Marshall Ramsey

My wife was still asleep. Snow didn’t zap her  and my toddler’s day off from school today. My older boys, however, weren’t so lucky and were sitting at the breakfast bar, groggily eating their breakfast.

My oldest son was in a grumpy mood — and not just because it was half-past the crack of dawn.

“What’s the matter with you?”

“Don’t want to go to school,” he grumbled. OK, I bit.

“Why?”

He told me. One little thing at school. One remark from one teacher had him not wanting to go to school.  He was focusing on one thing and would miss all the great moments that today will bring.

I sighed.

I looked at my handsome 10-year-old son and realized he was a clone of me.  When I was his age and now. How? He was allowing one thing to ruin his day.  I rubbed my chin and said the only thing I could say to him.

“Today will happen with or without us.  We might as well make the most of it.”

He looked at me like I was from Mars like he normally does and continued to eat his breakfast.   I smiled and wrote down the quote on Facebook and Twitter as my first Tweet of the day.   With tea in hand I reread the quote and thought it was great advice.  And that I should follow it, too.

Spoke to a group of broadcasters last night.  You really can’t BS broadcasters — at least not when it comes to standing up behind a microphone. They do it for a living.  (Come to think of it, so do I.)

I really enjoyed the evening and my presentation was warmly received. And as an added bonus, I was inspired by the numerous winners and their amazing work. I really appreciate the amount of talent we have in Mississippi.

And I was repeatedly complimented by people who have no reason to compliment me.  And by people who I greatly respect.

I walked out of there with a renewed confidence in my ability, my cartoons and the difference I’ve made in this state over my career. I should have never allowed that to have been stolen by a select few.

P.S.  I really enjoyed meeting CBS news’ Randall Pinkston. He got his start at WLBT and was back in town for an award.  It was very uplifting to hear him say he is a fan of my work.

It was a dark day in the Headquarters for Mythical Creatures.

“No one believes in me any more.” moaned the Easter Bunny as he sat at the bar.  He was tired after a long journey around the word, giving out eggs, chocolate bunnies and good cheer.  “And there was that pit bull in Bolton, Mississippi. Good grief. Look what he did to me!” The rabbit rubbed what was left of his tail.  “I hope that dog chokes on it.”

The tooth fairy consoled his long-eared friend.  “I don’t get it either.  People really are more gullible these days.  They believe what politicians tell them. Heck, they believe Donald Trump is a serious Presidential candidate.”

“No politics,” roared Santa.  Santa Claus had moved into HQ after the North Pole melted, sending his workshop and elves to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean.  “I tried to give Trump a Fl0-Bee to do something about that cat on is head.  But he returned it for a mirror.  That man has an ego the size of Bigfoot’s left foot.”

The Easter Bunny sipped on his adult beverage.  He had eaten so many carrots that he had a horrible case of gas, so no more carrot juice for a couple more weeks.  Carrots made him farty. The Tooth Fairy railed on, “You guys have it easy. Work one night of the year and BOOM, you’re done. Not me.  I have to work 24/7 365 days a year — 366 if it is Leap Year.”

“Fairy boy is tired.” mocked the bunny.

Santa sighed.  This new skeptical world was causing them to turn on themselves.  “STOP IT!  Rudolph looked up from his Root Beer.  Santa had quite a temper.”

“We have to band together.  Yes, the world is changing.  We just have to get more creative.  Change can be a good thing.”

“Changing your suit occasionally would be a good thing. You smell like a musty old man,” The Tooth Fairty grunted.  Santa leapt across the room at the winged man.

The Easter Bunny hopped in between them and screamed, “STOP IT!  Look, I know a lot of people don’t believe any more. But some do.  We must. I mean we must, MUST serve those who do.  They are our last hope. Well that and Twitter accounts.  We can spread our good cheer via Twitter.”

The Tooth Fairy dusted off his wings.  “You’re right, carrot breath.”  But it’s hard.

Santa looked at his imaginary friends and said the most wise thing he could think of: “At the end of the day, it’s not us to make people believe. It’s up to us to make people happy. That’s all we can do.  It’s our jobs.  And as Mac McAnally once said ‘That makes a day for me.”

Santa raised his glass for a toast.  “To happiness.”  “To happiness,” the three of them repeated.

That was something they could believe in.