I May Be Crazy

You may be right, I may be crazy! But I must tell you this story anyway! Tonight my son will be playing music at Manci’s Antique Club in Daphne, Alabama. I enjoy going to  Eric’s shows, regardless of where they may be, but when he is scheduled for a show at Manci’s, it is extra special to me.

All of us have our own beliefs about life, death, spirits, ... In my heart I feel my grandmother's guidance and love often. I see my deceased friend at times in the faces and mannerisms of others. I feel I must share this story with you (even though you may decide I am crazy or crazier than you realized).  Here goes.

I feel his spirit when I walk through the doors of Manci’s. It is a warmth, a touching of my heart that is unique to that place. I feel it every time I go and it stays there waiting for my next visit. It will be there tonight and I will acknowledge his presence and enjoy his company while I am there.

My favorite brother-in-law, McDuffy Smith (we called him Mack) spent so much of his time inside these walls when he was in town. He was a merchant marine who never married and had no children, yet he had many friends and they would gather at Manci’s to talk of his latest travels and catch him up on things that happened while he was gone. He loved to drink and spend time with his friends while he was home.

Mack loved us all and he would often bring gifts home to the ladies in the family. I have earrings and a ring he brought from Italy, perfume from France and even a couple of  figurines from Peru that were made by an artist there who is famous for “Grotesque Art”. The reason they called his work grotesque was that he greatly enlarged the hands and feet when he sculpted his characters. From that same trip to Peru and Bolivia, Mack brought their sister Gladys a blanket made from alpaca fur.  It was beautiful! So, Leon whispered “I wish we had gotten the alpaca instead of the ugly people”.  Leon always appreciated Mack’s gifts, he just has a way of saying what he thinks (so did Mack).

Mack was a guy who when he smiled, even his eyes seemed to smile. He was kind and thoughtful, yet he could be rough and gruff at times. I feel those emotions when I am there for hours enjoying a show at Manci’s. I believe his spirit resides there. He loved that place and a part of him remains there.

He has been gone many years now. He passed away on his last trip out before retirement. The ship was docked in Korea and he turned his coworkers down on a trip to town (which they said is very unusual for him). He told them he needed a rest. He passed away in his cabin that night.

McDuffy Smith was the 11^th child in a family of 12 children. He was born in a small house in the woods of Awin, Alabama during the depression years. He grew up to see the world many times over as he traveled and lived on that ship his whole career. He loved Manci’s Antique Club and I think of him anytime I hear the name. I also feel his spirit in there every time I go.