1965-Voice Of The Tennessee Walking Horse 1965 July Voice | Page 45

and keep them, we are being forced
to evolve more and better fringe
benefits than our downtown competi­
tors. Despite the fact that we cannot
afford it, we are going to enclose and
An open letter to Uncle Sam Shy-
lock—that’s my federal-tax-collector winterize our pool for the help. Then
they’ll be accorded year-round swim­
uncle.
ming privileges. You might well ask
how this project will benefit me, for
Dear Unc:
I cannot swim and have never been
You’ve made your yearly rounds
and extracted the last copper from in the pool. Well, it’s my fond hope
my jeans. I am sure that you need that this unique fringe benefit will
it — and more, for people and money make it possible to get better secre­
tarial help, and thereby alleviate the
are important in a bureaucracy.
But Unc, I’ve been thinking! I’ve following types of frustrating exper­
spent another busy year supporting iences (which I wouldn’t wish off on
the incompetent, with no monetary my worst enemies...yet they actually
incentive to show for it. Hence my happened to me):
1. Mixing up the monthly bills
question: Why should I work; for
to my clients by putting them in
whom am I working? I’m beginning
the wrong envelopes;
to think that Mrs. Ensminger and I
2. Leaving me stranded 2000
should quit and bask in the sun. And
miles from home by fouling up
I’ll tell you why!
my air reservations four times
You took the paltry royalties from
in a row;
this column and my books. And my
3. Chucking and losing im­
publishers and editors, most of whom
portant material in our 22 steel
can neither read nor write (Bless
filing cabinets;
'em. Are you listening, Ed?), took
4. Moving the decimal point
the rest. Although writing is my hob­
two places to the right, where
by, and I love to get up early in the
toxic materials are involved; and
morning (this column was started
5. Misspelling a key word in
at 2:00 AM), that early-morning cof­
an important form letter — spel­
fee, the utilities, three fully-equipped
ling it one way 11 times, another
offices, supplies, and a huge library
way three times, but all 14 of
all cost money. Thus, the choice: (1)
them wrong.
Write for fun, and turn the royalties
over to you; or (2) Take a tranquil­ I’ve experiences many other such
happenstances, but it’s too painful
izer and go back to bed.
And that’s not all! You didn’t leave to tell about them.
Also, Mrs. Ensminger and I esti­
me enough money to support six
secretaries...that is, in the lush man­ mate that we give up one-third of
ner to which I must become accus­ our time to sweeping up after the
tomed to supporting them. I pay incompetent and the unwilling. And,
them well, but they complain that Unc, that unemployment insurance
it’s sort of isolated out here on this is plenty costly — no matter how
subsistence farm. Thus, to entice ornery they are, in California the
"I Ain’t Gonna Work No More”
July, 1965
ruling is always in favor of the em­
ployee.
Having grown up on a Missouri
farm — with outdoor plumbing, and
a wash-tub for Saturday night — it
pains me to cover and winterize my
pool., .as a fringe benefit for my help.
But the choices are clear: (1) cover
pool; (2) perish; or (3) bask in the
sun.
These things, and more, make me
wonder why and for whom I work an
18-hour day, seven days a week!
why I travel through the night rather
than going to bed! why Mrs. Ensmin­
ger is working her heart out, rather
than going to the club! why the
Ensmingers have the second highest
postal bill of anyone in Clovis!
Of course, Unc, I know you have a
lot of people and projects to support
And I’ve heard stories of government
waste and inefficiency. But that’s
your problem! Me, I’m trying to
decide between (1) joining you, as a
government employee, (2) "Ain’t
gonna work no more,”or (3)keeping
on keeping on — and letting you get
your hands in my pockets each year.
I’m perplexed! Perhaps the readers
of this column will be kind enough to
help me come to a decision. In addi­
tion to helping me decide whetheror
not to work, I have the following
specific question upon which I need
counsel and advice: After I cover and
winterize the pool, should 1(1) pro­
vide a lifeguard, (2) serve refresh­
ments on the patio, and (3) play
appropriate music?
FARM SALE
There were things I needed, so I stood
Among the crowd and waited till they
broughtt
Out the household wares, substantial and
good.
But when it was over, I had not bought
A thing. I hod the feeling somehow
That a presence drew near, remote and
dim . . .
I could picture her with sunlight on her brow,
Standing on that rug to welcome him,
And I could see as plain a twilight scene.
The gateleg table and the two of them
Holding hands, the rose tea service be­
tween.
And the luster pitcher that was a living
gem
That caught the sunlight gleams,
Her china, daisy-wreathed, gold-banded.
It was like buying someone else's dreams.
So I came away . . . empty handed.
— Alma Robinson Higbee
45