1 00:00:05,160 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: Welcome to This Country Life. I'm your host, Brent Rieves 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: from coon hunting to trot lining and just general country living. 3 00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:16,040 Speaker 1: I want you to stay a while as I share 4 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: my stories and the country skills that will help you 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,360 Speaker 1: beat the system. This Country Life is proudly presented as 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network, bringing you the best 7 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,000 Speaker 1: outdoor podcast the airways have to offer. All right, friends, 8 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: pull you up a chair or drop that tailgate. I 9 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:34,760 Speaker 1: think I got a thing or two to teach you. 10 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:43,479 Speaker 1: Minding your Manners Part two. It's part two of Minding 11 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: your Manners, and this week we're going to hit a 12 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:49,080 Speaker 1: few specifics on having some good ones and the impressions 13 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: you give off when using them or not using them. 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:56,520 Speaker 1: In today's world, where most folks communicate through texts, posting 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: videos on social media, our window of creating an accurate 16 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:04,400 Speaker 1: representation of ourself has diminished into only a few seconds 17 00:01:04,959 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: or maybe even a single picture. The same thing applies 18 00:01:08,840 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: to the impression we give others. After all, when we're 19 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:15,800 Speaker 1: downloading our first impression, someone new they're doing the same 20 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 1: thing with us. Funny how that works. Good stuff to 21 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: talk about today. But first I'm going to tell you 22 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: a story. Alexis and I were traveling last week and 23 00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: got into a shuttle at the airport to take us 24 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 1: to our hotel. I was making casual conversation with the driver, 25 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: who was more or less my age, and responded yes, 26 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 1: sir to a question that he asked me. Now, he 27 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:51,320 Speaker 1: told me I didn't have to say yes sir to him, 28 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,000 Speaker 1: and in the same breath he said, man, you have 29 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:56,880 Speaker 1: a nice voice. You ought to do something in radio. 30 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 1: Alexis started and looked out of the window, and I said, well, 31 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: I kind of am in that business. I have a 32 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: podcast where I talk about different things each week. And 33 00:02:09,040 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 1: he said, well, what was last week's show about? And 34 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,520 Speaker 1: I told him manners being respectful, and that I had 35 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: specifically addressed the interaction that we had just had. I 36 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:22,840 Speaker 1: told him that it was more related to his position 37 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: as the captain of that bus in a way of 38 00:02:25,760 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: me showing him respect as an adult, than it was 39 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: a statement about his age. We had a very interesting 40 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 1: conversation about the observations he made about people he encountered, 41 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,640 Speaker 1: either in his daily life or through his job driving 42 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: that shuttle. His totally unsolicited opinion was that rural people, 43 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: adults and children alike seemed to be more mindful of 44 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,960 Speaker 1: using manners than others. Now, he didn't say that folks 45 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 1: in the city were rude by any means, just that 46 00:02:54,760 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 1: there seemed to be a correlation between people from all 47 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: over the nation that lived close to the land in 48 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: the way that they talked to one another. Who better 49 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: to make that observation than a man who spends his 50 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: days talking to people from all over. Now, by the 51 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,720 Speaker 1: time he got us to the hotel, he was on 52 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,800 Speaker 1: my side about the advantages associated with good manners. He 53 00:03:17,880 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: even walked us in and told the lady behind the 54 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: desk to take good care of us because, and I quote, 55 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: these are good people. Now, I don't think there would 56 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,040 Speaker 1: have been any difference in the way the folks at 57 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,760 Speaker 1: the hotel treated us had he not gone in and 58 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: said that. But I'm convinced that the only reason he 59 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,440 Speaker 1: did was because of the impression he got of us 60 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,200 