Back to the concert - After Pam made her comments, Jr. stated that it was no surprise
that Pam had stated what she did BECAUSE, as he so eloquently put it, I am James Means' son. I was awe-struck by his
statement... but he was right!
My mind raced back to the times when my dad rented houses to people that never paid him like
they could've and certaintly rarely as they should've. Sometimes I would go to collect the paltry sums that he was charging
them and they would've bought beer instead of having his money. Even as a child I knew they were taking his kindness for weakness.
My dad often would give people enough rope to hang themselves but would still hold the chair to keep them from falling...
In retrospect from the experiences in being around my dad and the people he helped I learned
a lot about the gentle kindnesses of my dad and because of that, in many ways, I am really my dad all over again. I
just wonder why my brother seems so much my opposite... Things that make you go hmmm.
Perhaps I've been foolish with some of my generosities and yet it deters me not an iota
because I do not do whatever it is that I choose to do for anyone elses approval. I guess I do the things that I do
to impress myself.
Frankly I was surprised that Pam recognized me specifically, if at all for I was
content with the print on the programs and her verbalizing the contributions of Austin Cab Company and Austin Private
Car & Limousine. I've done the same thing many times before for visiting heads of state and diplomats, sports franchises
and many other causes that I support. That's why people calling my name as a contributor instead of just my company
is very rare. So yes I was surprised... and yet grateful, especially after Willis Jr. put it all into a perspective
that I could understand.
I am proud that I am my fathers' son after all.
