I dearly love the sound of four-part harmony.  The mingling of LEAD, TENOR, BARITONE and BASS can always send shivers down my spine.  Even as a child this style of singing was a favorite of mine.  My family indulged in this type of music, although some might say not very well.  It did, however, offer us the opportunity to use what talents that we possessed and was pleasing to us, if not to others.

            The music that we were most familiar with was Gospel.  This form of music leaned heavily toward four-part harmony.  Four voices perfectly pitched and blended into one sound while singing praise and thanksgiving is almost a religion in itself.

            The love of singing harmony was not limited to records and airwaves.  It was prevalent in cotton fields, barbershops and homes.  Anywhere, that four people with the ability to carry one of the parts would get together, became a theater and could usually draw a crowd.

            When I was young, singing was done for the love of it rather than for commercial reasons.  Sometimes there were contests, but no group entered with the hope of winning, only for the sheer enjoyment of making a joyful sound.

            I still get goose bumps when I hear some of the great quartets harmonizing.  The love of harmony has stayed with me for all these many years.  I once was a member of a barbershop chorus that included men from all walks of life:  doctors, judges, laborers, cooks and clerks.  They participated for only one reason, their love of close harmony.

They sported a very unique logo that stated, "If you're too busy to sing, you're too busy."

            When I hear a group with the ability to harmonize, but the music that they choose to sing is only the lead part, I get a sad feeling and think "what a waste."  They could sound so good and inspire so many, if only they would utilize their God given talents.  I know that some music is not written for harmony, but if it IS, then go for it.  There is nothing more soothing and inspiring than to hear voices blended so closely that you cannot determine just who is singing which part.

            I am sure that there are those who will disagree with me and this is their right, but to me the sounds of music will always be FOUR-PART HARMONY.

            Swe-e-e-e-t-t  Ad-a-a-l-l-i-i-n-e…..

Demijon

"Please, dear God, make the words that I write today sweet and tender, because I probably will have to eat them tomorrow."

I am certain that I am not the only person who breathes this prayer on a daily basis. It is indeed hard to put to paper, or for that matter, to speak what is on one's mind without the risk of offending at least one person. We do not do it deliberately, but there are times when even the most innocent of our thoughts will strike a sore spot. Humor is at its best when it can be related to the speaker/writer as well as the listener/reader. We must be willing to laugh at ourselves before we should be permitted to laugh at others. You know the idiom; if you want to dish it out, you’d better be prepared to take it.

Perhaps this is the reason that I write a lot of fiction. Fiction is the perfect vehicle for venting emotions and feelings. You invent a character and a setting, and then you can make them into anything you wish. A disclaimer at the beginning states that any similarity is coincidental and that the persons and places are products of the writer's imagination. What better place to "tell it all."

Someone once said, "If you write, write about something you know." With this in mind, large amounts of my writings are based on my memories. Most of these memories are from an era that few know about, and hopefully will produce a small amount of nostalgia in others.

Our minds contain the capacity to remember some minute detail of long ago, and when dwelling on this particular incident will expand it to reveal relevant information that can be woven into a readable article. The hardest part is attempting to relate the story in a method that will appeal to the rank and file.

For instance, no one would be interested in Joe breaking his leg trying to get the best of his young son in a game of tag football. Now, place Joe's son on the banks of a flood-swollen river, making a futile attempt to rescue a prize Hereford calf. As Joe jumps into the river to save both his son and the calf, a floating log rams into his leg and breaks it in two places.

From his hospital bed, Joe is proclaimed a local hero by his honor, The Mayor, and in the attendance of Joe’s lovely wife and his doting son. His remarks are, "Shucks, t'weren't nothing."

In addition, the calf must go on to win first place at the county fair and Joe's son must grow up to become President. This is just the way it works. Granted, there have been very good books and articles written with every word truthfully told, but those authors are the ones who are successful and do not have to rely on a fading memory.

John

"Please, dear God, make the words that I write today sweet and tender, because I probably will have to eat them tomorrow."

