by Joe Potter

There are simple given names like Joe, Joyce, Lee, Jim, Ann, Leo, Tim, Sue, Al, Ray, Scott, John, Ted, etc. Then there’s hard to enunciate names, probably with more meanin’, like—Rassie, Morgan, Rankin, Vavanell, Farlow, Harley, Willerdean, Newton, Curlesia, Randolph, Clementine, Mortimer, Lottie Lou, Durelle and more. Many people have given names for a reason. Heath was named after Heath Barkley on the "Big Valley" TV show and Dustin after the actor Dustin Hoffman, one fictional and the other real.

It was Monday headed clear t’ward 3 P.M. as I moved through the old double-front doors of The Flat Rock General Store. I "howdied" at Slim standin’ b’hind the store counter and he "howdied" back as I moved past him t’ward the crowd assembled round the old potbellied heater settin’ area there in the rear of The Store. A passel of store regulars includin’ Essex, Ms. Ida, the widow Cora, Farlow, Willerdean, "Truth," Bro., S.R., J.R. and Hatch was congregated talkin’ on serious topics like—the weather, Hatton baseball, school endin’ dates, high gas prices, political downfall, government debt, and the preacher’s Sunday sermon and who it was meant for…course there’s other community and area Flat Rock folk a floatin’ ‘bout The Store a doin’ business and carryin’ out duly-noted personal consignments.

Abruptly, The Stores front doors flung open and these here two rather obscure fellars sauntered inside and directed themselves t’ward Slim, still standin’ at the counter. The front fellar was tall and thin, the latter, short and robust. The latter attempted to proclaim their position as he announced, "My name’s Rooney, Rooney P. Scott. He’s York, York David Ross. We’re Rooney and York!!!"

At this point, Harley Hood walked inside and questioned as to the contents of the two mobile billboard circus-type travelin’ contraptions parked outside at the intersection of Lawrence County 131 and 129. The fellar callin’ himself Rooney quickly announced— "We’re ‘Rooney and York’ entertainment spectacular and we’re travelin’ from our engagement in Littleville this weekend to our next scheduled engagement in Double Springs comin’ Saturday."

Seems "Rooney and York" had taken a left turn off road 99 and found themselves in downtown Flat Rock rather than on Alabama Highway 24 East headin’ for Double Springs via Moulton.

Here entered Bryan Vandiver, Dustin’s neighbor, payin’ Slim for travelin’ petro. He was headin’ to deliver a long truckload of shavin’s to Mt. Hope for comfortin’ chickens big or small. He offered "Rooney and York" to line up b’hind his rig and he’d drop ‘em off on Hwy 24 in the direction of Moulton.

Bryan is another one of ‘em given names I have always had problems with. It’s Bryan like the Bryan meat folk not Brian like the name we know in and ‘bout Flat Rock. Bryan and I have been friends for years. Actual, Bryan was one of my 4-Hers earlier on in my Extension career and, like I mentioned, he is a neighbor, too. Growin’ up, Bryan had this horse named Sophia and, actual today, he has a wonderful wife and her given name is Sophia also.

At this here point, we got "Rooney and York" turned outside The Store and lined up with Bryan headed t’ward Double Springs via Mt. Hope and Moulton. I know you can picture it, but you just shoulda seen it—Bryan and the shavin’ rig leadin’ "Rooney and York" entertainments down Lawrence County 131 back to road 99 South—an oddly sight even for Flat Rock. Yep, and there’s "Rooney and York" entertainments and Bryan the shavin’ man with three somewhat oddly-given names.

Here most of the gathered folk headed out, some with dazed and confused looks, some with oddly-given names, to late evenin’ duties and obligations.

My given name’s just "Joe"…

Joe Potter, Potter’s Mud Creek Farm is located at 5840 County Road 339 (County Line Road), Russellville, near "Our" Flat Rock, in Lawrence County; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .