Of all the Christmas presents I have gotten thru the years, there are a few that have been exceptional. My first BB Gun(which I still have and still works) when I was 6. The first real bicycle,a 3 speed from Western Auto (Yeah I AM that old) and the story below...
I have been fortunate all my life to have such a big and loving family. Every year on Christmas eve we would gather at the house of a Aunt or Cousin and eat yet another feast of a meal before exchanging gifts. When I was younger, the cousins and I would anxiously watch as the meteorologist tracked Santa s every move and we knew when to hurry home because Santa was on his way...
Anyway, fast-forward 15 years or so.. I was working for a local furniture Company(it was the 90's, most everyone was in furniture here) and it was Christmas holiday.
Being a truck driver, I knew a lot of people at all the plants because I came in contact with them everyday . That being said, I may not have known them well, just by face or name. Then there are the ones that just stand out in the crowd. This story is about one of those.
Dianne Pugh or Lady Di as most called her (after Princess Di) was always a bundle of joy and a Ray of sunshine in one package. She always had a smile on her face and was always laughing. I'm not sure what her job was exactly but if it was moral support she was perfect for it.. She had a way of bringing joy into a room.
What I and many of us around her did not know was that under that happy shell was a single mom struggling to survive and provide for her son.. None of us were getting rich in furniture and I'm sure she was on a very tight budget.
All that to get to this, before we got out of work, she asked if I had plans for Christmas eve and if knew anything about a trampoline. Apparently, she had managed to scrimp and save and bought one for her son's Christmas. I told her I knew nothing about them but I would drop by after our meal..
So about 10:00 I show up at her house. There is a small gathering of friends, some I recognize from work, some I don't know. Anyway, the son is about 9 or 10 and had just went to bed anxiously awaiting a visit from Santa.
She makes sure he is asleep and about 5 of us sneak out the back door to start this adventure in Trampoline assembly.
We open the box and the instructions have lots of pictures, (before everything was made in Chi-ONE) so the frame goes together well. We are starting to notice that metal parts are hard to handle when its 30 degrees or so. Forgot my gloves too.. Dang it! Anyway we start to stretch the springs. The second thing we notice is brand new springs don't stretch well in the cold either. But we push and pull on till we get about a third of the way around and realize we can't stretch the springs on the other side enough to reach the mat. So we take it back apart and start them even all the way around the frame.. Much better EXCEPT, it's dark and we got out of alignment and had to UNDO about another third of the springs to move them over a notch or two.. Finally!!
Half frozen, we head back inside to warm our frozen paws. I hung around awhile to listen to funny stories and conversations till after midnight and headed home feeling pretty good about my good deed knowing there was gonna be one happy little boy when his present doesn't fit under the tree in the morning.
This is where the story might end except, this is where it really starts.
We came back from Christmas vacation and it is business as usual at the factory. Everyone is telling war stories of their in-laws and out-laws but pretty much a normal day..
Then I see Lady Di.. She walked up to me, grabbed me in a bear-hug that would make any WWE wrestler envious and proceeded to start telling me how much it meant to her and how surprised her son was that SANTA had brought him a Trampoline! The more she talked the more her voice crackled and with tears flowing like twin rivers down her cheeks, a woman I barely knew was pouring out her heart like it was in a 55 gal barrel. Let me tell ya, when a woman has you in a hug that can cut off your breathing and tries to tell you thank you and she loves you at the same time, YOU BELIEVE it! I wasn't solely responsible for making it happen but apparently she thought I orchestrated the event and it happened because of me.I didn't deserve all the credit , but I wasn't about to try and tell her that . She seemed convinced I was the key that tuned the lock so I'm ok with that.
Ever-since then, I cannot pass a trampoline or does a Christmas eve go by I don't think of that night. It only cost me a few hours of being in the cold , but it turned out to be the best present I ever got. It is better to give than receive.When you realize you helped make a difference in someones life, it gives you a warm feeling that doesn't go away quickly.
I hope this holiday season, you all will take time from our busy schedules to give to those less fortunate. You wont regret it!! RIP Lady Di!! http://www.wattsleft.com/locksoflove
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Happy Birthday to Me!
I would just like to say that I am humbled at the overwhelming birthday wishes I received yesterday. Facebook, texts, emails, phone calls, I tell ya I felt important !
