BUDDY

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.

But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. (Psalms 37:7-11)

Grandmother proudly named him Alvin Louis, but the world called him "Buddy".

Course my Dad ain't never called anybody by their proper front name in his life so he naturally called his baby brother "Bud-Drawers"? Go figger, we all label people in one way or the other. Dad just did it with monikers.

In later life, Bud-Drawers weren't much more than a pile of bones loosely gathered in a tanned jerky sack of skin that was framed by a perpetual semi-toothless grin. Stick a smoldering Lucky Strike in that picture and ya got a classic view of what a lifetime in the East Tex oil field can do to a man.

As a visual spectacle, he was in pretty sad shape. Viewed from the depth of his kind, loving soul, he was gentle, kind, and meek toward all others.

To have known him was to have loved him. Likely you couldn't be proud of some of his choices in life, but forgiving him just seemed to come natural.

Buddy "passed down amongst us" in years past, but he still lives in the ranch hand's memory as a blessing.

If the "meek" inherit the earth as per the scripture of Psalms, count me as the first to want to once again see ole Buddy's semi-toothless grin, hug his skinny butt, and tell him how much he meant to me during earth bound existence.

Rest in peace dear friend, I miss you more than I know how to say.