I was driving home from meeting a friend for dinner last night and happened to turn on a pre-set radio station that I don’t listen too often. Apparently it was a station that allows listeners to submit their top 5 favorite songs and if that listener’s songs get chosen, that listener then gets to introduce the five songs.

When I turned on the station one song was ending and another was beginning and I listened to the listener tell us about her number 3 song… it was a song that reminded her of her uncle who had passed away last Christmas. She talked about how difficult a loss it was for her and how incredible a man he was – how he didn’t care about material things and only about a person from the inside. She talked how he was one of the only people she had ever met who would allow her to be herself at all times and who encouraged her to be herself. She talked about how he was a simple man with a heart of gold. And then the song played – Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Simple Man:



I listened to the song, in its entirety (I’ll post the lyrics at the end of this for those who can’t hear it or in case the stupid link doesn't work), and I cried. And I knew that I couldn’t give up on my nephew and I knew I had to continue to be there for him and I knew that I had to tell him that I just want him to be satisfied in life.

Jordan’s been having a difficult time the past couple weeks – even threatening suicide. His girlfriend dumped him and is continuing to play games with him and he’s finally moved on to the anger stage. He left school several weeks ago (completely unrelated to the girlfriend thing) and isn’t planning on returning. Instead, he aspires to be an ultimate fighter. He’s planning on getting more piercings and wants to get his whole body tattooed.

I could care less about his appearance, but I’m not happy about the school thing and I keep bringing it up to him each and every time I speak with him. He happened to call me earlier in the day yesterday to thank me for sending him a birthday card (he’s 16 today). I was pretty spent when we hung up. He’s depressed, angry, and has no motivation to better himself. I don’t think he’s suicidal anymore but I will continue to check in on him daily… but until I heard that song last night, I had practically turned in my aunt card.

Instead, I think I’ll send him a Happy Birthday message on Myspace along with a link to this song and hold onto that aunt card a little longer because Jordan needs me to.

the lyrics:
Mama told me when I was young
Come sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say.
And if you do this
It will help you some sunny day.
Take your time... dont live too fast,
Troubles will come and they will pass.
Go find a woman and youll find love,
And dont forget son,
There is someone up above.

(chorus)
And be a simple kind of man.
Be something you love and understand.
Be a simple kind of man.
Wont you do this for me son,
If you can?

Forget your lust for the rich mans gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

(chorus)

Boy, dont you worry... youll find yourself.
Follow you heart and nothing else.
And you can do this if you try.
All I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied.

(chorus)