at

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<v Speaker 1>two and four years of age, they found hanging around

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<v Speaker 1>the windowless room of the daycare center, armed with flashlights

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<v Speaker 1>a great adventure throw the tree top on the house

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<v Speaker 1>next door ruined the four year old's move. Now we

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<v Speaker 1>make the drive to give my old the sun of

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<v Speaker 1>this summer camp, and our commuter is a typically serpentine

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<v Speaker 1>due to the down traffic lights and trees blocking the roads.

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<v Speaker 2>Eventually we make it.

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<v Speaker 1>And old and wide eyed, excitedly tells me about his adventure.

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<v Speaker 1>Hunkering in the basement with all his friends. We surveyed

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<v Speaker 1>the storm damage from the cars with meander our way

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<v Speaker 1>past streets closed off due to falling trees and down

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<v Speaker 1>power lines.

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<v Speaker 2>That house is broken, Bear points out as.

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<v Speaker 1>We pass the house, its front room has a large

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<v Speaker 1>tree serving us a coffee table after crashing through the roof.

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<v Speaker 1>Next week, went to our driveway and owen stairs at

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<v Speaker 1>a garage which is now totally draped by branches and limbs,

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<v Speaker 1>and comments, well, at least my bike is okay. It's

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<v Speaker 1>good to know he has his priority street. But as

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<v Speaker 1>the dust settles, text from our friends on our street

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<v Speaker 1>trickle in and fortunately everyone has made it back home

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<v Speaker 1>safely and outside of a garage. No major damage has occurred,

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<v Speaker 1>though most of the city is without power.

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<v Speaker 2>Good news.

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<v Speaker 1>The doctor confirms that Reagan doesn't have hand foot in

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<v Speaker 1>mouth disease, and I have a smaller clinic schedule than

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<v Speaker 1>my wife, so I decided to stay home with the kids.

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<v Speaker 1>First order of business storm clean up. It's hard to

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<v Speaker 1>describe the satisfaction associated with working alongside my seven, four

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<v Speaker 1>and two year old to clean up the branches in

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<v Speaker 1>the limbs. Growing up, I spent my time sitting behind

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<v Speaker 1>home plate playing catcher versus sitting in a tree stand

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<v Speaker 1>deer honey. Though I'm increasingly enamored with the outdoors and

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<v Speaker 1>do my best to foster that in my children. Sit

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<v Speaker 1>comes no surprise. I felt a great sense of joy

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<v Speaker 1>and pride. Is my seven year old explain to me

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<v Speaker 1>how the tree in our yard is a white oak

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<v Speaker 1>and our neighbor has a red oak based on the

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<v Speaker 1>rounded versus pointed edges with their leaves. It's the first

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four hours without power, come and go. My mind

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<v Speaker 1>is increasingly drawn to our fridge and our freezer. I

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<v Speaker 1>don't need to explain the treasured commodity that is six

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<v Speaker 1>pounds of bluegill cropping and hybrid basphilelets thawing in our

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<v Speaker 1>non functioning freezer. So I send an invitation to our

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<v Speaker 1>family of friends on our street that we will be

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<v Speaker 1>having a fish fright, because I'll be darned if I'm

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<v Speaker 1>gonna let those fish go to waste. One family had

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<v Speaker 1>their power restored and insists we come there for supper

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<v Speaker 1>and charge whatever electronics that we needed to. Another neighbor

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<v Speaker 1>who is a brewer, assures us that there'll be plenty

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<v Speaker 1>of cold beer, and others quickly volunteer to round out

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<v Speaker 1>a feast. That evening, we are all able to gather

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<v Speaker 1>and enjoy the laughter of good company and the deliciousness

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<v Speaker 1>of fish bathed in hot oil. Another morning comes with

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<v Speaker 1>no power from my family and the others. It's my

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<v Speaker 1>turn to go to work as my wife and neighbors

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<v Speaker 1>coordinate who can the kids as daycare remain closed in

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<v Speaker 1>between patients. My spirit is lifted when I catch up

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<v Speaker 1>on text messagees to discover the husband of the soul

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<v Speaker 1>house with power is asking what we are all having

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<v Speaker 1>for dinner at their place tonight. That evening, while slicing

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<v Speaker 1>tomatoes in my neighbor's kitchen, one of their daughters comes

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<v Speaker 1>up to me, asking are you making fish again tonight?

