I had no idea who the young couple was. The young man made a comment about my Escalade after I pulled up to the pmups. That started the conversation. Minutes later, I met his wife and young son. They seemed tired. And why not? They had spent the last two days with other members of their family cooped up in a hospital waiting room.

The matriarch of the family was winding down her life of 70-plus years, and they had gathered for the long ordeal.

Everybody called her “Nannie.” Always had.

Nannie’s great-great grandson, a 9-month-old named Silo, was about to change everything. I asked his mom and dad if I could ask Silo something in “doubletalk.” So, with his mother holding him, I leaned over and started making no sense whatsoever.

Silo thought that was the funniest thing he had ever heard in his nine months of having ears.

And I had found a new audience — infants!!!!

His mom and dad laughed, too, and that was good. They needed to laugh. It was a refreshing break for all of us, especially Silo.

Before leaving to check into my hotel, I gave them a business card and a copy of my new biography — “Once You Step in Elephant Manure You’re in the Circus Forever.”

I wished them well. I never thought I would see them again.

About an hour later, my cell phone rang. It was SIlo’s dad. He had shared the story of what had just happened — that chance encounter at the gas station — with his entire family. He asked if I could come over to his aunt’s house. Most of his family had gathered there before going back to the hospital to keep vigil.

It all seemed so surreal. Naturally, I went.

They all looked exhausted and sad. I knew I had to make them laugh. The doubletalk worked on Silo. It was about to work on them.

They laughed until they cried. It was literally a purge.

I stayed about 30 minutes and said goodbye.

I thought.

I was already back in Atlanta the next afternoon when I got a phone call. This time, it was Nannie’s daughter. She thanked me again for coming over and told me the sad news. Nannie had passed away that morning.

Then she asked me to do something I will never forget.

She asked if I would speak at Nannie’s funeral.

So two days later, I drove 225 miles back to Statesboro to eulogize a woman I had never met.

A 9-month-old boy who has yet to say his first word made it happen.

Thanks, Silo.

And welcome to Durworld.

EVERYTHING IS A RESULT OF WHICH ONE YOU CHOOSE TO CLING TO.  REMEMBER,
NOBODY IS MAKING YOU DO ANYTHING.  WE DO WHAT WE CHOOSE TO DO…EVEN IF WE HAVE TO.  SO CHOOSE WISELY.

LASTLY, THE ONE THING I HAVE NOTICED ABOUT TODAY’S DOOM AND GLOOM ECONOMIC PICTURE IS THIS…”HAVING A GOOD ATTITUDE AND BEING POSITIVE DOES NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESS TODAY…BUT IT WILL ANNOY ENOUGH PEOPLE, IT MAKES IT WELL WORTH THE EFFORT.”

REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE…SO DON’T TAKE IT ALL TOO SERIOUSLY.
IT’S JUST MONEY AND MOST OF IT IS NOT YOURS……NOT ANYMORE.

OVER AND UP,

DURWOOD

I MEAN THAT.

THIS IS MY FIRST……….BLOG.  THERE, I SAID IT.

I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHAT A BLOG IS….BUT I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME, AND THEY SAY I HAVE BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS. MY NAME IS DURWOOD FINCHER….TRUST ME, I WOULD NOT MAKE THAT UP.

I GREW UP ON A COTTON MILL VILLAGE IN MACON, GEORGIA BACK IN THE FIFTIES…YOU KNOW, WHEN EVERYTHING WAS REAL. WE WEREN’T  POOR, WE JUST DIDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY. BY THE WAY, I AM NOT SHOUTING…..I TYPE WITH ALL CAPS BECAUSE I CAN.  I FOUND OUT A LONG TIME AGO, IT’S JUST PLAIN EASIER FOR ALL PARTIES CONCERNED.  I CAN SEE MY MISTAKES MORE CLEARLY, AND I ASSUME YOU CAN TOO….THAT IS, IF YOU BLOG.

I STILL DON’T KNOW WHAT IT IS…..I DO HOPE IT’S LEGAL.  I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET IT IS.   BUT PROBABLY NOT IN ALABAMA.

NOW THAT’S A COMPLIMENT, AND I MEAN IT.  BUT THAT’S WHAT I REALLY REALLY DO. I MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH.  NO, I ALLOW THEM TO LAUGH.  AND THAT’S WHAT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING A LOT OF FROM NOW ON.

SINCE THIS WILL BE MY VERY FIRST BLOG………………EVER.  BE PATIENT.  I CAN MULTI TASK ANYTHING AS LONG AS IT’S ONE AT A TIME.

I’VE SAID MORE THAN I KNOW POSSIBLE, SO I AM GOING TO BLOG OUT.