Things I want to do..

Terri Clark has a song called I wanna do it all.  You can listen to it over at youtube if you click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvmdcQ5Ut20 I was listening to this song today and I got to thinking about things I’d have liked to do. That got me to thinking about the song by Brad Paisley called Letter to Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fqtbMHfpXY) and wondered what I’d write to me of 20 years ago.  Turns out, it’s not a lot different from the way Brad sings it… guess that’s why I have all of his CD’s.

Me,
Just a quick note to let you know that you’ve lived past year 2000.  I know, I didn’t believe it either.   Crazy huh?

I don’t think that you turned out so bad but I wanted to give you a few pointers to help you out over the next 20 years. 

I know it looks rough right now.  Things are tight but you get used to that.  Yeah, that means you won’t get rich until you redefine what rich is so let me help you with that now.

Rich is meeting the love of your life.  A person that you can wake up to every morning and still say I love you to at least three times a day.  By the way, make that a rule.  Three times a day.  More is fine, less… not so much.  Remember that the love you feel for her will be two way.  She won’t do things to hurt you on purpose… probably… unless you deserve it… which you will.

Rich is meeting friends that are true friends.  None of your “friends” now will be around in 20 years.  But you’ll meet one of your best friends in a couple of years and another one quite a bit later.  Cherish those friendships when you find them.  There’ll be times when they’re all you have.

That’s all “rich” is.  You’ll find those things in time just make sure that you value them properly.

Read the bible sooner than later.  You’ll have a LOT of spare time on your hands in a few years so take advantage of that.   Read it slowly, take your time, understand the words.  Take to heart the things that are there.  You’ll need them more than you ever know.  Thank brother Fondren for a good start on life.  He’s done more than you know for your family and will continue to do so for many years.  Thank Ms. Joy while you’re at it.  Pray more often.

I know you’re in a hurry to get out into the world but trust me, you’ll see more of it than you need to and you’ll always wish you were back home.  You’ll find home again one day but it won’t be where you think it is and there’ll be a long road to get there.   I can only think of one thing that I wanted to do at your age that I haven’t managed.  I’m sure it’ll come around soon enough because there’s really nothing else on the list.  Oh, and it’s not flying an airplane… been there, done that. Congratulations.

Keep a list of people who have literally saved your life.  Don’t forget their names.  Seems an odd thing, I know but it can happen.

Buy a computer.  Soon. Spend everything you have on it.

Party like you mean it.  Pray the same way.

Listen to Mark more often than you do.  Dumbass.  Oh yeah, and call him more often.

Don’t drive drunk.  If you do, don’t leave the car parked on a college campus with the engine running, all of the doors open and the radio blaring.  I mean, not that something like that ever happens… just… you know… for reference.

Moderation in all things except Love. 

True love isn’t where you think it is but it’ll find you in it’s own time.

When someone who’s more than 20 years older than you speaks,   Listen.  Those folks won’t be around forever and there’ll be a lot that you wish you’d  listened to.

It’s ok to be Redneck.  Don’t change to please others.  Either they can appreciate the difference or they’re not worth the time.

One last thought:  You don’t find peace.  You make it.

Best Regards,

Me

P.S.
Hug Mama every chance you get.

P.S.S
Would you PLEASE keep the damned shop clean!?!?!

Things I wanted to do when I was 18:
[x] Fly a plane
[x] Know the brotherhood of men who have fought a war.
[x] Visit the Caribean
[x] Learn to Scuba Dive
[x] Jump out of a plane.
[x] Ride a Motorcycle.
[x] Ride a Bull (this actually turns out better than the Motorcycle)
[x] Ride a Mechanical Bull (yay Urban Cowboy)
[x] Live in a major city (this actually turns out worse than the motorcycle)
[x] Visit England
[ ] See the Northern Lights
[x] See the Grand Canyon
[x] See the West Coast.
[x] See the East Coast.
[x] Swim in the Ocean. (the Gulf of Mexico didn’t count)
[x] Call a bar home.
[x] Move out. 🙂
[x] Smoke a joint
[x] Own a four wheeler
[x] Own a four wheel drive
[x] Own a boat
[x] Own land.
[x] Meet someone that I can love forever. (nailed that one.  Don’t fuck it up)