Monday, October 12, 2009

Gracious Goodness

It’s great working with Jack. In a word, he’s gracious, which is defined as: Characterized by kindness and warm courtesy; characterized by tact and propriety. Not being a gracious person, by nature, I try to surround myself with people who know a thing or two about “how to behave”. It could rub off on me…

It’s amazing how many people we meet who go out of their way to come to Jack’s book signings. This is a man who has spent most of his life living and working within fifty miles of where he was born. I’ve met his cousins, his aunts, his uncles, his schoolmates, and scores of people who worked at or did business with the sewing factories where Jack was so long employed.

The most touching meeting was a visit by a young woman with a small child in her arms. She came to our booth, and announced that her grandpa had insisted that she find Jack at the festival and introduce herself. It seems that when she was about eight years old, while visiting her grandpa on the mountain, she wandered off. Because of the many abandoned mine shafts pocking the area – remnants of the gold mining that had been ubiquitous in the area in the nineteenth century -- her grandpa was rightfully worried. He called upon Jack to help him search for his grandchild. She proudly announced that Jack had helped find her, and held out her child to display to Jack the continuation of his good work.

Jack, in his usual gracious manner, greeted them warmly. After the family left, he confided that he really hadn’t done anything. By the time they began the search for the child, she showed up of her own accord. This is how it is with Jack. You’d never know from listening to him tell it, but his goodness is legend in Monroe county and surrounding areas of Tennessee. I don’t care whether he saved the child; what’s important is that he’s spread so much good will with his many random acts of kindness.

Jack says that he had an awful temper as a child. I guess that’s true, but he certainly shows no signs of temper now. I’m so glad that he overcame that tendency, as I’m very afraid of bullies of both the physical and verbal varieties. Of course, if he hadn’t changed his ways, I doubt that I’d have published his book because I’d have driven out of my way to avoid even driving by his house. And I certainly wouldn’t be taking nature walks with him to pick okra and corn in his garden.

Jack’s stories are often about children overcoming great odds. They are always about good overcoming evil and despair. This is why I call them folktales. They’re full of the innocent wisdom of old-soul children, and speak to the strength that comes from believing so strongly in and working so hard for something that others are inspired to help make the dream come true. Very much like the way Jack’s book came about.