Speaker 1: on the ride there. For all he knew we were 61 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: polite bank robbers on the lamb and hiding in the 62 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 1: mountains of Montana. But either way, having good manners work 63 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: to our advantage. While our manners had painted a picture 64 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:54,200 Speaker 1: to our shuttle driver betraying us as good people. The 65 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: only other information he had to go was our outward 66 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: appearance to back up his assumption about our character. It's 67 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 1: that old first impressions deal. First impressions happen when a 68 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: person first encounters another and they each form a mental 69 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:12,520 Speaker 1: image of that person. The accuracy of that impression varies 70 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 1: depending on the observer, the person being observed, and the 71 00:04:16,040 --> 00:04:18,599 Speaker 1: setting in which they meet. And I'm sure the shuttle 72 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:21,200 Speaker 1: driver's impression of me was held by having my wife 73 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: Alexis with me. That Gal spreads joy and happiness like confetti, 74 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: and her beautiful smile and friendly personality. But every one 75 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:33,000 Speaker 1: of these now the same thing can be said when 76 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:35,799 Speaker 1: you flip the coin. Let me give you an example. 77 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: Robert Alvin Fry married my grandfather's sister, Arlie May Reeves 78 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:45,040 Speaker 1: in nineteen thirty six, and for the next sixty four 79 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: years they would beat together until Uncle Bob passed away 80 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:51,960 Speaker 1: in June and Aunt Arli May six months later in 81 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: December of two thousand. Uncle Bob had been a blacksmith, 82 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: a farmer, and was a storyteller like no other. He 83 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: was a true Southern gentleman, and my recollection was that 84 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: he loved my Aunt arl of May like nothing else. 85 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:10,359 Speaker 1: I remember him telling the following story of a church 86 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: homecoming to a group of friends and relatives who sat 87 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: visiting in the shade while Uncle Bob and the others 88 00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 1: told stories of days gone by. In the early nineteen seventies, 89 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: Uncle Bob and Aunt arl of May were taking a 90 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 1: trip on a commercial jet. He said it was the 91 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:38,279 Speaker 1: first plane ride for each of them, and if to 92 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: find gravity and leaving the confines of the Earth wasn't 93 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 1: enough reason to make him nervous, it was also at 94 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: the height of the airline hijacking craze, and he wasn't kidding. 95 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: I checked. From nineteen sixty one to nineteen seventy three, 96 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: there were one hundred and fifty nine airliners hijacking. Over 97 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: half of them were diverted to Cuba. He said it 98 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:05,240 Speaker 1: had gotten so commonplace about a plane being hijacked to 99 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 1: Cuba that it was on the news just about every day, 100 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: either the ongoing saga from one of the day before 101 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: or a new one that had just happened. He said 102 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 1: they were some of the first aboard and sat and 103 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,799 Speaker 1: washed his others got on and found their seats. Uncle 104 00:06:21,839 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: Bob said he watched and I quote as a rough 105 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: looking fellow with shaggy hair, a beard, and dirty clothes 106 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: sat down in a seat across from where he and 107 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,560 Speaker 1: ain't arli May were sitting. He said it made him 108 00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: a little uneasy. They didn't see a lot of hippies 109 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: in New Edinburgh, Arkansas, and it wasn't like he wasn't 110 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,039 Speaker 1: nervous enough already, he said. The fellow leaned back and 111 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: went to sleep before they took off, and after they'd 112 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: gotten off the ground, he and ain't arli May had 113 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,800 Speaker 1: begun to relax and get a little more at ease 114 00:06:53,839 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: with flying. About thirty minutes into the flight, he said, 115 00:06:57,880 --> 00:07:00,480 Speaker 1: the stewardess came walking down the aisle with the big 116 00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:04,880 Speaker 1: tray of little sandwiches. She'd stop at every row of 117 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 1: seats and off from up, and if the passengers wanted 118 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: something to eat, they'd reach and take one small sandwich 119 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: off the tray. He said that he done got