According to Google, the phrase “cash is king” originated after the stock market crash of 1987. Just goes to show you that Google doesn’t know everything because Ol’ Dutch knew long ago that anyone with cash in any situation has a distinct advantage over others who do not.

During the Great Depression cash was almost non-existent in many places so if people did have it, they could buy a lot of things cheaply. A lot of land was purchased back then for $1 an acre and people got rich as Croesus himself.

Now for those of you headed out to holiday dinners and gatherings of every sort, Croesus was an exceedingly wealthy King over in Persia way back when. Knowing such tidbits of interesting trivia will come in handy when Uncle Knothead tries to corner you in a conversation about politics. It's sure to drive even him away.

The house building down on the farm in Texas is coming along pretty good considering the crew that I have — my lonesome self and sometimes Miss Trixie.

There was a crew on the original foundation pouring during Covid. My son, Bubs, and two of the littlest girls you can imagine. But we got it done. Now three years later, Ol’ Dutch is ready to build the house. I’ve been laying concrete blocks around the perimeter getting ready for the floor which I hope is next week depending on my “crew.”

Last Sunday Bubs and Grand #2, now 9 years old, showed up late in the afternoon. Trixie and I had already been working on the house when they arrived, but they pitched in and helped out. Number Two grabbed a shovel and rake to chip up concrete dribbles and level the dirt. She wore us all out in the end.

Things have changed somewhat since pouring the foundation three years ago when I paid them each $10 for a full day’s work. Since then, her sister, Grand #1, has been working at a local horse barn and getting paid real money. Now, Grand #2 wants some mammon herself. She negotiated a steep $10 per hour.

Now far be it from Grandpa to not pay her for working no matter the result but she was worth every dime and in the end, I tried to get her to skip school this week and come back out to work. Trixie found some cash laying around and true to her Momma’s influence stiffed that poor child ten dollars. Instead of paying the negotiated $10/hour, Trixie only paid $8. Ever her mother’s daughter.

Now while that may seem like a lot to pay a 9-year-old, let me tell you, my reasoning. First, she worked harder than most people you can hire today. Second, she is my Grand #2 and Ol’ Dutch knows that nothing feels better than some jingle in your jeans.

Her mom, Tinkerbell, called later and said that when Grand #2 got home she was beaming and bounced off to shower with a song in the air. I’m not sure if that was because of the jingle in her jeans or that she realized that she earned more than her older sister for the day, or maybe both.

You don't have to have grands to know that cash is a valuable commodity when trying to do anything as people like to avoid the dreaded IRS. Just last year they went so far as to want to tax even garage sales as they need every dime they can beg, borrow, and steal to fund their phony-baloney government spending. Now before you turn me in for paying her in cash, the same highway robbers do let you give away $17,000 a year tax free to some lucky recipient so we are gonna come in way below that threshold — I hope.

I am sure she went off to school with a smile on her face and plans to be out here bright and early during Thanksgiving week to help. Her sister will want to cash in also and poor Ol’ Dutch will have to feed a monster of his own creation.

If you, too, can drive a nail, scoop a shovel, carry a board or are just cute as the dickens, come on out and get some jingle in your own jeans. Watch Miss Trixie at payout, though, she’ll stiff you.

Kevin Kirkpatrick and his Yorkie, Cooper, fish, hunt, ATV, or hike daily. His email is [email protected]. Additional news can be found at www.troutrepublic.com.