My
Grandpa Caveny wore bib overalls – everyday – all the time. I’m sure he wore
regular pants from time to time, but I have no memory of it. He was a high back, blue denim man. But, he didn’t just wear any overalls – he was
exclusive consumer of L.C. King’s Pointer Brand.
It
would make for a better story to say that he was a fan of Pointers because
of brand loyalty or due to their hunting/work wear heritage. It would be even better if he had sold a bird
dog to Landon Clayton (LC) King during the Great Depression and was paid with a
lifetime supply of King’s overalls. My
imagination could easily brew a fantastical story.
The
fact is that Grandpa probably bought what was locally available and never saw a
need to change.
Maybe
that is the story.
After
I became a wildlife officer and moved away from my community, I found myself
looking for little things that reminded me of home. I decided I wanted a pair of bib overalls and
of course those had to be Pointers.
Over
the years, I have stuck with Pointers. I
gave the low-back version a trial once, but they didn’t feel right. And I do wear another brand for hunting. I write that in a whisper out of deference to
Grandpa Caveny.
***
In
recent years I have become captivated with storytelling. Specifically, I’m fascinated with how stories define
and reinforce culture. We tell stories
that help us make sense out of things that are otherwise difficult to
understand. Those stories are
foundational to our beliefs and we hold to them tightly even when science may disprove
our storied versions of our philosophies.
We
tell other stories that identify the values that define the principles we must
adhere to be a part of our tribe. I
often found myself in difficult, sometime dangerous, situations when I was a
wildlife officer. When I was with another
wildlife officer, I knew I could trust them to “have my back” because we shared
common values.
Beliefs
and values are at the core of culture.
Those attributes define who we are and what we believe. Those components drive our actions
and how we interact with the world. We
like to view them as impenetrable and unwavering, but the fact that many of us experience
a shift in what we believe and value over the years show that these bedrocks
of culture can shift or change.
To
resist that change, we engage in a variety of binding practices. These rituals, traditions, symbols, various
art forms, and relationships are like cords that wrap tighter and tighter
around our beliefs and values to keep them intact. When I felt like I was losing my connection
with home and family I bought a pair of Pointer overalls. This symbol had such a profound impact on me
that I bought a pair of Pointers for my grandson, Jackson, last year.
All
of this was refreshed for me this week. I wore my bibs last weekend and during the
wash, the hook on one of the galluses broke.
Although they have a small tear on one of the legs, the overalls still
have a lot of wear left in them. I hated
the thought of throwing them away over a broken hook.
So,
I took a chance and called L.C. King’s factory in Bristol, Tennessee. The phone rang a couple of times and was
answered by a chipper woman. I told her
my problem and asked if it was possible to get a replacement hook. She said, “Sure,” and then asked for my
address. I asked about payment. She said there was no charge and that she
would get it in the mail that afternoon.
They arrived two days later.
Now,
Pointer has taken on additional meaning.
The brand not only reinforces family and community, but adds service and
trust. It means something when I wear
them. It reminds me who I am.
We
buried Grandpa Caveny in a white dress shirt and a new pair of Pointer bid
overalls. It was the perfect choice.
