Teaching the Pig to Dance: A Memoir (23 page)

But I have wondered, How much do we have control over, anyway? Some people believe that everything has been predetermined by the Man upstairs. Others believe that we are all on our own. I have come down somewhere in the middle.

Many of us feel a bit like the farmer who labored long and hard to clear what folks back home called “a new ground.” He sweated and toiled until he and his mule were exhausted and every stump was removed from the field. As he looked it over one day, the preacher pulled up and said, “My, my, the Lord sure has blessed you with a beautiful farm.”

Trying to hide his irritation, the farmer replied, “Yes, he
really did. But you should have seen it when he had it all to himself.”

Life is a partnership. Part of it is up to Him and part of it is up to us. But unlike the farmer, we can never be certain which part is which.

I appreciate the interrelatedness of the choices I have made on the one hand, and luck on the other. Life presents us with a series of doors. Some are locked, some are wide open, and some are open just a bit—just enough to reveal some intriguing shadows behind them. But not quite enough to reveal exactly what that something is. Is it something wonderful or something treacherous? Is opportunity waiting or is sadness lurking? We will never know if we don’t walk through the door. Should we play it safe? There is a lot to be said for playing it safe. But safe is not very interesting. At least, I never found it to be. And it’s a lot better if we can make our decisions with a sense of confidence and optimism that comes from seeds planted in our early years.

Then there’s the luck part. I often tell aspiring candidates, half in jest, that the most brilliant politicians are the ones whose daddy left them a fortune or who run for office in a year when their party is sweeping everything. In other words, the key is to be the beneficiary of things totally out of their control. But, of course, there’s more to luck than that.

Being
really
lucky is being born in the United States to
good parents. The acorn still doesn’t fall far from the tree. Our parents, the community we grew up in, and our early experiences form the core of our character, affect the decisions that we make and the course of our lives. I know this better than most.

Even before I left Lawrenceburg, you might say I was given a second chance more than once. Every difficult kid who has grown out of it has a different story to tell. Instead of searching for any commonality between these kids, it’s probably more important to just realize that it does happen. It happens quite often. Understanding this has caused me to view kids who have underachieved, or who seemed less focused, quite differently than I otherwise might. More than once I’ve smiled and said to myself, “There goes another Freddie Thompson. I hope he is as lucky as I was.” My mistakes in life would fill another book, but I’ve been able to have multiple careers, none of which were thought remotely possible for me when I walked across the stage at high school graduation.

Who knows what provides the wake-up call for a kid. I believe that potential has to be inside a person to begin with in order to be brought out, but it is often found in the most unlikely young people. We should not give up on these kids. Meeting the right people, being tested by some hard times, receiving encouragement, and having a little luck can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes even that streak of
rebellion and hardheadedness can mask a sense of individualism and adventuresomeness that can serve a person well and take them to some very interesting places. Don’t be too hard on the rebel without a clue. Maybe the less he does today, the more he’s going to do tomorrow.

I want to express my appreciation to Sean Desmond of Crown Publishers for having the concept for this book and believing that my stories about growing up in a small town would bring a smile and a warm feeling to a lot of folks. Also, thanks to my agent, Mel Berger, for his steadfast friendship and guidance.

In writing this book, I relied upon friends who so often have been there for me before, including Ed McFadden. He gave me wise counsel in shaping and editing the manuscript. Here I also include Alex Castellanos, whose insights and ideas have always served me well. A special thanks to Bobbie Murphy, my assistant for many years, who did everything from research and typing manuscripts to serving as my “humor meter” while she read my stories.

I am deeply indebted to Sarah Knestrick; to my children, Tony, Betsy, and Daniel; to the people I grew up with in Lawrenceburg; and especially to Mom, Dad, and Ken, all of whom created the bittersweet memories I write about and inspired a small-town boy to reach beyond his grasp.

Finally, I want to express my love and gratitude to my wife, Jeri, who not only served as my best sounding board, but helped and encouraged me in this endeavor. It is a trip I could not have made without her.