I get a LOT of friend requests on FB and accept very few. If I don’t know the person and we have fewer than 25 or so friends in common, I delete the request. Still, I have plenty of people I don’t know and more than a few dead people on my list of friends. Yesterday, I got a Facebook private message from a “friend” I don’t really know.
Here’s what it said:
Hi, my name is (removed for privacy) and it has been my intention for these last several months to tell you why – aside from your interesting face – I sent you a friend request. The reason is because I assumed based upon your name and location you could be related to Scott McKain. Maybe a niece or daughter. Now I have come to believe you are his sister which is even better.
Now I never knew Scott either – we were never friends or hung out or anything. I was only aware of him because he read the news and played the records on our local radio station WMPI in Scottsburg years ago.
I did however meet him briefly when he and I joined a couple hundred of our peers for a trip to Kansas State University back in the early mid 70’s. The night before our departure they gathered us all in a large banquet room at a hotel in Indianapolis, and after having fed us, one of the adults asked us each to stand up – one by one – and say our name and where we were from.
The room was really noisy with a co-ed group of teenagers getting to know each other so the first several speakers could hardly be heard. Then it was Scott’s turn and in his booming radio announcer’s voice he said “Hi, I am Scotty McKain from Jackson County” and then after a brief pause he added “God’s country.”
The room had gone silent as soon as he began to speak and when he finished and took his seat the teenagers began to applaud. So what’s my point?
Fast forward over 40 years and I now work for an Italian company which is headquartered in Milan but also has factories in Spain, France, Poland, Russia, India, as well as several in the United States and in Mexico and in South America as well. So I frequently encounter people who have never been to this country and know little about it. Sometimes they ask me “why do you live there, in Indiana? If I lived in America it would be in Hollywood where the movie stars are.” or “in Las Vegas so I could paarrrty” or “in the mountains so I could ski and snowboard” or “by the ocean so I could swim and surf every day.” Why do you live there in Indiana?” So when the question comes up I simply reply by stealing Scott’s observation from 40 years ago. “Because Indiana is God’s country.” Then I watch a look of amazement come into their eyes almost as if they have been given a revelation.
My point here is your brother took a throw away line and gave me a gift I have remembered and enjoyed for decades. That is true talent. That is true ability.
I am sure you are proud of your brother and I am sure he is proud of you. When you see him again – if you think of it – please thank him for me for the gift he gave us all many years ago.
Note: This gentleman is referring to a time shortly before this photo was taken…
The Internet is flooded with Bernie Sanders in mittens — a photo taken at the Presidential inauguration. Bernie was dressed comfortably and casually at the big event. He was sitting alone. Not sure if it was to stay 6-feet from others, or just because that’s what he preferred. Maybe no one else wanted to sit with poor Bernie. No matter the reason, he’s sure made the rounds via thousands of hilarious memes and gifs.
I simply couldn’t help myself…
TIL (Today I Learned): During the peak of the financial crisis of 2008, Volkswagen became the most valuable company in the world for one day despite being on the brink of bankruptcy. How’d that happen? Read more about the ‘short-squeeze’ amidst chaos…
My favorite brother does a live “daily distinction” talk every single day at 3:00 PM ET. (It’s live on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube.) Sometimes he has guests and sometimes he doesn’t. Yesterday, he had Joe Bonsall of the Oak Ridge Boys.
I could tell you that Joe became emotional when he talked about his Mom, or that he touched on political views (something Scott never does) — but you’ll have to watch it for all that stuff. I will only say that when asked if he had a message he would like to share with those watching that might be going through difficult times he said… try not to worry.
So here I am… trying not to worry that Merida ate Perry’s Fitbit (remember me sharing that I saved it once?). Or that she mangled a channel changer. Instead, I’m going to focus on how cute she looks while lying on the couch.
Something you might find interesting is CovidActNow.org website. You can type in your state/county and get some pretty detailed information insofar as how you’re doing to keep your communities safe. Jackson County, Indiana, doesn’t look pretty, you guys.
But still… trying not to worry and instead thinking about how awesome the fireplace feels when it’s 40 degrees outside…
TIL (today I learned): When a jury convicted Jane Wenham of witchcraft in 1712, due to witnesses accusing her of flying on a broomstick and bewitching servants, the skeptical judge refused to execute her and instead sought a royal pardon, noting that there was “no law against flying.” Read the full article here…
We have a chance for more snow flurries today, but on Sunday (2 short days away), 60 degrees is predicted. Ain’t God good to Indiana? 🙂
Probably because the weather is crazy, people have nothing to do but go through old newspapers. Scrolling through Facebook yesterday, I noticed local paper, The Tribune, shared an image of the front page of their publication from exactly 50 years ago.
Moments later, I get a text asking if I saw my Dad’s name included within the image of the paper’s front page.
I’d call your attention to the article on the top left but know you probably can’t read it. After squinting for about 30 minutes, I figured out it was a report of an accident where a car turned in front of a truck, driven by my Dad, Dallas McKain. Dad’s passenger, my Pap-pa, then 65 years-old, was injured and taken to the hospital.
Either it was no big deal or Dad and Pap-pa kept it a secret because even Mom doesn’t remember this happening. Knowing Pap-pa, it was the latter.
Then today, Curt Kovener (friend and editor of the Crothersville Times) sent me a text that said: “June 1981. God, we were young once.” This message was accompanied by the following image of yet another newspaper clipping…
Can you even imagine what it will be like 40-50 years from now when everything is so much easier to access?
My favorite brother, that Scott McKain guy, has another book that made another list. His latest book, ICONIC, made Forbes “Top Ten of the Year.” Of course, I’m proud because I’m convinced MY brother is the most ICONIC sibling on the planet.
In other business news, ICONIC is currently displayed in the main focus window at Barnes & Noble on 5th Avenue in NY. How cool is that?
