I’m Fixing to Take Myself Some Leisure Time

I’m fixing to take myself some leisure time.

I recently read the autobiography of President Harry Truman and it inspired me to take some pleasure out of life and to quit worrying and working all the time. The clincher to my inspiration was when I read the following poem written by President Harry:

Every man’s a would be sportsman in his dreams of intent

A potential out-of-doors man when his thoughts are pleasure bent

But he mostly puts the idea off for things that must be done

And doesn’t get his outing till his outing days are gone

So in hurry, scurry, worry and work, his living days are spent

And he does his final camping in a low green tent

Makes you think, doesn’t it? But besides the aforementioned inspiration from our thirty-third president, I also found a great many fascinating things about him.

For instance, he was a farm boy and even worked on a farm some after he grew up. Prior to serving as president he also served as a U.S. Senator and as Vice President of the U.S.

President Truman learned early on in life to enjoy music and reading. He took pride in the fact that he had read every book in the Independence, Missouri library.

His most famous quote was: “The buck stops here,” and he had a sign on his desk saying exactly that. And he proved this saying to be true through his integrity, honesty and efficiency.

He didn’t graduate from an Ivy League school, in fact, he never graduated from any college or university. His poor eyesight kept him from going to West Point, but he did serve in the military and saw action in World War II with his National Guard unit from Missouri.

Even though he didn’t go to West Point he still served as a commissioned officer by being elected as an officer by his National Guard unit. That’s the way they did it back then. Once he became president he signed the order to integrate the armed services.

President Truman had a way of letting people know he meant business, not only on domestic issues, but also internationally. He gave the order to drop the atomic bomb, a horrific advanced weapon of warfare, to end World War II. He showed courage and foresight when he was the first national leader to recognize Israel as an independent nation.

Perhaps his most triumphant moment politically was the morning after winning re-election, he had his picture made holding a copy of the liberal Chicago Tribune with a headline declaring Thomas E. Dewey as the newly elected president.

President Harry was a Democrat, but back then Democrats were Republicans and Republicans were Democrats.

I’m fixing to be at leisure the rest of the day.