So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

To be written one day soon, hopefully; and this book is partially dedicated to Douglas Westly Partin, a man who needs no introduction. I believe his work speaks for itself, and in 2020 hindsight I see what he meant now.

The Baton Rouge Advocate published his obituary from September 11th, coincidentally the anniversary of 9/11, to September 14, 2020. He would have been sad to have missed Veterans Day. He had always told me how proud he was of his service, and that he tried his best to be honorable, and I never saw a reason to doubt him.

Douglas Westley Partin, 90, passed away Wednesday September 9, 2020 at the War Veterans Home in Jackson, LA. He was born April 17, 1930 in the Buffalo Community of Wilkinson County in Mississippi. He served in the Army Air Corp in World War ll and Korea. In following years, he was a Teamster Business Agent for Local #5 in Baton Rouge, La. He is survived by his wife, Sandra McCraine Partin of Zachary, La.; two sons Douglas W. Partin, Jr. and wife Melinda, and Earnest Willie Partin; one daughter, Beverly Armand; two step-sons, Berch Wilbert, lll and Brem Wilbert, six grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Grady Partin and Bessie Mathis Partin, and one son Donald Edward Partin. Visitation will be Monday September 14, 2020 at Brown Funeral Home in Gloster, MS., from 10:00 a.m. until time of funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, officiated by Rev. Rusty Bowser. Graveside services will follow in Roseland Cemetery in Gloster. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, make donations to the veteran services of your choice. Due to the Covid-19, we request that you wear a mask and practice social distancing while inside the building. If you have one or more of the symptoms, or just feel bad, we respectfully ask you not to attend the services.
Published by The Advocate from Sep. 11 to Sep. 14, 2020.

As I mentioned, I believe the words we hear or read stick with us and become a part in our choices, whether we realize it or the time or not. I’m grateful for every word Doug shared with me, may he Rest in Peace. But, for continuity in my memoir, I recall that his final words to me were something like: “Thank you, Justin. I love you, too. Did I ever tell you about the time that Ed and I…” I stopped listening at that point; which is a shame, because his stories were always funny; to me, at least.

RIP DWP

On stage, I make love to 25,000 different people, then I go home alone.

Janice Joplin

If they can whack a president, they can whack the president of a union. You know it and I know it. – Joe Pesci as Russell Bualino in Martin Scorcese’s The Irishman, 2019