Hold on tight, or better yet, bolt yourself down as you get a ride under the bus next to Mudflap. Out of a family split-up and battles with social and economic forces, Mudflap is born. He has a message for you, satirical and philosophical, powerful enough to propel you through the millennium, and more importantly — show you how NOT to be thrown under the bus.
About the Author
Jay Alden Bailey grew up in Durham, Connecticut in the 1960s and through the ’70s. He was originally born in Portland, Connecticut and also resided in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida where his parents enjoyed a wealthy two-home life style uncommon for the times.
In a dramatic change of events his father kidnapped Bailey and his older brother, hiding them away to live with a woman in Meriden, Connecticut, using them as pawns in a vicious divorce. They were told that their mother was dead and were lost for a time.
The boys were found by the authorities and were held in an orphanage until the divorce was settled.
They were reunited with their mother and went to live in Durham as penniless as their farther could possibly make them.
Bailey, happy to be back with his mother, watched her struggle with poverty, and loss of support from the Church and her strict Irish-Catholic family, who blamed her for the loss of her husband and all the problems the family faced.
He grew up watching the changing times of the sixties and his mother facing adversity with a powerful perseverance.
As the boys grew up in a turbulent time of social unrest with little supervision, Bailey matured quickly and began early to question the directives and motives of the adults and people of authority over him.
He found internal peace and escape from negative forces around him in the deep forest behind his home; where he grew up playing with wildlife and developing a profound appreciation for the natural environment.
As he advanced in age, he became aware of the poor guidance authorities at school who were out of focus to the skill set of the individual. He learned to question authority and take most everything they pushed upon him with a grain of salt.
After graduating high school, Bailey went through a series of entry level jobs and experienced many small businesses and their practices. Continuing to question the motives, values, and competency of his superiors, he became self-employed by the time he was twenty years old.
He started a residential tree service and over the years has been involved in all sorts of building and maintenance of an eclectic group of real estate and personal property projects.
With all best intentions and wisdom beyond his age, Bailey continued to be gullible and was often taken advantage of by his own positive outlook on life and generally caring for the people he encountered and dealt with.
As he looks back now at over 40 years in business, he finds his own mistakes in trusting the good nature of others to be his biggest downfall and his biggest asset.
After years of trying his hand at many different things from arboriculture to building and landscape architecture, and being exposed to all sorts of trades and various occupations along with hobbies that include oil painting and interior design, Bailey now enjoys writing about his experiences and expresses himself in the medium of being an author.
He shares his stories and anecdotes with a satirical humor and a philosophical outlook.
He owes his vocabulary, English skills, and perseverance to his mother who was an avid reader and advocate of libraries.