hungry 120 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:16,240 Speaker 1: because he was too nervous to eat the night before 121 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 1: the flight, and it skipped breakfast earlier that day. He said, 122 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 1: boy I was looking forward to getting one of them 123 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: sandwiches and could hardly wait for her to get to 124 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 1: where we were sitting. Finally, she got to Uncle Bob's 125 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,480 Speaker 1: row and was looking at Uncle Bob and aunt Arli 126 00:07:31,520 --> 00:07:35,280 Speaker 1: May and asking if they'd like a sandwich. About that time, 127 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: he saw the hand of that rough looking fellow reach 128 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: over into that tray and grab every sandwich on it 129 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:45,360 Speaker 1: and wreke all of them off into his lap and 130 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: start eating. He said. It startled the stewardess, and it 131 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: scared him so bad that he stood up and shouted, 132 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:59,640 Speaker 1: oh lord, we're Cuba bound. The stewardess got him back 133 00:07:59,680 --> 00:08:03,160 Speaker 1: seated and went to get more sandwiches. The rough looking 134 00:08:03,200 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: fella apologized to Uncle Bob and and Ardebay and told 135 00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 1: him that it had been a while since he had 136 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,040 Speaker 1: anything to eat. He was a nice fella, he was 137 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: just a little bit down on his luck. They had 138 00:08:15,560 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: a good visit afterwards and got to the destination without 139 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:22,480 Speaker 1: diverting to Cuba. But it was the first impression and 140 00:08:22,560 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: a lack of manners that had painted a different picture 141 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: and how their brief relationship would go. So while the 142 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,600 Speaker 1: old saying of you never get a chance to make 143 00:08:31,640 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: a first impression is correct, there's another one about judging 144 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:39,600 Speaker 1: a book by its cover. That's just as accurate, and 145 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:51,320 Speaker 1: that's just how that happened. Let's talk about hats, and 146 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: why would you take a hat off when you walk 147 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,079 Speaker 1: in someone's house. Well, if it was our house, it 148 00:08:57,120 --> 00:08:59,079 Speaker 1: would be to keep my mama from knocking it off 149 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,720 Speaker 1: your head. You didn't wear a hat in the house. 150 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:06,480 Speaker 1: Removing your hat indoors dates back to medieval times when 151 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 1: knights would take their helmets off as a sign of 152 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: goodwill and friendship. I'm sure that's correct, but it may 153 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: have been a more of a functionality issue. I'd like 154 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: to see one of them try to eat some corn 155 00:09:17,679 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 1: on the cob while wearing one of them, be like 156 00:09:20,679 --> 00:09:22,960 Speaker 1: Spider Man trying to eat anything. That dude did not 157 00:09:23,080 --> 00:09:24,959 Speaker 1: think that suit out when he was sewing it up, 158 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: Not like I would have anyway. But taking your hat 159 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:32,640 Speaker 1: off shows respect to the folks you're visiting, that you 160 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: value their time and you're not about to jump up 161 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 1: and leave now. If you're only going to be there 162 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:40,199 Speaker 1: for a minute or two. You tell them that when 163 00:09:40,240 --> 00:09:42,920 Speaker 1: you get there that you can't stay, and you keep 164 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:44,640 Speaker 1: your hat in your hand until it's time to go. 165 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,680 Speaker 1: That's having manners and showing respect, whether they know it 166 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,000 Speaker 1: or not. But when is it okay to where you 167 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 1: had inside? According to Miss Manners, any place that's considered 168 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:59,960 Speaker 1: a public place is socially acceptable. But someone's home or 169 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: that ain't one of them. There's exceptions, like when part 170 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,199 Speaker 1: of an official uniform like police officers, in some instances 171 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: when the military they not the military, they got their 172 00:10:11,679 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: own set of rules. But in general, wearing a hat 173 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 1: inside is no bueno. A restaurant, in a cafe their 174 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 1: public places. But you won't catch me wearing a hat 175 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,320 Speaker 1: at any table, or any male member of my family 176 00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: for that matter. Ladies, however, according to custom, get a 177 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:33,079 Speaker 1: pass if it's part of their outfit. Now, my grandpa 178 00:10:33,160 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 1: didn't have a lot of time for watching NFL football, 179 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: but he had a lot of respect for the Dallas 180 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,040 Speaker 1: Cowboys old coach Tom Landry. He'd heard coach Landry wouldn't 181 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,720 Speaker 1: wear his hat when they played in a domed stadium. 