Living With The Friend In Mind

I was a new college transfer student in an English Comp class and after turning in my first writing assignment, my professor stopped me after class and with focused and kind eyes she said, “Brett are you ok? I have overheard you telling stories and you can do much better than what you turned in…please consider trying again tonight and turn in to me tomorrow. Also I would like you to come to my home for tea with some more of my brightest students.” The world seemed to stop for a moment and at that moment I knew it was time for me to leave the complacent space in which I had been living and start reaching for my potential. She knew I was not “ok” and took time to encourage me. She saw something in me and I was not going to disappoint her or myself. Meet my professor and friend Betty Ulrey. After this hinge moment, Mrs. Ulrey became not just my favorite teacher, but a dear friend. We talked politics, and writing and life and laughed a lot and she may have sent me messages about grammatical errors in my social media posts (I fully expect one after this post) and she kept checking in on me for all of these years. Every time it started with her looking directly at me and asking, “Hi Brett..are you ok?” And each time it led me to check in on myself. A few years ago, Mrs. Ulrey moved to Memphis to be near, Bonnie, one of her daughters and then moved into a beautiful independent living community. We wanted to see her, so Kim and I recently drove to Memphis and had a beautiful visit. Still so very sharp and she explained to us that her community is “a little like a train station…you can move to different areas as your health changes.”
We talked a little politics, she talked about her parents and how hard they worked and how she was grateful and amazed at their resilience. She wanted to know how the kids were doing and wanted updates on grandkids. We took photos and she said, “let’s take one with a funny face!” 😂 She wanted us to meet one of her caregivers and spoke so kindly to her caregiver friend. It was a great visit and before we left I took a selfie with her and she quietly asked me, “are you ok” and I shook my head “yes” and she smiled.

I want you to meet one of my absolute favorite people to see in Searcy!

Meet Fidela.

Fidela is the manager at and she not only runs a tight ship, but she makes me and all customers feel important and taken care of when you walk in the door.
Fidela has lived in Searcy 19 years after moving from Guerrero Mexico where she grew up with a one year stop in CA.
“Fidela why did you move from CA?” Because the people there are crazy!” 😂
“Are people crazy in Searcy?”
“No they are very nice…like your wife Miss Kim!”😂
“What about me?”
“Like your wife Miss Kim!”😂
So Fidela and I have a running joke….many years ago when she took my drink order I ordered a Dos Equis. Well if you are not familiar Searcy is located in a dry county. Fidela in her hilarious and witty way brought me a glass of water with a piece of paper with XX! 😂
So many times I am served my “Dos Equis” when I eat at Mi Pueblito. Tonight was one of those nights. She said it was to wash down her private label salsa that she dared me to eat….chili diablo! 🔥
If you go to Mi Pueb say hi to Fidela and if you mention this post she has agreed to serve you a Dos Equis and a cup of chili diablo 🌶️ 🔥!
“There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.” Thomas Aquinas

Just returned from a pick up in Searcy and was so impressed with this upbeat young man! So I got out of the car and we had a visit.

Meet Jackson.

“Hi I’m Brett (sticking my hand out for a handshake and he grabs it firmly with a great smile). “
“Hi! I’m Jackson…nice to meet you Mr. Brett.”
“Jackson I have seen you deliver two car loads in a pretty short time…you’re taking care of business! Are you a student?”
“Yes sir, I’m a student at Searcy High School.”
“My youngest daughter graduated Searcy High School it’s a great school!”
“Yes sir it is…I’m in a program where I leave at noon and I work thirty hours a week here at Walmart.”
“That’s awesome Jackson…me and my buddy Andy worked twenty hours a week our senior year and I have a lot of respect for you doing that.”
“Thank you sir. When I graduate I plan to go through training to be a lineman and also get my CVL.”
“I can tell you’re excited to be a lineman and I can tell you will be an exceptional lineman!”

When you go to Walmart Super Center in Searcy for grocery pickup look for Jackson and give him a good tip. He will make you feel great about the future of our community and country! And Searcy peeps, if you know Jackson give him a tag.

Every time I walk into Bill’s Cash Saver I look to the right near produce and I marvel at the neatness and organization of the shelves. Probably because I am not that organized and wish that I had that skillset. A couple of weeks ago I walk into CashSaver one night just before closing and see this young man on his hands and his knees straightening every can and every box into perfect order and I belted out, “So you’re the one responsible for this piece of art!” He laughed and with a big smile and a gleam in his eye he said, “Thank you for noticing” as he hopped to his feet.

Meet Josh Stephens.

“My name is Brett Kirkman and I want you to know how many times I have admired this piece of art on these shelves. You clearly take great pride in your work.”
“Well I don’t know all about that, but I like it to look good when I’m done stocking the shelves. “
I learned that Josh moved Searcy from Minnesota a year or so ago with his wife and child. It has been a good move for Josh, but there have been some challenges and some challenges with family back home and we got to talk about those. Before the visit was over I was able to tell him a challenge I was having too…we all have them don’t we? I made sure he knew we had that in common. Josh gave me a bear hug that I didn’t realize I needed and unlocked the doors and let me out. Kim was surprised that I got back to the car without the items I went in for, but I got them the next day and they were easy to find with those neat shelves. Look Josh up when you go to CashSaver….you will be blessed.
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.”