BASED ON A TRUE STORY

(most of the time) lin entertained the world. Einstein changed the world.

A

series

by Bad Billy Laveau

On one thing we can all agree: each man in his own way was monumental. Chap-

Sir Alexander Fleming said, “That contaminating mold in our petri dishes kills bacteria. Let’s use it to treat infections.” (Yes, I put words in his mouth). That mold was penicillin. Before Fleming, up to 90% of pneumonia infections died. With the advent of penicillin, 95% survived.

John F. Kennedy said, “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” It changed the US, at least for a few years.

Timothy Lear, Ph.D. said, “Tune it. Turn on. Drop out.” Out popped a few generations of drugged-out semi-zombies who did nothing to aid our country. Saprophytes at best. The opposite of Kennedy’s outcome.

The Wright brothers gave us airplanes which eventually led to rapid international travel. And that, Dear Hearts, gave us worldwide epidemics, first AIDS and then COVID. Not every bit of progress is perfect, regardless of how useful it is.

None of us know what is next. But we can be assured that some seemingly minor, but cataclysmic occurrences will rattle our cages again.

Therein lies the problem.

Who will be the one to utter what phrase? Not every spoken word is world shaking. Lesser spoken words can have local effects. What you say helps shape your family. Your community. Kind words nurture kind thoughts. Harsh words foster villainous thoughts. Clearly one is better than the other.

Be careful what you wish for. You might get it. Trite but true.

Brother Dave Gardner said, “Comedians say funny things. I say things funny.” And that he did. I saw him in 1960 at the University of Georgia Fine Arts Auditorium. He made me laugh until my face hurt. I can still remember some of his stories. His impeccable timing. His vocal inflections. His accent. I was never the same afterward. I have written continuously since then. I must also give some credit to Marion Montgomery who taught me literature in English 102. He said, “A fine arts education teaches you to hate the money it prevents you from making.” That, I shall never forget. My bank account bears that out. Neither of these gentlemen remembers me, but I remember them. They live in my mind. To each I am grateful. Both men changed me. And neither have any idea of their profound effect.

I ask you, Dear Hearts, what have you said that profoundly altered the world? Nothing? Well, neither have I, but in some way almost everything we say (or do) changes someone in some way. As the Hippocratic oath of physicians proclaims, you must first “do no harm.”

Little things you say or do are important. Smile at a newborn child and you imprint his being. Soft voice tones please a child. You owe the child that much. It matters not what you think or feel. You owe the world that much. If you can’t do that much, even for a newborn baby, we don’t need you. Nobody does. Go crawl in a cave and come out when you are ready to be useful. The world will be waiting for you.

Truly, what you say matters. For better or worse, it matters. You need not be an Einstein nor a Chaplin nor a Gardner nor a Montgomery, but you are somebody and you know not your power. Waste it not. Use it wisely.

Think about yesterday. What did you say?