182 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,840 Speaker 1: He thought that showed class. Bear Bryant was the same way. 183 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 1: When I asked why he wasn't wearing his hat for 184 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,800 Speaker 1: a game in a super dome, Coach Bryant would say, 185 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,800 Speaker 1: because my mama told me to well, that's reason enough 186 00:10:58,800 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: for me too. The national anthem. For me, that's an 187 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: old brainer. I removed my cover and I hold it 188 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,120 Speaker 1: over my heart. Removing my hat and stand the waile 189 00:11:08,120 --> 00:11:11,320 Speaker 1: it's played. Is my overt declaration of support for the 190 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:14,360 Speaker 1: dream that this nation was founded on, in a way 191 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: to show my respect for those who've paid the ultimate sacrifice. 192 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: For all of us to have our own individual opinions 193 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 1: about everything left right or in the middle, that should 194 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: be something we could all agree on. What about opening 195 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: the door or waiting for someone to go through, or 196 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:43,320 Speaker 1: holding the elevator, or letting the person with half as 197 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: many groceries as you have go in front of you? 198 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:48,320 Speaker 1: Are we in that big of a hurry not to 199 00:11:48,360 --> 00:11:52,160 Speaker 1: do these little things? I always hear that quote, this 200 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,440 Speaker 1: fast paced world in which we live? Well, who made 201 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,880 Speaker 1: the rule that it had to be fast? Are we 202 00:11:58,000 --> 00:11:59,959 Speaker 1: not in charge of the pace in which we live? 203 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:04,319 Speaker 1: I know I am, and probably much to the dismay 204 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: of those behind me. But I operate best at the 205 00:12:07,240 --> 00:12:10,360 Speaker 1: speed of happiness. And if it makes me happy and 206 00:12:10,480 --> 00:12:13,120 Speaker 1: doesn't hurt someone else, or even better yet, if it 207 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: makes me happy it makes someone else happy to then 208 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 1: that's the route I'm taking. Let's talk about food, which 209 00:12:20,840 --> 00:12:24,520 Speaker 1: is one of my favorite subjects. At any gathering for food, 210 00:12:24,840 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: it is taboo to fix your plate before you guess 211 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: do and if you don't have any guests, the kids 212 00:12:30,920 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: and the ladies get their plates fixed first, and the 213 00:12:33,920 --> 00:12:37,679 Speaker 1: head of the household he eats last. Now, y'all, don't 214 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: get your drawers in a wat over that head of 215 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: the household quote. I ain't the boss of my wife. 216 00:12:43,000 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: We have a partnership based on love and respect. But 217 00:12:46,880 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: I firmly believe it is absolutely my duty to protect 218 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:54,080 Speaker 1: her in every other member of this home, whether they 219 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:58,640 Speaker 1: live here or just simply guessed, that's my responsibility as 220 00:12:58,679 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: a husband, a father, and a host. The tradition of 221 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: that person eating last, at least in our family was 222 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 1: started by my grandpa and was the exact opposite of 223 00:13:09,960 --> 00:13:13,520 Speaker 1: how it was when my grandpa was growing up. One 224 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: time I asked him why he always ate last, and 225 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: he told me that when he was a kid that 226 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:20,960 Speaker 1: sometimes there might not be a lot for him to eat, 227 00:13:21,679 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: so the men that were working would eat first. They 228 00:13:25,360 --> 00:13:28,319 Speaker 1: needed the nourishment to keep working and keep putting food 229 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: on the table. The ladies followed up because their work 230 00:13:31,760 --> 00:13:34,800 Speaker 1: was just as important. They're at home, and the kids, well, 231 00:13:34,800 --> 00:13:38,720 Speaker 1: they got what was left, if there was anything. He 232 00:13:38,760 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: said he'd gone to bed hunger more than once as 233 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: a child, and vowed to never have one of his 234 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: kids or grandkids suffer the same fate. I can say 235 00:13:49,920 --> 00:13:51,959 Speaker 1: without a doubt that I never saw him fix a 236 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,560 Speaker 1: plate until everyone else had theirs and was sitting down. 237 00:13:56,920 --> 00:14:00,680 Speaker 1: How about the old last biscuit dilemma? Two or three 238 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,199 Speaker 1: folks with some sopping left to do, and you look 239 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:07,440 Speaker 1: up and there ain't but one biscuit left. Everybody wants it, 240 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: but who gets it? Well, in my house, if you 241 