GRAVETTE — Days roll along and some of them are just what we expect and others are so much better! I always expect to have a God given day of work, pleasure and try like the dickens to make a buck or two. My attitude is one that has been overhauled so dang many times that it sorta fits in the orbit where it belongs.

My Sainted Mother was downright demanding when it came to having a reasonable attitude. I have memories of my sweet sister getting whopped across the backside of her front side with a wooden spoon and, come to think of it, so did I! Of course, mine was usually her fault.Our lessons at home were important and the big letter A stood for attitude and Mother was not just talking to hear herself rattle!

I have said all that to say this, sometimes a feller can be doing alright and a big dark cloud forms up, blows it all to thunderation! Things like a flat on a new tire, two on the trailer, a big can of oil spilled on the shop floor and nobody knows how it happened. Course the shop door was closed and locked at dark last night so I am pretty sure a varmint didn’t do it!

Things like the aforementioned can all occur before 7 a.m. and then the day is set. Grumbling, foot stomping, hat swatting and hand wringing don’t help. I was feeling the blood color my neck a dark red and little tiny beads of sweat oozing from my fore head. The male offspring were already working on the tires and I was too. “Please, just get out of here and we willyell when your truck can go to the tire shop!”

Dropped by the house to explain where I was headed and ask if my close relative wanted to ride along. Actually I needed to get a long drink of cool well water to ease the heat of aggravation but, being the swell feller I am, I asked her to go. My trip to the tire shop could have been the icing on the attitude I was boiling up for the day. I could have spent the miles fussing to myself about all the dang troubles and built up a real good rotten day.

That close relative of mine smiled, kicked off her yard shoes and grabbed her better ones, literally threw the brush through her hair and sailed out the door humming a tune. I must have been startled; I know I was startled. I stood there watching for a second or two; total surprise was mine.

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, if you have a real good nasty day started, do not let anyone jump in humming a tune and smiling! It will totally screw up the day, make you look stupid for frowning and before you know it they will be messing with your attitude. Fellers, listen to me. I know from experience that this is factual, is not fatal but it is truth!

I gave up, had a dandy day visiting with the folks at the tire shop, bought a few groceries and I do believe that having my close relative along was about the best company a feller could have!

-Bill

Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 4 on 04/28/2010