| Cover story |
Common sense Some wisdom worthy of the
Ozarks A friend sent this to us via
the Internet. The author is unknown to us, but these sayings are worthy
of the Ozarks. In fact, if you listen carefully you’ll probably hear
some variation of these phrases in conversations at cafes, feed stores,
taverns, barbershops, beauty parlors and churches in Rolla, Dixon,
Houston, Owensville, Cuba or anywhere else in southern Missouri. Your fences need to be
horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. Life is simpler when you plow
around the stump. A bumble bee is considerably
faster than a John Deere tractor. Words that soak into your ears
are whispered ... not yelled. Meanness don't jes' happen
overnight. Forgive your enemies. It messes
up their heads. Do not corner something that
you know is meaner than you. It don't take a very big person
to carry a grudge. You cannot unsay a cruel word. Every path has a few puddles. When you wallow with pigs,
expect to get dirty. The best sermons are lived, not
preached. Most of the stuff people worry
about ain't never gonna happen nohow. Don't judge folks by their
relatives. Remember that silence is
sometimes the best answer. Live a good, honorable life.
Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time. Don't interfere with somethin'
that ain't botherin' you none. Timing has a lot to do with the
outcome of a rain dance. If you find yourself in a hole,
the first thing to do is stop diggin'. Sometimes you get, and
sometimes you get got. The biggest troublemaker you'll
probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every
mornin'. Always drink upstream from the
herd. Good judgment comes from
experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment. Lettin' the cat outta the bag
is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in. If you get to thinkin' you're a
person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. |