An Estate Sale

Nothing puts things in perspective like an Estate Sale. Unlike yard sales where you get rid of the stuff you don’t use anymore; an Estate sale consists of all the things that were kept. The things that were held on to for years, decades maybe.

My sweetheart works for an auction company part-time. She loves it! Her job is to sort through items before an auction or estate sale is held. She organizes, prices, and stages it all; then, she works the sale as well. But this week she and her mom are holding their own Estate Sale. It's for a friend of her mother’s. And I was recruited to help out.

The now vacant house is on a lake, a small two bedroom with a loft. The gentleman that lived there passed away this past fall. He was in his nineties I think, and he lived there alone. The house was clean and well kept, and he had a lot of stuff. But, I wouldn’t think much more stuff than anyone else has. Don’t we all have a lot of stuff? I know I do.

As I watched people buy the dead guy's stuff, I couldn’t help but wonder, what would he think? Was that his favorite recliner that kid just loaded in the back of a muddy 4x4 pickup? There’s another guy over there going through the fishing poles like it’s Christmas morning. I wondered which had been his go to pole? Which one did he always grab? I see a few saltwater reels, I bet there’s a story there too! And what about all those tools? I wonder how many things they fixed over the past twenty, thirty, forty years?

But do we actually own anything? Marcus Aurelius wrote, “All that we possess in this life is really only ours in trust. We are renters, and our lives are here on loan.”

Novelist and poet Margret Atwood has written a beautiful poem that also turns ownership and accomplishment on its head-

The moment when, after many years of hard work and a long voyage

you stand in the center of your room, house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,

knowing at last how you got there, and say, I own this.

No, they whisper, you own nothing.

You were a visitor,

time after time climbing the hill, planting the flag, proclaiming.

We never belonged to you.

You never found us.

It is always the other way around.

It’s not only the things that we have, but even our time that is on loan. It could all be gone tomorrow, including us. You or I could be gone tomorrow! One day I’ll be the dead guy, and others will be rummaging through all my stuff. So until then, I think I’ll focus more on the people in my life, and less on the things. I want to make the most of each and every moment I have with them. That is, until the day that my loan is called due…

-MJ Polk

Mar
2025

What's in A Song?

What’s in A Song? I’ve had so many ‘favorites’ over the years. Right now, Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton’s Gonna Leave You is serenading me while I write. “I know a true love, true love, A True Love is hard to find.”

I’ve always had a rather eclectic love of music. When I was younger, I thought that each different genre I found and fell in love with was a reinvention of myself. I overheard my parents telling someone once, “it’s just a phase.” That was probably around the time my dad broke all my Rap CDs and threw them in the trash, “where such filth as that belongs.” It wasn’t until I was well into adulthood before I realized that it’s not only okay to listen to different genres, but that’s actually what music lovers do.

My favorite music? Live Music, I love it! I find myself gravitating towards it, if ever it’s within earshot. There’s nothing like it! Give me a barstool, a beer, and some live tunes…and I’ll close the place down, guaranteed.

One of my favorite songs, for many years, is Stone by Whiskey Myers. “The night is my companion, the highway is my home. Got me seeking for one last beacon, every single place I roam…” I was in a baaad way, out on a lonesome Wyoming interstate when I heard it for the first time. And I don’t know if anything has spoken such truth to me, as did that song, on that miserable day. I came undone.

“People haven’t always been there for me, but music always has.” -Taylor Swift

A Song can be your best friend. A Song understands you like no one else. A Song will comfort you, it’ll cry along with you. A Song will get just as pissed off as you are! Or even scold you at times, reminding you what’s important in life. It’ll pray with you. A Song can touch you, caress you, it can pick you up and dust you off and say, “you’re going to be ok. You’ve got this!”

“When I hear music, I fear no danger. I am invulnerable. I see no foe. I am related to the earliest times and to the latest.” -Henry David Thoreau

A Song can give you strength and courage. It can be the armor you put on to face your troubles. But I think most of all, A Song is Love.

“A Song gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” -Plato

-MJ Polk

Feb
2025

A Billion $

Would I even want to win a Billion dollars? I don’t think so. Frankly, that sounds like a lot of work. I woke up this morning thinking about winning the billion dollar Mega Million jackpot... except, I didn't want it.

Wifey had been talking about it. The jackpot was at like, eight hundred and something million on Friday. And on Saturday she’d mentioned that she’d wanted to buy a ticket, but had forgotten.

“We’ve got one in the door of my truck babydoll.” I said.

