‘Hard Work and Happiness’ by Shane Brown

When I work for Anthony during the week, it’s usually hard physical labor every day. I’m happy for the work, but damn, it’s something I’ve never done and I love it.

I’m glad I’ve got Earl beside me though. He usually runs circles around me while we work but I tend to keep up with him; at least in my mind and ethic I do.

Anthony works side by side with us, and he is a hell of a worker too. Sometimes he has to go away from our job site to bid other jobs, get us equipment or drinks, or run a certain errand; things a boss has to do to keep the business going. He runs his smoothly. He runs it by hard work. He runs it by being happy and glad, but thankful to work and by doing what is asked and needed by his clients.

I’ve never built a retaining wall with railroad ties ten feet high or busted concrete driveways with a sledge hammer to build a twenty-five foot drain, moved 50 tons of rip rap in a wheel barrow that was then picked up and dropped over a ledge on a creek bank, used shovels, axe picks, rakes, and hammers for every day tools… but I’ve learned it through Anthony and Earl.

I haven’t ever built bathrooms, washrooms, closets, or dug four hundred yard ditches that hold water line pipes that were cleaned and glued and covered, but I have done the other things: cutting grass, weed eating, picking thousands of weeds from flowerbeds and any other job a landscaper would do.

I’m happy for the work he gives me. But it’s all new to me.

Billy Ray keeps me busy too. I usually milk cows for him two to three nights and a morning for him each week. I love this type of work too. I’m always at peace when I am on his farm; it’s home and I’m with his family. My best friend is here watching me milk tonight and making me laugh while I work. In my mind right now, in my life right now, I believe you have to work hard to be happy to make you happy. I’m happy.

My alarm is trying to wake me up on Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. and I’m exhausted from the work I’ve done for Anthony and Billy Ray all week. I don’t wanna get up, but the alarm clock wins. I roll out of bed and put on my blue jeans and ease my boots on. I dress my arms and chest with a long sleeve t-shirt and doubled up with a sweatshirt. I know it’s gonna be cold milking cows with the wind blowing loudly outside my little cabin from what I’m hearing.

I finished milking and I am happy that everything ran smoothly; all cows were milked and they were all fed and taken care of. Heather has finally shown back up and she is excited about our trip to Hernando to sell milk on the square.

We laugh and talk all through the ride to north and then there and then all the way back home. It’s been a good day. We try to go rest and get ready for a gig at Delta Steak Company in Abbeville for Erin and Allen later tonight. I’ve gotta have some rest. We ride backroads and talk and laugh before our hour-long nap. I was happy to do both.

I’m playing guitar and singing and a crowd has shown up to Delta Steak Company. Laughter and smiles are floating throughout my view as I play another song and they sing with me. A restless local stands in front of me while I’m singing a song and he kicks up his leg and swings his arms in the air. He told me his name was Chicken Snake. He was happy when he told me that. I was happy that he told me his name.

Heather is being a shoulder to cry on and being beautiful. BeBe is dancing and having a blast. A few locals are listening to my words and I see feet tapping the floor; I always watch for feet tapping the floor. The crowd is good and enthused. I see smiles and good times. I watch Chicken Snake dance the crowd watching him. Yeah, Chicken Snake… I’m happy.

Shane Brown is a HottyToddy.com contributor and the son of noted author Larry Brown. Shane is an Oxford native with Yocona and Tula roots. Shane is a graduate of Mississippi State University. He has two children — Maddux, age 9, and Rilee, age 7 — and makes his home at “A Place Called Tula.” He can be reached at msushanebrown@yahoo.com.

Copyright Shane Brown, 2015.

Follow HottyToddy.com on Instagram and Twitter @hottytoddynews. Like its Facebook page: If You Love Oxford and Ole Miss…