Uncle Buster cares for us all

By Compiled by Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 14, 2000

Arthur Rembert is from New York and has lived in Inverness for 15 of his 56 years. He graduated from Kittrell College and served in the Army's 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. Arthur now works as an employment consultant for One-Stop Career Connections in Crystal River.

Here is what life has taught Arthur:

Life has taught me there IS a Supreme Being. Now, whether he is called God, Buddha, Allah or Uncle Buster is open to conjecture. I also feel that no particular denomination, be it Catholic, Muslim, Buddhism, or Protestantism has the inside track on Heaven. Uncle Buster loves us all!

While growing up in New York City, I heard enough sad stories to know that you never put cash money in your wallet. New York has some of the best pickpockets in the world as full-time residents. Hence, with tourist attractions such as Busch Gardens, Weeki Wachee and Walt Disney World right here in Florida, you can be certain some of them are residing here, too. Besides, everyone else vacations or retires to Florida, why should pickpockets be any different?

Life has taught me that my parents were much cooler than I am (that is, if I'm cool at all). I don't know that I would have survived the world that they were born into. Speaking of parents, a Mother's Love knows no equal and a Father's Love prepares you to be a man. When we first ventured out on our own and were faced with a major decision, how many of us have often wondered, What would Mom or Pop do? I know I have.

Life has taught me always to try to keep a dollar in your pocket. Money is power and powerful people usually do as they damn well please. When powerful people are caught doing something that would send the rest of us to jail with a long sentence, they do very little time if they're incarcerated at all.

Life has taught me to be more tolerant of old people. By paying their dues, they've paved the way for us, and I'll want the same tolerance when I'm a bona fide geezer.

Life has taught me if you're fortunate enough to have even one real friend, stay in touch no matter how far apart you are geographically. I have two and am truly blessed.

Life has taught me to take good care of your body (although I never adhered to it) because you'll need a good strong body as you get up in age. For you youngsters who play football, the Washington Redskins have a guy named Darrell Green who at age 40 is still playing cornerback. Obviously, he's taken good care of his body and has probably received a little help from Uncle Buster.

Life has taught me that although an academic education is extremely important, you're simply not going to remember everything you've been taught. I wouldn't be able to tell you who was vice president under Chester A. Arthur even if you asked me nicely. Yet your Street Smarts along with some good, old-fashioned common sense will serve you well for the rest of your life.

I'm not a nature guy. Never have been. If I didn't have to work for a living, I'd probably only come outside to run errands. Other than that, I'd probably be over at your house or kicking back at mine. I do have a healthy respect and appreciation of nature, however, and realize if we continue to build, build, build our only contact with wildlife will be by virtue of zoos and reruns of Wild Kingdom. Nature is like a good woman: Respect her and she'll always be there for you.

Life has taught me that it's perfectly natural to want to be around your own people. What's wrong with that? It's not racism as much as it's simply a matter of choice. True racism must be taught! Much the same way that a child is taught to say Please and Thank You. My experience in Vietnam taught me that when you're in combat you couldn't care less about the skin color of the man who's watching your back. Your concern is that he takes care of business.

Life has taught me that although most people insist they don't care what others think, they actually do. The ones, however, who won't let what others think affect the way they comport themselves are those who have it whipped.

Life is a journey, a long and winding road filled with beautiful vistas and unforeseen twists. If you are paying attention to the big picture and are not just focusing on your own day-to-day pain and glory, many of life's lessons reveal themselves. If you have ever said, "If I knew then what I know now," you have just learned one of the lessons of life.

The Citrus Times is asking people around Citrus County what they have learned about life, and each week we will share their wisdom.

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