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<v Speaker 2>And I said, oh, did you like it?

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<v Speaker 1>A big smile and enthusiastic headshake answered the affirmative, well

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<v Speaker 1>not tonight, mister Clark and mister Nate brought over steak

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<v Speaker 1>and chicken. That answer must have sufficed that she happily

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<v Speaker 1>scared it off to join the rest of the kids,

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<v Speaker 1>and the pride from that interaction rejuvenates the soul in

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<v Speaker 1>a way only surpassed from the smiles and laughs us

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<v Speaker 1>us parents got watching the log jam of twelve neighborhood

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<v Speaker 1>kids all trying to go down the backyard slide in

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<v Speaker 1>rapid fire succession, Conversations of the upcoming weekend unfolding, and

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<v Speaker 1>an unspoken agreement develops. If we can all make it

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<v Speaker 1>through tomorrow, and we can strip our professional responsibilities, then

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<v Speaker 1>we can all go our separate ways for the weekend.

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<v Speaker 1>Should we still be without power. Saturday afternoon, we are

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<v Speaker 1>enjoying the company of my sister, her husband, and they're

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<v Speaker 1>newborn twins at my parents' house.

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<v Speaker 2>An hour and a half away from the tornado's destruction.

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<v Speaker 1>We finally get worried. After four full days power has

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<v Speaker 1>been restored. Now, I wouldn't have traded meeting my nieces

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<v Speaker 1>for the first time for anything, though it would have

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<v Speaker 1>been something to hear firsthand the cheers of joy that

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<v Speaker 1>reportedly echoed up and down our street when the lights

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<v Speaker 1>came on. It is not lost on me that we

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<v Speaker 1>are very fortunate not to have faced the loss of

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<v Speaker 1>home or life that others face during the tornado, though

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<v Speaker 1>in that physic and mentally exhausting time, the outstretched helping

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<v Speaker 1>hands from trusted friends was a welcome all the same.

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<v Speaker 1>Now could be pride of looking at riping the tomatoes

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<v Speaker 1>and I raised bed gardens that must be pretty good,

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<v Speaker 1>considering how few seem to make it back into the

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<v Speaker 1>house when I ask the kids to go pick them.

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<v Speaker 1>Or maybe maybe it's the joy of knowing this year's

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<v Speaker 1>buffer crop really is social capital, and the amount of

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<v Speaker 1>social capital being reserved isn't only for towns and country

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<v Speaker 1>songs with a single traffic light. We look after each other.

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<v Speaker 1>We take pride in one another's success, and don't hesitate

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<v Speaker 1>to offer help where we see need. Now, if that

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<v Speaker 1>ain't country living, can someone help me with my woo

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<v Speaker 1>picked suey and point me in the direction of the

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<v Speaker 1>nearest pig farm. And according to Ryan Noss, that's just

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<v Speaker 1>how that happened. Well riding, my friend, and that's as

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<v Speaker 1>country as cornbread. And your woo pick sue is well

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<v Speaker 1>received and on point. But more importantly, your story is

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<v Speaker 1>a perfect example of service, and I thank.

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<v Speaker 2>You for sending it in.

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<v Speaker 1>I come from a family of service members, both in

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<v Speaker 1>the military and in law enforcement. My dad and my brother,

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<v Speaker 1>and my uncles, nephews and cousins, from the president all.

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<v Speaker 2>The way back to the War between the States.

