Have you ever been in a VFW? Or perhaps, an American Legion? The bars in there are really quite a bit the same.
When you walk in, it’s usually dark. And you will typically find one long bar, with at least a couple-3 “regulars.” Before you get completely through the door, you are often “back-lighted.” The regulars, the “rum-dums” as Dear Ole Dad used to call them, will lean either forward or backward to see who is entering…
Then you can take a seat along the bar with the resident rum-dums, and begin sharing your dreams and philosophies – and receive well thought out feedback, usually expressed something like, “You’re gawd-damned right!” Or even more introspective, “No shit!” I have experienced this sharing of opinion on many occasions myself!
In conceiving the idea for my military albums, the thought of the rum-dums came to mind. The last place I ever wanted to find myself was on a bar stool next to a rum-dum, explaining my idea – proclaiming it “would have worked.”
I can almost hear the, “You’re gawd-damned right” today…
And so I resolved that I would take a hard look at the idea; and if it had merit, I would “give it a go.” I would rather try, and fail – than not try at all. I have been this way all my life, and hope to instill this spirit in my kids and my grand kids. Failing is not anything to be feared – it is something to learn from. That’s all…