February 5, 2007
Champion – February 5, 2007
There is an old saying in Champion that there will be a day in February when a dog will hunt the shade. In Champion, as in other places, this past Friday was both Groundhog Day and February’s Full Moon, called the “Snow Moon” by some. Some groundhogs saw their shadow and some did not. So anybody’s guess about the upcoming weather is sanctioned by a groundhog somewhere. The Champion Woodchuck is a monster. He stands up nearly as tall as the dinner table. If he had been prowling around Friday night, C.W. could have seen his moon shadow and what weather that would portend is speculation certainly. Speculators are a dime a dozen around Champion. One of them thinks this whole Global Warming thing is a put up job by the Government because anyone can see that it is as cold a winter as has been had around here in a long time. “It’s the frequency of violent weather in general that’s the result of the warming,” says one. Somebody else said that man is not having any kind of effect on the weather because it is all in God’s hands. Then somebody said that God gave man dominion over the earth and man is fouling it up. Some say their point of view is backed up by scientific data. Others say there is no point in reading all that stuff because a person can find paperwork to prove anything. Cabin fever may be playing a part in this surly discourse. Feel free to participate in the discourse at Champion Items, Rt. 2 Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717, at the Champion Store (write it down and give it to someone in the store who has recently had a birthday) or e-mail opinions to Champion News. The whole argument may be more compelling in late summer.
In answer to a request, these are the words to “The West Plains Explosion.” “ In a little town of West Plains In old Missouri state Twas in the month of April They saw the hand of fate. The springtime flowers were blooming The world was bright and gay And no one dreamed the danger Would come to them that day. Was there the young folks gathered One fatal Friday night And to the dance they wandered With hearts so gay and light. And there they spent the evening Without a thought of fear For nothing came to warn them That death was drawing near. The dance was nearly over The evening nearly past When from the floor beneath them There came an awful blast. The building all around them Came tumbling to the ground And there they fought and struggled But the hot flames beat them down. How quick the scene was shifted From one so gay and light How hard the brave men struggled To save their friends that night. How sad the fears of loved ones Who came at break of dawn To see the great disaster Where forty lives had gone. We can’t explain the reason These awful things must come But we should all be ready to say, ‘Thy will be done.’ And tho Our hearts are weary Our burdens hard to bare We have one consolation We’ll meet them over there.” That is a sad song.
The Missouri Song List currently is:
- The Missouri Waltz
- Meet Me in St. Louie, Louie
- I’m Goin Back to Whur I Come From
- The Westphalia Waltz
- The West Plains Explosion
- My Missouri Home
- Kansas City, Here I Come
The words to “My Missouri Home” have not yet been found. “The Shotgun Boogie” looked like a pretty good candidate for the song list. Red Foley used to play it, but it was written by Tennessee Earnie Ford and was his ‘hit.’ The subject matter looks like it’s straight out of Champion with its references to squirrel hunting, etc.
Little Granddaughters, Zoey Louise and Alexandra Jean will have to look for someone else to teach them to lift up the underdog and to hate it when the wealthy make excuses for injustice. Their great fellow Texan, Molly Ivins, passed away this last week. She was sixty two years old and had made every moment of her life count for something good. It was her intention to keep the war in Iraq in the forefront of American thought. With Love and Gratitude for her and for our precious soldiers over there, it is to be noted that eighty four of them lost their lives in January.
UFOs have been reported between Willow Springs and Houston. It is understood that there have been several sightings. Champion has some interesting neighbors. Linda over in Norwood at the Plant Place has some of her perennials in already and the Cole crops are about up. When the moon sign is right in a few days she will plant the herbs. It is nice to know that gardening season is coming up. Plans need to be made.
The much anticipated invitations are in the mail! Auxiliary members will soon be donning their hats and six shooters. Rifles will be slung over delicate shoulders and the order “Commence Fire!” will be heard. The Second Annual Invitational Shoot Out sponsored for the Members of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department is in the works. Last year crock pots, coffee pots, toasters, and a few other things were the targets of their rage: “BLAST IT IF IT WON’T WORK!” was their cry.
This year……who knows?
