Marshall Ramsey

Jackson, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Legislative leaders patched together a $5.4 billion budget outline for 2012 yesterday.  And in a shocking announcement, House Speaker Billy McCoy (D-Rienzi) challenged Governor Haley Barbour to a duel.  “I’m sick of his smug lectures about cutting Guv’ment, ” said Speaker McCoy.” We’re going to settle this once and for all  like men”

Other lawmakers seemed shocked by the Speaker’s announcement. “I told Billy that this wasn’t a good thing, but he’s madder than a spanked hornet, “said Representative Steve Holland. “He wants to go old school and go Aaron Burr on the Governor’s #$%.”  Lt. Governor Phil Bryant seemed okay with the concept. “It’s OK with me.  So the Governor gets winged .. that just means I get to be Governor a little earlier than I planned.”  Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann would officiate the duel, which would be held outside of the State Capital.

Jackson City officials seemed OK with the showdown as well. “We were a little concerned about gunfire in Jackson, but it has happened before,” said Mayor Harvey Johnson. “I just hope this doesn’t interfere with us getting any money from the State to repair our aging water infrastructure.”

State Treasurer Tate Reeves sees it as a good thing, “Look, those two have been going at it for years. If we can do this and settle their squabble, it’ll provide closure to their ridiculous cat fight. Speaker McCoy doesn’t much like me anyway. And as a bonus, if we charge admission, we can shore up the MPACT program.”

A date and time for the duel hasn’t been announced yet.  “But you’re darn tootin’ it will happen,” said Speaker McCoy as he stormed off from the podium. No word from the Governor’s office is he plans to change “Let’s go walking” to “Let’s go dueling.”

My favorite part of the day is taking my two oldest sons to school. It’s a ten-minute task that gives me a little one-on-one son time.  It’s full of music, laughs and conversation. I ask them about their upcoming day and I try to find out about their hopes and dreams.

I’ve watched them grow up in the mirror. Their little faces going from fat cherubs to slim young men.  This is the last year I’ll have both in one car.  And that makes me kind of sad.

This morning, I had music playing and they sat quietly in the back, looking out for the deer that we normally see outside of our neighborhood.  I reached over and turned off the radio and said, “I’m really proud of you two.  I brag on you to other people all the time and just wanted you to know it.” I then added, “And I expect great things from you.” I then mentioned all the cool successes that their aunts and uncles had achieved. I mentioned their Cousin Dave and how he succeeded by helping other people. “I know you can do it, too.  You’re Hurley Ramseys.  You come from good people.”

So I told my sons that they can be successful. I told my sons that I am proud of them. But words only take you half way. It’s up to me as a father to show them that they can succeed. To show them that I am proud of them.

The best thing about being a father is that it completely takes the focus off yourself. As the comedian Craig Ferguson said after his son was born, “I think when you become a parent you go from being a star in the movie of your own life to the supporting player in the movie of someone else’s.”

If that’s truly the case, then I want to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.  Being a father is the role of a lifetime. I just proud to have landed it.