The first time I talked to John Ready, he told me he used to develop pornographic pictures for a living. He said he started going to “Christ Church” and that he studied with the preacher, and that the preacher said he shouldn’t do that anymore. Having determined it to be wrong, he stopped. He stopped even though it was his most significant source of income. That was our first discussion, and that was when I first respected him. Usually, it takes awhile to earn someone’s respect (if we ever earn it). Usually, people take a lot longer to cut through the crap (if we ever cut through it). Not John Ready.
If someone had ever kept attendance, John Ready would have the best record, hands down. He is there when the doors are open, (except when his family took him out to dinner for his birthday one Sunday night). He walks to Church from his trailer, and only asks for a ride when it’s raining. He usually gets a ride back home to stop and get a paper at the machine, and then to make it home for his meals-on-wheels. Every time I have been to Church for the past year, John has reminded me, “You still have until November to register to vote; you can vote for senators in 2006.” He has never forgotten to tell me that. Not once. I will be registering this year, Lord willing. Usually people are discouraged from repeating things if you look at them funny for doing so. Usually people value what you think of them over what they know they should say. Not John Ready.
At least half the times I’ve given John a ride home, he’s told me he already had a plot picked out at the cemetery where he will be buried. Normally, I would think it strange for someone to tell me that. John’s comments, however, go into a different category. Usually people are afraid to talk about their own deaths. Usually people pretend that they will never die. Not John Ready.
John said he wanted to be buried with his cat, Skeeter. The cat, and the state of Florida, have their own opinions about that plan. John did tell me before that he studied in Egypt. As far as I know, Skeeter has not studied there, so that probably explains their disagreement. Usually, Americans do not want to be buried with their pets. Usually, people are forgotten after they leave this world. Not John Ready.
Tags: friends