Right There All Along

Several people have mentioned to me that they printed out Papaw’s list, the one I included in my last post. They plan on hanging it in a visible place that would help to inspire them daily. Every time someone tells me this, I feel a pang of guilt, because I have yet to do this. My printer ran out of ink, and I have put off ordering more. I thought I might type the list up in a fun font, put it on a flash drive and get my neighbor Kristie to print it off for me. Or I could e-mail the list to Amy and she could print it out. I could also quit mooching from my friends, take the flash drive to Walgreens and print it out there. Maybe they could use cute paper and laminate it.

All great ideas, but ideas they remain. It’s just too comfy on my couch to make the trek to Walgreens. And I’m afraid my friends are finally going to cut off my supply of ink, along with their friendships, if I don’t quit being such a cheapskate.

But the guilt is really getting to me. So, I throw back the cozy quilt covering my lap and start to get up. Something catches my eye, the corner of a white envelope peeking out from under a pillow. I laugh as I realize what it is. Inside is Papaw’s original letter with the list he composed on his trusty typewriter. Yes, I said typewriter. My sweet grandfather composed every single one of his articles on a typewriter, up until the very last one. I came to love seeing the unique way the letters sometimes were uneven and the occasional X he used to correct a mistake. I could easily envision him sitting at his typewriter – with his list posted close at hand.

So is only appropriate that I use this characteristic document composed straight from Papaw’s typewriter as my inspiration. The cute paper and fancy font just wouldn’t have cut it. No unnecessary trip to Walgreens needed and no inconvenience to my friends. It was right there all along.

The Old Timer's Verse

I always thought Walt Whitman’s quote read, “… you MAY contribute a verse.” When I realized it was actually, “… you WILL contribute a verse,” it struck home. Our choice is not IF we will make our mark in the world but HOW. I stopped to think about what kind of contribution I was making in the lives of people around me. Positive or negative, insignificant or inspirational… my verse is my choice.

Today, my thoughts are entirely on a man whose verse has been read (literally) and felt by so many people. My grandfather, Chuck Redfern (aka The Old Timer) wrote an article in the local paper that had my home town laughing and reflecting every week on politics, education, religion, everyday life and, of course, UT football and The Red Head (his beloved wife).

Entertainment and laughter were a hallmark of his life. He made appearances as a cheerleader and raisin in the Cabaret, performed magic shows, won the title of “Miss Athens” to raise money for cancer research and executed a beautiful ballet routine in The Womanless Beauty Contest (which also raised funds for a charitable cause). He had us all in stitches and reminded us to “not take ourselves too seriously.”

He reached out to others in covert ways as well; quietly offering a hand up to someone in need without recognition. He read and mentored children who were in need of special attention and readily offered advice to any who sought it from him. He was continuously thinking of others and how he could help them improve their lives.

Papaw’s life-time achievements and experiences are impressive, to say the least, and volumes could be written about them. But what makes me the proudest is his love and respect for others. “Say something complimentary to someone every day,” was a rule he lived by. Everyone was important to him, and he made sure they knew it.

I recently found a letter he sent me in college. He included the following, which he had posted above his typewriter.

See yourself as you want to be.

You can do anything if you think you can.

You are what you think you are and what you think about.

You are known by the company you keep.

Take care of yourself. Good health is everyone’s major.

Have a good sense of humor. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Be compassionate with the aged.

Respect your parents.

Avoid getting angry. Abrasive people are not liked.

Say something complimentary to someone every day.

Learn to communicate properly. Talk slow enough to be understood.

Be competitive. Strive to be a winner. (or a runner up)

Learn to know your strengths and your weaknesses.

Chuck Redfern’s verse is one of hard work, Christian values, laughter and love. He spoke to us all, not only with words, but through his warm smile, firm handshake and powder-blue eyes.

On this day, I resolve to plagiarize my grandfather’s verse and share with all who will listen. I’m certain he would not mind. In fact, I know he would be proud.

"They're all gonna laugh at you!"

I really can’t explain why I did what I did that afternoon. I was bored and unsupervised, a dangerous combination. But there I was, with my arms wrapped around my legs, grasping my ankles. Trying to walk across the kitchen in that position, I lost my balance. As my arms were now useless, I face planted into the linoleum floor. Ouch! The only thing I could think of as I pulled my upper lip out of my braces was how I was going to explain this to people. My lip swelled up and almost touched my nose, exposing the little square imprints from my braces. It wasn’t pretty.

The next day, I held my breath as I stepped into the classroom. Maybe they won’t notice… yeah, right! Someone gasped, and the rest of the class looked my way. A few people tried to hold in snickers until someone finally said, “What happened, Lippy?” Laughter ripped through the air. Some were still trying to be sympathetic, but it was obvious I was going to be the talk of the school that day. It was a teenage girl’s worst nightmare.

As the day continued, I slowly realized something. People were laughing at me and calling me names… and I did NOT die of embarrassment. In fact, I was getting lots of attention and some of the comments made me laugh, too.

So what’s so wrong with people laughing at me? I like to laugh myself, and isn’t it the “best medicine”? I’m all for contributing to the wellbeing of my fellow Americans. Bringing me to the other side of the spectrum…

Several years later, at a college gathering, I attempted to entertain everyone with my Chubby joke. Squeezing my face with my hands until my cheeks plumped up and my lips stuck out, I recited the lines that without fail had my boyfriend rolling on the floor. I delivered the punch line, and… crickets. Seriously, now that I WANT someone to laugh at my big, puffy lips, I get nothing.

Just as I never died of embarrassment, I also never died of flopping on stage. But at the risk of making a fool of myself, if I can get just one person to laugh, it’s all worth it. If anything, I can make myself laugh.

So, lighten up, Carrie. Just think, you increased the immune system and blood flow of all those people at the prom.

“They’re all gonna laugh at you!” Well, I hope they do.