A little guy sticks up for a big guy

There are profound moments in life that make a difference for your entire life and in particular make you or me the way we are.  One of those moments happened to me and as I look back I think it explains a lot of how I try to treat other people.  The event may mean very little to a guy named Ricky Cottle but it meant the world to me .

When I was in the 8th grade and in dear old Shidler High I was the new guy and I was also one of the biggest guys in the class outside of Frank Ball and Tim Davis.  Between the three of us we had to be the biggest linemen on an 8th grade football team in the state of Oklahoma.  I don't know how big those two were but I was always pitted against them when it came time for those drills where you line up across from each other and charge forward.   Frank was the fastest and Tim was the toughest and I was just trying to get along with everyone because I was new and did not know any of the guys.  Plus I did not want to get killed as they knew what they were doing.  Well I was about 205 lbs. and 6' 2"  (about the same size as when I graduated in 1971).  The bad thing about being new and big is lots of folks wanted to test you.  I had never been in a real fight and I was especially annoyed about the number of folks wanting to see how tough I was.  Mostly I was just afraid of getting in a fight because I never knew how to fight.  I also have to tell you there were two guys who I really learned to like but when I first got to Shidler they did their best to get me in a fight.  They were Joe Center and Pee Wee Robinson who were the two smallest guys in the class but they were fast and great at basketball.  I figured if I fought either of them and beat them up everyone would be mad and if I lost I would look like some sissy.  So in my mind I lost no matter what.

OK, back to Ricky (I know most call him Rick).  Well we were in the old gymnasium during a high school basketball game and one of the upper class guys was bullying me around and trying to get me to fight and Rick was sitting next to me.  So what happened was Rick told the guy to leave me alone or he could just have a fight with Rick.  And that is precisely what happened.  Rick went outside and punched the guy a few times until he put his tail between his legs and said he had enough.  A couple of things happened inside me because of that.  Number one Rick became one of the best guys in my mind that ever came out of Shidler.  Rick did the right thing because he could see I was intimidated by this guy.  Since that experience I have always tried to be especially kind to folks that were new or not as popular as the other folks or maybe not as pretty or handsome as they would like to be or maybe just a little awkward or different.  Rick actually made me feel important and more worthy and not an outsider.  As Clint Eastwood would say, "..make my day", Rick made MY DAY.  Here is a picture of a hero in my book:

Rick Cottle

  Now he may not look like much, just kidding, but Rick had character and he stepped up for the little guy, me.  Actually Rick was probably about 135 lbs. when this happened but he was scrappy.  

Now one of my favorite stories about Rick was when we were freshmen and Coach Smith was our basketball coach.   Rick could have his back to the goal and jump high in the air turn around and shoot and then make a goal.  Coach Smith was not quit as impressed as I was so he got all over Rick.  Rick responded, "why not?  if I can make the shot".  Well you know how it goes, Coach Smith was ticked off and told Rick if he could do it three in a row he could do it in a game.  Rick just smiled his big teeth smile and proceeded to shoot three in a row.  It was great seeing Rick being a little cocky and challenging the coach but it was also great seeing a coach who could handle a situation.  Coach Smith did the right thing as well.  He gave Rick a chance to prove him wrong and then was humble enough to allow the "proof to be in the pudding".  Good character on Coach Smith's part in my opinion.

Well I better let you go but Rick was and I am sure still is one of the best.  I was proud to know him and grow up with him.

So what do you learn in the Osage?

• Pretty obvious, do the right thing
• Stand up for the odd guy out
• Be kind and thoughtful
• You never know how a small act of kindness can make such a big difference

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

Only in The Osage

                        After having dug to a depth of 10 feet last year outside of New York City, New York scientists found traces of copper cable dating back 100 years. They came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network more than 100 years ago.

                        Not to be outdone by the New Yorkers, in the weeks that followed, a Los Angeles, California archaeologist dug to a depth of 20 feet somewhere just outside Oceanside. Shortly after, a story in the LA Times read: "California archaeologists report a finding of 200-year-old copper cable and have concluded that their ancestors already had an advanced high-tech communications network 100 years earlier than the New Yorkers."

                        One week later, a local newspaper in Ponca City, Oklahoma reported the following: "After digging down about 30 feet deep in his pasture near the community of Kaw City, Bubba, a self-taught archaeologist, reported that he found absolutely nothing. Bubba has therefore concluded that 300 years ago, Oklahoma had already gone wireless."