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<v Speaker 1>Duty has been a common thread in our family, just

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<v Speaker 1>as it has been for many others. But I was

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<v Speaker 1>reminded of it a few days ago on a fishing

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<v Speaker 1>trip of all things. My brother Tim and I were

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<v Speaker 1>running our nets in the Arkansas River and we had

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<v Speaker 1>our longtime family friend Jeff Childress with us. Jeff's more

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<v Speaker 1>than a longtime friend, He's a cousin of TAM's wife, Barbara,

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<v Speaker 1>the lady who's case knife collection ri I was my own,

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<v Speaker 1>Not that I'm jealous or anything like that, but anyway,

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<v Speaker 1>I was running the motor at a slow island and

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<v Speaker 1>Jeff was sitting in the back with me talking and

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<v Speaker 1>Tim was sitting on the back of the boat holding

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<v Speaker 1>a rope with a net drag attached, scarring the bottom

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<v Speaker 1>of the river for a barrel net.

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<v Speaker 2>That we couldn't find for fifteen minutes.

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<v Speaker 1>As we slowly trolled back and forth, we talked about

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<v Speaker 1>everything under the sun while making fun of Tim's less

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<v Speaker 1>than fruitful of temps.

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<v Speaker 2>At finding our net.

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<v Speaker 1>One good thing about having three retired folks in the

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<v Speaker 1>boat on the river. None of us was in a

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<v Speaker 1>hurry to be anyplace else, mainly because we didn't have anyplace.

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<v Speaker 2>Else to be.

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<v Speaker 1>So there we were three retired folks adrift on the

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<v Speaker 1>open sea. Well the Arkansas River anyway, just cruising, killing time.

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<v Speaker 1>Just a retired logger and a trapper, and a good one.

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<v Speaker 1>He's been catching a fire out of kyots, coons and bobcats.

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<v Speaker 1>What Jeff really excelled at, especially when he was a

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<v Speaker 1>younger man, was sending turkeys across the river. Jordan, I

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<v Speaker 1>don't know how many turkeys Jeff's killed in his six

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<v Speaker 1>and a half decades on this spending orbit we all

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<v Speaker 1>called home, but you can rest assured it is a

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<v Speaker 1>number unequaled in many circles. Some folks are natural athletes,

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<v Speaker 1>some are natural musicians. Jeff is a natural born turkey

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<v Speaker 1>killer and has turned the wood solid in more states

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<v Speaker 1>than not. He's good at it. But we weren't talking

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<v Speaker 1>about turkey hunting right then. We were talking about trapping

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<v Speaker 1>and nest predators. We were talking about how much we

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<v Speaker 1>enjoyed trapping in the sets he was making and how

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<v Speaker 1>he was making them, And as if prodded by some

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<v Speaker 1>unseen force, he spontaneously said, Brent, I've been taken from

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<v Speaker 1>the woods for a long long time, and it's time

0:14:01.520 --> 0:14:02.720
<v Speaker 1>I gave back.

0:14:04.000 --> 0:14:04.160
<v Speaker 2>Now.

0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:07.000
<v Speaker 1>That didn't catch me off guard or even surprised me.

0:14:07.080 --> 0:14:10.240
<v Speaker 1>Really just's a good man, and I actually don't remember

0:14:10.320 --> 0:14:13.559
<v Speaker 1>a time when I didn't know him. The real community

0:14:13.600 --> 0:14:16.360
<v Speaker 1>that we're both from is small and close knit, and

0:14:16.400 --> 0:14:20.000
<v Speaker 1>it's the kind of place where families are friends. Generationally,

0:14:21.040 --> 0:14:24.840
<v Speaker 1>his word is good. What I did take notice of

0:14:25.080 --> 0:14:27.760
<v Speaker 1>was how he said it. It was as much a

0:14:27.800 --> 0:14:30.880
<v Speaker 1>testimonial as it was an oath, the creation to be

0:14:30.920 --> 0:14:34.600
<v Speaker 1>a better steward, to leave it better than he found it,

0:14:34.640 --> 0:14:39.600
<v Speaker 1>and to give more than take. All those turkeys over

0:14:39.680 --> 0:14:42.120
<v Speaker 1>all those years that brought him so much pleasure, had

0:14:42.160 --> 0:14:46.840
<v Speaker 1>come full circle in his appreciation. They had served him well,

0:14:46.880 --> 0:14:49.680
<v Speaker 1>and now it was his turn to serve them, and

