My Reed’s Bookstore Gig Goals
In my last post I promised I’d tell you my hopes for my gig tomorrow at Reed’s. At first glance you might say, “You’re a writer, your goal is to sell books.”
On the surface, that is true I guess, but it isn’t my number one objective. “The Mandolin Case” has sold well enough that if it keeps this up in another year I’m gonna be on the bottom of the N.Y. Times best seller list and someone up there might just ask, “Who the h#** is Tommy Bibey?”
I believe a man not satisfied with all that stands even odds God will strike him down to prove a point, and I’ve had the fear of God in me since my mama put it in me as a boy.
So you might ask; what is my goal?
I’ll be at Saltillo High School today. I hope some of them will come to Reed’s Bookstore tomorrow. I hope to show the kids that one can find a life of grace and dignity through the arts. If even one decides a life of materialism and celebrity is just too shallow a goal and decides to pursue another route to happiness, I’ve done my job.
All I’m gonna do is what I did at West Henderson High; ask the kids to consider what folks like their teachers like Mr. Cliff Searcy there or Ms. T. in Saltillo have to say. Every so often an outsider needs to come around to remind folks, but your heroes are right there in your hometown, just like they are here in Harvey County.
And that is my goal.
If I sell enough books to make gas money back home that’s just gravy on the biscuit.
See you at Reed’s tomorrow. Y’all bring a guitar and come pick a tune.
Dr. B
Tags: Reed's Bookstore, Saltillo High School
You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site.
Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
January 14, 2011 at 9:09 am
Hope you take lots of pictures. This is one event I wish I was close enough to see. Tell those kids the day will come when they will realize how much of a treasure they have when they learn to write truth.
January 14, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Billy,
I met the kids at Saltillo high today and got to speak to the English class. I consider that a great honor.
I did my best to show them that through art one can find what is true and has always been true; at least as close as humans can get to that.
Dr. B
January 15, 2011 at 10:23 pm
To the blog members, Doc has left the building! We had a great time at Reed’s.Thanks to Mrs. Emily for taking care of the pickers. We have loaned the doc back to the state of Carolina north.
To Marfar, thanks for sitting in today, check out the fb pictures and one has you with a great big smile just picking away in the background. You have not created a monster in my wife with the passion that you enjoy; you have given here a hobby that make a life complete-“all work and no play make one a dull boy(girl).
We are going to work on Julius,see if we can’t keep him.
Today as we visited, sang and talked it is just fun. I sometimes wonder why God allows us to have so much fun. We do not deserve it.
Finally for all of you who read Doc post, he and Marfar are philo people-just dripping with brotherly and sisterly love. Got to go,Elvis was just sighted at Reed’s in the window.
January 16, 2011 at 7:16 am
Smitty,
Our entire Mississippi experience was a true blessing. We are on the road home, but after I settle back in the doc gig I’ll have much more to post over the next few weeks.
Thanks for all your Southern hospitality. As your Dad says, “Come to Mississippi. We have so many ways to be good to you, you’re bound to like one of ’em.”
And for me it was all of it. A fun state.
Dr. B