Been told that with age comes wisdom. I guess it does to a degree. But I wonder, what good is wisdom to a worn out old man such as I?? Passing wisdom on to someone is about like trying to get a horse to drink after first leading it to water. I mention all this so that the rest of you out there know that I, much like you, should have paid closer attention to some of the free advice I was given but didn't heed. I followed the old method that says let me try it and then I'll decide. Of course at this particular time in life I had not attained the ability to really "mess" up. Or as we say today I hadn't really ever been in a "world of shit".

I have been lucky enough to meet people that I did value their advice. I think we all look for certain "signs" or traits in people. These particular folks get my attention and I hear them out better. It was my good fortune to grow up around such people.  

My dad, my uncle Bill and Al Hanson were all good mentors. Each of them show in my make up as an adult and a person in general. Of course there were others.  I hope to, at the proper time,  acknowledge them as well.

Grace Atkins was one of my favorite people. Grace was my aunt Verda's mother. She was also one of the neatest  people I ever knew. Grace had only her left arm. Her right arm had been lost due to an auto accident. She would hitch a ride with Verda to our house. From the Shear house to the banks of Lost Creek was about a mile. Grace loved to fish. Grace and me fished that stream from one end to the other. We'd sit for hours on the creek bank and just talk and wait for the fish to bite. She taught me about "trot lines" and "jug fishing". Grace would make you laugh until you cried. Sadly Grace was in another auto accident which took her life. I grieved for her and still miss her after all these years.