0:14:50.000 --> 0:14:52.520
<v Speaker 1>he was going to do it, one coon and coo

0:14:53.080 --> 0:14:56.600
<v Speaker 1>at a time. Now, that's service, and to me, the

0:14:56.760 --> 0:14:59.200
<v Speaker 1>very definition of it, taking on a task for the

0:14:59.240 --> 0:15:02.760
<v Speaker 1>betterment of some anything else, regardless of what stage of

0:15:02.800 --> 0:15:05.760
<v Speaker 1>life it comes to you called the service to work

0:15:05.800 --> 0:15:09.640
<v Speaker 1>for the betterment of the collective above the individual, even

0:15:09.680 --> 0:15:14.360
<v Speaker 1>when it's aimed at turkeys, it's a good thing. I

0:15:14.440 --> 0:15:17.240
<v Speaker 1>remember the day I decided that I wanted to be

0:15:17.280 --> 0:15:21.200
<v Speaker 1>a soldier. We were on a family vacation in Washington,

0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:25.000
<v Speaker 1>d C. I'd walked in some of the Smithsonian Institution's

0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:29.640
<v Speaker 1>museums Along the National Mall, I stood below that iconic

0:15:29.800 --> 0:15:33.840
<v Speaker 1>African elephant known as Henry, that stood watching the rotunda

0:15:33.880 --> 0:15:38.400
<v Speaker 1>of the National Museum on Natural History since nineteen fifty nine,

0:15:38.520 --> 0:15:41.200
<v Speaker 1>and I looked up at the massive fourteen foot tall

0:15:41.640 --> 0:15:46.440
<v Speaker 1>eleven ton icon of the Dark Continent. I climbed the

0:15:46.480 --> 0:15:49.280
<v Speaker 1>eighty seven steps from the reflecting pool up to the

0:15:49.320 --> 0:15:52.680
<v Speaker 1>Lincoln Memorial, and after reaching the central chamber in the steamy,

0:15:52.720 --> 0:15:57.040
<v Speaker 1>hot d C. Summer, I realized why Lincoln was sitting down.

0:15:58.360 --> 0:16:01.640
<v Speaker 1>I saw the Washington Monument, the Jefferson Memorial, and the

0:16:01.680 --> 0:16:05.160
<v Speaker 1>Eternal Flame that marks the grave of President John F. Kennedy,

0:16:05.600 --> 0:16:08.840
<v Speaker 1>all wondrous works of art and fitting memorials to America's

0:16:08.920 --> 0:16:13.120
<v Speaker 1>leaders in the past. Then, after a half mile ride

0:16:13.200 --> 0:16:16.120
<v Speaker 1>south it seemed to take forever in the bumper to

0:16:16.200 --> 0:16:19.200
<v Speaker 1>bumper traffic. We got out of the car and I

0:16:19.240 --> 0:16:21.760
<v Speaker 1>stood beside my mama and watched the changing of the

0:16:21.840 --> 0:16:26.320
<v Speaker 1>guard in the Tomb of the Unknowns. A six year

0:16:26.320 --> 0:16:29.040
<v Speaker 1>old boy who had never seen so many people in

0:16:29.120 --> 0:16:33.640
<v Speaker 1>one place or building so big, but recognized the immediate

0:16:33.720 --> 0:16:36.840
<v Speaker 1>reverence of the place I was in, even though I

0:16:36.920 --> 0:16:41.160
<v Speaker 1>didn't understand all that I was seeing. I remember the

0:16:41.240 --> 0:16:44.560
<v Speaker 1>silence the first time. There hadn't been any rackets since

0:16:44.600 --> 0:16:49.440
<v Speaker 1>we got there, no cars, no horns, no sirens, not

0:16:49.520 --> 0:16:53.080
<v Speaker 1>even a whisper of words, just the rhythmic cadence of

0:16:53.080 --> 0:16:55.960
<v Speaker 1>the soldier steps as they gracefully moved from one point

0:16:56.080 --> 0:17:00.000
<v Speaker 1>to the next on their tour, twenty one steps across

0:17:00.240 --> 0:17:04.560
<v Speaker 1>a sixty three foot black mat, with a twenty one

