Craven Moorehead Happy New Year

THOUGHTS FOR A NEW YEAR

It’s hard to believe that we are already in the year 2023. Seems like 2022 was just a blur. Now that we’re starting off our new year, I try to look forward to it with a positive outlook. That statement alone is very difficult for me to look at and not laugh at myself. But we must look at the future in a positive light with hope and understanding. I’m guessing the understanding part comes in by coming to the realization that we need to look more carefully when we decide on the leadership of our government, and in the choices and decisions that we make in our daily lives. I know this past year has been rough for a lot of us, and many have struggled just to get by. We are a direct result of our environment and those we choose to surround ourselves with. I believe one of the secrets to success are to surround yourself with genuinely good and positive influences. I’m saying the real deal types not the ones that spend their efforts telling you how good they are. It’s a quality over quantity type of thing. Would you rather have one really good road trip or six crappy ones? I’ll take the good one please. Don’t be influenced by all the negativity of others. Odds are that those type of people get off on watching others fail just to try to convince themselves they are better than someone else. Only you can control if you’re going to be happy or not. Now I realize some of you will say, “Nefarious, I try to be happy but all this s**t keeps putting me down.” I get it. It can be just as simple as changing where you go, who you hang out with or just how you look at things. Been there, done that. Making those changes can be very difficult and also be lonely. You may even feel isolated. Well, I’m going to tell you, there are thousands of others out there that have taken the steps to improve their position. Keep some of these things in mind when you get frustrated with your routine. “My job sucks.” Does it? You may love the work you do and feel pride in your accomplishments. Maybe it’s just a crappy boss that’s botherin’ you. Another saying goes, “there is no such thing as a sh*tty job, just sh*tty management.” There’s a lot of validity in that. “I can’t seem to find someone to spend my time with and enjoy my life.” Where did you meet them? What do you really know about them? Hard to believe this but I met my soulmate by accident and after two weeks of dating, and married her. We lasted 24 years together. I, of course, screwed that up and I own my part in it but the thing I realize now is just don’t look for that person. If it’s meant to be it will happen. You also have to love yourself before you can love anyone else. Adding someone to your life in hopes that it will fix your problems is a short-term solution. There’s more to life than your job. I like to try and refer to, “Play when you can, work when you have to.” It could save your sanity. Could be as easy as getting on your bike and getting out into the fresh air. Treat others how you want to be treated. It may not be returned to you by others, but there’s no need to drag yourself down to a lower level.

“But Nefarious, I had a loss of someone very close to me. I feel lost.” Anyone that has followed me for any time knows I’ve been through this myself. Turned my world upside down. I hate to say this but regardless of what people may say, you won’t get over it. It may even haunt you. It’s up to you to learn how to process that loss and find a way to accept it. I watched an interview of Keanu Reeves and the host asked him, “What do you think happens when you die?” His response was spot on. Keanu responded, “I believe after you die, the ones that loved you will miss you.” I couldn’t have said that any better than that. It’s a fact.

Always think about how you respond to things and act when responding to them before doing so. You know, the look before you leap angle. Remember, you can never completely erase something you’ve said or done. Sometimes nothing said is a more powerful response than any words can express. Stupid is as stupid does. Selfexplanatory. And one last bit going into the new year. There is a difference between an accident and an incident. Drinking and riding can lead to an incident. You don’t accidentally drink, then ride. Remember that.

Use your brains. They can make you happy. In a time when smart phones get smarter and the ones using them get dumber, we should try and put that in perspective. Don’t be lazy. Think for yourself. Think of your legacy and plant the seeds for the next generation. Humanity may be counting on you. That’s a hell of a thought, isn’t it? Ride safe and be responsible. Own your own actions and be proud. Keep your word and be careful who you give it to. Once it’s broken, it’s almost impossible to repair. It’s the only true thing you have that can’t be taken away. Only you can give it to someone of your own free will. I wish all of you a safe, happy, and prosperous year to come. See you out there.

