Life Or Death

Those three words have been uttered millions of times to gauge the non-severity of a given situation.  We have all heard it. Standing behind someone hesitant to make a decision. Come on man Pick what flavor of ice cream you want "it's not life or death".
What does that even mean? Does the flavor of the ice cream,  have any effect whatsoever on the outcome of your life? Life or Death very interesting.
     The reason I brought this up is because of a couple events that have happened in the last couple of weeks. Both could have been life changing or life ending to say the least.  Luckily in both events God was watching over us. Lets look at event number one.
        It was on a Saturday We (Cynthia ,Jeli, Alexis and I ) were coming back from a cheer clinic in Athens TX we had taken Jeli to. We had a great time and we were discussing  the possibility of Jeli going to college closer to home. Today was already in a time crunch because we had to go home and get ready to go to a class reunion of sorts. Well it was a bunch of former classmates getting together. As we are driving down the road making plans for the evening we get the call no parent wants to ever get.  It was Cynthia's oldest Anna, they have been in a vehicle accident.  Here we are trying to get information over the phone as to where they are at. "Slow down give us the intersection". "Tell us where you are, we will head that way". All of a sudden the mood  changes. What was full of life and a zest for it, all the plans made for the night every funny story. It is suddenly deathly somber. We don't know the details we have no clue as to the severity of the situation.  All we know is that people die in car crashes. Silent prayers and hoping for the best.
       When we arrived in Burleson on the scene of the accident there was an ambulance, police cars and fire trucks.  Let me just say this, there is no love quite like a mother's love.  Cynthia rushed to the back of the ambulance. They were fine minus some bumps and bruises.  I walked over to look at the car that she was riding in with a friend. The crash was on the passenger side,the door was caved in and by the looks of it, could have been a lot more severe.  Let's look at event number 2
      Friday Night I had been working at the station In Cleburne . I had gotten off of work and was going to meet up with Cynthia in downtown Fort Worth for dinner. It was already after 10 at night so I knew it was going to be semi late night.  Cynthia, her sister Claudia and Alexis Cynthia's next to eldest daughter were all waiting patiently for me to get to them so they could eat. Okay fast forward a couple of hours. I am driving home on I-30 West.  I am probably less than 5 miles from my house. I am watching my rear view mirror and see a car driving erratically. It is weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed.  I slow down to let them pass. They are just inches from hitting the side of my truck.  I slow way down and let them get as far ahead as possible. I only have a few more miles I can drive 45 mph or so until I exit.  Something told me to slow down . This same car wiped out on the side of the road tried to come back on the road from the left median, spun out again but this time hitting the center guardrail median protector and hit one of the big overhead light poles. This yahoo was still trying to get back on the highway.  He finally gave up and his car finally came to a rest on the left shoulder. Wow just a few minutes ago we were laughing and cutting up having fun, you know full of life.  But in an instant death showed what he is capable of. 
          My point is every decision is life or death. We don't have a crystal ball that tells us when our time is up.  Even if we did, would you want to know.  We are faced with the reality every day.  No one is promised tomorrow. The truth is we all live breath to breath. My dad is 78 years old and gave us all quite the scare last December.   I will leave you with one thought  cause I have ran on enough. My Pastor used   say a lot when I was a youngster,(I never really thought much of at the time). "You might put your shoes on this morning but the undertaker is taking them off tonight." There is a very thin line between life and death. Be safe out there.


Big Skinny      

I'm not ready to retire just yet

We no longer need you. That is one of the most gut wrenching things that a person can be told. I was called into the owners office for what I thought was going to be my yearly review. Imagine my shock and dismay when I was told that for economic reasons not only was I not getting a raise but my services were no longer needed. I am sure that my jaw must have hit the floor. I was third in new sales orders every month amongst 20 plus other sales personnel. All I could do was wonder why me? I sure wasn't prepared financially for this turn of events. We were just starting to get ahead. Now this is not a poor poor pitiful me, I realize that there are those that have it far worse than me. I am a fairly health 48 year old man. There are those who lose jobs because their health won't hold up and they are left to fight the system to get on disability,  So I am not looking for sympathy in any way.

