CHAMPION—May 31, 2021
“If Tears Could Build A Stairway And Memories A Lane, I’d Walk Right Up To Heaven And Bring You Home Again.”
Our Memorial Day weekend found local cemeteries around the country visited by family groups decorating graves and honoring Veterans and other dear ones passed on. Saturday was cold, but Sunday and Monday were beautiful days for such outings. Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts held solemn ceremonies commemorating the service and sacrifices of those who have protected the rest of us since our beginnings as a Nation. We are pleased to be reminded.
Sweaters on the 29th of May just seemed wrong. Still the Denlow/Fairview School Reunion was another fine event. A few former students were joined by many family members and friends for an afternoon of feasting and fun. Chilly temperatures and a brisk breeze brought the music inside this year. It was provided by the group known as TLC. Teresa Lindsey, Lynette Cantrell, and Carol Green defied the poor acoustics of the church basement and entertained with “Feeling Mighty Fine,” “Bury Me Beneath the Willows” and other great tunes. The potluck luncheon was a delight and the chance to socialize with seldom seen friends and family was the objective of the whole affair. Fun came with the auction and some folks bidding against themselves, bidding backwards, and bidding for aggravation. Mike Bearden, Arkansas Upshaw son-in-law, did an excellent job of auctioneering and will likely be called on again in years to come. There were no fights or hard feelings, but some sides were sore from the laughter.
Potluck and Fellowship
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TLC
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An Old Champion who does not get out much happened by the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department fire house the other day and saw a new sign featuring a fancy logo, emergency and information phone numbers and notices that training sessions occur on the second Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. and board meetings are on the third Tuesdays at 8 p.m. Because of this great little organization, we can buy home-owners insurance and are comforted to know that first responders and fire-fighter volunteers will answer our call when we have health emergencies, accidents, or fires. Any opportunity to support our fire department is a good one.
“What a Day That Will Be” is an old gospel song, the favorite of the late Louise Hutchison. Wilburn requests it when he makes it to the little Wednesday Jam. He also asks for “Rank Strangers.” Picking and grinning out on the Wide Veranda in Downtown Champion last Wednesday marked, at last, the change in seasons, or so we thought. Cold, damp months had kept the little musical interludes inside in the gracious hospitality of the Historic Emporium. On that sunny day, regular visitors leaned on the porch railing and sat on the steps listening to the music and telling stories: A gent, who is not named Mr. Sutherland, talked about an easy to milk Ayrshire cow named Heart. (Other cows were named Reddy, Clover and Syd.) The Milk Cow Blues is not about the ornery cows that were dealt with harshly by some old timers. There was a story told about Punk picking a fight during a revival meeting that erupted on the church porch and rolled out into the yard. No one was badly hurt. Then, there was the time Arch Lambert was sitting on a mule that stuck its head through the window and brayed during a church service. All this and more happened in Champion. According to people who claim to know what they are talking about, much of it is best forgotten.
Haymakers are at it already. Rabbits feasting on beets and baby green bean plants in the garden do so at their peril. Ticks are being plentiful. The weather is volatile, and the hummingbirds are relentless. Now we just need a big influx of kinfolks, and we will be all set for the summer in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!