— Nefarious James Grateful American

Angels are Real, Happy New Year

I had a yard sale this weekend. I put signs out on the main drag and the other streets to direct people in. Just before it got totally dark, I jumped into the old Dodge pickup to go retrieve the signs. I was at my 3rd stop (on RT 60 & Jerry Smith) when the truck ran out of gas. I’m standing in the turn lane realizing that I would have to walk back to the shop to get an empty gas can, and then walk back to the corner of Turkey Creek and 60 to get some fuel and then walk back to the truck. By this time it was dark. I swear to you, I could not believe what happens next. This isn’t Winslow Arizona – but a girl in a Ford Expedition rolls down her window at the stop sign and asks me “what’s wrong.” “I’m outta gas” I replied. So she says “Come on, I will give you a ride.” “Lemme see if I have my gas can.” After a short search, I realized that the can was not in my truck. Knowing that I had run out of luck, I just walked to the passenger side of this really nice truck and got in. Oh my God in heaven, I looked at her and she was absolutely beautiful!! Long blonde hair, perfectly dressed, hot body, and to top it all off she was within my wheel-house of maturity. I am really surprised that a woman of this stature and elegance would even stop and look at an old ‘scooter-trash’ looking dude like me much less actually wait around and piss people off at a busy intersection while I took the time to look for my gas can. But she did, and evidently she is very brave. After a short introduction and some small talk she asked me which gas station I wanted to go to – the RaceTrac or the Sunoco. So naturally I said, “RaceTrac.” She told me that after she picked up her friend on the other end of the road she would give me a ride back to the disabled hillbilly truck. She went out of her way to drop me off at the gas station, and I reminded her that she was truly an ‘Angel’ for giving me a ride. When I went inside the store, I searched for a gas can. Yeah, there was only one left. $12.99 plus tax which equals almost all I made in the last two days of the yard sale. But I was on a mission to get the truck back, knowing that the battery would be dead soon because I had left the parking lights on. Anyhow, when I get to the counter a girl that I’ve seen in my frequent visits to the store (which is also very cute and extremely nice) is wondering why I am buying a gas can. I asked “Do y’all rent these?” to which she replied – “No, they aren’t for rent.” But she would go check her car to see if she had one that I could borrow. This was yet another effort by someone to help me with a problem, with no expectation of recompense. She returned and apologized, which was not necessary and I paid for the can and headed to the gas pumps after telling her the story of the beautiful angel that had given me a ride. “I saw her drop you off and I thought maybe she was your girlfriend or wife.” “I wish” is all I could say, and we both laughed. I get a few dollars worth of gas and started hoofing it back down 60 toward the truck. A fellow in a pickup truck stops and says “Man, I heard the story about you running out of gas, and I actually saw that hot girl that dropped you off, so if you want me to, I will drive you back to your truck – just in case she doesn’t come back to get you.” I accepted the ride and the man even offered to hang for a minute just to make sure that I could get it started. I thanked him profusely and told him that I was very appreciative. We conversed about the ‘paying it forward’ thing just like the beautiful girl that brought me there did, and of course, I also told him that he was also an angel unaware. I poured the gas in the tank leaving just a little to dump into the carburetor for good measure. After grinding the battery to the point of death, she finally fired up and as usual the old worn out hillbilly Dodge didn’t let me down. It’s been a very long road with me and that truck. I picked up my signs and went home. This isn’t a fabrication or fantasy by any stretch of the imagination. This is a TRUE story that you should ALL take heed to. I don’t care if you believe in God or whatever deity it is that you worship. It’s none of my business. I can tell you this; there are good angels walking this earth, paying it forward every day that they live and breathe. Personally, I try to help people whenever I can, and I am not prophesizing or preaching here so don’t get the wrong idea. But do yourself one favor – help people if you can. Your reward may not come immediately, so have faith and push on. In the end, it doesn’t really matter, but you only take with you what you have put in. Here’s the kicker. That beautiful woman did come back to look for me, she slowed down, got into the turn lane and after seeing me pouring gas into the tank she just blew the horn and drove away. It is what it is, but I believe that you should take every opportunity that presents itself to you. Perhaps I should have been more patient and had a little more faith in humanity, but alas I did not. Sometimes it is hard to make the right decision based upon faith alone, but I did accomplish the mission and made it back home intact. My agent called to get me booked for some gigs coming up in the near future. I told her this story. She may not be impressed, but she questioned me about why I didn’t get this girl’s phone number. I should have. I learn something every day and my faith in people has been restored to a great extent. Angels are everywhere regardless of your religion. … Everything happens for a reason I suppose. But if anyone knows who this beautiful angel is, then let her know that she has a fan that would love to repay her in so many ways. Later that evening. … The woman somehow tracked me down. I was in my shop, working on an old computer when I saw a truck pull in. It was her! I went over to the window and she, in a sweet as sugar voice asked me if I would mind checking on what the strange ticking sound in the motor was. I of course obliged and after she opened the hood, I began examining the motor. The truck was so tall that I had to sort of get up on the front tire and lean under the hood. I had only been under there for about 20 seconds when something moving behind me startled me and I glanced over to see her standing behind me. All of a sudden, she began pulling on my leg, just like I’m pulling yours! CRAVEN