       I have just suddenly came to the realization that I am not ready to retire. I know it's only been a week. I imagine there are those that plan and look forward to that day when that alarm clock will go off for the last work day, and they can spend their golden years on a cruise ship just cruising across the world. To be honest I don't guess I have really thought that far ahead. I mean it's all we can do to plan a week's worth of vacation.  I mean sure would it be nice to have more time to go fishing and camping and plan extra curricular activities and I know I would love more time with Cynthia. I am amazed that I don't get on her nerves  as much time as we spend together now. She loves me and I could not imagine in my wildest dreams a better mate to spend those golden years with.  Honestly though after a week of being off work I am literally going stir crazy. For Heaven's sake I am talking to a three pound dog like a human, In all honesty I think I talked to the dog before the lay off but you get my point. I was bored out of my mind. I am not sure if I have 20 years of activities planning in me. Oh I am hoping for 20 years so good Lord please don't take this as me wanting you to cut it short, Amen. I see my dad and he is enjoying retirement for the most part minus to 2 brain surgeries but that's for another story.  My round about point is I am not ready to retire just yet, so I guess this week I will be submitting another 50 or so resume's.  Please pray for my dog this week.



Kenney Bigskinny Pope

A Job Well Done.

Well here it stands before us, another work week another Monday looms in the immediate future. That is probably enough to put anyone in a funk.
    While thinking about the events of this past week I really could not put my finger on anything that stood out and screamed write about me this week, and then it happened. You know one of those little moments in life that really doesn't just club you over the head with greatness but definitely stands out.
    Let me preface by saying this applies to every working individual. I spent over a decade right out of high school working for my dad and one thing he drilled into my brain was a work ethic. His question he posed to me on more than one occasion (because I'm hard headed ask Cynthia she will agree) was why do a job twice when you can do it right the first time. You see he did not want to pay me to redo something.  As a teenager I did not always appreciate the criticism but now as a grown adult in the workforce I totally get it and am glad my dad took the time and effort to teach me.
      Now on to the event that stands out this week. We have a customer that comes in 2-3 times a week. I always enjoy when he comes in because he makes me laugh. He is a short portly man close to my age. He gives me grief the second he walks through the doors. Its always in a fun way nothing mean. I give it right back to him.  You know the short jokes and I get the Shrek jokes.
      This customer is going through a rough time. Just less than a year ago his adult daughter was in a severe car accident. She suffered massive brain damage as a result. He and his wife were left to care for her for the rest of their lives. So needless to say he has some tough days.
   I have been blessed to be able to make people smile and laugh with my sense of humor. I try to use that ability to get through awkward, tough times. It works most of the time. I try to use it to lighten someone else's load.  You just never know what impression you will leave with someone.
      This particular customer comes in with a huge list of parts he needs so he is going to be there a while waiting on our warehouse to pull his order. That's cool we can cut up an wait.  It takes about 30-45 minutes to pull his order. He finally gets it and leaves.
  About 30 minutes later I get a phone call from him. I am expecting something to be wrong with his order such as we pulled the wrong items. No he just called to tell me he appreciated me doing a good job and that I am good at what I do.
      There is no better satisfaction than a job well done. You might get very little praise and think maybe no one notices. Believe me someone is watching you. Put a smile on your face and do your best. We all have trials and tribulations. The trick is learning how to use them to minister to others.
Have a blessed work week
God Bless
Kenney Bigskinny Pope

Growing Up

I am probably like every adult when I say I guess I didn't realize how easy it was to be a kid. What was my biggest concern? Making sure I kept my grades up so as to not get grounded?  Making sure I kept my room clean so I could go out and play? My parents had the weight of the world on their shoulders and I never knew it.  As far as I knew things were tight sometimes financially but we never missed out on anything. We still had takeout chicken every Friday and went out  occasionally on Saturday nights as a family to eat and  shopping.  There were six of us kids, Mom and Dad so as you can imagine it was tight financially.  But my mother  was a magician at stretching a dollar. I appreciate her wisdom more now than I ever did as a child.
      I think some of my fondest memories were of sitting around the dinner table
There we were all eight of us laughing and talking. My oldest brother James"Scooter" making gagging noises because mom was making him eat vegetables, which he hated.  There are a lot of memories in that old house. 
   What I am trying to say is that life was simple and carefree.  As a child we had no Idea of the massive responsibility that lay ahead of us being a parent.  We are financially responsible, spiritually as well. We have to make sure they have what they need to pass along to their kiddos.  Show them love and a nurturing environment. I can still feel that in the walls of my childhood house.  I still feel at home there when I walk in the door.
    My dad at 78 still lives there. Mom passed in 04.  The big family dinner is a thing of the past.  Nowadays my dad just sits at the TV to eat his dinner.  Things were a lot better in some ways back then. I heard the older generations say that many times growing up but never understood it. I get it now. Things were less busy and family was only second to God.  All I can do now is look back fondly on my childhood and smile knowing that all of it made me who I am today.

Dedicated to my Mama.
Billie Marie Pope
1/08/39--8/01/04
Miss you every day Mama
I really miss your fried chicken.

Kenney Pope
3/8/15
As I write this date I realize today would have been wedding anniversary number 56 for mom and dad.