December 7, 2015
CHAMPION—December 7, 2015
Colorful Champion!
Some old Champions were surprised the other day by a big galumphing, romping puppy–a 90 pound boxer of some kind. He showed up in the early afternoon and spent the day following the old man to the wood shed and the garage and the old lady to the clothesline and compost heap. He was friendly and affectionate and made himself at home on the front porch. The old folks called down to Henson’s Grocery and Gas to inquire of a missing beautiful, friendly big dog. Sure enough, by dark the owners called and came to pick him up. Tank was his name and while it was lovely to have him visit, the old folks are glad they are not having to feed the immense creature, no matter how sweet he turned out to be.
Dawn Henson had a birthday on the 5th of December that managed to go unnoticed in The Champion News until now. Hopes are that it was a great day for her. She lives in Houston, Texas, and makes it back to Champion from time to time. She married into that big Henson family that includes Hovey, Eva Lois, Randy and Royce. Their Champion cousin, Deward’s granddaughter, is a frequenter of The Historic Emporium over on the North Side of the Square where Hensons are always welcome. Eva Coyote (Kai) was born on December 11, 1975, and grew up near Ava. Her parents are grandparents now and are still living on the farm. The 13th is given to a River Rat by name of Richard Green. He is dripping with Purple Hearts from his time in Viet Nam and with much fine familial affection. The 14th is a significantly special day for a birthday. It is enjoyed by 417 Photo Company’s own Shannon Alexander, who can make you look good, however you look. It was also the birthday of Judy Terry Ing, the truest friend a person ever could have, tragically lost a few years ago. She was a scientist, an artist, and a dynamo of a bright, exciting personality. It was always a delight to remind her that she shared her birthday with Spike Jones who could gargle an aria with the best of them. There is a new kid in town with that birthday. She will celebrate 14 trips around the sun on the 14th and will doubtlessly dazzle us all one day. Amanda Mastin has her birthday on the 16th. She is doing business as Honky Tonk Clothing Company at 2800 East Battlefield Road in Springfield where style meets comfort. Champion! Jesse David Ing, Judy’s only son, also celebrates on the 16th. He is a big time Hollywood movie maker now, but when he was a little boy he came to Champion every summer and jumped off that big rock at the Millpond and gathered seed ticks like all the little hillbilly children.
Seventy-four years ago, December 7, 1941, was the ’day that will live in infamy.’ The events that bloomed out of that tragedy fashioned the people who are the parents, and grandparents of middle aged people who run things here these days. The horror of that December 7th shocked the Nation and drew us all together against the common enemy. The military draft was overrun with volunteers as everyone stepped up to serve the Nation in whatever way they could. The Nation was courageous and unified in the face of the great evil and we won. Under Article 9, “The Japanese people forever renounce war and the threat of use of force.” Tragedy today is spread uniformly across all Nations in all kinds of places—in schools, churches, shopping malls, movie theatres, health clinics, care facilities, retirement homes, restaurants, in parks and on the streets and certainly in the hidden domestic violence behind any door you may pass and perpetrated by almost anyone. We are a more diverse Nation 74 years later. Because we prevailed back then and continued to be a beacon, representing everything wonderful (freedom, liberty, opportunity), many of the world’s seven billion people have made their way here, even as did our ancestors from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Russia, Poland, Israel, Lebanon, Armenia, Syria, Greece, Italy, Mexico and all those other places all those years ago. The melting pot is no fit place for xenophobia. It is difficult for some to recognize our commonality, our mutual humanity, because it all seems so sudden. “They” are different and “we” are afraid. A common enemy might be the answer to unifying ourselves again as a Nation. If so, we are ripe for a space invasion—an invasion of aliens unlike anyone on earth…greenish or purple and not very humanoid, kind of slimy and drippy and smelly, but loud and strong and terrifying, unafraid and mean. They would be easily identifiable by their stink and therefore so easy to hate. “Those creepy purple people scare me.” “They are out to get our women.” “They are so different. Yuk!” “They eat half of their own children—a little at a time.” “Gross!” “I hate them.” “They want to take over.” “It’s us or them!” We would rally and reinstate the draft so that even the children of wealthy people would feel like serving honorably, and citizens of every origin would unite to protect ourselves and each other. Perhaps these nasty space aliens could only be killed by harmony, so the industrial military complex would melt down some of its tanks to make xylophones, banjoes and dobroes. Quartets on every street corner would join voices and watch slimy purple people sicken with smiles and evaporate—a little at a time so the last thing visible would be a tender tear then ‘Pop!’ They would be gone. This silliness is to say, fear and division do not work to promote our pursuit of happiness or our sense of security. The big picture is hard to see up close. As a Nation our great hope is to find our commonality and to work together for the good of all. Marcus Aurelius is credited with having said, “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.”
As the long slender rifle was pulled from its case on Wednesday in the Meeting Room over at the Historic Emporium, the men in the group sighed in unison, “Awwwww!” They unanimously expressed their approval of the beauty of the gun being exhibited. One of the ladies remarked that that is the sound women make when a pretty baby is introduced into their midst. Perhaps the ladies will start bringing interesting items for the show and tell. A fairly substantial rumor has it that The General himself will soon be in regular attendance. He is about to retire for the third time and will soon have time on his hands. He is still making coffee for the Thursday Bluegrass Jam in Vanzant so his life will not change completely. He will just be around the house more. Sharon may well be pleased to have a place for him to go. Of course, her friends would like it if she would come too. Sometimes ‘retirement’ can hit a wife hard. He will probably have some unique items to share with the fellas and promises to bring a little culture to the meeting. He may be the secret musical weapon who eventually saves us all from the NPP (Nasty Purple People) singing that Johnny Cash hit, “Don’t take your guns to town, son. Leave your guns at home, Bill. Don’t take your guns to town. He laughed and kissed his mom and said, ‘Your Billy Joe’s a man.’” Come down to the wide, wild, wooly banks of Auld Fox Creek to hear the rest of that tale, or take time to tell your own. The music goes round and round in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
