Tonight I listened to many stories about my Great Uncle Shoat when I attended the Viewing. I knew he was a man with morals and family values but until tonight I didn't realize Just how much he gave up to be rightous and stick to his morals. As I stated in my post the other night, Uncle Shoat could have had more titles if he didn't put his friends and family first. This is reflected in the many stories I heard that took place before my time.
One story really floored me. My Uncle Shoat was offered a job that would have made his name a house hold word but he turned it down. Why? Well, as it turns out he was asked to be the Marlboro Man and yes, he turned it down saying "I never cared for smoking, especially by kids,” he was quoted as saying. “And, if they saw ol’ Shoat doin’ it, they might have to do it, too.”
What would you do if you were offered a job that would make you huge money and get you recognised like that? Would you turn it down even if you didn't have to really smoke but just look like you do? And I have to point out he turned down that job back before the dangers of smoking were even known about. He turned it down for all the right reasons ... Because he didn't believe in it and he knew others looked up to him.
So Simple, yet so hard to do in todays world. Well, it got me thinking. He put those values into his family and because of it I owe him alot and I am honored to have known him as more then the old man that told everyone to give me some ice cream ... What can I do to honor Uncle Shoat and show his family that us young cowboys did look up to him, and we learned from him, and all that he gave up wasn't in vane? After all if he had given in to the world their lives would have been so much easier.
Well, I figured it out. I am going to asked each of you that can to donate a 12X12 Knitted or Crocheted square in Uncle Shoat's name to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund Project. They have a Ravelry Group that can be found HERE however it is going to take me a day or so to figure out if they can track them or if I should be collecting them and tracking them myself before I send the squares to the group. This group provides blankets for injured rodeo athletes that are in need of a little cheering up. And they have the blessing and the support from the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
When I get all the squares tracked I am going to let the family know that this was done in Uncle Shoat's Name. I know that Uncle Shoat would have loved this as he was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back just because he had an extra. So Who is in???
One story really floored me. My Uncle Shoat was offered a job that would have made his name a house hold word but he turned it down. Why? Well, as it turns out he was asked to be the Marlboro Man and yes, he turned it down saying "I never cared for smoking, especially by kids,” he was quoted as saying. “And, if they saw ol’ Shoat doin’ it, they might have to do it, too.”
What would you do if you were offered a job that would make you huge money and get you recognised like that? Would you turn it down even if you didn't have to really smoke but just look like you do? And I have to point out he turned down that job back before the dangers of smoking were even known about. He turned it down for all the right reasons ... Because he didn't believe in it and he knew others looked up to him.
So Simple, yet so hard to do in todays world. Well, it got me thinking. He put those values into his family and because of it I owe him alot and I am honored to have known him as more then the old man that told everyone to give me some ice cream ... What can I do to honor Uncle Shoat and show his family that us young cowboys did look up to him, and we learned from him, and all that he gave up wasn't in vane? After all if he had given in to the world their lives would have been so much easier.
Well, I figured it out. I am going to asked each of you that can to donate a 12X12 Knitted or Crocheted square in Uncle Shoat's name to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund Project. They have a Ravelry Group that can be found HERE however it is going to take me a day or so to figure out if they can track them or if I should be collecting them and tracking them myself before I send the squares to the group. This group provides blankets for injured rodeo athletes that are in need of a little cheering up. And they have the blessing and the support from the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.
When I get all the squares tracked I am going to let the family know that this was done in Uncle Shoat's Name. I know that Uncle Shoat would have loved this as he was the kind of guy who would give you the shirt off his back just because he had an extra. So Who is in???
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