I am certain that I am not the only person who breathes this prayer on a daily basis. It is indeed hard to put to paper, or for that matter, to speak what is on one's mind without the risk of offending at least one person. We do not do it deliberately, but there are times when even the most innocent of our thoughts will strike a sore spot. Humor is at its best when it can be related to the speaker/writer as well as the listener/reader. We must be willing to laugh at ourselves before we should be permitted to laugh at others. You know the idiom; if you want to dish it out, you’d better be prepared to take it.

Perhaps this is the reason that I write a lot of fiction. Fiction is the perfect vehicle for venting emotions and feelings. You invent a character and a setting, and then you can make them into anything you wish. A disclaimer at the beginning states that any similarity is coincidental and that the persons and places are products of the writer's imagination. What better place to "tell it all."

Someone once said, "If you write, write about something you know." With this in mind, large amounts of my writings are based on my memories. Most of these memories are from an era that few know about, and hopefully will produce a small amount of nostalgia in others.

Our minds contain the capacity to remember some minute detail of long ago, and when dwelling on this particular incident will expand it to reveal relevant information that can be woven into a readable article. The hardest part is attempting to relate the story in a method that will appeal to the rank and file.

For instance, no one would be interested in Joe breaking his leg trying to get the best of his young son in a game of tag football. Now, place Joe's son on the banks of a flood-swollen river, making a futile attempt to rescue a prize Hereford calf. As Joe jumps into the river to save both his son and the calf, a floating log rams into his leg and breaks it in two places.

From his hospital bed, Joe is proclaimed a local hero by his honor, The Mayor, and in the attendance of Joe’s lovely wife and his doting son. His remarks are, "Shucks, t'weren't nothing."

In addition, the calf must go on to win first place at the county fair and Joe's son must grow up to become President. This is just the way it works. Granted, there have been very good books and articles written with every word truthfully told, but those authors are the ones who are successful and do not have to rely on a fading memory.

John

There are folks who are under the impression that those of us in the Carolinas talk funny because we do not know any better. This is totally wrong. We do so in basic terms to get our point across with the least amount of effort and without the squander of either words or expression.

Example # 1: You walk into Bubba’s Pool Hall, Funeral Parlor & Hot Dog Stand. Immediately, the assembled patrons greet you with, "Hi ya doin'?"  Now there is no earthly reason for you to reply, “I’m fine now but last month I experienced this little boil on my left arm, (rolling up sleeve) and my doctor prescribed $45.00 worth of medication and it’s under control.” You simply elevate a fist with the thumb raised and say; "Okay, hi y'all doin'."

Example # 2: Seated on the concrete in the forth turn of Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a cooler full of Coors’s Light and a Piggly-Wiggly sack of boiled peanuts, you attempt to encourage your favorite Nascar driver to pass the car that holds the lead at the moment. It would not be feasible to shout, “Maneuver your car underneath the number 2 car and take the air off his spoiler, therefore sending him out of the groove, into the marbles made by the rubber worn from the tires of the other competitors and thus into the wall!” No. The appropriate response is to consume a handful of the boiled legumes, wash them down with a long swig of Coors and yell, “Wreck’em all, Junior!”

Example # 3: When asked for directions to the Fly By Night Trailer Park by one of our treasured touristers, it makes no sense to tell them to turn right at the ‘old Matthews place’; go pass the church and cross the creek until they come to the forks and hang a left. This will surely prompt a tirade about uneducated rednecks not erecting appropriate road signs; therefore, simply point in the direction of Bubba’s Pool Hall, Funeral Parlor & Hot Dog Stand and say, "Y'all foller Bubba tonight atter he closes.  He lives down thare."

Example # 4: Some Yankee will eventually ask why you are content to live in the backwoods, consuming road kill, boiled peanuts and beer, while working only enough to assure another round of unemployment insurance; why you can’t envision a better future in the northern United States where sand spurs, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are unknown? Your reply should be immediate and with proper emphasis such as….

"Hail, brother. We's home and y'all ain't. If y'all ain't satisfied hear, jus' git on one uv them airplanes an' leave. DELTA'S READY WHEN YOU ARE!"

Jay Henry

There are folks who are under the impression that those of us in the Carolinas talk funny because we do not know any better. This is totally wrong. We do so in basic terms to get our point across with the least amount of effort and without the squander of either words or expression.

