Not all of the lessons I learned from James would be considered "positive" by everyone, especially one who had never known anyone like James. This "lesson" is more a view of the man and his reaction to a "one size fits all" rule. I suppose we all have been beaten down by the bureaucratic mentality many times in our lives. I worked for the state and federal governments as a teacher, so I was constantly aware of rules that were set in stone even if their application into specific situations was weak at the very least. Of course, like most of you, I may have resented them, but I usually kept this resentment to myself, especially since I was certain I couldn't change things. James did not typically keep his resentment inside.
About three or four times a
year, James would want me to accompany him on a trip to some property he owned
near Wartburg , Tennessee Rugby ,
Tennessee which is an article in itself, and
we would visit his alma mater, The University of the South, in Sewanee ,
Tennessee , which is easily another article,
but this story focuses on our traditional first stop, Highland Winery near Jamestown , Tennessee Tennessee
On this trip, we were
informed he could only purchase one case.
Now James was in his 80's and trips like this were getting harder and
less likely every year, and he tried politely to reason with the lady helping
us. Her boss was helping another
customer, and she tried very carefully with head nods and looks to communicate
her hands were tied. James continued
with his desire to buy two cases trying to explain his situation and he did so
loudly enough to attract the boss and fellow customer. The boss tried explaining, but his entire
argument was the policy had changed. No
real explanation. One size fits
all. James raised the ante by getting
down on his knees and begging for two cases.
My only involvement was to suggest to the boss that the quickest way to
get rid of us was to make an exception, and, thankfully, he did.
I took the cases to the trunk
while James paid and made sure the lady knew he understood she was only doing
her job. She followed him out and told
us if the boss hadn't been there she would have sold him two. We loaded up and headed out with me
considering the whole episode quietly. I
then asked James an interesting question.
"Did you even care about
getting two cases instead of one?"
"Of course not; I just
didn't like a silly rule like that."
I suppose we are all judged
by what we will allow. I know I made
decisions about battles I could have fought and some I did that I would like to
make again. I also very much believe in
readiness being a key to understanding and successfully implementing advice
from others. James was at a point in his
life where that was a battle worth having.
I was not. But I have never
forgotten the event, and it has made me evaluate these types of situations
differently ever since.
My guess is, the next
"James" who made a similar request might get individual
consideration.
