It's in the Wind

Tommy Lee Jones who to me will always be Woodro F Call from the movie Lonesome Dove has been quoted saying this about Texas: "The thing that gets under your skin and truly makes you a Texan is not in the wind; it's in the dirt." Texans and Okies often think alike, that is until it comes time for the Red River shootout. However, in Oklahoma it IS the wind, possibly because there is so much of it here. People here in Northeastern Oklahoma once they find out I am from the western side of the state often ask me if the wind blows harder out that way. The answer is, yes it does feel like it but that's only because there is nothing to stop it. Out west the vegetation is much more sparce, out there if you have a tree in your front yard, it's because you planted it. The ancestors of people in this part of the state never needed to plant shelter belts, they were God-given. Isn't it interesting that the dividing line between trees and no trees in this state is Interstate 35?

When I was growing up out west my dad was one of those men who would teach you things almost as if by accident. I still sometimes hear his voice on the wind. The times he was trying to impart knowledge to me he was never deliberate about the task. Never once did I ever hear him say "sit down boy, I have something important to tell you." Once I received a nugget of knowledge from him the process was so subtle I barely noticed at the moment. It was always delivered to me as an interesting story with humorous twist and would usually only occur to me later. Out of all the information I gathered from the old man over the years I am certain the most important one was that solitude was worth its weight in gold. Solitude should never be confused with loneliness. Loneliness causes heartache, but solitude can set us back upright when we are in need of a mental reset. Think of it like this, nothing can cause us to crave solitude quite like a house full of company. Not so long ago I took a beach vacation with my wife, while it was fun to get away with her, I wouldn't exactly call the outing relaxing. Because I found the constant thumping of the bass and the incessant chatter of the crowd annoying probably means I am just getting too old to enjoy a beach party. But just this past Sunday the sub-zero temperatures of winter broke with an introduction into Indian summer Oklahoma style, and as I sat under the pines of my back forty, I once again found the solitude I crave. The most beautiful part of the experience was that it cost me nothing. Remember this bit of advice, that is MY lesson to YOU.

My father spent so much time alone that within our family circles he became known as "the hermit." And while he did earn that title respectfully, I understand now why he craved it so. Many folks thought that he genuinely disliked people, actually just the opposite is true. He enjoyed his own company, maybe even a bit more than he should have. He looked at life simply. He was intrigued by things that were either humorous or interesting, but he was absolutely enthralled by those topics that happen to be both. However, the main reason most people liked to be in his company was because he was genuinely curious about life. He also wasn't afraid to stick it out there on the line and let you know that he was as perplexed about life as you were. My favorite quote from the old man that I carry in my pocket everywhere I go, is this: "The secret of life is the pursuit of the secret of life." in this way it's not much different than a dog who chases his own tail or a snake that attempts to eat his own tail. In short, it is a task that is never done.

Another lesson that I learned from pop was that making a living should never become as important as making a life. Essentially, as we age, we all realize that work equals a paycheck. Paychecks buy stuff, but stuff can never equal happiness no matter how hard we try. Trying to get stuff to fill the void where people are designed to reside is like attending a huge food buffet, eating until you think you are going to bust, and then retiring to the restroom to refund it. The truth is you didn't buy said vittles, you merely rented them like a smelly pair of rented bowling shoes.