CHAMPION—July 4, 2008
Champions find that enjoyment of family and friends is one of the definitions of a happy life. Happiness derived from a life of activity governed by reason is said to be the best kind of happiness. The reason some are happy is because their grandchildren live close and they spend time together doing ordinary things. It is reasonable to think that making memories is an everyday chore that can be approached with the same kind of diligence as gathering the eggs or watering the garden. To reason is to exercise the ability to think, form judgments, and draw conclusions. Champions have concluded that grandchildren are some of the best family and friends!
Upwards of fifty-odd old friends gathered on the Fourth of July at their traditional spot on the creek. The air was full of laughter, yarn spinning, good memories, good food and fun. Olivia is just now three and can whistle already! Elizabeth is a watermelon lover and doesn’t care if it runs down her belly an into her Grandmother’s lap. Her big brother, Seamus, is a tall drink of water! He is a busy guy like a lot of fellows his age. His cousin, Zach, has blue lips! It may be that they were just temporarily blue on account of the frigid water and his unwillingness to leave it. There was a lot of that going around among the younger set.
A year ago some Champions were experiencing some dreadful heartache connected with an underhanded real estate deal. A year later the Conservation Department’s liaison, Nancy Bates, has been instrumental in assuaging some of the anguish by pointing out the beauty of the land as it is now, sans forest canopy. Native flowers and grasses are flourishing there and the wildlife has a new habitat to inhabit. Perspective is tricky. It is every bit as tricky as the nefarious business mogul bereft of principles.
Some of the Patriotic fervor expressed over the holiday had to do with the beautiful Constitution of the United States. Favorite amendments include the First–Freedom of religion, speech, press, petition, and assembly, and the Second—The right to keep and bear arms. Others were mentioned fondly and someone registered fear that the current administration had stated early on that it would not leave office while the Nation is still at War. The 22nd Amendment to the Constitution limits the president to two terms. So once again the Constitution is a Champion Friend! Another Champion friend and neighbor is Sally Miller. She will take her citizenship test on July 17th. It is hoped that the red tape will be finished in time for her to get to cast her first ballot ever in the next election! She is very excited. Sally lives over between Champion and Ava. She is a gifted artist and currently has a show of her stained glass at the Waverly House in Springfield. That is just behind the Red Lobster and near Aunt Martha’s Pancake House. The show will be up through the end of the month and it is reported to be wonderful! A little fresh blood in the mix makes America a better place! The perspective of an intelligent person who has never had the right to vote is a sobering one. Champions stay grateful!
Shell shock is what they later called battle fatigue and now it is post traumatic stress disorder. A Veteran was heard to remark on the Forth that the Viet Nam era Veterans were not so much disillusioned by the cold reception that they received upon their return as they were by the realization that their sacrifices served no real purpose. It was suggested that the Service People returning from the current conflicts are in similar and dire situations with even less support from the Veteran’s Administration. Love and Gratitude is the starting place for the compassion and understanding that will be required of all Citizens in the future when it comes to Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.
It was interesting to read the July 6th, 1933 article in the paper that included the Champion School having burned 75 years ago. There are any number of Champions who remember the event and more who just remember hearing about it. No cause was ever determined for the fire but the building was insured and an Ava contractor by the name of Henley was given the job of rebuilding. Otis Krider was a member of the school board who negotiated the contract, which included the stipulation that the building would be made of entirely clear lumber—no knots. Interested parties monitored the work to be sure it was done according to the agreement and a number of boards had to be replaced. The building is sound yet and sees much good use. School was held there until the late 1950’s.
Another interesting item from that 1933 article: “To struggle together, to endure hardships together, to be brave together in the face of a hostile world—isn’t that the very essence of young love?” Yes, it is indeed and it is also the very essence of old and enduring love. There is no magic date off in the indefinite future when everything will be ok. In Champion, as everywhere, days have to be lived one at a time. A true companion is a gift.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoovie (Kenneth Henson) were in the neighborhood for his 50th high school reunion in Mountain Grove and stopped in at the old home place. It is still known as the Ezra Henson place though they have been gone for a long time. Ezra and Sylvia moved to the place in 1941 from Iowa. Kenneth and his brothers Randy and Royce and sister Eva all attended school at Champion. Sylvia used to write the Champion Items. Kenneth had some pictures and some vivid memories as well as some good information to share about the house—a pleasant surprise. They went on over the hill to visit with their dear cousin Marion. Kenneth doesn’t ever announce his visits in advance, so hopefully she was home and receiving!
The Flag raising ceremony at Champion was a inspiring event on the Forth of July. It was attended by various locals and visiting Dignitaries. While the parade was longer than usual, it was noted that not a shred of confetti or spent firecracker was left behind. Champions are an ecological bunch of Patriots! Stars and Stripes Forever!
“Garden” is a comforting sounding word. It is evocative of plenty and of rest and home—an altogether nice word. Some Champions find that other people’s gardens are always much more beautiful than their own. Those are the people who need to stay home in order to be satisfied. Linda’s Almanac from The Plant Place over in Norwood says that the 11th through the 14th will be a good time to plant anything that bears yield above the ground. If there were songs that fought pests and disease out of gardens Champion would be even more musical than it is already! “Shoo fly, don’t bother me!” A good garden song out of Texas says, “There’s just two things that money can’t buy and that’s True Love and Home Grown Tomatoes.” It’s getting down to the wire with the First Ripe Tomato In Champion Contest. The Excitement is palpable!
Report activities of old friends or odd friends to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717. Define the essence of new or old love at Champion News. Release those excellent spirit lifting and disease fighting endorphins in song on the porch at Henson’s store in Historic Downtown Champion and Look on the Bright Side!
About high noon on Saturday, July 12th, the call was put out that there was a Ripe Tomato in Champion! Locals rushed to the scene at Henson’s Store to find Louise and Wilburn Hutchison with two baseball sized tomatoes–bright red ripe ones! The tomatoes the variety Parks Whopper that are one of Louise’s favorites. One of them was divied up among the judges one of whom provided salt. It was agreed the tomato is Ripe!
