Walk a Mile with me and Joe in Bakersfield...

You know how it is in when you have your brain in neutral and you're just listening to the radio...Well that was the state of my being on the way home from school when I realized I was listening and singing along with Dwight and Buck as they sang "The Streets of Bakersfield".  Two of my favorite lines are...
        
            "You don't know me, but you don't like me..."
            "How many of you that sit and judge me ever walked the streets
              of Bakersfield?"

Joe and Sadee,
following his footsteps...

This sparked my brain to a delightful memory.  When I was a child my mama had a lot of records and she loved the radio.  Music was a constant in our house.  She particularly loved country music.  One song that I enjoyed and decided was a good mantra to live by was, "Walk a Mile in My Shoes".  I even sang this to my children and my classes anytime I caught them "putting the lip" on someone. 

           "Walk a mile in my shoes,
             Before you abuse, criticize or accuse,
            Walk a mile in my shoes."

One night, in the middle of the night, my youngest child Joe knocked on my bedroom door and woke me up.  He said, "Mama, mama, I now understand and know that you are right."  I muttered, "What are you talking about?"  Joe, "You know how you always say, before you talk about someone walk a mile in their shoes?"  I nodded very sleepily.  Joe, "I think that's the MOST WONDERFUL idea."  I started to get excited.  Finally someone understands.  Then Joe said, "Just think about it, you'll be a mile away and you'll have their shoes!"  Hopefully you won't spend this journey barefoot.  That Joe...