0:17:04.640 --> 0:17:07.600
<v Speaker 1>second pause at each point, honoring the fallen who made

0:17:07.600 --> 0:17:13.560
<v Speaker 1>the ultimate sacrifice of service. Each time they clicked the

0:17:13.600 --> 0:17:16.040
<v Speaker 1>metal place together on the hills that echoed across the

0:17:16.080 --> 0:17:20.360
<v Speaker 1>plaza like a bolt of lightning. I was mesmerized by

0:17:20.359 --> 0:17:23.840
<v Speaker 1>their uniforms, the inspection of the soldier and his weapon

0:17:23.880 --> 0:17:26.280
<v Speaker 1>that was standing in relief, of the scent and along guard,

0:17:27.119 --> 0:17:29.960
<v Speaker 1>and the relief commander making sure he had his uniform

0:17:30.000 --> 0:17:36.080
<v Speaker 1>and his weapon were worthy of such an important duty.

0:17:36.359 --> 0:17:39.720
<v Speaker 1>My mama cried silently as she watched. I remember a

0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:42.240
<v Speaker 1>lot of folks wiping tears, and I've shed a bunch

0:17:42.240 --> 0:17:45.080
<v Speaker 1>of my own since then. When watching now as an

0:17:45.119 --> 0:17:49.360
<v Speaker 1>adult with a clear understanding of what that ceremony stands for,

0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:54.280
<v Speaker 1>all the soldiers looked the same, their uniforms, their haircuts,

0:17:54.320 --> 0:17:57.359
<v Speaker 1>their movements. I couldn't tell one from the other, and

0:17:57.400 --> 0:18:00.119
<v Speaker 1>through the years, as I grew older, I realized they

0:18:00.119 --> 0:18:04.920
<v Speaker 1>all looked that way because it wasn't about them. Their

0:18:05.040 --> 0:18:07.840
<v Speaker 1>uniformity has been on display, just as we see it

0:18:07.880 --> 0:18:11.280
<v Speaker 1>now twenty four hours a day, and has been continually

0:18:11.359 --> 0:18:15.119
<v Speaker 1>since July the second, nineteen thirty seven, up to the

0:18:15.280 --> 0:18:18.359
<v Speaker 1>very second, regardless.

0:18:17.800 --> 0:18:18.920
<v Speaker 2>Of when you listen to this.

0:18:20.680 --> 0:18:22.560
<v Speaker 1>I was six when I saw it, and from that

0:18:22.640 --> 0:18:24.800
<v Speaker 1>moment I knew I wanted to be a part of

0:18:24.840 --> 0:18:29.600
<v Speaker 1>something bigger than I was. It was team sports for

0:18:29.720 --> 0:18:32.919
<v Speaker 1>me all through school, and the bond that was formed

0:18:32.920 --> 0:18:38.119
<v Speaker 1>with my teammates surpassed practice in games that we shared

0:18:38.160 --> 0:18:42.000
<v Speaker 1>the hardships of discipline and the brutal suburb practices, along

0:18:42.040 --> 0:18:45.800
<v Speaker 1>with the relentless bereate but of our performances by our coaches.

0:18:46.680 --> 0:18:49.680
<v Speaker 1>If one made a mistake, we all paid the penance.

0:18:50.960 --> 0:18:53.240
<v Speaker 1>I didn't know it, but what those coaches were showing

0:18:53.320 --> 0:18:55.479
<v Speaker 1>us was that the actions of one can have an

0:18:55.520 --> 0:19:00.399
<v Speaker 1>effect on everyone. In that case, it was next, but

0:19:00.720 --> 0:19:04.600
<v Speaker 1>more times than not, the actions of one can be positive.

0:19:06.640 --> 0:19:09.399
<v Speaker 1>I spent half my life in the service of my community, state,

0:19:09.440 --> 0:19:13.280
<v Speaker 1>and nation in official capacities, and it was all sparked

0:19:13.280 --> 0:19:17.360
<v Speaker 1>from a visit to the nation's capital in nineteen seventy two.

