Fudge

He and I and many of the other linemen of our camaraderie went on several other inland fishing trips to other National Forests. We had good times together. I also eventually learned how to bring a few catches back home from our fishing trips.

Fudge wanted to learn how to play basketball. After work one day several of us drove to a nearby park and played the game. Rod and I taught him how to shoot and how the game was played. We again had a great time together. Several months later he suggested the idea about us joining an adult basketball league. We followed along. It didn’t take us long to figure out playing organized basketball was not a good idea. We did not have enough talent to compete with other teams. We lost every game and were often blown out. But, we did have fun.

Over time and changes in the path of our careers and our lives, our group disbanded and we all went our own separate ways. Every so often I would contact Fudge to see how he and his family were. His kids grew up and he helped some of them go to college. At last call he was still working hard, but still loving his family and life.

During the times I came to build friendships, I have had many blacks come to me and call me “brother”. Many of these same men broke into my home, stole things from me, tried to swindle me out of whatever they thought they could and even flirted with my wife. I have also had other blacks and other races graciously smile while they knowingly lied to me face to face. And others still, who have tried to do harm to me or my family or friends, while pretending to be friendly. From these experiences I have come to reason what has been so in comparison to what I recall what relatives once warned.

I have come to this true real recipe about life, each individual should be evaluated as an individual, not by what race or ethnic group or what social group they have been so labeled. There are thieves, liars, con-artists, crooks, and socio-paths in every classification of people. And no classification should bear the brunt of the wrongs of its few.

Knowing about Fudge and so many others made from the same batter, has helped me to sense a different taste on life.