Champion News

CHAMPION—December 8, 2008

        Champion’s Thanksgiving Day Parade was an ephemeral affair this year.  Expressions of Gratitude were ubiquitous together with turkey, dressing, cranberry goo of all kinds and giblet gravy.  A new version of “The New Gravy Waltz” has been done by Vassar Clements on Hillbilly Jazz, which might be an ‘album,’ a radio station, or a genre:  “Mr. Weeping Willow, I’m through with all my faults ‘cause my baby is ready to do the ever new gravy waltz.”  (The song was written by Steve Allen and Ray Brown a long time ago.)  Some distant Champions won’t eat ‘gut gravy.’  Another Old Champion says, “The older I get, the more I realize that nothing is as good as it used to be.”  Imagine the inspiration and deep conviction it takes for the Old Champion spouse to Look on the Bright Side!  Uncle Al Masters–the Lonesome Plowboy has a grandson, Glen, who says, “Happiness is a choice!”  He doesn’t claim that to be an original point of view, but it is one to which he easily adheres.  His sons Jack and Jake are the beneficiaries of some good upbringing, as was Glen himself and his own Dear Old Dad, who is a nice man with a penchant for trouble with ladders.

        A bright and brisk Sunday found some tourists getting their picture taken on the porch at Henson’s Store in downtown Champion.  Perhaps it was the fugacious nature of the Parade that peaked their curiosity or perhaps they had old family ties to the place.  There they were, lined up three on the top step and three below facing a fancy camera on a tripod.  Whether they were making talkies or just ‘gawkies,’ it was clear from a distance that they were making memories and it was sweet to see whoever they are.

        A note came recently from Champion’s own Hovey, now a Texan.  He said, “Sorry to read of the death of Cletus.  Before television and air conditioning there was a softball league in Mtn. Grove that drew big crowds.  One of the teams was Douglas County, made up mostly of men from the Denlow community.  Cletus was probably the last of those men that played on that team.  There were some heated rivalries.  There is a story of one game that the umpire made a call in Douglas County’s favor then reversed his call.  He was chased from the field by Douglas County fans, into the concession stand.  The police had to be called to rescue the man.”  If the stories start pouring in about Cletus Upshaw this column will become a more interesting read!

        Many Champions are celebrating birthdays this month.  It seems unfair to some to have their birthday so close to Christmas.  One said she always had to spend her birthday money on Christmas presents for other people.  Another one had his birthday spoiled by the attack on Pearl Harbor.  An illustrious lawyer and judge has to share his birthday with a prosecuting attorney and a mean spirited rival.  One particularly good natured fellow from over by Vera Cruz celebrates on the 8^th and those who join him for refreshments are always in for a treat.  There is another who shares her birthday with Spike Jones!  Some may be too young to remember his music full of gargling, hiccups, cow bells and slide whistles.  A person can’t be glum with a Spike Jones tune in the background.  Wilburn and Louise’s neighbor is most likely enjoying seeing those bald eagles back in the neighborhood.  She is famous for Looking on the Bright Side!

        Dr. Amanda Zappler, a prominent clinical audiologist with the University of Texas, is spending some time these days with young Veterans of the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  She says that while many have suffered profound and irreversible hearing loss due to the explosions to which they were exposed, many others have ‘temporal lobe’ damage.  They can hear sound, but the brain damage that they have experienced keeps them from being able to make sense of it.  In some cases they are being able to retrain some individuals to recognize sounds again.  Because they can still read they are able to communicate, but the relearning process is a slow and difficult one.  Others suffer from tinnitus.  That is the ringing in the ears that many people know about, particularly people with anxiety or high blood pressure.  The ringing gets loud, which makes them anxious which makes it louder and it becomes a progressively worsening situation.  Dr. Zappler says that these young Veterans are destined to spend the rest of their lives battling these difficult conditions.  Statistics are showing the suicide rate among the Veterans of these conflicts is higher than any other group ever.  The machismo of service will cause many not to report their difficulties, but they will be suffering none the less and Champions everywhere need to keep them in their best good thoughts and to extend the Love and Gratitude that they have coming from their Nation.

        This time of the year when the weather has decided to be so cold not much is going on out in the garden.  The seed catalogues are already showing up and the day dreaming about next year’s garden has begun.  Linda, from over at the Plant Place in Norwood, is spending time making cuttings of house plants and doing general tidying and organizing in the greenhouses.  Charlene’s shop is providing some delightful one-of-a-kind gifts for people on small Christmas budgets.  While it seems that most folks on those shopping lists already have everything they really need it is wonderful to be able to choose something carefully, no matter how small, to let them know that attention is being paid to what they like and what interests them.  The chance to give is a Gift itself!  When so many these days are dealing with ill health and loss of loved ones, easing burdens and lifting spirits is a challenge Champions take on willingly.

        Send any song about any kind of groovy grub or gravy to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717 or to Champion News.  Keep an eye on the website at www.championnews.us just to see what shows up there.  Sing “The New Gravy Waltz” or “Baby It’s Cold Outside” out on the porch at Henson’s Store in Downtown Champion where “Good Gravy!” they’re always Looking on the Bright Side!