From the time of my father's death in August, 1976, to January, 1980 when I finally sold it, I ran Ferguson's Nursery in Boynton Beach, Florida.  It was a plant nursery occupying 7 1/2 acres on Military Trail.  Unfortunately, where my father, Reuben Ferguson, had a "green thumb", I was just the opposite.  I had a "black thumb"; everything I touched seemed to die.  I was trying to run the nursery, go to school, and play in a band, all at the same time, and it just didn't work out.  I was desperately unhappy, and was plagued with serious money problems of my own and of the nursery.  I was also responsible for up to 14 employees.  Also unfortunately, several of those employees were nothing more than thieves.  I once lay in a gutter across the street for hours watching truck after truck of plants leave the nursery.  When I showed up at quitting time and asked for the day's receipts, I was told that nothing had been sold all day long.  I fired three people the very next day, one of whom I had known for years.  I also had some really faithful, really great employees, too.  Earline, Cubie Harris, and Mr. Green were invaluable, and I loved them.  Mr. Green died of spinal cancer about three weeks after my father's passing.  I don't know whatever happened to Earline or Cubie, but I'd love to see them again.