Retirement

 

I can still remember my mother taking me to work at a gas station on Lamar Avenue. for $.065 an hour.  I was the guy that pumped your gas.  I wash your windshield checked your oil, tires an anything else that needed checking.  I was 14!  I have had a job ever since that day.  Well in 2 weeks I am laying it down at 71 years old. 

What a ride!  I have pumped gas. I have dug ditches.  I have run gas pipes.  I have fueled air planes.  I have rode airplanes all over the world to teach people how to work around those airplanes safely. I have been a line cook, a sous chef, a head chef, and an executive chef.  I have fed over 2,000 people in a day with the support of 17 of the greatest people in the world.  I have been all over the world to buy wine. I have had multiple states where I sold wines.  I have been a starter at a golf course.  And I am sure I have left something out.

Not many people can say they have had the run I have had!!  I have met the most wonderful people. Ate the most wonderful food, drank some of the finest wine on earth.  I have learned the most important things from the greatest mentors.  Thank you all.

Well, I am putting it down in two weeks 6/21/25!!!  I will keep my wine jobs they are a pleasure and keep me connected and with a purpose.  But the have to be there portion of this ride is over 6/21!  I have enjoyed most of my jobs.  There have been people and situations that made some of them more difficult than others but mainly it has been a genuinely nice experience.

On to travel, adventure, more golf with Darlene.  Only things that are fun hope 

 

So, look for more posts of the things that come up along the way. 

 

Thanks for always listening

 

Peace,

 

The Blessed Man

Ricky Roy Blankenship

 

If you recognize the name then you just know.  If you don’t then I would dare to say your life is a smile and a laugh or two short.

I met Ricky one day riding my bike home from Havenview School.  He was working on his bike in the driveway and I said hello and for the next 65 years we were best friends.  You have heard about that friend that knows where the bodies are buried.  Well Ricky helped me bury a bunch of those bodies.

He went to St. Paul elementary.  I went to Havenview.  Then we both went to Whitehaven High School and that my friend is where all the trouble started!!!  Ricky’s father, Googie, drove the bus we rode to school.  He was a riot.  About as tall as he was big around he was just simply a hilarious man.  I got to know Googie and Bobbie Fay his Mom over the years an unusual pair for sure.

Ricky was the best man at my first wedding.  He was a major part of a night that will remain in one of the craziest of my life my Bachelor party.  Which it took about a month to recovery from.  Another story for another time.  Let’s just say my new bride didn’t speak t him for many, many months!!

He was always there for me. Good times and Bad always right there. I could pass on many examples but that’s not the reason for this writing.

You see I lost my best friend yesterday and I needed to let folks know the world lost a good guy.  Yes, he was strange.  He loved burnt bacon and steaks.  I never understood that until I had a taste of his Moms cooking if you could call it that.  WOW!!  He also was hard headed. He loved his wife and family more than anything else in the world.  He told me that many times as we talked about this and that.  He loved the Memphis Tigers. He loved to talk to his buddy Goose during all of the games.  I was always out being” social” as he called it.   He also loved to play golf back in the day and we would all go on these crazy golf trips down to the gulf coast. Lot’s of memories there as well.

Well if you knew him there is a good chance you either loved him or did not care for him.  That never bothered him at all.  You see Ricky was Ricky and that is what made me love him.

Rest in peace my friend.  You will be missed, but never forgotten.

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Forgiveness

 

My grandmother told me one time that forgiveness wasn’t for the person being forgiven; it was for the person forgiving so the one who hurt you doesn’t live rent free in your head.  I have lived by that for many years.  However, this time I am asking forgiveness from a dear friend.  I will explain

We were at a birthday event for my wife.  Wine was involved and as conversations do they got a little racy.  At these events the guys sit at one table and the ladies at their own table.  It always seems to work because guys talk guy things and lord only knows what they talk about.

