August 1, 2016
CHAMPION—August 1, 2016
It turns out that Champion is in the mid-southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, which puts us in the most favorable position on Earth to see the sights as our planet passes through the densest, dustiest area of the path left behind by the Comet Swift-Tuttle. Meteor experts at NASA say that the Perseids Meteor Shower will be in “outburst” which means meteors will appear at double the usual rate, as many as 150 or even 200 meteors per hour. They will be most visible around midnight on August 12th and 13th. As if in cosmic alignment, The Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department Picnic will be held those nights as well. The ride home will be a magic trip through shooting stars. It is always good to be reminded that in the big picture people are quite small. People in Champion are nevertheless pleased with our spot in the Universe.
It is picnic season. Wesley and Suzie Freeman came all the way up from McKinney, Texas for the Holt 4-H Picnic, which is always a great happening. Wesley, the son of Chester Freeman, grandson of Sam Freeman, grew up at Brushyknob and went to school at Vera Cruz. Suzie went to Mountain Grove. They were visiting in Champion on Monday and planning to spend the week with family and friends. Wesley builds replicas of trucks out of Balsa wood. Go to www.championnews.us to see a picture of his very detailed work. Karen makes her lovely Christmas cards by hand every year and says that she is still a hillbilly even if she lives in Texas. Homecomings happen often in Champion, sometimes in order to hold fast connections to family and friends and sometimes for the sake of nostalgia and longing for a simpler time that, now that it is over, seemed better. Being here now is good.
The out-of-state visitors to the Vanzant jam on Thursday were not disappointed in their kin. Entertaining is not the word. From the depths of a battered guitar case The General produced a coonskin hat with a tail so long it completely obscured his face until he turned the thing around. Unbidden, he proceeded to accompany Sherry Bennett in “Five Pounds of Possum” with cowbell aplenty and a pantomime of a person playing a bass instrument…a large tin can attached to a stick and a string. No real sound came out of the instrument, but it would not have been heard anyway for the uproarious laughter. He may have been ‘showing off’ for the bunch, hoping to have them take home some vivid memories. Roberta had a birthday that evening and was roundly serenaded by the whole room. Young Thomas Jarnagan’s granddad was also included in the song, though his day had been the 25th. Visitors from Idaho, Ron and Darcy (Upshaw) Cecil and their four children enjoyed their first vacation all together in 15 years. The bluegrass jam and the Saturday Upshaw family night ice cream party with twenty two in attendance were probably some of their best memories as they headed home. The General said they did like Vanzant and the area, “but I don’t think any of them are planning to settle here.“
There was plenty of good Wednesday fun at the Emporium. Even with occasional trivial distractions and disruptions, there were many polite conversations, observations, and speculations. Pete Proctor was out from town and Ronnie Medlock, nowadays from over at Houston, enjoyed relaxing on the wide veranda with the Dooms brothers. He is a great guitar player, they say, but he said he does not play these days, which some folks find hard to believe. David Cauthran, a new resident of Champion Heights, talked about his Dad who was a friend of Alfred Brumley. Like Brumley, he sang and wrote gospel songs. Karen Ross, intrepid mail-lady stopped by on her regular route. Her birthday was to be Friday—she is in the prime of life—always in a good mood even when the roads are rough—a welcome sight with a dazzling smile.
Wednesday evening a few stalwart Skyline VFD workers spent time at the Fire House starting the picnic process. It is a treat to have some new faces helping out with the hard work. Still, as in years past, there was a communal yearning for additional help, some young, energetic people from the area with good ideas and muscle to apply toward making a great picnic. It is a chance to bring the community together in support of the vital little rural fire department that protects our lives and property. Local merchants are already thinking about the door prizes they plan to donate for the picnic. The ladies at Downtown Pawn in Mt. Grove will likely share something with the fire department again, though they outdid themselves with the amazing Dobro that they contributed for the Skyline Chili Supper back in March. This is the 30th Skyline Picnic. It has been decided that there will not be a silent auction this year and that fried catfish will be added to the menu. A prominent local artisan has donated a handmade quilt/display chest for the raffle. It is definitely shaping up to be another sterling event.
The almanac says that the first few days of August will be good days for killing weeds, briars, poison ivy and other plant pests. As to poison ivy, the Teeter Creek herb folks have Jewel Weed as their featured herb this week. The plant has long been used to treat the poison ivy rash. The leaves and juicy stems are crushed and used as a poultice. The plant grows well in wet places and the touch-me-not seeds are easy to collect. There is still time to plant a variety of things for a fall harvest. Summer squash grows fast and will have time to make, as will lettuce and fall greens, particularly Swiss Chard. The garden is a beautiful place to be. Young Bailey, a granddaughter visiting from Portland, Oregon enjoyed her grandparent’s garden immensely. She particularly liked the little Dutch Bantam chickens that go about their garden eating bugs. One little hen had an injured leg and the little girl spent her time carrying it under her arm, making sure it had its feed and water. After a week of her tender care, the little chicken seemed to be more able to take care of herself. Bailey’s Grandad says the little chickens do get a lot of bugs out in the garden, but they also do a great job of scratching mulch away from where he puts it, and punching holes in the low-hanging tomatoes.
Champions are hoping that the Skyline School levy will have been approved by the voters. Politics has some people nervous. “What do we want?” “Respectful discourse.” “When do we want it?” “Now would be agreeable to me, but I am interested in your opinion.” The following quotes come from Presidents Harry Truman and FDR and from Voltaire. “Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” If the next ninety plus days can pass with forbearance, dignity, civility and calm, perhaps we can stand on the wide veranda together and sing, “America, America! God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!” Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!
