Ruts and Grooves.

Some know that my oldest son's nickname is Angel. Even though I am really the only one that has ever called him by that name I have shouted it from the bleachers, across the yard, and up the stairs since he was just two years old.  Several family members and friends referred to Stacey as Space or Space Monkey. Occasionally a somewhat curious friend will ask if Levi has a nickname. Well, he does.  Sometimes we call him Levit, short for Leviticus though that is not his name. When he was just a toddler we would call him "babycakes"(for the obvious reasons).  Also when Levi was younger we referred to him as the King of Everybody, Always, and Never.  Although Levi is a very peacefully content young adult, as a preteen and teen he would often be heard saying, 'how come everybody always gets that and I never get any?' So he was dubbed and crowned the King of Everybody, Always, and Never.  

Oddly enough, as an adult I would like to be known for that type of consistency.  Wouldn't it be nice for everyone to have an idea of what you were going to do or at least attempt to do always and never?  Which brings me to my point and I do have one.  

Traditions and consistencies: 

Consistency: if you asked me what I look for in a friendship I would consistently answer consistency.  I would likely follow that with this statement, 'even if you are a witch, if you're a witch every time I see you, I can handle it.'  I think what I like about consistent people is not that they are boring or predictable. It's more about the way they make decisions.  Example, a forward thinking individual tends to be forward thinking on many things, the way they view the day, their job, their relationships, their responsibilities, and their opportunities.  It doesn't


mean I don't like folks that are not forward thinkers, it means I prefer the genuineness of a person that shows through their consistent attributes.  

One more example: Someone who is consistently respectful. They respect their elders, children, strangers, authority, bosses and coworkers.  In addition they respect what they have yet to learn as much as what they know a good deal about.  They respect likeness and diversity and it shows in the way they consistently show respect in many facets of life. 

Traditions.  I have often told people in my philosophical ramblings that the only real difference in a rut and groove is your level of acceptance, contentment, and intention?  Think about that from the front bumper of a four wheel drive pick up truck cruising south along the National Sea Shore.  Transitioning to a groove makes for a smoother cruise along the shore where as falling into a rut may lend itself to a rather expensive tow bill. Yet when we describe the two as they are seen from the bumper of the Laramie they are quite similar.  

I said all of that to say, traditions are grooves that we can snuggle into to develop memories and stories.  Remember that first time you took that trip to Larry Joe Taylors Music Festival? Remember how every time we would go to Mammie and Berr's we would have a jungle lunch? Remember that story/saying/song that Grandmother had that always made us laugh? Remember how we always hung that special ornament on the tree? Or remember how we never ate supper in front of the television? Remember how we never were allowed to eat in the bedroom? Remember how everyone used to call me Jake? 

The groove tradition is the one that puts you on the lookout for more grooves.  It makes you search for ways to create that warm familiar feeling for those you love.  

For me, the groove is putting up all of those Christmas trees every year so my grand children will cherish the traditional trees and the true meaning of Christmas.  The groove is digging deep into Peepaw's wallet for a trip to Winston's Candy store every time we are in Port Aransas, it's wading the washout bridge to the swimming hole even when it's too cold to swim, and it's "God is great, God is good" until they are old enough to word a prayer of salvation.  

Everybody, always, and never seem pretty far out of reach but for now I will attempt to be consistent in my dealings and giving in my traditions.