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.
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