ON the bricks with Melyn Johnson

Today we had a meeting of the Rotary club and I enjoy those meetings. The people like to smile and laugh, they like helping others out, and they are interested in much more than what they cooked for supper last night, the TV show they watched, and their latest hair cut or manicure or pedicure. There isn’t anything wrong with your TV shows, feet, and such, but it really isn’t what is enjoyable to hear about.

I like people who keep life simple. If they are missing someone, they call them. If they want to meet with some friends, they invite them. If they want someone to understand them, they explain themselves. If they don’t understand, they ask questions. If they don’t like something, they say it and don’t make it personal. If they like something, they state it and don’t make it personal. If they want something, they ask for it. And if they love someone, they tell them.

And I recently read this and want to adopt it for myself, too: I like people who begin by blurting out something personal. I like people who are not afraid to walk around with a stain on their shirt. I like people who ugly laugh at their own jokes. I like people who give compliments to strangers in the grocery store and make friends when they’re washing their hands in the bathroom. I like people who get passionate about ideas and excited about others’ success stories. I like people who live a little outside of the box, who march to the beat of their own drum, and who make it a mission to help those around them.

And I like people who instead of being upset by all the things that are

wrong, they are thankful for all the things that are right.

For all those reasons, I like going to Rotary meetings. Because that’s the kind of people there.

And remember the words of Beatle Paul McCartney, “Criticism didn’t really stop us and it shouldn’t ever stope anyone, because critics are only the people who can’t get a record deal themselves.”

Hope you’re having an excellent Fall. The weather is beautiful and there is a fund raiser, “A Ride for Marieh” a little bitty young girl who has had all sorts of heart surgeries recently. The ride, with vehicles of all types welcome, begins on the morning of Sat., Oct. 3, on the east side of Sunset Lake in Guymon at the Lions Pavilion at 9:30. The ride is 50 miles, to Hooker, Hardesty, and back to Guymon. For more information about the ride, call 580-461-7868. The cost is $20 per rider and $10 per passenger. All for a good cause.

See you on the bricks.