View From the Front Porch- July 25, 2012

     This picture of me in the arms of my Grandfather Ed Johnson, a Kansas farmer who knew nothing but hard work all of his life, who built a life for him and Grandma and all their kids on independence, honesty, and the value of sweat and toil to secure your families place in the world. I am sure it never occurred to Grandpa that the government was responsible for any success in his life. All my people were of that mind set. You got to where you could go in life through hard work, honesty, Faith in God and love of family.
 
    Most of us on this group of friends of mine were raised in War years and some kind of hard times. I'll tell you that you can't be a start up hillbilly singer in Nashville in the 60's and not learn how to survive, in my case living at Mom Upchurche's boarding house for pickers, 12 dollars a week for a bed, and a drawer in a chest of drawers to share with whoever had the other bed. And that was room enough for the three pair of Levi's, four shirts and four sets of underwear and socks. My old boots, guitar and shaving kit and car to travel in were my total wealth. But it was enough to build on. Dang, I wish I had known that the government could have built my music business, but my hillbilly hard head and pride would have told them to stick it where the sun don't shine. No, it was hard work and we all did it and in most cases are still doing it cause that is who and what we are. No hand outs, no excuses, hard times come and we hunker down and make do. America was built on hard times, challenges, most of us walking to school and it was up hill both ways walking bare foot in the snow (at least that is what it seems like now, looking back), but I remember it as good times, and thought so at the time also. Cause we were doing something on our own, following different dreams, going our own ways, asking for no special favors from God, just strength to get through the days....and ya'know, I still feel that way today, and I'm glad that I do cause it keeps me getting up every morning and hitting the floor at 5:30, and thinking "what are we gonna do today, Lord?" Enjoying that first cup of Joe, with maybe a cookie Denise might have made the night before, sitting on the front porch and studyin' on life in general as the sun comes up over the trees by the creek. Yessir, it's my life, I built it with all my mistakes and triumphs, all my hard learned lessons, and my constant sense of thankfulness that I've made it this far and I ain't done yet.     -Stan