I have travelled around a good bit thanks to military, and other projects over the years. After my Dad passed away, I decided I wanted a warmer climate other than Indiana, so I set out for a place I had been stationed. I ended up in Johnson City, Tx. with some of my kin. I got a job in Austin in an Autobody Shop, and pretty much enjoyed it. The shop foreman at the dealership had an alcohol problem, and lost his job. He and his family had become close friends with mine. About a year later, he came to me, and asked me to help him with a job. He was going to re-open an old shop, and needed a bodyman. I said I would help, but did not realize it was almost 100 miles away!! I went to Hearne with him, to look things over, and figured I could help out for 6 weeks or so. I needed a place to live during the week, and drove back to Austin on the weekends. He took me to and "old friend" of his, and tried to introduce me. Unfortunately, I usually have long hair, and a LARGE beard. The "old friend" looked up, and said "I don't rent to no damned Hippie's, get him out of here." I was ready to leave, but Joe tried to stay. I walked to the car, and waited. He came out, and apologized, and I told him it was OK. A couple of days later, I had a message in the office to go visit the "old friend", as he might have something for me... OK, maybe this ain't so good... I went to visit, and had a good talk. The "old friend" was a local J.P., and had been many years. I found he was also a Mason. He had Blonde hair that was a bit below his ears, which seemed odd. After we talked, and he found out a bit about me, and my past, we started a friendship that lasted some 20+ years. A while later, we became partners in a bodyshop, and I also worked EMS for him. When folks would come by to visit, he always introduced me as his "Resident Hippie", and the name Hippie has stuck. It's been almost 30 years now. I wish I had "walked through the door" many years earlier, so he could be there for it, but we lost him in 2003. Some on this board may know him, especially those who have been around for a while, the name of the "old friend", and Brother is Jack Allen Mathews. If you ever met him, you would always remember him. Now once a year, we raise money for the Relay For Life, and the folks scalp and shave me. It's usually good for $1000.00 or so. I donate the hair afterwards, so a child can have a hairpiece. As I get older, it takes a little longer for the hair to re-grow. It takes right at a year for me to get a good 12" beard, and hair length.... Oh, and it's grey as well
But if you come to Hearne, Franklin, or Calvert, ask for Hippie, otherwise most won't know who you are looking for...