November being the month of my favorite holiday, THANKSGIVING, I thought I should reflect back on my many laps around the sun and consider what all I had to be Thankful for. Here's a sort summary of what I came up with....
Some people go their entire lives without a true friend they can count on.
I am so blessed to have more really GOOD friends than I have time to visit and spend time with. Truth is, some of my friends are much better friends to me than I am to them although it is not my choice. Work and life gets in the way and I hope they know that .
I have friends that have been there for me like brothers and have never turned their backs on me, even if we disagreed. I hope they know how much they are appreciated.
The next half of my life I aim to try to be the better friend!
I also have a GREAT family. Today we see so many dysfunctional split families, yet I was soo blessed to have a loving mother and father and Grandparents that raised me in a Christian home and did their best to teach me right from wrong. Yet I still turned out like I was adapted. Go figure? Anyway it is no reflection on them and I consider myself very lucky. Also to have a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc that are such a loving bunch and I hope they all know how lucky I feel to have them.
Then there is my First wife. The spawn of SATAN! Looking back I was lucky to have her because she REALLY made me appreciate the wife I have now and I tell her so regularly The marriage failure rate is about half or more. I think this is because they teach that marriage is 50/50. It's never 50/50, it's 100% compromise on both parts. You have to work at it like a lifelong date.. Nothing comes easy.. Not in this life anyway!
I am so lucky that even though it took a LONG time to find the right one, I have a woman that loves and supports me back, even if she can't understand me sometimes..LOL!
Then there is money. I have been so lucky that I have never had a lot of money and have been just as happy without it . Money cant buy happiness, only material things....
Wisdom... It's a shame it took this many years to finally understand what my elders tried to tell me years ago... I would love to swap some wisdom for the energy of youth! What would I do differently? Thats another story.
Thanks to everyone again for the birthday wishes.. Peace , love , and Rock and Roll!!
November being the month of my favorite holiday, THANKSGIVING, I thought I should reflect back on my many laps around the sun and consider what all I had to be Thankful for. Here's a sort summary of what I came up with....
Some people go their entire lives without a true friend they can count on.
I am so blessed to have more really GOOD friends than I have time to visit and spend time with. Truth is, some of my friends are much better friends to me than I am to them although it is not my choice. Work and life gets in the way and I hope they know that .
I have friends that have been there for me like brothers and have never turned their backs on me, even if we disagreed. I hope they know how much they are appreciated.
The next half of my life I aim to try to be the better friend!
I also have a GREAT family. Today we see so many dysfunctional split families, yet I was soo blessed to have a loving mother and father and Grandparents that raised me in a Christian home and did their best to teach me right from wrong. Yet I still turned out like I was adapted. Go figure? Anyway it is no reflection on them and I consider myself very lucky. Also to have a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, etc that are such a loving bunch and I hope they all know how lucky I feel to have them.
Then there is my First wife. The spawn of SATAN! Looking back I was lucky to have her because she REALLY made me appreciate the wife I have now and I tell her so regularly The marriage failure rate is about half or more. I think this is because they teach that marriage is 50/50. It's never 50/50, it's 100% compromise on both parts. You have to work at it like a lifelong date.. Nothing comes easy.. Not in this life anyway!
I am so lucky that even though it took a LONG time to find the right one, I have a woman that loves and supports me back, even if she can't understand me sometimes..LOL!
Then there is money. I have been so lucky that I have never had a lot of money and have been just as happy without it . Money cant buy happiness, only material things....
Wisdom... It's a shame it took this many years to finally understand what my elders tried to tell me years ago... I would love to swap some wisdom for the energy of youth! What would I do differently? Thats another story.
Thanks to everyone again for the birthday wishes.. Peace , love , and Rock and Roll!!
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
The Rumors are true!!
The rumors are true!!
After a nearly 10 year hiatus Watts Left is back in the Studio writing and recording new music for a much anticipated return to the Southern Rock forefront.
A throwback to the Southern Rockers of the greatest age in Rock and Roll music. The new CD will have elements of our musical heroes such as , The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot,Etc while incorporating new sounds such as Blackberry Smoke and Preacher Stone , just to name a few...
Stay tuned for updates and more exciting news in the near and upcoming future.
Also check out the Facebook page and our music store page, follow us on Twitter,Reverbnation, and appearing live at a local venue near you!!