I’d gotten one, I’m not sure when. But she was tickled! I say I don’t play the lottery, if anyone asks. I consider the folks leaning on the ice cream cooler, spending hours and probably half their wages on scratch-offs, ‘lotto players’. But I will grab a ‘quick-pick’ Mega Millions or Powerball occasionally. As a matter of fact, I really like to do it when I only have a couple of dollars left in my pocket.

So that’s probably what happened last week. I’d picked one up thinking, what a great story it’d be to win on my last couple bucks. I didn’t even know I had a ticket potentially worth a Billion dollars in the door of my truck, sandwiched between a half eaten pack of ‘Turtles’ and an old tube of sunscreen. It’s not like I wouldn’t be happy with the twenty million or so that they start it at. But Wifey hurried outside to grab the mythical dumptruck full of hundred dollar bills. We checked it… not a winner. Not even close. Hell we didn’t even have one number right.

When I think about it further, and ask myself, “would I really want to win a Billion dollars?” The answer is No, I wouldn’t. To start with, a Billion of anything seems unfathomable. Think about it, a Billion is a thousand Millions…

I increasingly find myself tripped out at the numbers thrown around. The news feed this morning mentioned that Open Ai is valued at $157B. I mean, that doesn’t even make any sense! I grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, when having a Million dollars was rich.

So, I don’t think I want to win some ridiculous amount of money. I’m happy with my life. And winning a Billion dollars would change everything. How would Wifey and I reconilliate my wanderlust for instance. Being broke, it’s no problem. I work on the road some, save some, and she is able to travel with me some. If we were mega wealthy, could we keep that same balance? With me wanting to go non-stop, and her wanting to be here on the homestead? I fear not. I’d want a helicopter, and we’d no doubt fly much more often… would one of us die in a plane crash? It’s not likely if things stay as they are, that’s for sure.

Maybe a million would be okay. After taxes we’d end up with about half that, more than enough to secure our future, and be able to pay for the kids' school, ect. But a Billion? Ah hell, I reckon so ;)

-MJ Polk

Jan
2025

Smile

A few weeks ago while at an artist residency I was asked, if during all of my travels I had ever experienced any negativity. I believe the question was, “MJ. You wear the fact that you hail from the South so prominently. Have you ever had any negative experiences with people from different areas of the country?”

“No. I don’t think so.” I said. “Most people seem to be more intrigued than anything.”

“Why do you think that is?” She asked.

Pondering the question for the first time, I responded that I thought it was because most people are good. That I believe we all want the same thing, to live a happy life. And, that I always try to be a light of positivity towards others.

“You’d be surprised how disarming a smile can be.” I said.

As an over the road truck driver I do travel quite a bit. I’ve logged over 300,000 miles in the past 5 years, and have visited every corner of this vase nation. I’ve spent weeks out on the west coast, the opposite corner of the physical continent, political view, and many values of the deep south. I take pride in my southern roots. There's no doubt that when you see me for the first time, you are liable to create an instant judgment of me. But then, before you can confirm that initial judgment, you’re greeted by my big, well wishing smile.

At first, yes it may be disarming. But a smile is much more than that. A smile is compassion, and understanding. A smile says, “thank you for the job you do.” It says, “I am your brother.” A smile is God’s light, and it illuminates goodness in everything it shines upon.

This revelation came to me when reading ‘Into the Wild’, by Chris McCandless, aka Super Tramp. He said that when hitchhiking, the number one thing you can do to get picked up is smile. He continued that, if the driver saw nothing else as they passed by, he wanted them to see his smile. It was an eye opener for me…it became my mantra. That’s how I want to live my life! Smiling.

So the real secret to why I haven't experienced negativity while traveling America as a Southerner is, I think, because I wear a smile. Try it for yourself. Smile at everyone! It may feel silly at first, but I bet you start to see the good in others grow bigger and bigger with each smile you give. Before long you’ll start to notice an inner smile too, a happiness growing within yourself.

You never know what a smile may mean to someone in passing. Maybe it was just what they needed to make it through, yet another tough day. Maybe, a smile is just what you need today.

-MJ Polk

Dec
2024

What is an Artist Residency?

An Artist Residency is a safe space. A sanctuary for the soul. It's a place any person can go to find and nourish the artist within.

If God, is the God of Creativity- which I know he is- this is the place he preaches. And his sermon is loud and clear, “you are an Artist. You have a gift. Use it. Share it. Art is your ministry”.