Example # 1: You walk into Bubba’s Pool Hall, Funeral Parlor & Hot Dog Stand. Immediately, the assembled patrons greet you with, "Hi ya doin'?"  Now there is no earthly reason for you to reply, “I’m fine now but last month I experienced this little boil on my left arm, (rolling up sleeve) and my doctor prescribed $45.00 worth of medication and it’s under control.” You simply elevate a fist with the thumb raised and say; "Okay, hi y'all doin'."

Example # 2: Seated on the concrete in the forth turn of Lowe’s Motor Speedway with a cooler full of Coors’s Light and a Piggly-Wiggly sack of boiled peanuts, you attempt to encourage your favorite Nascar driver to pass the car that holds the lead at the moment. It would not be feasible to shout, “Maneuver your car underneath the number 2 car and take the air off his spoiler, therefore sending him out of the groove, into the marbles made by the rubber worn from the tires of the other competitors and thus into the wall!” No. The appropriate response is to consume a handful of the boiled legumes, wash them down with a long swig of Coors and yell, “Wreck’em all, Junior!”

Example # 3: When asked for directions to the Fly By Night Trailer Park by one of our treasured touristers, it makes no sense to tell them to turn right at the ‘old Matthews place’; go pass the church and cross the creek until they come to the forks and hang a left. This will surely prompt a tirade about uneducated rednecks not erecting appropriate road signs; therefore, simply point in the direction of Bubba’s Pool Hall, Funeral Parlor & Hot Dog Stand and say, "Y'all foller Bubba tonight atter he closes.  He lives down thare."

Example # 4: Some Yankee will eventually ask why you are content to live in the backwoods, consuming road kill, boiled peanuts and beer, while working only enough to assure another round of unemployment insurance; why you can’t envision a better future in the northern United States where sand spurs, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes are unknown? Your reply should be immediate and with proper emphasis such as….

"Hail, brother. We's home and y'all ain't. If y'all ain't satisfied hear, jus' git on one uv them airplanes an' leave. DELTA'S READY WHEN YOU ARE!"

Jay Henry

            For most of my young life, I was forced to spend most of my waking hours applying the teachings from early childhood, that grass was evil and all means were to be exercised to eradicate this scourge from the face of the earth.  Our livelihoods depended on the ridding of the fields of this prolific deterrent to the health of the young, tender plants on which we depended for food as well as income.

            The abhorrence that we held for grass in the crops was carried over into the yards of most farms.  Hours were spent in hoeing, raking and smoothing the entire yards with "brush-brooms" that were nothing more than dogwood branches which had been allowed to dry until all the leaves had fallen from them.  They were then tied into small bundles.  These so-called brooms left the yards with a clean, swept look that everyone considered appropriate for a well cared-for appearance.

            As time passed, the thinking of many farmers changed in favor of customs that were practiced by their "town" neighbors, and they began to cultivate within the confines of the yards, the same grasses that they worked so hard to remove from their fields.

            It became evident that a way to control the growth of this grass would have to be found, hence, the "sling blade."  A strip of flat metal was sharpened on both sides and  mounted to a handle by means of metal bars shaped in a semi-circle.  This tool, when used properly, would allow the operator to clip the tops from the grasses with a back and forth swinging motion. 

            Necessity for an easier and faster way to keep the grass in control prompted the invention of a series of blades, powered by cogs attached to wheels.  These blades were positioned in a way that forced them to contact a sharpened bar, creating a cutting motion when pushed through the grass by the operator, holding onto a "T" shaped handle.

            This "reel-type" mower was used extensively until the invention of a small gasoline engine which could be attached to the top of this contraption and served as the power to not only turn the blades but could also propel the mower by belts and pulleys.

            Eventually, this mower gave way to the modern "rotary" power mower that is still in use today in many forms.  Although the engines power a spinning blade that does the cutting,  much effort is required by the operator to push the mower through the grass.

