The Two Thousand Ought Eight Flat Rock General Store Political Convention…

by Joe Potter

There was a heavy down-pour a fallin’ on Flat Rock when I pulled up and committed to park. It was a rainin’ full near-like a white leghern hen a layin’ all her 153 eggs (a full years worth of layin’ eggs) in one day. Today was a very cloudy, damp, cold and totally dreary Monday, a nearin’ nine a.m. Actual it was my kind of day especial for writin’ and meditatin’. Toward first ganderin’/lookin’ at all the present modes of transportation parked outside The Store, it appeared I myself was late for the current store goin’-ons.

As I entered The Store, commotion or chaotic movement was heavy with store regulars, plus other Flat Rock folk. Some held or carried Ms. Ida and the widow Cora’s cinnamon rolls and/or mini-sausage biscuits and were a sippin’ coffee or orange juice.

Slim leaned up toward The Store counter from his old recliner and spoke a good mornin’ "howdy" and commented the heavy down-pour had brung ‘em all in. As I made a move on "Hatch" and slid him off his feed sack settin’ place, store talk was swirlin’ from all directions and carried a heap of topics includin’ the current rains, cattle prices, football season, the approachin’ of huntin’ season, local school happenins’ and some heavy political discussions. There’s always some cookin’ and eatin’ talk, today with thanks toward Essex, Slim, Ms. Ida and the widow Cora for mornin’ munchins’.

Even the rear wall of The Store carried political talk. Actually, there on two six-foot long pieces of white butcher paper and in red marker ink was writins’ toward the presidential election of November two thousand ought eight. Most was directed toward the head runners for donkey Democrat and elephant Republican. Head topic concern was gas prices and the economy.

Some writins’ carried one-word topics: war, terrorism, religion, immigration, U.S.A. language talkin’, jobs, agriculture, family/marriage, agin’, world peace, population levels, political party leadership, world leadership and votin’ privileges.

Bro. noted all Flat Rock folk should register and be sure to vote in November based on their personal political platforms and/or beliefes and thoughts. Mr. Harley Hood, the musician himself, commented with a slight grin that since my Daddy "Pop" C.C. and Slim carried plenty of experience and maturity, maybe they should run as a team. Estelle added her thoughts that a woman should be included on the election team. Farlow farther commented matter a-factly it should be a person who would represent the common everyday individual person and stay normal after they were elected president and/or any other political office.

Ms. Ida commented each individual should express personal their own opinion by always casting their individual vote. That is your freedom and what makes a democracy strong!!!

At this point it was a nearin’ twelve noon. The rain had stopped and folk shot out in all directions from The Store like heavy eight birdshot from my old Winchester twelve-gauge double-barreled shotgun.

Have a great local convention, stay safe and go vote!!!

REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE

ALWAYS, THINK GOOD MEMORIES!!!

 Joe Potter is a former vocational agriculture teacher, FFA advisor and retired county agent (Colbert County).