As the night waned I slid over to the ladies and somehow the conversations turn to breasts!  Anyone who knows me knows I’m a boob man!  Well I said something about wanting to see every set on earth and everyone laughed.  Well here is the forgiveness part.  I was sitting next to one of the sweetest people on the planet that has just recently beat breast cancer!  What an inconsiderate comment. 

Now allow me to tell you a bit about the lady I’m talking about.  She is one of the best people I know. Beautiful, kind, loving, selfless, and a true friend, a fighter of the highest regard. She has a zest for life that is rarely seen.  She is a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother.  She is a great cook and she is my friend.

The comment has haunted me since I got home that night.  I have to apologize to her. The very thought that I might have hurt her feelings makes me sick to my stomach. I will email her this post once it finished so she will know how badly I feel.  I can already hear her reply.  I didn’t even hear it or I have no memory of that. That is just how special she is. 

I promise to do better.

So yes sometimes Grandmother the forgiveness is needed for the infractor as well as the person forgiving. 

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Makenna Noelle Morse aka. Cricket

 

Well I am thinking the old Blessed man is getting even older!!  As you make know I have written about many additions to our families, today is very very special you see last week my Great Granddaughter was born.  Can you believe that?  Great Granddaughter!!!

I was there when both of our Grand Children were born and have wonderful memories of those births.  But to think now one of those children has had a child is very eye opening. 

I am calling here Cricket.  I feel like ever Great Granddaughter needs a special name from her Great Granddad.  She is beautiful so cute and small. 

He mother has always held my heart.  She is very special, her Dad is a great guy, and wonderful provider for his new family.  I believe they will make wonderful parents.  The only trouble is you can’t explain to them what lies ahead.  You can try but they always look at you and say that will never happen to our little treasure. However, it is going to.  Nothing can hurt you more than a child.  Nothing can make you happier or more proud than a child.  I know because if you have read any of the first couple of years posts in this lowly blog you walked that road with me. 

Parenting is the most difficult job on the planet.  It is also the most rewarding job on the planet.   I am so blessed that my son met and married a young lady that absolutely turned his life and our relationship totally around.

Cricket, I wish you enough. Enough love to keep you on the right track. Enough joy to recognize how special life can be.  Enough strength to carry her through the hard times.  Enough fortitude and courage to endure and make her mark on this crazy world. Enough passion to sing like no one is listening and dance like no one is watching. Enough kindness to give grace and offer help and guidance to those less fortunate.  Enough sense to know when to hold‘em and when to fold’em.  I stole this and made it mine.  So I will attach the original so you know what I was shooting at.

"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright. I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more. I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive. I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger. I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting. I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess. I wish enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Good-bye."

Well I guess that about it.  Know that I’ll always have your back my precious one.  We will disagree but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you.  In fact it means I love you a lot!  And always remember I’m your favorite!!!

 

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Allie

You know the old blessed man has been silent for a long time now.  However, something happened to me last weekend that rekindled the fire in me. 

You see my youngest Granddaughter got married.  I know all the grand dads out there can relate if you have shared that moment with your special child.  However, my experience was a bit more in depth, thanks to my granddaughter.  I got to be a part of the ceremony and walk her down the aisle.  Why this happened is not important but to my good fortune it did. 

If you are a regular reader of this blog you know my son and I have had a very difficult relationship for his entire life.  It is getting better now but we still have our moments but they are fewer and further between.

I always knew I loved Allie.  She has always been a part of my life.  I treat her exactly as I would if she were my daughter.  Something that has meant a few teary times, as we have had differences of opinion. However, we always seemed to agree somewhere in the middle.

You know I have never had a father daughter thing.  All my friends tell me it’s very different than a Father Son thing.  With the boys you want to make men.  With the girls they say you always want to protect and keep safe. 

OK I have established that I am not a girl’s dad.  Now for the reason for this post.

