Sides of Me

One of Johnny Cash’s most famous sayings was that there was two men inside of him. One was John the other Cash. Cash caused all the trouble and the two fought. I have come to believe we all have at least two people inside of us. Maybe three… four tops. Once you get to five your most likely, certifiably crazy. The sides of us – these other people – balance us. Drive us. They are the constant argument inside of our bodies. These personalities makes us who we are.

One keeps the other in check. Like the balance on the scales of justice. When I look back on my past I see two people. I see Kendra, the whole person who works and goes to school and hangs out with friends. But I see Gabby (a CB handle I was given as a small child and hold dear.) *Editor’s note.* Gabby the girl who was raised in camouflage on a polled Hereford farm in Fieldon, lived only for coyote hunting and being better than the boys. I also accuse her for any lapses in sanity and judgment.

Kendra and Gabby argue a lot. Gabby wants to get back to her roots and Kendra has a strong mental illusion that she hasn’t lost it. They fight over her mental stability among other things.

It’s the inner nice girl and the inner witch. In most cases that balance each other out. Yin and Yang. Equal halves of a whole. Southern Comfort and Mountain Dew. Okay… maybe not a great example. But you get the point.

They say that a light amount of stress at temporary length of time is good for you. It drives you and pushes you to meet goals and to get where you need to be. You know that final peak of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs called self-actualization? Okay so you failed Health but at least I learned something in Medical Assisting classes today.

A good amount of inner battle is good as well. Driving someone to do better. Pushing them beyond their limits and testing new waters. Even if it’s all on an inner dare.

If Johnny and Cash hadn’t fought the life of country music would be much different and probably a bore. Johnny never would have done music in places like Folsom Prison and we wouldn’t have songs like Cocaine Blues. Cash may never have gotten June if Cash hadn’t been such an ass about it because Johnny never would have ruined his first marriage. And we would be without one of the greatest love stories country music has ever known. No spouse can make us ‘Walk the Line’, but, instead it’s the inner battle that pulls us in both direction and helps us choose that inner balance that inner line to walk. When we find that it’s what takes us to our own actualization.  

 

 

*If you don’t know what a CB handle is you have two choices, stop reading now and never return or watch Smokey and the Bandit for some lessons on life.*

 

 

"God Knows When You Don't Tip"

I have been a lot of things in my short working career. Lawn care provider, farm hand, peach sorter, ice cream cone maker, library assistant, sporting goods associate at the local Wal-Mart a credit union teller, restaurant kitchen helper and most currently a waitress.

 

For all the places that have cut me a paycheck I have seemed to enjoy the last quite a bit. Only God knows why. But my place of employment, who will be kept nameless for my job security sake, isn't a bad place to work.

 

Waitressing has given me plenty of opportunities to study people and many personality traits to add to my ever growing ideas that spawn into books and things like this. However do this, currently doesn't pay the bills. So I work for tip money mainly. $4.95 an hour, my waitressing pay, doesn't keep the electricity on either unfortunately.

So me and my fellow servers have to rely on our ever so charming people skills and the generosity of others in order to make do. Not exactly the best way to make a living always.

 

There are exceptions to tipping bad... so many they are impossible to list. But if your server has busted his or her tail to keep your wine flowing your food presentable between the kitchen and your table and in all honesty dealt with your crabby demanding mother-in-law with a smile on their face recall that perhaps an extra dollar or two in their tip is acceptable. Always.

 

Twenty-percent is now what we consider the normal for tipping however ten to fifteen percent is still acceptable anything lower is just insulting if your service was passable. If you want to be waited on hand in foot for free while eating stay living with your mother. If you want a decent night with a lovely meal and wonderful service tip your server.

 

Because remember God knows when you don't tip.

 

Sincerely,

Kendra

 

P.S. Thank God for freedom of speech.