December 19, 2016
EDINBURGH—December 19, 2016
The great Scott Monument on Princess Street in Edinburgh as seen from the North Bridge
flanked by the Christmas ferris wheel and the amazing Star Flyer.
The naughty and nice list is getting a lot of attention all around the world at this time of the year. When asked if a granddaughter had received what she wanted for Christmas one year, she replied, “You get what you get and you don’t pitch a fit.” That did not really answer the question but it showed a parenting philosophy that seems sound. The Prominent Girlfriend can almost be heard across the wide Atlantic complaining about the weather. She is longing for the beach. “Baby, its cold outside” in Champion and no one will put her on the naughty list for whining about it. The forecast looks good for an improvement and Santa should have no problem on his route. In Edinburgh today it will be gray but will be flirting with 50 degrees. The festive lights and music of the city make it an exciting Christmas destination.
The Champion News is pleased to announce the hire of a hometown correspondent. The General, himself, has agreed (tacitly) to become the neighborhood reporter for the Vanzant Bluegrass Jam. It is an important position and remuneration is contingent upon performance. So far so good with the first installment, to wit, “We had 14 players and a good jam here as well. One young man playing and singing was here for the first time. Another surprise, Josiah Strode (banjo player) was back for the first time after about 18 months. And Steve Sloan, a bass singer, was back again. Most everyone left at the usual time. A few people did stay around to listen while Josiah, Steve, Herbie and J.R. Johnston, Travis Hathaway, and Kenny Bushong played and sang. What a super job they done. (did) They played until a little after 10 PM. Travis and Josiah are cousins. So we had a great evening of music. I drank a few pints….of coffee.” Good reporting, General.
 A cup of tea at The Oak
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Over here in the seaport of Leith, now a mere suburb of Edinburgh, the Thursday jam at Sketchy Beats just on the east side of the Water of Leith (a nice river), was lovely. A young man with an electric guitar and two drums with pedals was the first on the scene. His name is Andrew John Cairns and he was magnificently amplified. He also had a cold and his voice sounded like Cookie Monster, but it was the first thing your foreign correspondent had heard clearly since Philadelphia. He looked just like a big overgrown Ozarks farm boy in his plaid shirt and blue jeans and railroad hat…about 6’4”…..280 pounds…big smile. He looks to be in his late 20’s and has a lot of original music…songs like “The Years Have Not Been Kind,” and “This Morning Will Eat Us Alive.” It might be the climate that makes it all seem so dour. Maybe it is just the genre. In any event, he was followed by a bunch of guitar and bass players. They were just ‘riffing’ off each other and mostly it was great. Almost always it was loud, much to the satisfaction of this foreign listener. Father and son strolled into The Royal Oak, a famous folk venue, to hear some authentic bluegrass. It is a small and a big world.
The internet had some sterling good birthday wishes for Emogene Sprague on the 15th. Rita Silverberg used to be Rita Dorr and her birthday is the 17th. Mary Goolsby, who used to be seen often in the area in the company of Studebaker Bob Berry, celebrates on the 20th. The 20th is also the birthday of two Skyline School students–4th grader Destiny Surface and prekindergarten student, Rachael Prock. Archie Dailey’s sweetheart, Chris, will be partying on the 21st. Pennsylvania Ben Cohen will have the 22nd as his special day. The 23rd will be a busy day in the neighborhood. Rowdy’s little great grandmother, one of those charming Stone brothers, Chase Couthran and his dear old Dad will all have their birthday that day. Christmas Eve was the birthday of Sarah Emaline Putnam Hector, born in 1885. She set the example for how grannies were supposed to be for 14 cousins who will never forget her.
Lannie Hinote was posting pictures of herself on facebook asking Santa for a trip to Missouri. The next thing was “Hello Anchorage and Solid Ground.” Then she posed with a moose entangled in blue lights, then said, “Hello Denver!” This morning she is in Kansas being pleased to be away from airport food and into a nice soft bed. Her family is getting excited to see her.
* Indigenous Rising Media had an update on the water protecting folks up in North Dakota. The weather is frightfully cold and the people are resolute in their determination to stay in place. A young lady born and raised there said that the new administration will be aggressive in its approach but had the other side won, it would have been the same only in a more sneaky way. Across the United Kingdom there is great support for the Native Americans and a wee chuckle associated with the outrage at the idea that Russia may have interfered with the election. That humor has to do with apparent CIA deeds relating to Eastern European, Central and South American elections over the decades. It has been a relief to be away from the news even for a short time. At the same time there is a calling to be more engaged. “Que´ sera´, sera´,” (whatever will be, will be) is a fine and easy philosophy to have, but if you are paying attention, remember that there in the United States of America a person is free to express his belief without qualification. Appropriate quotes at this time come from Edmund Burke, George Orwell, and Theodore Roosevelt. In order: “All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” “The farther a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” “To announce that there must not be criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile but it is morally treasonable to the American public.” Today the Fat Lady sings. Her song will change the world.
Sherry Bennett shared a post that says singing daily for at least ten minutes reduces stress, clears sinuses, improves posture and can even help you live longer. It was sweet to hear children from the local elementary school singing all the same Christmas carols that Skyline kids sang at their program back home. Hank Williams songs were a big hit a The Royal Oak on Saturday night. Alan Grant treated the crowd to an original song, “The Fool I Am Now Ain’t the Fool I Used to Be.” Go to www.championnews.us to find music and entertainment for the last decade in one of the world’s truly beautiful places. Have your email read in Scotland at champion@championnews.us. Fill it with history, music and queries. Get down to the Historic Emporium on the North Side of the Square to get your seasonal postcard before it is too late. It features a snow picture of the village in days gone by with the message, “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!” Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
Elementry students singing the same sweet song.
