EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!!!!! WOW! Thanks for sharing this Bobby! Paige On Mon, 26 February 2001, Bobby Greer wrote: > > Mag, > > You asked for it. I have posted a while back but many of the new members > may not have seen it. > > > > > My Life > Version C > Bobby Greer > 8/18/96 > > “Night life ain’t no good life. > But it’s my life” > Willie Nelson > > Born in north central Texas > With cerebral palsy to share cropping parents > One brother, older, smarter and richer > But not happier. > > Moved to San Antonio, learned to walk at three > Fell alot, sewn up alot, got used to ether, I liked it! > WWII was in full bloom, town full of soldiers > Lived in public housing for awhile > > Had one dog, Lady, a Collie. > Got her in the third grade, put her to sleep > When I was a Junior in college > Loved that dog! > > Went to a special school in 6th grade, > Ridiculed in regular grades before that, > Was pitying myself till I saw my 1st quad with bulbar polio > Went easier on the self-pitying > > Learned more from going to special ed. > Than from special ed. teachers, > Learned to ride city busses > Learned about the “shady side” of downtown > > Learned alot from my Mexican friend, Salvador > Salvador lived a bare bones, impoverished existence, > In a dug out with a dirt floor for a home > His Mom made the best bean rolls I’ve ever eaten > > > > > He taught me to cuss in Spanish, > I taught him to cuss in English > We knew every inch of the river walk, > Went by the Alamo every day. > > Finished high school, went to college > Finished college with a major in psychology > The major for sick people trying to find themselves > Under the guise of learning to help others > > Counselled older disabled adults, > Some said I would inspire these adults > I was a smartass greenhorn with some book klnowledge > The adults were not inspired > > Began drinking regularly after work > I was changing for the worse. > Working with others I had to faced myself > Ran off to get a doctorate, couldn’t take what I saw > > Got a doctorate, a wife who still loves me after 33 years > Had three jobs, in New Jersey, D.C and Memphis > Been teaching in Memphis for 30 years, now. > Adopted and help raise two fine children > > Have taught over 5,000 students > Have taught courses in special ed. voc. rehab., and A&D counseling > Now work with batterers in anger management. > Amazing what a short interest span will do > > Developed hypetension probably the result of drinking > Had a quadruple bypass in ‘83 > And an endoarterectomy on the left carotid in ‘88 > Still do not eat right or excercise > > My true loves are Joyce(my wife), my children and now grandson > My dog Max, blues music, rock and roll music, > Playing poker, Doc Holliday, Hiaason’s novels > Spending money, Mexican food, ice cream and fried chicken > Old WW II war planes, Old West History and John Callahan’s cartoons. > > Most memorable experiences, road trips with my Dad > My first date with Joyce, holding my grandson for the 1st time > Quadruple by-pass, walking in Jerusalem > Seeing the Sea of Galillee, seven days in London, > > In two years I’ve lost my dad, a dear niece and countless friends in > AA > I have learned to hate cancer and its “treatments”. > I have learned the formula time equals love. > If you love someone, you spend time with them. > > I don’t give others enough of my time, > I am at once intolerant and lovable, > Brilliant and stupid, graceful and blundering > Most people I know accept me for who I am, except myself. > > The two most priceless things are love and the present > Death comes to soon and unexpectedly > Life is joyous and is also brutal > Enjoy the good times and brave the brutal ones > > If you have something good to say to somone, sayit > There are no guarantees you will ever see them again > Say it now, say it with heart, say it sincerely > Most of all, say it > > I have witnessed brutality and miracles > I have been inspired and disgusted > Most of all I value playing life like cards in a poker hand > Play what’s dealt and don’t whine. ------------------------------------------------------------- Sign up for ICQmail at http://www.icq.com/icqmail/signup.html