There comes a time, hopefully in everyone’s life, when they know they have made it.

While I’m pretty sure I’m not there yet, I am privileged to belong to a ragtag group of locals who get together each morning to drink coffee and just figure things out.

It is a diverse group, by East Texas standard. We’ve got rice farmers, store keepers, tradesmen and business owners. Even a  big time mover and shaker or two in our little corner of the Third Coast. Of course thats not to say that any one person rates higher that the rest. It’s a true democracy in it’s purist sense. Although, when the owner of the feed store decides to go, it’s time to go.

And each morning, Monday thru Sunday, including holidays, the group start to join up around five A.M..

Of course even on cold days the smokers sit out back in the shop and enjoy their morning jolt with a Camel or King Edward. Not to be rude, the rest of us put on jackets and pull up chairs and join in. Don’t want to miss any good tid bits ya know.

And it’s those “bits” that keep me coming.

Who knew there were better ways to pluck a goose? I never realized squirrel gravy was the best gravy on cat head biscuits and just how long can you keep boudain frozen for? And politics…well, I’ll just leave that one alone for now. Not enough time or space to cover it all.

I’ve been sippin my coffee and enjoying these guys for more years now than I care to remember. It all started with a stop for my morning cup at the Exxon. A friendly “Morning” from the Farmer and the conversation started. It shows no sign of letting up soon.

 Each day is a surprise and if you don’t leave it with a bucket full of wisdom’s, you just weren’t listing.

jd