‘Look for the Silver Lining’

‘L ook for the Silver Lining” is a 1919 popular song with music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by B.G. DeSylva.

Other than the wonderful refrain of that song, there is a verse that I offer for your regard: “There’s a way to make your very biggest troubles small, Here’s the happy secret of it all.” Look for ‘valid’ credentials. That’s the “happy secret.”

Here are a few incidents we have encountered lately that prove that out.

‘My wife called to reserve a room in Little Rock a couple months ago when she attended the state horse show. The site she made the reservation at (or so we thought) was not the named motel chain, but another that one normally calls a ‘Travel site.’ Yet, when she appeared at the front desk to check in, she was told she was not listed as having a reservation … keep in mind, she paid in advance for the room with the ‘Travel site.’

Therefore it constituted a true legal ‘reservation’ as it had been paid for and was contractually valid.

The chain, however, turned her away, in spite of that. She drove home that night. We called both the chain, (which told us they were not responsible because we paid the ‘Travel site,’) and we called the ‘Travel site’ (which told us they were not responsible because it was the chain that turned us away and not them.)

Lesson learned: Only call the chain to reserve a room directly … never a so-called ‘Travel site,’ that is an intermediary.

That contract was broken, but we dropped it and lost our money.

Next: USPS in Arkansas. I could deliver the mail faster in Arkansas on the back of mule before I my mail arrives at it’s final destination.

We have followed up with complaints to our Representative, Rick Crawford, about it time and time again. Nothing. When it came to the voting booth to vote the last time around, I held my nose, closed my eyes and voted for Crawford – only because his Republican vote was needed in Congress to pass Trump initiatives. That’s the only reason … because he can’t do squat about the mail coming from the postal warehouse in Memphis.

We need another Republican Representative in our District. Anyone interested, please apply? I’ll put your sign in my front yard.

Because, right now, if we go to do business in Jonesboro, we hire a job done, then have to get in the car a second time later when the services are rendered…just in order to deliver a check in person…in Jonesboro … because our mail service is – how should I put it?

Oh, yeah: Not. Third, we had a leak in a ceiling. The subcontractor that did the job came out twice (because the leak came back a second time) and I pointed out the problem. He just nodded, sent some clown out, he dabbed a little sealant on one spot – took about five minutes – then left.

When I called back, because it was not the promised procedure he told me, he began whining over the phone, “We aren’t promised to do that …We can’t make money if we really fix anything.”

I told the phone receiver (because the person on the other end clearly was not listening to me) “I’m through talking to you.” Next, I called a trusted person and got the job done – only had to come out once, not twice. And the leak was fixed … not nearly fixed … not sorta fixed … fixed!

Which appears to be a clearly outdated, unheard-of concept these days.

Need another?

Okay … Went to a retail operation to buy a bed. Signed a contract – but only after inquiring of the clerk about the delivery people moving our old bed to another room first, then putting in the new bed.

“Yes, fine, okay. We will do it. Please sign?”

I signed the contract. Guess what?

When I asked those who finally arrived to put in the bed, and I asked about them putting the old bed in another room, what do you think I got?

What’s that? Did you answer, “A lot of lip?”

Ding … ding … ding! Right answer.

I spend that morning moving, putting the bed together in the other room myself – in spite of the written contract and the salesman’s previous promise to me about the deliver people doing it themselves.

You know, I used to smile and laugh to myself, when my mother pulled out her old Rolodex file and delved into the pages to find the names of those she trusted to do work for her.

Now, I realize what she was doing. Putting off the chance of calling those not ‘tried-and-true’ in their business practices. She was going first for those she trusted to do jobs at the house. It’s good to do that these days, when there are so many out there shaving the truth, not living up to any standard of business practices and more than willing to even break contractual agreements for their own devious purposes.

Now, we call family for references. Now we ask our friends. Now we try to find out whether there is a good track record before we acquiesce to do business with others. All in order to make the “very biggest troubles small,” like the song goes.

We still look for the silver lining.

Yet, knowing that … sometimes … all you get is fool’s gold.

Robert L. Hall is a resident of Marion and has a Bachelor’s Degree in music from the University of Memphis and a Master’s Degree from Florida State University. He is the pianist for Avondale Baptist Church.

Robert L. Hall

The Wordaholic