August 10, 2009
CHAMPION—August 10, 2009
In Champion people are adept at living in the moment. That is to say, when things are good for people they say so right out loud. “This is so nice.” “Isn’t this beautiful weather?” One old Champion said to another, “This time next week that picnic will be over!” Her point was to comfort and reassure her friend that the exhausting and hectic days ahead in the intense heat and humidity will be forgotten when the band strikes up and the crowd gathers full of old and new friends and dear family. Laughter and happy talk, kid ruckus, and glad handshakes are the ties that bind to pull glad hearts together. Everything else is icing on the cake! Meanwhile, the President of the Steering Committee, was heard several times reciting from a recent correspondence he had received, “Remember, if you act like you are having a good time, pretty soon you will be!” He used the sentiment liberally to encourage the volunteers preparing the grounds for the Picnic. Several times his cousin, Wilburn’s sonorous and compelling voice was heard extolling the virtue, “Never weary in well doing!”
Monday and Tuesday after the picnic will be an excellent time to plant root crops like beets, turnips and onions. That is according to Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood. Linda generously provided plants for the landscaping of the newly dedicated “Bridge To Nowhere” on the picnic grounds at Skyline. Picnickers are in for a treat. This completed “shovel-ready” project exemplifies what a significant contribution a real stimulus package can have. The spirit of volunteerism has been plumbed. Champion!
Wally Hopper writes that he will be coming over from Republic on Saturday. He has recently completed his second family history book. This one is about his great grandfather, William A Hopper, and his service in the Civil War. He said that the research was very interesting particularly concerning the meals he received. His first book was bout his father, Jimmy Hopper, and was written after his death in 1977. Wally has copies if anyone might be interested.
Bill Poole from Nashville shared more good tomato information on Sunday afternoon. He says that the plants don’t need all that much foliage and that getting rid of the excess, particularly damaged or diseased leaves, reduces the strain on the plant and lets it do a better job of making tomatoes. One Champion appreciates the “Tums” tip to help with the blossom end rot, so she will probably spend her Monday pruning the tomato plants. In an article in the New York Times about the rampant tomato blight in the Northeast the expert indicated that as much as possible gardeners should use plants grown in their area. It said that a tomato plant that is shipped from 2,000 miles away is pretty much like a tomato shipped from that far. Bill really called to pass a message on to his cousin Eva to say that his mother, Esther, had been taken Sunday morning from the nursing home in Mountain Grove over to Cox South in Springfield. She is having some heart issues. She will be 94 on September 27th. A Champion son-in-law had a birthday on the 8th. He was born 08-08-68. Foster and Kalyssa do not think their Dad is old. Foster sported chocolate cake on his sleeve and britches leg on Sunday, just from helping his lucky Father celebrate. Kalyssa is about to have a birthday too! She’ll be three! How fast the time goes!
Some Champions were born in Champion and may live within a few feet of the very spot where they first entered the world. They have deep roots and are deeply connected to the community with history, family and friends. Other Champions moved here from other places. Sometimes they moved away from their family. Sometimes the family moved away from them. For whatever reason there are Champions rooted to their adopted spot, but with deep longing in their hearts for their distant loved ones. Everyone is familiar with the feeling on some level. Most times the lonesome Champions can just enjoy vicariously those filial feelings as other people’s grandchildren run up to hug their old folks. But sometimes it takes a real Champion to look on the Bright Side. Some newly transplanted Champions are joining right in to help get the picnic going. Steve and Darlene Conner from over on WW in Champion West were busy at the picnic grounds Friday with rakes, tarps, and various technical help getting the place ready for the fun. Saturday saw a wonderful swarm of Griswold children (but not Michael) hauling brush and picking rocks and sticks, wielding rakes and shovels in the hot sun. It is a treat to see some willing and productive young folks participating and ‘not weary in well doing.’ They might have been weary, but they were not complaining. Champion!
A large contingent of the Patriot Riders passed by the picnic grounds Saturday on their way to honor Sgt. Charles L. Wilson, the Korean War Veteran who was laid to rest in the Vera Cruz Cemetery. Love and Gratitude is the due of those who serve.
If Uncle Al, the Lonesome Plowboy, could join in at the picnic, he would be sitting in with The Backyard Bluegrass. Their repertory is so similar, they must have shared some of the same influences. Uncle Al often performed at Civil War reenactment venues and for such important groups as the South Central Texas Coon and Cat Hunting Association. He was a jolly fellow with a comedic approach to music. Someone said that a comedian is about to approach the Backyard Bluegrass at the picnic. The audience will do well to arrive early as this group is scheduled to play early both evenings. Once when she was a very young girl, Uncle Al shared the stage with fellow Texan, Janis Joplin. She sang, “In this world, if you read the papers, Honey, you know everybody’s fighting with each other. There ain‘t no one you can count on—not even your own brother. So if someone should come along who’s gonna give you some love and affection, I say get it while you can. Oh yes! Get it while you can. Don’t you turn your back on love. Oh! No no no no!” Janis sounded kind of lonesome. There is some cathartic relief sometimes in a sad song. Champions are reminded of a gathering at Denlow one time when someone started out a song, “Hear that lonesome whippoorwill. He sounds too blue to cry. The moon just went behind a cloud and I’m so lonesome…..” Well, at that point the General burst into such inconsolable and desperate sobbing that the whole tenor of the gathering thereafter was of a rather subdued embarrassment. If he behaves himself at the picnic, it will be a wonder.
A good old sad song or lonesome kind of song is welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367 Norwood, MO 65717. Upbeat, lively, happy, sunny side songs are welcome at Champion News. There will be plenty of them at the picnic too, so go enjoy. While in the neighborhood, step over to Henson’s Store on the main drag in Historic Downtown Champion where discerning shoppers can find a full compliment of Champion Picture Postcards. Emblazoned on the front of each and every one is that time honored and sincere motto: Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
