ABOUT NATHAN: HE WAS COUNTRY, WHEN COUNTRY WASN'T COOL:-)

IT WAS A RAINY MARCH IN 1986, NOT LONG AFTER MY DAD CHECKED OUT OF MY REALITY.  STILL HOLDING TIGHT TO NEWLY-WEDISM.  WE WERE LEARNING EACH OTHER. I WAS IN MY BRAIN-SOUL-PICKING MODE.  WE WERE RELAXING ON THE SOFA -- IT WAS A WINNING DAY FOR ME...THE TV WAS NOT ON.  IT CLOUDS MY THOUGHTS. 

BACK TO MY PICKING.  I ASKED NATE "WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, WHEN YOU GREW UP?"  WITHOUT HESITATION HE SAID, "A COWBOY OR A PIRATE".  HIS ANSWER STILL MAKES ME SMILE.   

I'VE WATCHED HIM RIDE MANY A HORSE, SOME SURE-NUFF FOUR HOOFED CREATURES THAT HE LOVED, SOME WERE MORE DANGEROUS TO HIS SPIRIT.  I'VE SEEN HIM WEATHER MANY A TRAIL.  STILL STANDING TALL ABOVE THE REST.  I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM PILLAGE A TOWN LIKE BLACKBEARD OR WATCH HIM MAKE A STOWAWAY WALK A PLANK, DON'T THINK HE HAS THE HEART FOR THAT -- BUT WHO KNOWS?  I'D IMAGINE ANYONE MESSED WITH ANY OF HIS "GIRLS" AND THEY WOULD GLADLY JUMP SHIP INTO A SWARM OF CROCODILE, MATE!

AS FOR ME I WANTED TO WRITE FOR THE AJC INSTEAD -- I DON'T.  KEEPS ME HAPPY AND I'M CONTENT TO WRITE ABOUT A NEWLY DISCOVERED GLISTENING TRINKET FROM HIS HIDDEN TREASURE -- RIDING WITH HIM INTO WHATEVER SUNSET LIES AHEAD. 

HISTORY:  TALKING ABOUT YOUNGER YEARS, HE SPEAKS OF DRAG RACING, BLUEGRASS PICKING -- NO FESTIVAL JUST ON A NEIGHBOR'S PORCH. BAILING HAY. HOPPING OFF THE SCHOOL BUS, RUNNING AS FAST AS HE COULD HOME, JUMPING ON HIS HORSE AND RACING BACK TO CHASE THE BUS ON DOWN THE ROAD.  WORKED UP ON FORT MOUNTAIN WHEN HE WAS 19 TAKING CARE OF THE HORSES, CLEANING & RUNNING THE STABLES.  LEARNED CARPENTRY TO AN ART-FORM. 

MS. MANDRELL KNEW HIM WELL....DOWN TO THE PEANUTS IN HIS COKE:-) ONLY ONE DIFFERENCE HE WOULD NEVER EVER PULL UP AND TURN DOWN GEORGE JONES -- JUST NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPmlFlAL8z0&feature=related

HE'S SETTLED.  NO MORE DESPERADO.  SMILES AND GETS TEARY WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT HIS GRANDKIDS.  MISSES KURTIS AND STILL ACHES DEEPLY FOR LOSSES HE'S BEEN DEALT.  SEEN HIM HURT BY MANY AND HE ALWAYS SILENTLY FORGAVE.  COURAGEOUSLY ACCEPTED PLACES HE'S BEEN PUT.  STILL STANDING TALL ABOVE THE REST.