Excuse me Miss, could I clean your carpet?

         Funny how truths can be evident , but go unnoticed.  Just recently it became apparent to me that I have a gift, this gift is not really a gift per say. Ok it's difficult to explain but here goes. when I visit with people they start out with the usual  Hi Blackjack how are you?  and my response is something as mundane as "Good how are you?"    This is where it becomes different, Not sure how I do it but , the other person starts to tell me "How he/she is doing!"  Sounds crazy but people talk to me, and I mean really talk. For example the other day in Chesters Post Office I ran into someone I hadn't seen in twenty years, We will call him Stanley to protect his identity, " Well I'll be damned , Hello Stanley" he responded, "Hi Blackjack, it's been a long time."  "Sure as Hell Stanley" we shook hands and I couldn't help but notice his little finger on his right hand bent at an alarming angle to the immediate right, say  90 degrees right. Strangest handshake ever. " Stan what the hell happened to your hand?"  The bait was set and he took it, for the next five minutes Stan told me stories of his life as a Roughneck on the drilling rigs , not totally uninteresting, but he just went off, I just smiled , nodded at the appropriate times, and let him go. One more person that walked away from me feeling like he was fascinating.  I strolled across the street to check in with the local Farm Services Agency, to see if they were printing me any checks , You never Know! Anyhoo Russ was at his office and we conversed for a few minutes, then I asked him "How is your brother?"  His brother is battling cancer, so far to a draw. That was an easy one, Russ regaled me with stories of coyotes coming in his brothers corrals and killing baby calves, while the brother was too sick to go out and help, I showed just the right concern, I hit it just right because Russ had to stop and wipe away a tear. Walking back to my car I realized there was not one question from either about me or mine, and that is just fine .  I go forth to offer my services to those in need.   I have been a Farmer for 40 plus years and now realize that while I am a damn good farmer perhaps my true calling was to be a Door to Door Vacuum Salesman,  We've decided to leave the farm to The Branch Davidian, a very misunderstood group and take up my Kirby Vacuum and Accesory box , and hit the road. So if you notice a Doddering old Fool walking the streets dragging his future behind him, looking more pathetic than sympathetic, please stop and say hello.  I will be sure to listen to your story.