So I will heed his words. I will speak- or write in my case- his truth. Art is love. And what this world needs more than anything, is love.

Whether it’s a botanical painting, or an abstract beach scene; he is there calling to us, pleading us to stop and listen, to see the beauty in all things. It could be a poem or a song, an essay or photo; art comes in many forms, all of them inspired by the Creator.

Artists are the vessel he uses to share that beauty with the world. And an Artist Residency, is a place they can hoan their message, surrounded by peers that get it, that inspire one another. An Artist Residency is a gift.

-MJ Polk

Nov
2024

A Gift and A Note

To my friend,

It was so good to see and talk with you the other night! I’m glad you're home, there's no better place to regroup than surrounded by the people you love.

I believe each of us has our own path. Sometimes it's easy strolling, sometimes not. There will be obstacles in our path…one may be a small pebble that hits your heel just right(ouch), or one may well be a huge boulder that we must find our way around. Often, we even need to back up a little, to gain more momentum to make it up the hill standing in our way.

Journaling is how I make sense of it all. First, when I was drowning in a sea of despair, it was a life raft. Now, it's the canoe I use to navigate the sometimes calm, mostly turbulent river of life. My hope is that the following pages will give you a place to organize your thoughts and find clarity as well.

When we spoke the other night, you mentioned how you used to love to write, and that journaling sounded like a good idea. Well here's a little push. Please consider this gift a handle, use it to steady you on this crazy ride we call life.

Your friend, MJ

Oct
2024

Bluebird

Like most mornings, I woke just before my alarm went off today. I've been trying to do better. Trying to be more mindful, more thankful. I know that the more gratitude I have, the happier I am.

But this morning, my first thoughts were of how tired I still am. And a bit of dread creeps in.

The alarm trumpets my morning call to action. I cut it off quickly, trying not to disturb my sleeping wife. Leaning over to give her a good morning kiss, I answer the call.

I dredge my way to the kitchen, start a pot of coffee, then sit down to my journal.

However, as I sit down something new catches my eye. Well it's not new, but it’s in a new place.

My Grandma Meme’s Crystal Bluebird is in the window above the kitchen sink. It wasn’t there yesterday. At least I don’t think it was… and as I reminisce, my mood begins to rise.

I think of my Meme. Of how loving she was. Of how, for me, she was the definition of happiness. And of how that same crystal Bluebird sat in her kitchen window for so many years.

I have a tattoo of ‘the Bluebird of Happiness’ on my right forearm. Its meaning carries such significance for me.

But it isn’t just mine. The Bluebird carries a message of positivity on its wings, spreading Hope and Joy to countless peoples throughout the world.

Native Americans believe it is a sign of prosperity. It’s meant glad tidings across Europe and Asia for centuries.

Its message is inspiring. The poet and playwright, Maurice Masterlinck, wrote a hit play in 1908 called ‘The Bluebird’, about a young girl and her brother seeking happiness. Which has since been the basis of several films and a tv series.

In 1934 Jan Peerce wrote a song titled ‘Bluebird of Happiness’, as did Edward Heyman and Sandor Harmati in 1934, that sold over a million copies.

But for me, I think Miranda Lambert says it best in her song titled ‘Bluebird’.

“And if the house just keeps on winning, I got a wild card up my sleeve. And if love keeps giving me lemons, I’ll just mix ’em in my drink. And if the whole wide world stops singing, and all the stars go dark, I’ll keep a light on in my soul, and a Bluebird in my heart.”

-MJ Polk

Sept
2024

The Courage to Write

It’s scary. I didn’t even think I could read until 4 or 5 years ago, or ‘read for real’, as I would say. I couldn’t make it through a magazine article, much less a book. I’d drift off into another world after a paragraph or two, and lose my place all together.

And now, I want to write? Like, seriously? How can I…be a writer? I barely squeaked through High School. I dropped out of College. I work full time. It’s absurd to think about. Me, a writer. Ha, yeah right!

But I’m doing it. I’m writing right now. Therefore, I am a writer. Will I be a published writer? I don’t know, but I think so. I am working on it. One thing’s for sure, if I don’t write, I’ll never be published. And I do want to be published, or for others to read my works and be inspired. And, it certainly would be nice to get paid to write.

But being published isn’t the main goal. Allowing my soul to speak, creating art in the form of words, writing in itself, is the goal. Maybe it’s scary if I think about it too long, or dwell on publication, or other peoples’ opinions…so I don’t think, I just write. And, I’ll cross those bridges when I come to them.

-MJ Polk

The Southern Copywriter