            As more powerful engines were developed and easier ways to perform this laborious chore were sought, the invention of the modern-day riding mower changed our lives as much as any innovation in history.  Instead of struggling with "sling-blades," push type, and self-propelled mowers, we now can sit in a somewhat comfortable seat and simply guide the mower to the designated area and relax as it performs the work for us.  Along with these power tools came a different designation of the areas around our homes. 

            We now refer to the grassy carpets that surround our houses and require so much of our time as "lawns" instead of yards.  No more do we "cut the grass."  Now we mow.  As a result of these innovative machines, our lives have been made easier and our waistlines have become larger, but I for one would not relish the thoughts of returning to the days of "swept" yards and "sling" blades.

JOHN

            For most of my young life, I was forced to spend most of my waking hours applying the teachings from early childhood, that grass was evil and all means were to be exercised to eradicate this scourge from the face of the earth.  Our livelihoods depended on the ridding of the fields of this prolific deterrent to the health of the young, tender plants on which we depended for food as well as income.

            The abhorrence that we held for grass in the crops was carried over into the yards of most farms.  Hours were spent in hoeing, raking and smoothing the entire yards with "brush-brooms" that were nothing more than dogwood branches which had been allowed to dry until all the leaves had fallen from them.  They were then tied into small bundles.  These so-called brooms left the yards with a clean, swept look that everyone considered appropriate for a well cared-for appearance.

            As time passed, the thinking of many farmers changed in favor of customs that were practiced by their "town" neighbors, and they began to cultivate within the confines of the yards, the same grasses that they worked so hard to remove from their fields.

            It became evident that a way to control the growth of this grass would have to be found, hence, the "sling blade."  A strip of flat metal was sharpened on both sides and  mounted to a handle by means of metal bars shaped in a semi-circle.  This tool, when used properly, would allow the operator to clip the tops from the grasses with a back and forth swinging motion. 

            Necessity for an easier and faster way to keep the grass in control prompted the invention of a series of blades, powered by cogs attached to wheels.  These blades were positioned in a way that forced them to contact a sharpened bar, creating a cutting motion when pushed through the grass by the operator, holding onto a "T" shaped handle.

            This "reel-type" mower was used extensively until the invention of a small gasoline engine which could be attached to the top of this contraption and served as the power to not only turn the blades but could also propel the mower by belts and pulleys.

            Eventually, this mower gave way to the modern "rotary" power mower that is still in use today in many forms.  Although the engines power a spinning blade that does the cutting,  much effort is required by the operator to push the mower through the grass.

            As more powerful engines were developed and easier ways to perform this laborious chore were sought, the invention of the modern-day riding mower changed our lives as much as any innovation in history.  Instead of struggling with "sling-blades," push type, and self-propelled mowers, we now can sit in a somewhat comfortable seat and simply guide the mower to the designated area and relax as it performs the work for us.  Along with these power tools came a different designation of the areas around our homes. 

            We now refer to the grassy carpets that surround our houses and require so much of our time as "lawns" instead of yards.  No more do we "cut the grass."  Now we mow.  As a result of these innovative machines, our lives have been made easier and our waistlines have become larger, but I for one would not relish the thoughts of returning to the days of "swept" yards and "sling" blades.

JOHN

As a young father of two, the wages that I received were for the most part inadequate; therefore, I would frequently scan the want ads in search of a better opportunity. Listed were many jobs comparable to the one that I presently held and with the salary ranging much the same. Therefore, I would skip to the better paying ones. It never failed that the interesting ones with the highest salaries were the ones that stated, "Experience required."

I began to wonder just how one could acquire experience when he was denied the job simply because of the lack of it. Did all of the employees of the firm possess the necessary experience when they were hired? If so, how did they gain this expertise? Surely someone had to take the chance that all were not fully qualified before allowing him or her the opportunity to prove him or herself.

While growing up in a rural setting immediately after the great depression, I was witness to an era when experience in any venture other than farming was practically nonexistent. Many sought the few jobs that were available. The willingness to learn and perform the job was the decisive factor used by most employers rather than waiting for someone with prior knowledge to apply. Ability was gained only after given the chance to learn, and as a result many "trainees" became valued employees.