0:19:19.560 --> 0:19:22.280
<v Speaker 1>I seriously doubt those soldiers had any idea that their

0:19:22.320 --> 0:19:25.119
<v Speaker 1>dedication to profession would have such an impact on a

0:19:25.200 --> 0:19:31.320
<v Speaker 1>first grader, but it did. Inspiration to serve comes from

0:19:31.400 --> 0:19:34.720
<v Speaker 1>so many different places, and it doesn't have to be

0:19:34.760 --> 0:19:38.040
<v Speaker 1>in the military or in a role as a first responder.

0:19:39.480 --> 0:19:42.600
<v Speaker 1>I think about the teachers I've had all through school,

0:19:42.640 --> 0:19:45.639
<v Speaker 1>and the professors and administrators I met over at the

0:19:45.720 --> 0:19:49.800
<v Speaker 1>University of Tennessee a couple of weeks ago. I think

0:19:49.800 --> 0:19:52.280
<v Speaker 1>about the man that drives the garbage truck that comes

0:19:52.280 --> 0:19:57.360
<v Speaker 1>by every Monday morning, and my wife, who works two jobs,

0:19:57.440 --> 0:20:00.159
<v Speaker 1>one at the state capital that as are at her

0:20:00.200 --> 0:20:04.879
<v Speaker 1>desk every day before six am, and the other job

0:20:04.960 --> 0:20:07.960
<v Speaker 1>as Bailey's personal uber driver that runs late into the

0:20:08.080 --> 0:20:13.480
<v Speaker 1>night for dance practices. Service doesn't have to come from

0:20:13.480 --> 0:20:18.080
<v Speaker 1>a uniform. Sometimes it's trying to bring normalcy to a

0:20:18.200 --> 0:20:22.760
<v Speaker 1>storm ravage neighborhood like Ryan's story he sent in, or

0:20:23.200 --> 0:20:26.800
<v Speaker 1>helping turkeys and other prest species like what Jeff's doing,

0:20:28.359 --> 0:20:30.520
<v Speaker 1>or can be picking up trash on a daily walk

0:20:30.600 --> 0:20:33.000
<v Speaker 1>like my neighbor does without bragging about it, but I

0:20:33.640 --> 0:20:39.240
<v Speaker 1>see you, mister Mooney. Service should arise when the opportunity

0:20:39.880 --> 0:20:44.840
<v Speaker 1>presents itself, and it's hard. It's hard to know what's

0:20:44.960 --> 0:20:48.000
<v Speaker 1>right these days. With so much information coming in from

0:20:48.040 --> 0:20:51.480
<v Speaker 1>every direction. It can be confusing to pick a path

0:20:51.560 --> 0:20:55.040
<v Speaker 1>with much certainty. But by focusing on the folks around

0:20:55.080 --> 0:20:58.200
<v Speaker 1>us with a servant's heart, we can be the example

0:20:58.280 --> 0:21:04.439
<v Speaker 1>of someone else is waiting to see. Thank you so

0:21:04.560 --> 0:21:06.080
<v Speaker 1>much for listening to all of us here on the

0:21:06.119 --> 0:21:09.760
<v Speaker 1>Bear Grease Channel, Clay Lake and I really appreciate it.

0:21:10.560 --> 0:21:14.200
<v Speaker 1>Tomorrow's March the seventh, and it's the Black Bear Bonanza

0:21:14.359 --> 0:21:17.280
<v Speaker 1>in Bentonville, Arkansas. Hit up Google for all the info,

0:21:17.720 --> 0:21:18.560
<v Speaker 1>and y'all don't.

0:21:18.320 --> 0:21:19.320
<v Speaker 2>Worry about the rain.

0:21:19.400 --> 0:21:22.840
<v Speaker 1>We're gonna be inside with plenty of room, brain your

0:21:22.920 --> 0:21:24.200
<v Speaker 1>young and let's have.

0:21:24.320 --> 0:21:27.920
<v Speaker 2>Fun until next week. This is Brent Reeves, sign it off.

0:21:28.920 --> 0:21:29.720
<v Speaker 2>Y'all be careful