Thoughts are Things

Article by Tony Koker

Thoughts are Things

“You are just like Joe Btfsplk from Lil Abner, the character with the dark cloud always overhead”. Lil Abner is a cartoon which was written by Al Capp. Joe was a character in the strip, who is the world’s biggest jinx, and whose name is pronounced as follows: “According to Al Capp, btfsplk is a rude sound. During public lectures, Capp demonstrated this phatic sound by closing his lips, leaving his tongue sticking out, and then blowing out air, which is colloquially called a “raspberry” or Bronx cheer.” Joe Btfsplk. Accidents didn’t happen to him, but around him, everywhere he went. My mom used to tell me this all the time, “You are just like Joe Btfsplk”. Can you imagine planting that thought into a child, over and over again. I’m not sure what her intent was, but, at least, I saw it in a positive way; at least the bad turn of events was indirect or away and behind from Joe. I chose not to focus on that thought, but still hung onto that it was said, nonetheless. That spoken thought burned an image into my mind. A man, walking around with a dark cloud perpetually hovering over his head. Sounds of crashes, possibly screams, and all manner of noises, hauntingly following him, around every corner, hill and valley, twist and turn. A curse, or, somehow, a blessing? As I write this, I allow my mind to travel back in time, and explore connections which may help me find more weeds in my garden of today, which were planted long ago, or, perhaps not. But, the journey should be entertaining, if nothing else. Transformations from an image to actions. Even though I tried not to, had I embraced this character as, at least, some part of myself? I had a paper route from the early age of 8. An old-fashioned, hand delivered, house to house job. My brother and I built the route together, from just shy of 20 customers, to over 200, delivering morning, afternoon and on the weekends. I kept this job throughout high school, finally relinquishing it in my senior year, at the age of 18. Perhaps, this helped the Joe in me to stay looking ahead, focused on completing the worthwhile task at hand. What was behind was not important. I had a mission, and a purpose. I just kept on walking, or riding my bicycle in good weather, from door to door, and home again. Off to school, squeezing in a quick breakfast, when I wasn’t running too late. Doing a good job. Feeding the universe more good things, might somehow outweigh any of the bad. Accomplishments, where actions become manifestations. Ultimately I had saved enough money to buy my first car, solely on the proceeds of that paper route. Did that one thought produce the work-ethic, or ultimate car? Probably not. But to this day, the Joe Btfsplk we find ourselves being, when things, although happening for a reason, appear bad, around us, touches our emotions, inspires other thoughts, and ultimately produces actions and things, when fed and watered. Chose the food wisely.

Related Thoughts Are Things Articles