Thinking about these "hard times" brought to mind one particular individual who had little formal education and had never worked at any "public" job. The only knowledge he possessed was in the area of farming. The local manager of a well-known appliance company offered to hire Sammy on a trial basis, even though he had difficulty with reading and writing.

With his only credentials being that he was willing to learn, Sammy began a career that spanned over thirty-five years. Not only did he perform satisfactorily, he engineered many improvements in their products and made quite a name for himself by making changes that resulted in higher profits for his employers.

Sammy's ability was to some extent responsible for the company's policy to more or less drop the "experience required" wording from their advertisements in favor of "a willingness to learn."

Recent tests used by many employers have all but alleviated the prior experience requirements, and many people like Sammy are given the chance to prove that they are indeed capable; however, there are still many markets that insist on previous experience as a basis for consideration.

Both of my children succeeded in acquiring a College degree with very little help from their parents. I once voiced my pride in their accomplishments to my eldest son. His reply was, “All that a diploma tells a potential employer is that I have the ability to learn.” If this is true, isn’t it entirely possible that there are those who were denied a formal education and yet they possess this same ability?

My question is, how can experience be gained if there is no opportunity for learning? Who knows? There just may be many Sammy’s who are awaiting your decision to give them a try. By offering them an opportunity to prove that they do indeed possess the ability to learn, you just might be pleasantly surprised.

Demijon

As a young father of two, the wages that I received were for the most part inadequate; therefore, I would frequently scan the want ads in search of a better opportunity. Listed were many jobs comparable to the one that I presently held and with the salary ranging much the same. Therefore, I would skip to the better paying ones. It never failed that the interesting ones with the highest salaries were the ones that stated, "Experience required."

I began to wonder just how one could acquire experience when he was denied the job simply because of the lack of it. Did all of the employees of the firm possess the necessary experience when they were hired? If so, how did they gain this expertise? Surely someone had to take the chance that all were not fully qualified before allowing him or her the opportunity to prove him or herself.

While growing up in a rural setting immediately after the great depression, I was witness to an era when experience in any venture other than farming was practically nonexistent. Many sought the few jobs that were available. The willingness to learn and perform the job was the decisive factor used by most employers rather than waiting for someone with prior knowledge to apply. Ability was gained only after given the chance to learn, and as a result many "trainees" became valued employees.

Thinking about these "hard times" brought to mind one particular individual who had little formal education and had never worked at any "public" job. The only knowledge he possessed was in the area of farming. The local manager of a well-known appliance company offered to hire Sammy on a trial basis, even though he had difficulty with reading and writing.

With his only credentials being that he was willing to learn, Sammy began a career that spanned over thirty-five years. Not only did he perform satisfactorily, he engineered many improvements in their products and made quite a name for himself by making changes that resulted in higher profits for his employers.

Sammy's ability was to some extent responsible for the company's policy to more or less drop the "experience required" wording from their advertisements in favor of "a willingness to learn."

Recent tests used by many employers have all but alleviated the prior experience requirements, and many people like Sammy are given the chance to prove that they are indeed capable; however, there are still many markets that insist on previous experience as a basis for consideration.

Both of my children succeeded in acquiring a College degree with very little help from their parents. I once voiced my pride in their accomplishments to my eldest son. His reply was, “All that a diploma tells a potential employer is that I have the ability to learn.” If this is true, isn’t it entirely possible that there are those who were denied a formal education and yet they possess this same ability?

My question is, how can experience be gained if there is no opportunity for learning? Who knows? There just may be many Sammy’s who are awaiting your decision to give them a try. By offering them an opportunity to prove that they do indeed possess the ability to learn, you just might be pleasantly surprised.

Demijon

On a Sunday morning mother knocks on her son's bedroom door and tells him it's time to get up and go to church.

"I'm not going to church this morning," the son says.

"You gotta get up and go to church", insisted the mother.
"No, I'm not." grumbled the son, burrowing deeper underneath the covers.

Adamantly, the mother replied, "Yes you are!"
"No, I'm not; they don't like me and I don't like them."  "Just give me two good reasons why I have to go." yelled the son.

Disgusted, the mother replied, “You must go, because…”

"Number one, you're 55 years old and number two, you're the pastor!"

And now you know.

Jay Henry