A Good Ole Boy

Yesterday, while playing golf, Michael Higgins told Gene Kilby and I the joke their former 'good ole boy' partner used to tell.

Katherine doesn't like the term 'Good Ole Boy', because, in defense of something terribly gauche I've done, I sometimes say: "I'm sorry, but, I'm just a 'good ole boy'."

The term means many things to many people...to some it's a positive term meaning more or less what it says literally...a loyal, 'family' man, who has good moral values....to others it's a term to describe a member of a clique of close friends...'good ole' boys'...to others it's pejorative meaning a hick of limited experience and evident xenophobia ...to others a 'redneck'...

Here's how one redneck describes himself:

"A true redneck don't give a shit about nothing but putting food on the table, working, and getting drunk. A man ain't got a job and can't provide for himself can go to hell as far as I care."

So the joke goes:

Four good old boys, Arlo Goodwin, Buddy Branch, Johnny Rocket Davis, and James Welford were playing golf and Buddy died on the spot at the 14th hole of a heart attack. The other three who didn't want to miss playing the remainder of the round,  propped him up in the cart using a couple of old bungee cords in Johnny Rocker's bag.

When they finished up the round, they discussed who would tell Buddy's wife, Mary Elizabeth. Arlo was nominated because he probably had the most compassion, empathy, and charm...Arlo managed his restaurant during the week, coached little league on Saturday, taught bible school on Sunday morning and played golf with his buddies on Sunday afternoon.

On the trip over to Buddy's house with Buddy in the trunk, Arlo rehearsed what he would say to Mary Elizabeth.

When they got to the house, Arlo knocked on the door and when Mary Elizabeth opened the door, he said: 

"Widow Branch"

and Mary Elizabeth said: "Arlo, what's the matter with you, I ain't no widow"

"Bullshiiiit" ... Arlo responded.