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 People
who live close to nature make colorful similes by noticing the
likenesses of men and animals. My dad once referred to a rusty
lizard on a hot rock — doing push-ups, and puffing himself
with air — as "braggin'." In McAllen, a friend
pointed to a group of street-corner loafers who were
"turkey-necking" -- stretching and turning to watch
all who passed by. Either figure is meaningless to the apartment
dweller, but perfectly clear to this "country boy".
"Turkey-necking"
on the street corner may be harmless pastime (sans an
"eye" for the wrong thing) but we can do with less
"turkey-necking" in the church. The song leader and
speakers know exactly who will turn halfway around in the seat
to see who came in late, or took a child to the restroom. And
when the clock is in the back — where it should be for proper
timing of the service by those on the floor — turkey-neckers
get a workout.
Other
"turkey-neckers" are not content unless they can be
"in" on every juicy bit of gossip making the rounds.
They "Oh" and "Ah" at life's parade, milking
all the sensation possible out of every happening; and color the
duller portions to better suit their imaginative tastes. If you
have ever watched a flock of barn-yard turkeys or geese, as
something "new" comes along,
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you get the picture.
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Another
McAllen story concerns a small boy who announced he was going to
run away from home. His mother was distraught with concern, but
a wiser dad said, "Well son, if you must, you must."
The
little boy somewhat abashed, wrapped a few toys in a cloth,
patted his dog on the head and said "goodbye", and
walked away.
About
fifteen minutes later (mom was beginning to fret) he came
walking back up the sidewalk, and paused beside a seemingly
disinterested father. "Well, I see you still have the same
old dog!" he said.
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True
to life, lots of people tell me they read "Stuff"
first, and find it a bit of sauce, welcomed and helpful in the
digestion of Plain Talk points made elsewhere in a different
vein. Well, that's the way we mean it. This "streak"
is an honest part of me it seems, and must "out" at
times.
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