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Last week was vacation time for Pat and me. So, you may ask, what do we have to vacation from? Good question but nevertheless, off we went. Went back to “Sweet Home Alabama.” No, I never lived there but my dad came west from there. A place called Gadsden. Whenever I visit there I wonder why they chose to leave this beautiful part of Alabama and move to a somewhat unimproved place called Leflore County, Oklahoma. But they did and in my journeys there I found out their reasons.
Read moreSo, when did these Father’s Day celebrations get started and how? Well, the first one came forth on June 19, 1910. The same year my own father was born. Men scoffed at this new day. “It’s just a trick to get people to spend money on yet another holiday,” said my dad. “Besides, we wind up having to pay for it ourselves anyway, so what’s the point.”
Read moreMemorial Day is here. A time to remember and honor those heroes who paid the ultimate price to defend our country. There are many heroes in our area. And I salute all of them. But today I want to talk about a particular one. One you may not have known of or remember. A boy from Lula. A boy who gave his life for our freedom. His name: Gene Porter Hamilton. Ever hear of him? Everyone knew “Gene Porter” as his mother called him back in the 30’s. She and her husband, Virgil Hamilton, raised Gene over at Lula where Gene went to school and his dad Virgil Hamilton was a well-known grocer.
Read morePeople that don’t regularly read this column may not realize that the famous movie star, Cheeta is dead. His best friend and caregiver hauled this 140-pound dead Chimp around on a cart so the other primates he lived with could say goodbye. Cheeta spent his last years at a roadside celebrity zoo near Tarpon Springs, Florida. Cheeta was later cremated, and his remains placed in an attractive burial box for his funeral. Over 60 people attended the old Tarzan movie chimps’ funeral. Cheeta was 80 years old.
Read moreThis Sunday is Mother’s Day. A very special time for many of us who have such special memories of our very special mothers. When I was a child, my mom was the person I ran to when I was in pain or hurting. Or when I was worried about God and other celestial matters, you can be sure I ran to her for advice. She was my first advisor after I learned I needed to give my life to Jesus. She never gave me any bad advice in these matters.
Read moreThat little splotch of color on maps adjoining the Russian Country may disappear soon. Yes, the Ukraine is now a rapidly disappearing democracy on the edge of the USSR. And Russia, in actions that would have made Hitler blush with jealousy, is at it again. If you ever took any European History and studied Russia and its relationships to the Balkans, you can see what I mean. Russia wants it right now.
Read moreNo place like home I always say and for sure Allen is my home. I think mom felt that real strong for Allen on one “bad” day in 1938. The day we moved to Centrahoma. The old house dad had rented was in horrible shape. Our new landlord had stored hay in it and now he had rented it to my broke and, as mom put it, “gullible” dad. I remember the giant red-ant bed in the front yard. No drinking water. Had to haul it. The outdoor toilet was hiding out in a dangerous looking sticker patch. No respectable snake would venture out there. For a bit of respectability and as an odor chaser, Mom repapered both rooms (of the house) with Daily Oklahomans using flour and water for paste. After Gerald wept over it, she tore the news print off the walls and repapered with comic strips— cheering my unhappy brother up.
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