The firat moment came when I was asked to take a picture with her as a “First Look” picture.  So I go over to this door that was closed.  They opened the door we were back to back.  I reached out held her hand and they counted to three.  We both turned and I saw her.  Something happened in my heart I have never ever felt.  It almost exploded!  She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.  She was an angel I had always called her.  I was simply blown away.  As we hugged she was crying and hugging me I was in another world I had never been in.  Hugging her and totally understanding what all my friends say about having girls.  It was a wonderful moment for me.

Then came the wow moment.  I walked her down the aisle and gave her away.  We were standing outside the chapel as they closed the doors awaiting our entrance.  We stood on the porch of the chapel and I realized how much I loved this little girl.  I realized she was much more to me than I was allowing myself to feel. 

Then the fun moment because at this moment I was embracing this new place in my heart this small wonderful little child has opened up.  We got to do our first dance.  We didn’t dance much we just moved around in a slow circle looking at each other.  Both knowing it was different now. She had unlocked a place that belonged to her all along and that I never knew existed.  She now holds a place that is only hers in my heart.  I’ll never be the same guy after this wedding.  I believe I will always go to wedding with a different view.

I told Allie at the wedding I had always loved her but tonight I realized exactly how much.

 

The old blessed man has had many experiences in his life but nothing like this. The range of emotions was nothing like I have ever.

Well I guess that’s about it.  I feel so much better now that I have shared this with all of you.

Peace,

The Blessed Man

Holidays 2021

Well its been a long time my friends.  However, I'm back.  Be looking for a post very soon.

Peace

The Blessed Man

Thanksgiving 2017

As I reflect on my yesterday it was full of many emotions,   from great sadness to great joy.  I ran the gambit yesterday all while enjoying family and friends. 

As we sat at our last stop last night my wife raised her glass and told things she was thankful for her family her friends her health and other numerous things.  I was hoping others would follow her lead and give me a minute to think of my list.  Well as crowed tables often do we lost a great moment to share our felling.  So I am blessed I have this place.  So here we go.

The top of the list has to go to my wife.  I am so blessed with each passing day we become closer and closer.  I now understand the feelings my Father would often try to share with me about how he felt about my Mother.  He was the best example to me for how to love someone.  And Dad I’m thankful for that as well.

This year there is a very special thankfulness.  You see my dear friend George from Boston fell dead on the sidewalk in the northeast this year.  But for the efforts of a group of recently trained CPR by standers my friend would not have been with his family yesterday being thankful for his life.  I am thankful for those who jumped in and saved my friend.  I’m thankful for him for being a fighter and not letting go.  I’m thankful for his wife for being at his side the entire way.  His children and Grand Child for being there and letting George see all the reasons to keep up the good fight.  I love my friend and can’t wait to see him early next year if things continue to improve.

I am thankful I didn’t spend my day like my young son.  He prepared a full Thanksgiving dinner for he and his wife using money that was maybe better used in other places.  Only to be met with her news she was leaving him and didn’t want to be married anymore,   Very sad.  He was very upset and we were talking no stop during my lunch stop yesterday.  I fear sometimes I appeared rude answering his heart felt texts trying to be the Dad that if you read this Blog much know I have no faith in my ability to be.  We got him through it and hopefully they will be able to find common ground and save the relationship.

I am thankful for my health.  I have really tried this year to be better losing weight and be a better keeper of the Blessed Man.  I have lost a few pounds numerous more to go.  I have started working out again and have an appointment to get my knee looked at next week.  So I’m being better now.

I’m thankful I got to see many members of the Memphis Family last night as well as the kids and Grand Kids.  All are doing so well The Grand Kids are really growing and the new baby could be the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Love those people…

So as you see I have many things to be thankful for this and every year.  But this year was a banner year for the Blessed Man.  And I have to believe that 2018 might be my best year ever.  I know I am blessed to be looking forward with great health and great companionship in every area of my life.

So I ask you to call that friend you love.  I almost lost mine this year.  I ask you to hug your wife.  I ask you to try to be a good parent, which is the toughest job of all I am sure.  I ask you to be thankful for the small things and see the beauty in all things good and bad.  And I ask you to be happy.

Peace,

The Blessed Man