Marshall Ramsey

It can all change in the blink of an eye.

Ask the Seattle Seahawks. Vicksburg’s own Malcolm Butler showed how you can change history in a single moment. Pete Carroll demonstrated how one bad call can bite you in the buns.

Or ask Nationwide Insurance. We’re cruising along, enjoying their heartfelt commercial and BAM! It’s depressionville. Poor Katy Perry and her landsharks couldn’t lift me out of my funk after that one. Yikes. Even the Budweiser puppy went back out to get eaten by the wolf because it made him so sad.

Yup, it all can change in the blink of an eye.

We kind of go through life big-boned, dumb and happy. And then life punches us in the mouth. It’s going to happen. But what really defines us is how we react to it. Some people blame others or even just quit. But others, well, others prove they have what it takes in life. If it is their fault, they own up to it and learn from their mistakes. If it is out of their control, they try to find the positive and use it to pick themselves back up. Heck, they even manage to lift back others. That’s how they survive being punched in the mouth.

Unless they’re in a Nationwide commercial. Then they’re toast.

I don’t talk about faith easily. It’s not because I don’t have any — I just prefer to live it rather than preach it. Why? I think it’s because I’ve known so many people who don’t practice what they preach. But there I was, at a church and talking to a church’s men’s club talking about, you guessed it, my faith.

I spoke about the Parable of the Talents and how it changed my attitude when I was a janitor. It still changes me even to this date. (I don’t want to be the servant who buries his talent.) I then mentioned how using your abilities is writing a thank you note. I told stories about how the worst moments of my life turned into my best. How that was the seed of hope that keeps me from getting into the fetal position. I then talked about change and how sometimes angels come in bad clothing. I closed with how powerful forgiveness is and how being in your comfort zone is more dangerous than being in a blasting zone.

I think the speech was well received. I know I enjoyed the fellowship with the group. And getting up in front of them reminded me of something pretty important.

My family has experienced some pretty radical changes the past few years. I’ve sat up at night fearing for the future. But things worked out way better than I could have dreamed. And now, I am grateful for those radical changes. Why? Because when I stopped treating them like disasters and started believing they were opportunities, doors began to open up.

I guess that’s called faith. But I’d rather not talk about it. I’ll just keep trying to live it the best I can.

“Do you actually run?”

I got that comment under one of my running photos. The answer is, “Yes.” And I also take pictures. If I see something that interests me (which is harder than you’d think — I don’t wear my glasses when I run), I stop for a second and snap a photo with my iPhone. Then I move on. And on. And on.

We are blessed in Mississippi to live in a naturally beautiful state. Then as an added bonus, Ridgeland Mayor Gene McGee pushed for running trails in his city. Add the Reservoir as a backdrop and you have an amazing pallet to work with.

So I take pictures of one particular oak. The sunrise. Swamps. Animals. And whatever moment of beauty flashes before my eye.

Running is a lot of things to me. It’s my Prozac, therapist, doctor and trainer. It helps me strengthen my brain and body. I’m not a natural athlete and at times, I’m a reluctant one. But I get out of bed and go anyway.

Because when you see the sun sneak above the horizon, you somehow forget the pain.

And I have the pictures to prove it.

From the top floor of the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road, you can see the Reservoir. If you look to the south, you can see downtown Jackson. And if you squint, you can almost see Vicksburg. What you can’t see is the future. But today, The Clarion-Ledger’s new publisher Jason Taylor offered the members of the Mississippi Press Association a glimpse into the C-L’s future. And for the first time in years, it didn’t involve the word “cuts.”

His speech was like a Cat. 5 hurricane of change. But he isn’t tearing things down. He’s rebuilding. Rebuilding content. Rebuilding revenues. Rebuilding hope.

That’s Jason. Many of you have ready met him. He has been out in the community nonstop since he arrived in town. That’s so important. As you know, the #1 rule of business in Mississippi is this: If people don’t know you, they will ignore you.

It’s hard to ignore Jason.

He has brought hope inside and outside 201 South Congress Street.

And I’m glad. Not just because my cartoons appear in the C-L (and I hope they do for a long time). No, I am excited because I am an 18-year subscriber who wants great content to read. I want all my coworkers to continue to be able to do the jobs they love. And I want to see a healthy C-L be a leader in the community. A community that I love.

I looked out the window as Jason finished his speech. I don’t know what’s over horizon. But I at least know it will be a fun and frantic race to get there.

Last night, I emceed a roast for the Mississippi Press Association (and tomorrow, I co-emcee their awards banquet). It was last-minute thing — I was on the panel to roast Governor William Winter, but had to fill-in as host for Sid Salter, who was not feeling well. I have to tell you, it was hard. And completely ad-libbed.

The evening went well. They raised money to help future journalists. I didn’t cuss.

On a personal note, I enjoyed spending time with the Governor and his wife. They are amazing people. They are in their early 90’s and are more alive than most people my age. As I plot how I want to live the rest of my days, Gov. Winter is a good example. Travel. Exercise. Work. He didn’t “retire.” He continues to inspire.

I also sat next to Andy Mullins and David Hampton. Andy has served three Ole Miss chancellors and is full of fun stories. David, I joke, was my other spouse for 15 years. He edited my work and helped shape me into the cartoonist I am today. Only he and my wife could tell me no.

The audience was full of good friends. Living in Mississippi for nearly two-decades has been enjoyable because of the people. (It sure ain’t the weather.)

When the final words were spoken (Go home!), I finally exhaled. Standing in front of nearly 1,000 people and ad-libbing will get your heart rate up.

But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m up to my neck today in alligators, but I just wanted to chime in on a little observation. I’ve watched two people at the end of their lives. One had a million friends. One was selfish. The one with the friends was carried across the finish line by the friends. The selfish one died alone.

I get the concept of self preservation. But we’re put on this earth to love and serve others. Be grateful for your friends. And be a friend to them. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures — just show that you care.

Yazoo City’s Zig Ziglar had it right: “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.

I will read and try to live this for the rest of my life

I’m not really big on giving my sons advice. They probably wouldn’t listen to me if I did — and frankly, I make so many mistakes, they’d spend the rest of their lives unlearning the gems I left them. I did tell my oldest son to always make sure he put water in his oatmeal before he microwaves it. Trust me on that one.

But I do hope that my kids learn from my example. And just saying that scares the daylights out of me. Because once again, I make many, many mistakes. I do want them to know that parents teach until the day they die. And they sometimes teach in negative ways. They will learn from their mother and me daily. They need to learn to be good students of life. And to realize that every person has a story and that story is what drives who they are.

If they are good students, they can learn from everyone.

I hope my kids pick that up. And I hope they put water in their oatmeal. Finding the battery in the smoke alarm is hard to do when the room is full of thick, black smoke.