The Episodic Thoughts of Hamp

Codis Hampton

Description

All of my life I've been a jack of all trades and master of none sometimes to my own detriment. I have abilities and talent that required study and development. For some reason or turn in life, I never took the chance to fully develop as a singer, instrumentalist, commercial artist, cartoonist, comedian, or actor. I love the arts but never could settle on one field. Nor put in the work and study required to excel in either category. I also love the world of business; always imagining myself as a man in charge. I attribute that to my Leo sign. As a Dept. of Defense employee, career success was realized by beginning as a Supply Clerk and retiring as Director of Small Purchase. In self-employment ventures, I had the ideas and skills but lacked the funding. I also found my interest varied as an entrepreneur. I love the service aspect of business, especially helping people. Yet, I am always drawn back to the arts. Those varied experiences, compelling interest and parental inherited common sense led me to writing social commentary. Whether it’s humorous or serious political commentary, my perspective differs from the norm.

Sujets

• Social Science
• Essays
• Sociologie, société et politique

Informations

• Publié par: Outskirts Press
• Date de parution: 09 février 2015
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781478753193
• Langue: English

Extrait

The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

The Episodic Thoughts of Hamp
Or A Blogger’s 1999-2014 Perspective
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright © 2015 Codis Hampton II
v2.0

Cover Photo © 2015 thinkstockphotos.com. All rights reserved - used with permission.

This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 9781478753193

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PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Check out Mr. Hampton weekly works at “Hamp’s Corner of America” found on web sites www.katara-Rhythm.com and www.chiia.com ,
or FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hamps-Corner-of-America/207387462631457 .

Catch him on LinkedIn too at https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=31446892&trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HampTwo

Or you can listen to him live at Hamp’s Corner of America Blog Talk Radio Show.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hampscornerofamerica

If you can’t catch a live show, you can visit the website above; listen to the lineup of shows already broadcast at your own leisure. Follow the show to get notifications of future broadcast.
Author’s Personal Note
I wanted to be the man my father thought I could become.

“I wanted to be the man my father thought I could become. Events and incidents facilitated my growth beyond my wildest dreams. Yet even today in my elder statesmen’s years I wonder what he would think of me now. I know that he would be proud of me, a working career accomplished and retired, becoming a writer to pass on the humor, bits of knowledge, among a few other things to readers. He loved my wife of now almost forty-six years of marriage. “Boy, you got a good one there, you better hold on to her,” he would say. Well daddy, I know a lot of people, including some other relatives, didn’t think we would be together two weeks. Sandra and I, after three children, are still kicking it. There have been a lot of loving, missing each other, apologizing and compromising. There has been a re-evaluation of one’s true values, overcoming man-made obstacles, earned respect, maturing, devotion and continued loving to keep this marriage together on both our parts.
When I left Milwaukee in the fall of 1978 moving to California, my father only had one piece of advice for me. He had heard me complain time and time again about getting a real job. He saw my happiness at opening our Katara-Rhythm, our little gift and record shop. He felt my pain at having to close it, not because of a lack of customers, because I lacked the capital to expand. The bank told me, and rightly so, I could not get a loan without collateral. So close and yet so far from success, I choose to leave for greener pastures. He knew I had a Government position waiting for me. His words of advice were thoughtful, deliberate and succinct. In his gruff voice and deep concern for my wife, two kids and a newborn baby echoed in his warning, “Boy, don’t you get out there and forget your family. You send for them as soon as you can, you hear?” I drove all the way to San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area, arriving around September 19th. My wife and kids arrived at Oakland International Airport the second week in December. Needless to say, daddy was happy with me. He was a hard working family man that loved to fish and “take a nip now and then.”
In remembrance of who he was and what he stood for, this book is not only dedicated to my wife but to you daddy. It has been a wild ride, this thing called life, and it is not over yet. God has allowed me to survive and I hope I am making him proud of me too.
In the end, this book is compiled for you the public. Some of you know me, most don’t. I believe God gave me a gift and wanted me to share it with you. It’s a way of looking at life from my perspective. I hope you are moved to think about your own lives, family, politics, religion, etc. from reading these articles. The words are meant to give you pause and reflection. You can take it from there. As for me, like the Johnny Taylor song says, hey world, I am still kicking it and … “I’m doing my own thing.”
Peace, and make it a day that Jesus Christ would be proud of,

