One of the very first things that I learned in my life was that once there was an egghead named Humpty Dumpty who liked to sit on walls. As the sing-song rhyme would go, one day he took a great fall “and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty ball together again.”

Monday afternoon my boy Humpty returned, this time in the person of Brandon Lewis. Several days ago I wrote how Brandon had done nothing wrong when he, in opposition of a recent tax imposed on the citizens of Chattanooga, sent a rather humorous card to voters in Councilwoman Carol Berz’ district.

Mrs. Berz’ reaction was to holler rather loudly, but yesterday, contrary to the belief that “no good deed goes unpunished,” a red-faced Brandon resigned from his position as a commissioner on the Hamilton County Election Commission. You see, he was found rather forlornly draped around a stop sign at the corner of Eighth and Lindsay Streets Friday night.

It seems earlier in the day on Friday an old college chum had arrived in town and he and our boy Brandon got into a bottle of rum. Oh, I don’t know exactly that it was rum, but whatever it was turned out to be bigger than Brandon, who was found asleep in the grip of a sign that read, “Stop.”

So today I’m asking Brandon not to stop. Yes, he most surely needs to get a tighter grip on the rum bottle and, if it is another problem bigger than he is, to get further help to “stop,” but my wish is that we need people like Brandon Lewis to keep life spirited.

Earlier yesterday he appeared before the judge and – like a man – promptly admitted to public drunkenness. So it wasn’t until the afternoon was he able to approach his fellow election commissioners and say "Given the turn of current events, I would like to tender my resignation on the Election Commission … It has been a pleasure to serve."

The judge had granted him a diversion, this being his first offense of staggered stupidity, and rightfully levied two days of public service his way. So as I imagine the City Council members are enjoying their chuckle, put me in a different corner. I believe that while all the king’s horses and all the king’s men might not be able to help, Brandon sure can.

If I had a dollar for all the stupid and dumb things I have done, I’d be a wealthy man, but my point is that when you stumble, you don’t stop. No, you pick yourself up, dust off your rump and assure those closest to you that John Barleycorn can still whip any man or woman who walks.

Then, Brandon Lewis, you keep on being you!

I’ve never met the guy, but anybody who stands up for what they believe in such a way they would create a website called www.StopTheTaxIncrease.com, or who spends around $700 bucks of his own cash to tell voters how the City Council “cares about them” in a recession is my kind of guy.

I’ve got to say, this in an honest way, I am not as opposed to taxes as some. If we are going to provide services, we have to pay for them. I am more critical of the difference between the things we “must” do and the things we “wish” we could do, but that’s not my point.

My heroes are the ones like Brandon who’ll take a stand, who will speak out, and, while I’m not a giggler when somebody stumbles, I mourn when they stop. I equally adore those who would open themselves to ridicule and the cat calls of a political life. I appreciate those who are elected like Carol Berz and fret when they are unduly harassed.

But just like Brandon did on a blurred Friday night, a number of politicians also make unwise choices. Do we ask them to stop when they stumble? Of course not. Instead we lift our voices in the hope and the plea they’ll “do better” and Brandon Lewis has shown, be it through the election commission or his aversion to taxes, his is a voice that should not be silenced. Brandon, please don’t not stop.

Again, if he doesn’t have a problem hugging road signs but once in every 20 years or so I can handle that. If it’s more and he needs to get help, then all he has to do is call Alcoholics Anonymous in the phone book, but, no matter what, don’t stop being the kind of character this ole world of ours needs.

Unlike Humpty Dumpty, here’s a man who I believe can put himself back together again.

royexum@aol.com