After a nearly 10 year hiatus Watts Left is back in the Studio writing and recording new music for a much anticipated return to the Southern Rock forefront.
A throwback to the Southern Rockers of the greatest age in Rock and Roll music. The new CD will have elements of our musical heroes such as , The Outlaws, Molly Hatchet, Blackfoot,Etc while incorporating new sounds such as Blackberry Smoke and Preacher Stone , just to name a few...
Stay tuned for updates and more exciting news in the near and upcoming future.
Also check out the Facebook page and our music store page, follow us on Twitter,Reverbnation, and appearing live at a local venue near you!!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
His Laboring Few!!
OK, Soo I haven't been blogging much as of late.
I heard ya! I PROMISE to do better. So Here we go. Just a special thanx to ROSE"S Dept store in Lexington NC for the Use of their parking lot and all the vendors that contributed to the benefit For HIS LABORING FEW ministry .Brother Brent Turnipseed ,Pastor Steve, and all the other "Brothers and sisters" do a great job to help feed the Hungry, Homeless , and those that just need a hand up.
It was a a Fine day, the rain held off all day till it was over and a good time was had by all. It was organized by Russel Rogers of Leo Recordings and Keith "BIGFUUT" Hancock
of BIGFUUT Productions.
Russel was backed by JR Gainey and the Killing Time band of Lexington. They were Excellent!!
Besides myself there were numerous acts From the stable of ACW Enterprises as well as BigFuut Productions . All of the Artists gave freely of their time and talents for a worthy cause. For those that missed it, There are plans to be there again next year and possibly on a tour w/ the ROSES Stores. Please show them some love and tell the good folks at ROSES you appreciate being a customer of a store that gives back.
Please checkout His Laboring Few ministries and gave Graciously .
I heard ya! I PROMISE to do better. So Here we go. Just a special thanx to ROSE"S Dept store in Lexington NC for the Use of their parking lot and all the vendors that contributed to the benefit For HIS LABORING FEW ministry .Brother Brent Turnipseed ,Pastor Steve, and all the other "Brothers and sisters" do a great job to help feed the Hungry, Homeless , and those that just need a hand up.
It was a a Fine day, the rain held off all day till it was over and a good time was had by all. It was organized by Russel Rogers of Leo Recordings and Keith "BIGFUUT" Hancock
of BIGFUUT Productions.
Russel was backed by JR Gainey and the Killing Time band of Lexington. They were Excellent!!
Besides myself there were numerous acts From the stable of ACW Enterprises as well as BigFuut Productions . All of the Artists gave freely of their time and talents for a worthy cause. For those that missed it, There are plans to be there again next year and possibly on a tour w/ the ROSES Stores. Please show them some love and tell the good folks at ROSES you appreciate being a customer of a store that gives back.
Please checkout His Laboring Few ministries and gave Graciously .
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
REVIEWS
WATTS LEFT BAND debut cd
"SHOT IN THE DARK" 
"SHOT IN THE DARK"
Just when it looked like the best of the southern rock bands had come and gone, and that we would forever be stuck with regrouped bands dishing up revamped versions of the classics, along comes North Carolina's superb singer/guitarist/song writer Wes Nance and his equally impressive band, Watts Left. Watts Left consists of Chad Buie on drums, Harold Pridgen on bass, Mark Cannell on guitar, and Tom Tucker on vocals and harmonica. Wes Nance sings lead vocals and plays acoustic, electric, and slide guitars. The disc, which is the debut release for the new Subtle Chaos Music, opens with the ballsy "Come and See Me," followed by "Backstreets." Both possess the Lynyrd Skynyrd/Molly Hatchet vibe, with energy to spare and some good, gritty southern vocals. That same energy weaves it's way through all of the 11 songs on the album. It peaks, however, in the set closer "Rebel Yell," which opens with the sound of Confederate drums marching into battle. Also outstanding is the title track "Shot in the Dark," "Can't Stop Searching," and the ballads "Hear the Gypsy Cry" and "Guess I Was Wrong." "Shot in the Dark" is a refreshing breath of southern air, featuring talented musicians, well-constructed southern rock songs, and a plethora of hot licks. When you take away all of the one-hit wonders that dominate the charts these days, and strip away all of the nonsense out there, this is Watts Left. ~ Michael B. Smith, All Music Guide
OUR BUDS!!!
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