2021 12 20 -- Larry worked with Becky Davis and Mac (her husband the singer, just fyi) for over 30 years.  Becky laughs and tells about Larry’s idiosyncrasies.  For example:  Larry liked to talk in third person, “Larry does not do oil and gas powered”.  That means he got rid of his boat with a gas and oil engine and he does not mow lawns.  On the other hand when getting ready for a production sale (that is when they sell bulls and cows at Edisto) and things needed “neated” (not really a word but you get it), he would get out the weed eater and mower and get after it.  Mac or Bob I think told him he could ask for help but Larry just was about getting things done.  In fact his allergies were terrible but he would do the work anyway.  Another thing Becky shared was Larry did not spend time telling folks good morning or the likes but rather would have a list of things to go over and get done each day.  In fact each year they would wean the calves on labor day (that means take the babies away from their mommas) and it made for a very long day.  Becky enlightened Larry that most folks either take labor day off or at least take it a little easier.  She suggested that they could do it over a couple days and not make it so miserable of a day.  Larry, in his normal way, responded with a shrug and “OK” and things were changed permanently.  You see Larry believed in doing things the same way every time so there are no mistakes and everyone knows what to expect, especially him.

Larry was funny in this way but if you take a peek at his boat (or boats, but that is another story) you would understand things get done very systematically.  Now that I think about it when he was a kid and we roomed together (yes, small house with 3 bedrooms and Debbie got hers and Larry and I shared one) he was the same way.  I remember when he decided to practice being a pitcher for baseball.  He literally wore out his shoe dragging it during pitches.  So, he got a metal toe protector for his shoe.  I do not believe anyone ever practiced or worked as hard as Larry to get perfection.  In fact, I watched the only baseball game (another story) he every got to pitch and it was a NO HITTER.  Pretty good, huh?

So what do you learn from your brother, in the Osage?

·       Perfection can sometimes blind us from a better process

·       Humility is wonderful when it is sincere

·       Practice makes perfect

·       Larry is a ‘life worth living’ and I love him for it

Thanks for listening,

gary@mylifelegacy.co

please email me any stories you have about my brother and I may/might use them on the blog or in a book.