Codis Hampton II
Acknowledgement I
Scholars and the like urge people to know their past in order to improve upon their future. They implore us to understand our history in order not to repeat the same mistakes in the here and now. That is one reason I wanted to present these thoughts I wrote as far back as 15 years ago up through today.
I want to acknowledge a few people that have helped me get to this stage in my life. First and foremost, the Lord almighty and Jesus Christ, without whose gifts of compassion and power of perception and life itself, would not allow me to have a past, present or future.
Secondly my parents, Codis Hampton Senior, and Doreatha (Childs-Hampton) Cole, and the family tree of Hampton’s that came before them, withstanding the abuse, degradation, and terror to survive and procreate people of today with talents beyond their wildest dreams at the time. I always give credit to my stepmother, Rosalie Hampton, my mother-in-law, Ruth Gilkey-Moseby for playing an essential role in my life as friends and advisors. To my cousins who doubled as my playmates and friends while growing up in Milwaukee, to the fellows, who I ran, got in and out of trouble with, to the girls who taught me the passionate part of life too.
To friends and comrades I met and ran with while in the United States Army and to its organizational structure that carved a man out of a wild-eyed boy. To Jeannie and Katie, whose faces I can still see waving goodbye as I left Korea headed stateside. For the lifelong lessons, you taught, and companionship you provided during a vitally significant growth period, I hope your lives were as rich and meaningful as you dreamed they could be. Thanks for a lifetime of memories.
To Sandra (Moseby) Hampton, my wife of 46 years, a woman who has given me three children and stood by me through thick and thin, our love is still real. To the many family members and friends that have endured my quirky sense of humor, I love and thank you all. To not have met anyone of you would have left a void in my life that I will never experience because you all were there for me. I hope and pray that I have provided some sort of lasting impression on you that you all have for me. But then, hold on, because there is more life to live, friends and people to meet, things to do and places to go. It is certainly true; God ain’t through with me yet.

Codis Hampton II
Acknowledgement II
Gracie Hall-Hampton, the Arkansas Years, 1917-1953. Over the last several Arkansas years, Gracie Hall-Hampton had become somewhat callous in manner. Friends, family, as well as foe, say dealing with her could be a difficult task. Some say she’d gone from a sweet innocent young girl to a mean quick-tempered old woman. She always had her shotgun near, with a four-inch all-purpose pocket knife in the lone pocket of her trademark full-bodied specialty made housewives apron. I guess over the years, she felt the need to defend her family, property, or self could come at any moment. She just wanted to be ready.
One can understand how a single mother must be a rock in the family, especially in the rural areas of a segregated South. Given where she and her family lived, one can also understand why she had to be tough to fend for herself and those she loved. In some ways, she took on the personality of a frontier woman blazing a trail for others to follow.
Raising five children, after her husband died was a tough assignment. She had to be a teacher after school was out, the mother when one of own was physically or emotionally hurt, a strong, kind, or stern disciplinarian whenever a situation call for it. She had to provide the voice of wisdom and experience to young folks who thought they had the answers to all problems. But most of all, she had to be the protector of her family when it came to dealing with people, especially the local white folk.
She, maybe a little grudgingly, took on all those and other roles required at specific times. As time went on, she realized that she could not be hesitant in making decisions. She had to convince some by proving that she was neither weak nor reluctant to do whatever was necessary for her and family to survive. Those who dared to challenge her authority found they’d better arm themselves because it would be a fight to the death.
To some, she was a sweet old lady who made the best tea cakes and other sweet treats. She was just as enjoyable as she had to be to get her way. A testament of her character all depended on who were providing the information. There was one common fact in all the conversations and inquires. One did not cross this little five foot mother of five or there would be consequences.
For me, little Codis, a young, wide-eyed five-year-old kid, she was just Grandma. I was sent south because my father and mother, who were still living in Milwaukee, were going through a separation period which finally ended in divorce. I stayed with my grandma and her youngest daughter almost a couple of years.
She maintained her gruff personality even after moving to Milwaukee. She told me the story of a visit to the county hospital-clinic. She was there for a physical checkup but quickly became annoyed while taking the exam. She told me, “I told tha