June 9, 2008
CHAMPION—June 9, 2008
When the excitement reaches a fevered pitch in Champion, Champions just let out a little sigh and think about those blissful quiet days when nothing much happens at all. Those kinds of days will be rolling around again soon enough and in the meantime enjoying the here and now is one of the very definitions of a Champion. It is the mark of an exceptional person who knows when things are good and acknowledges it at the very moment. It is kind of sad to think, “we were so happy back then and didn’t know it.” Sometimes people can even get so caught up in taking pictures that they let the real beauty of the moment slide by. If a person forgets to take his camera to the creek, then he doesn’t have to worry about dropping it in the water, or losing it, and he just has to rely on his memory to replay the joys of the day the way people always have.
Imagine the General wearing a kilt and leading a bridal procession through Champion while playing an accordion. That is reported to be his current plan! He is so excited about the upcoming wedding of his niece that he is about to drive family and friends to distraction! The hope is that his antics will not prove so extreme that the attention is taken from the lovely bride. She is the very portrait of calm repose. No roguery however avuncular will rumple her placid poise. The bridegroom, however, is apt to be adversely influenced by her Illinois uncle who attributes his own long-term marital successes to having worn white sox to his wedding. He indicates that just wearing them is not enough. They must figure significantly in the wedding pictures. Some of the groom’s kin may show up armed for a little pre-nuptial coyote hunting and, as is the case with any large gathering, the unknowns are rife with possibility. It will be a day to remember, one full of promise and optimism colored overall with the love and good wishes of family and friends.
Linda’s granddaughter, Danielle, from Kansas City has been over in Norwood tending the store for her Grandmother. While Linda has been busy working with the plants and helping people find things, Danielle and her distant cousin have been minding the shop, waiting on customers and keeping things orderly. It is a rare situation that is not improved significantly by the presence of a granddaughter or great niece. This week Linda’s almanac says that the 13th to the 15th will be favorable for planting peas, beans, tomatoes and other fall crops bearing aboveground. Sow grains and forage crops. Plant flowers. The 16th and 17th will be extra good for planting fall lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, collards and other leafy vegetables. All above ground crops planted now will do well. Plant seedbeds also. It is nice to have such a long period of time when conditions are just right for a favorite activity. If the weather will cooperate, Champions will have to tell everybody how good the gardening has been. It is a luxury to be able to wait for the weather to be good to do what one wants to do. Farmers have things that have to be done no matter what the weather. Then there are so many things in agriculture that are weather dependent like cutting hay. There are so many berries on the black berry bushes that people are holding their breath in hopes of getting just the right rain. This may be the blackberry crop of the century in Champion. Young visitors were too early for a lot of the berries that will be ripening in these parts, but they harvested a variety of other things including some yearling ticks. Sophia and Penelope are back in Texas now with just a little itching to remind them of the good times on the farm.
Some have only blooms, while some have real tomatoes. The rules for the First Ripe Tomato in Champion Contest are simple: The tomato must have been grown in Champion; must be shared with judges (anyone present at Henson’s Store) and ideally will have its picture taken with the winning gardener for publication. There is no second place prize. The winner will receive acclaim, admiration, a blue antique fruit jar, $5.00 worth of tickets to win the coveted Rose Star Quilt hand pieced by Esther Wrinkles which will be given away at the Skyline Picnic on the 9th of August, and two dozen canning jar flats—a dozen each regular and wide mouth. The decision of the judges will be final and the tomato will be eaten on the spot. Any contestant unwilling to share his tomato will be disqualified.
After five years in Iraq, the U.S. military has suffered over 33,000 casualties, more that 29,000 wounded and 4,000 dead, and it remains engulfed by three converging currents that constitute the Iraq War—the underlying military conflict, the battle for political control, and grinding civil strife. The Pentagon has diagnosed roughly 40,000 troops with post traumatic stress disorder since 2003. Love and Gratitude for their service is the requisite start for healing.
One time a Champion was standing beside a famous person who said something that some found quite objectionable. It turned out that the Champion then had to convince people that knowing the famous person who said the objectionable thing did not mean that he also subscribed to the thought. Then people said that the Champion was distancing himself from his associate and indicated that there was something wrong with that. It is a good thing that Champions know how to think for themselves. A pleasant letter came from Tennessee Champion friend, Darrell Haden, who was talking about Vernon Dalhart. He was very influential in getting country music up and going in the mid-1920’s. Prof. Haden said, “Probably one of the chief reasons Dalhart is not so well known as (Jimmy) Rodgers and the Carters is the fact that Texan Dalhart trained first to sing grand opera, which he did from 1910 until about 1916.” This is the guy who made the “Wreck of the Old ‘97” popular. It is a great thing that as people progress through life, they grow and change and learn to appreciate new things. How dreary it would be to be stuck with only the thoughts and attitudes one held in the bloom of his formative youth!
It is unknown if there are more endorphins released in a person who sings grand opera than a person who sings “Sadie’s Got Her New Dress On,” which is one of Young Foster’s favorite songs. It is known that those endorphins help the immune system fight off disease and depression. Champions are encouraged to sing at every opportunity (where song is appropriate, General Upshaw!)
Acknowledge good things at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. E-mail secrets for marital success to Champion News. Release some endorphins on the porch at Henson’s Store in downtown Champion where the beautiful brides are always looking on the bright side!
