Take it and shove it

As I’ve written, I’ve been at least partly self-employed for the past 23 years [1]. I’ve nothing but admiration for anyone who thrives as an employee. It takes a special person to do that. And in that regard, I’m not special. But I’m special in another way: I love country music. (Sorry, Chrows25, I know you don’t.) One of my favourite country songs is the 1977 classic: ‘Take This Job and Shove It’ [2]. Written by David Allan Coe [3, 4], its most famous singer’s Johnny Paycheck [5, 6]. I’m sure its success is because many an employee would love to say, or even better yell, its title at their employer. Most don’t. And many continue to do menial work under terrible conditions without a peep. Not so Steven Slater (pictured), the JetBlue flight attendant who recently had a spectacular meltdown, cursed a passenger on the tannoy, and then left his plane, and likely his career, with a dramatic exit down an emergency slide [7]. Way to go, Steve. You showed ’em. This Age article documents Steve’s JetBlue episode, and also how air travel’s changed from a romantic adventure to a soul-destroying nightmare [8]. I agree [9]. And I’m sure it’s a nightmare for airline staff as well as passengers. Most do nothing about it. Which makes Steve’s defiant gesture even more epic. Messrs Coe and Paycheck would be proud of you, Steve. I am. And I’ll bet it won’t be long before you collect your next paycheck. Hopefully via self-employment.

farmdoc's blog post number 105

At David and Anthea’s wedding. We were tablemates. As luck would have it. He sat opposite me. Seemed nice enough. Neatly dressed. Pleasant smile. Noticeably eloquent. Tastefully humorous. Intelligent. A legal man. A Judge, actually. Klezmania started to play. Music became the topic. The Judge was enthusiastic. About Klezmer. The blues. Jazz. Classical. Anything. Everything? No, not quite. He let it slip. The bombshell. He disliked country and western. How could he? The heathen. Not like me. I’m the converse. A true believer. Willie Nelson. Tammy Wynette. Merle Haggard. Johnny Cash. Bob Dylan. Emmylou Harris. Steve Earle. Kinky Friedman. Dolly Parton. And more. Many more. I love them all. I do. Country and western. Pure and simple. Simple themes. Simple lyrics. Simple melodies. Catchy tunes. Everyday people. Everyday predicaments. Everyday emotions. Very accessible. Not elitist. So then, Judge. What’s your problem? Red State music, blue State man? I’m not sure. I didn’t ask. It’s not my business. But wait a second. What’d he say? He let it slip. Another bombshell. The Grand Ole Opry. Out of Nashville. Country’s birth place. He went there once. He told me so. He really did so. Well nice one, Judge. You sneaky fellow. A true believer. After all.