Hi Friends, welcome to my blog. I thought I’d start by answering the question I get asked most often, “Where did Grumpy come from?,” or some variation to that effect. Well, it started with my kids wanting to know what I wanted the grandkids to call me. I told them Grumpy. Let’s just say that, for starters, they thought I was joking. Then they tried to tell me I really didn’t want to be called Grumpy. So, I asked them why they asked if they didn’t want the answer, and I have been known as Grumpy ever since.
When it came time to think about how to identify myself as an author I started my considerations from a marketing stand point. Since I haven’t really done anything important in my life, other than marry the greatest woman in the world, I figured I needed some kind of hook. I needed to be memorable. It then came to me that there are quiet a few folks in this world named, something or another Smith. Most of whom were not born a Smith, but adopted the name right after they had done something bad, and needed to hide from the law. Now as a side note on that topic, I must have a serious history of some really bad folks in my lineage because my grandmother was a Jones. I’m a Smith and a Jones!
Ok,Ok, I’ll get back to the reason I chose to be known as Grumpy Smith.
1. Grandkids, as I explained earlier.
2. To be more memorable.
3. It’s a great ice breaker. As strange as it may seem, i am not good at meeting, or introducing myself to new people. I can make a speech in front of a thousand strangers and love every minute of it, but I can’t seem to walk up to someone and introduce myself. Maybe it’s the fear of rejection, or the person saying, “so?” that keeps me from being more open. However, when I have my name tag on, or folks see my embroidered shirts with Grumpy on them, most of them can’t help but come up to me and ask about it.
4. Google it. Unless something has changed that I don’t know about, you can google Grumpy Smith and I will show up number one. Now I invite you google Kent Smith and see what you come up with. If I am there it will most likely be on page number 10,926. I can’t say for sure because I haven’t had the patience to find myself…there.
5. And this maybe the best reason of all to be called Grumpy. Low expectations! Yes, you read right! I mean if I introduce myself as Grumpy, and smile while doing it, I have already out performed your expectations of me. Wow, talk about under promise and over deliver. Well ok, maybe it’s not the best reason, but it is good for a laugh when I tell people that.
Anyway, I am just about to punch one button that will launch this, my first ever blog onto the great land of the Internet, and I hope it will help set the stage for what is to come. I think you will find that I really don’t have many answers, after all I am just an ordinary man. I will write some things that I hope will make you think. I hope somewhere along the way you may be touched by God through my random thoughts. And I hope you will get a laugh now and then. If you are looking for “DEEP” on any subject, you might just as well move right on along.
One final note. Although I am an author, I have two high school English teachers Mr. McDonnald, and Mrs. Payne, who will attest to the fact that they failed in their effort to teach me much. There will be plenty of mistakes with my grammar and punctuation. Paula my loving wife, and Miranda my wonderful daughter are both English majors, but they have a busy enough life without proofing everything I put on here, so just expect errors, and just so you will know, there will be times when the grammar is intentionally butchered, but never the punctuation.
Till next time,
Grump