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,000 Speaker 1: reach for it without asking if anyone else wanted it, 242 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,920 Speaker 1: you were automatically out of the running. My mama would 243 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: have throat punched you. She taught us to ask if 244 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: anyone else wanted it, and if they did, offer it 245 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: to them. If it was one of my brothers and 246 00:14:26,200 --> 00:14:28,880 Speaker 1: they took it without offering to share half with the 247 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: one asking, whamo, automatic throw punch from the lady that 248 00:14:32,480 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 1: baked them. My brother Tim once circumvented this by picking 249 00:14:36,680 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: up the last one, asking if anyone wanted it, And 250 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,280 Speaker 1: when I said I did. He licked all over it 251 00:14:42,320 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: when my mama wasn't looking and tried to hand it 252 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:49,640 Speaker 1: to me, and for that reason I was out anyway, 253 00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:54,040 Speaker 1: that clown, aside offering to share it, shows consideration for 254 00:14:54,120 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: the folks around you. And if you'll consider someone's feelings 255 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,760 Speaker 1: over something as insignificant as it's a biscuit, and when 256 00:15:01,800 --> 00:15:04,800 Speaker 1: it comes to more important things, if there is something 257 00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:08,080 Speaker 1: more important than a homemade biscuit, you won't think twice 258 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: about doing it then either. And how about meeting folks 259 00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:19,960 Speaker 1: and having a conversation with him that was just as 260 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: important as my raisin. I remember I was eight or 261 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:24,560 Speaker 1: nine years old and had gone to work with my 262 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:27,600 Speaker 1: dad and we were at the regional office in Rising, 263 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: Arkansas to get whatever he needed before we set out 264 00:15:30,560 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 1: to work, visiting the area of chicken farms. He had 265 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: a new boss, and when he walked in the room 266 00:15:36,360 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: where we were, he called his boss my name and said, 267 00:15:39,240 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: this is my baby boy brand. He introduced me to 268 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,720 Speaker 1: folks that same way until he left this earth. Anyway, 269 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: I was sitting in a chair and his boss walked 270 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:52,520 Speaker 1: over to where I was to shake my hand. I 271 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: stuck my hand out to shake his but made the 272 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:58,360 Speaker 1: near fatal mistake of not standing up before his boss 273 00:15:58,360 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: had turned My hand loosened. My dad said, get your 274 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 1: butt up out of that chair. You don't shake a 275 00:16:04,120 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: man's hand sitting down. I stood up like that sea 276 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: was on fire, and it embarrassed me, but I never 277 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:16,760 Speaker 1: forgot it. Lesson learned here's something else when shaking a 278 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:19,440 Speaker 1: man's hand, look him dead in the eyes and use 279 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: a firm grip. There's nothing worse than trying to shake 280 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: a man's hand, and it winds up feeling like you 281 00:16:25,320 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: just holding hands with a fellow you don't know. With 282 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 1: the love of humanity. There ain't enough lava soap flowing 283 00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:36,160 Speaker 1: out of that volcano to wash that experience away. And 284 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: every time that happens, it sends a message to me 285 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,480 Speaker 1: that this cat probably did not kill a turkey last year. 286 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:44,720 Speaker 1: I respect turkey hunters, and I never met one that 287 00:16:44,840 --> 00:16:48,560 Speaker 1: didn't have a firm handshake. I mentioned looking in a 288 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:50,880 Speaker 1: person's eyes when he shake their hand. Let me tell 289 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:53,600 Speaker 1: you about a fellow I used to work with. He 290 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:56,240 Speaker 1: would never look you in the eyes when he talked 291 00:16:56,240 --> 00:16:59,760 Speaker 1: to you. It was the most distracting thing ever. The 292 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: whole the conversation with him. He is a great guy 293 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,880 Speaker 1: and we have a lot of common interest. He could 294 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:07,879 Speaker 1: have told me the secrets of the Pyramids, but I 295 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: wouldn't have heard him during any conversation we ever had. 296 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:14,600 Speaker 1: I was bobbing and weaving like I was in the ring, 297 00:17:14,680 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 1: dodging jabs from Mike Tyson, just to meet his gaze. 298 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:21,160 Speaker 1: I've known him for fifteen years and I couldn't swear 299 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:24,720 