My mentor, the pianist Vol. 2

13NOV2021; 0827, SAT

How fitting that the time, day, and date stamp on this particular post reminds me of my very 1st day in the Army (27AUG2007); as well as my mentor from the womb (Moms) who was born on a Friday the 13th. Just as well, I had no idea how I wanted to begin this particular "story", which prayerfully will be my very first "top story".

I digress. Now to tell y'all a smidge (more) about my mentor, "Derek" who I wish that I knew way before I joined the military too.

One caveat tho: I'm going on my 27th or so hour without sleep after rapping with the Bossman awhile; texting my most recent ex; and listening to music while typing up brief, unique descriptions for each and every one of my 72+ wears/wares on my apparel brand. Link in bio.

Without further ado, let's delve into my memory banks; shall we? Cannonball!:

Not only does the Big Homie keep a simultaneously oddly obscure, and widely known reference at the ready; but he's a magician to boot! At least, he knows several very impressive card tricks, that is.

According to Derek, the "young" man who taught the Big Homie these tricks was pushing ~50 years old when the individual ended up finally getting his initial job. Also, whenever he went anywhere, even if it was just to meet Derek, he always had a more than six feet tall bodyguard within arm's distance approx.

As the young folks say, "If you stay ready, ya ain't gotta get ready!" Almost like the axiom, "Proper planning prevents piss poor performance."

Try saying that five times fast! Seriously tho, it's highly feasible that if/when Derek and my Pops meet, that the two of them will hit it off without a hitch.

Also, I'm damn glad to have both of them handsome heroes in my life, at same time no less. "Blessed and highly favored!"

"Any who's", seeing as there's just so much that Derek has gotten me hip to over the past few months just about, and the fact that I am almost exactly at half my baseline as far as word counts go; I figure why not go "rapid fire"? Again, deep dive; in no particular order:

The "Farmer & the Snake" parable; Abbot & Costello skits; noodling catfish; Tony Baker's comedic voiceovers; and Growling Sidewinder's near epic flight DCS (Digital Combat Simulator) battles (aka Dogfighting [we don't know why pilots refer to it as such, so please don't come at us sideways]). As Steve Rogers ([spoiler alert] aka the former Captain America) infamously stated a few times or so in his many phenomenal film appearances, "I can do this all day."

Don't believe me? "Say less", as the cool kids say.

Derek schooled me to Gervonta Davis; the late, great Jack Johnson; Redd Foxx (Rest In Power); Kevin Hart's recent work; the "River & A Dog" riddle; 2004's Kung Fu Hustle; the "Freezing Bird" (cautionary) tale; the movies Silver Bullet; Sling Blade; Osmosis Jones; The Jerk; the musicians Soul II Soul; Cameo; the historical context of the idiom, "left holding the bag"; the seldom spoken of event, Bacon's Rebellion; and the recent, groundbreaking discovery of Denisovans. All of what I've thus far mentioned, including in Vol. 1, is barely the tip of the iceberg.

I mean, we're talking stories from the military; parenting advice; the tripod stance (get yo mind out the gutter!); and I didn't even mention the $254 pair of shades that Derek found while on a random walk with me. I mean mere moments after losing his outdated, as well as much cheaper, pair of backup specs...

Now, is all that to say that he's infallible and an all around "Holy saint"? Not necessarily.

However, I'll be damned to purgatory if I let the occasional, slightly abrasive political disagreement drive a wedge between the two of us anytime soon. I'll leave you fine folks with this rare gem straight from him: "It's not a dream world; but it is a world to dream in."

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Prayerfully, someone somewhere gets something pertinent (re: useful) from this post. If that somebody's you, then please think about considering a Like/Tip/Share/Sub, and/or checking out some of my other posts.

Also, if you're in the market for an article of clothing or two, there's a link in my bio. Please don't think for a minute that I will be unappreciative of any all who "look out for the cookout".

TIA (Thx In Advance). Peaceful Tidings.

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