Nutbush city Tennessee and goals


A number of years ago there was a ride I wanted to take. Now at the time I was riding with a Masonic Motorcycle Order and wanted to go to Tennessee. I am a huge fan of Bob Segars older stuff. He does have one record I can not get anymore, well streaming anyway, and I am bumbed. But on his live album he did a cover of Nutbush City Limits. I did not know at the time that Ike and Tina Turner wrote and recorded it. Or that it was about the town Tina grew up in.

The song Nutbush City limits had 2 things in it that made me ride down for. The song said that there was no Motorcycles or Whiskey allowed un Nutbush. I jumped on my bike and headed to Tennessee. Had a small issue and left the bike in St. Louis and drove to Memphis. I rented a Harley and rode to Nutbush. Stopped at a Liquor store and bought a bottle of whiskey and for at least 10 – 15 minutes Nutbush Tennessee had a motorcycle and whiskey in “city limits”.  

Nutbush is a very small community. There are about 259 people that live in town. The image is a picture of their grocery store just as you get into town and across the highway (it’s on highway 19) is a cotton gin.  That’s town…

As I am writing this I am thinking about goals. I have shared Masonic thoughts for the last few years. Not everything has to revolved around Masonry, gasp…yes I really said that. But in a odd way it does. Masonry is a living breathing thing. I say that because while it is a philosophy and way of looking at the world. It is also a tool you can use to achieve your goals.

The road to obtaining your goals will not always be easy, nor should it be. I had to leave my bike at a friend’s and reevaluate the plan. Thankfully there was proper planning, and my wife was following in the car in case the bike broke down. I am a huge believe in the 6 Ps. (Proper, Planning, Prevents, P***, Poor, Performance). It was something my Drill Sgt drove in to my head, it stuck.

So, with planning, re-evaluating, and determination…I got my photo in Nutbush, Tennessee with a bottle and motorcycle.

What goals would you like to set in front of you and achieve? Maybe they are long term, maybe short? Many small goals lead to bigger ones. Are they Masonic in nature? Learning a new part in degree? Sitting in a chair? Working on a committee? Or just being available to assist the lodge with general upkeep?

Or are the goals more personal? Maybe go back to school and finish a degree? Take a few classes to brush up your skills and knowledge.  I know one guy that in his 30s – 40s, I am not 100% sure his age had a goal of graduating High School. He went, put in the study on top of work and spending time with his family, and did it. He walked his graduation and spoke to his class about goals and not giving up.  Sure, setbacks are setbacks, but they do not have to define you.

So, what is your vision for yourself? How much to you believe in it? Do you see that goal so clear and so obtainable that is just has to happen. That there is no way it cannot become a reality? Now, are you willing to work for it?

I love you and may we govern ourselves accordingly


 

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