Speaker 1: in court. The man has pupils. If you want someone 300 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:27,159 Speaker 1: to pay attention to you, or show them that you 301 00:17:27,240 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: respect them enough to listen to him, look them in 302 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: the eyes when you're talking. Get a friend to look 303 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:34,879 Speaker 1: at you, but not in your eyes while you're talking 304 00:17:34,880 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: to him, and tell me that ain't weird. Ps. If 305 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: you're talking to someone you don't know and they don't 306 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: look you in the eyes while you're talking, they probably 307 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: didn't kill a turkey last year either. Back in October 308 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: of twenty nineteen, we went to Disney World. Spent a 309 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: whole month there one week. Don't get me wrong, I 310 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:01,240 Speaker 1: had fun riding the teacups, seeing Bailey dressed up like Cinderella, 311 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: and having my picture maybe winning the Pooh. I'd hunted 312 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:08,719 Speaker 1: hard the whole first week of Arkansas's September bear season, 313 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: but I had to fly to Florida to have my 314 00:18:10,760 --> 00:18:15,240 Speaker 1: picture made with a bear. Anyway, my biggest issue was 315 00:18:15,320 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: riding that bus back and forth from the hotel. There 316 00:18:18,359 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: was only so many seats, and I think in a 317 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 1: week's worth of trips that I got to sit in 318 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,720 Speaker 1: one two or three times. I usually had one when 319 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,080 Speaker 1: we got on the bus, but then some lady or 320 00:18:29,080 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: someone's grandma would wind up having to stand up, and 321 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: I couldn't in good conscience keep my seat while they stood. 322 00:18:35,240 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: I wasn't the only one giving up my seats like that, 323 00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:40,040 Speaker 1: but there was a lot more men who didn't, and 324 00:18:40,080 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: I've often wondered why, because it seemed so commonplace and 325 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:46,880 Speaker 1: respectful to do it, how long for the day when 326 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 1: doing that would bring more attention than not doing it. 327 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:54,480 Speaker 1: We all see these viral videos of events that happened, 328 00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,400 Speaker 1: good or bad, and whatever the incident is. If it's 329 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,719 Speaker 1: in a large crowd, you can see multiple people filming 330 00:19:01,720 --> 00:19:04,560 Speaker 1: it with their phones when sometimes they should be in 331 00:19:04,600 --> 00:19:08,600 Speaker 1: there helping the folks involved. It's second nature now to 332 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 1: be observers and not participants. Not participating usually completely removes 333 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:19,000 Speaker 1: you from legal responsibility. Should whatever your witness and go sideways. 334 00:19:19,640 --> 00:19:23,119 Speaker 1: But what about social responsibility? As inhabitants of this spinning 335 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:29,480 Speaker 1: rock we find ourselves on, am I my brother's keeper? Yep? Sure, 336 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 1: whe am. If we all started looking out for one another, 337 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:36,360 Speaker 1: just a little more than just looking at one another, 338 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:40,600 Speaker 1: it might make a difference for someone. I know I've 339 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 1: told this before, but it bears repeating. When I was 340 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 1: the commander of a shift of uniform deputies, at the 341 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: end of each shift briefing before we all hit the 342 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:52,920 Speaker 1: road to patrol our areas, the last thing I always 343 00:19:53,000 --> 00:19:56,439 Speaker 1: told them was to be safe. Try to make a 344 00:19:56,480 --> 00:20:01,520 Speaker 1: difference in someone's life that day. That's pretty and it's 345 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,760 Speaker 1: your challenge this week. If you see something you feel 346 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,479 Speaker 1: compelled to respond to on social media, do it as 347 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:11,720 Speaker 1: if that person was standing in front of Be nice 348 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: if that called on it started trending. Anyway. I hope 349 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: you're staying cool and eating plenty of watermelons. This summer 350 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,680 Speaker 1: has been blistering down here in the old heat Dome, 351 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:29,359 Speaker 1: and watermelon time is just about over. And even though 352 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,400 Speaker 1: I know there's bands of folks out there, my great 353 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: uncle Bob and I would describe as rough fellas sprinkling 354 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:40,000 Speaker 1: salt on watermelons like a crop duster. Well, I hope 355 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:43,359 Speaker 1: y'all get plenty too without having to make an unscheduled 356 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: stop in Cuba. This is Brent Reeves signing off. Y'all 357 00:20:49,000 --> 00:21:06,400 Speaker 1: be careful.