Tennessee's Cowboy Poet, Bill McCallie, tells a story that reminds me we can go as far as we wish in this world if we have audacity.

Bill was a member of the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) union for many years. He often worked sound and lights on the big shows that came to Chattanooga.

During the shows, the ladies in the audience would bring roses down to the edge of the stage and hand them to the performer. Bill got in the habit of picking up the roses when the performance was over and putting them in a pretty green wrapper, then taking them to his mother's house the next morning. He'd tell her the roses were from the performer who regretted she couldn't come to the concert but wanted her to have the roses.

He did this for years because he loved the experience of making her feel important. The practical effect of it was to convince his mother that he knew just about everybody who was anybody in the performing arts.

Once a year he or his sister would take her to Las Vegas to play the slots. One year his sister took her and it just so happened that the Oak Ridge Boys were playing at the hotel where she and her daughter were staying. She had just gotten a big bouquet of roses from them a few weeks before and she felt like saying hello to them.

She went right up to the big steel back stage door and rapped on it with her cane. The surprised security guard answered the door and she said, "Tell the Oak Ridge Boys that Bill McCallie's mother is here to see them." He said, "Yes Maam," and delivered the message to them

Can't you just see the Oak Ridge Boys asking each other, "Who in the world is Bill McCallie? Are we supposed to know him?" Bill says, "I guess they were afraid not to come to the door - afraid of offending someone they were supposed to know."

In a few minutes the big door flew open and all the Oak Ridge Boys came out and hugged his mother, asked her how in the world old Bill was doing, and gave her a big autographed picture inscribed, "Bill, had a great time with Pauline and Mary." It was signed by them all.

Bill says, "I never really knew if she knew I was pulling her leg all those years or not, but I treasure that story and that picture."

I love it, too. It reminds me of the power of audacity to knock down walls and waltz us right into the presence of kings. Sure, it can backfire on us at times but what has mousiness ever done for us? Why not go for the brass ring?

Sometimes an audacious act will work out in the most unexpected way. Like when country singer Stonewall Jackson walked right into the office Wesley Rose, president of Acuff-Rose Publishing Company, and asked if he could sing him a song. He proceeded to sing a song he'd written titled "Waterloo."

Rose was not impressed with Stonewall at all. Neither was he impressed by the song. He saw Stonewall as so blatantly cornpone country that he decided to play a trick on his friend who booked talent for the Grand Ole Opry. He picked up the phone and called him, urging him to give Stonewall a shot on the Opry that very night.

He did. Just on the weight of Rose's strong recommendation. Stonewall sang "Waterloo" and was brought back for several encores. His long, successful career was launched that night due to his audacity and Rose's desire to play a practical joke on a friend.

So when you know what you want, remember Stonewall and sing your song for the head honcho. Remember Pauline. Rap on the door with your cane.

Send your comment to: Dalton Roberts DownhomeP@aol.com
Columist For The Chattanooga Times-Free Press