                        Just makes a person proud to be from Oklahoma..

Don Sullivan sent this to me and I just could not keep from sharing it.  

What do you learn in the Osage?

• we are way a head of our time

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys and Big Beaver

If you don't know it there use to be a big dance hall located in what was Big Beaver and Holton Payne can tell you all the particulars.  In fact he does not live too far from there.   I dare everyone of you to look him and Jane (the real person behind those boys they raised) up and ask about Denoya, Kaw City, Big Beaver and every other detail about the area.  Anyway Bob Wills use to play there and he is known as the founder of country swing.  He was from Texas and you can look him up on the Internet but what made him great in the eyes of folks from Kaw City and Grainola was Joe Frank Ferguson.  At least in the minds of folks from Osage country.


Joe was from Kaw City and learned to play the upright or electric bass player plus he was a lead singer for two groups one of which was Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys.  Now in my mind that is a giant fiddle which stands about 7 feet tall and makes a big base sound.  If you would like to go see and hear him  try this:   


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=xkRx0n6kbTk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vKnHTBldU38


Today his giant fiddle is in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. and a number of years ago I had the pleasure of getting to see him perform with what was left of the group at the Mustang High School in Oklahoma City area.    He grew up in Kaw City and later moved to Grainola and lived in what was Jim and Maggie Olsen's house north of Grainola.  He and his wife were very close friends of my mom and dad.  Over the years before I knew he was famous they use to come by the house on occasion.  My mom has about every video and recording there was of them playing as Joe Frank gave mom a box of videos that are not necessarily published.  Most of what I remember is he had two good looking daughters.

What I am curious about is can anyone tell me additional information about Joe Frank (that is what everyone called him) and how he got started and how he grew up in this area.  Was he a farm boy from Kaw and what relatives are still in the area.

I am always amazed at the magnitude of talent that has come out of our area and here is a list of the more famous folks from the Osage:

• Maria Tallchief - probably the most famous ballerina in America - Fairfax
• Ben Johnson Jr. and Sr. - actor and cowboy - Pawhuska
• Patty Page -  singer from Foraker
• Joe Frank Ferguson - Kaw City
• Danny Head for Head Country BBQ - Shidler

I know there are more and I especially know that literally hundreds came out of the area which are war hero's and teachers and NOT lawyers (just kidding), executives and just plain great business folks with high character and morals.  Please send me the names and a short story about who they are and what they have done.  Send me a picture if you can.

What do you learn in the Osage?

• YOU can become anything you want to become if you put your mind to it
• 90% desire and 10% talent and I dare you to prove me wrong on that
• Actions speak louder than words so watch what you are doing

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

Gene and Connie --- two of the best

You can't get much better than these folks.  They have come back to the Shidler reunions every year since statehood (they might not be that old).  Now what you don't know is that they are my relatives.  They have tried to hide that for years but we always liked them.  Connie always laughing (if you knew Connie you would always know her laugh) and Gene had to be one of the strongest supporters of athletics in Shidler and especially at the summer baseball.  I think every single night at the Phillips ballpark you could find these two.  I don't know how they did it but they were always there and just plain fun to be around.  I can't tell you how many times we went to their house or were together at Aunt Pearl's and then there was Uncle Hugh and the list goes on.  In fact I have to tell you that it was Uncle Hugh who gave me that nickname which I shall not share.  If you just have to know then you can call Susie Snyder-Taylor or my sister or Hugh Allen Jones.  Those are the only folks that I did not beat up for calling me by my nickname, just kidding.

Phillips Ballpark

Now I will have to tell you about their kids Stephanie who was as pretty a girl ever ( a cheerleader and basketball player) and their son was just a chip off the old Rock, maybe that is why they call him Rocky.   Rocky was a great baseball player and became one of those hated guys in stripes, an umpire or referee.   And then there was another chip off of the Rock  named Stony.  You probably did not know but their grandkids are named Pebble and Sandstone.  That last part was a joke so get over it.

Phillips Park by the lake  

I just had to add this photo because there were so many parties where Gene and Connie were at this park and out by the water falls.  Those were great times.  How many of you went to a party (not a drinking party) for the ball teams or the cub scouts or your church or family reunion at this park?
Ok, back to Gene and Connie.  Now I may not be the brightest bulb in the socket but I was always intrigued by folks who could just come up with good ideas and Gene had one that always stuck in my mind. Now it is going to seem a little simple to you but as a kid I thought it was really cool and I always wanted one after I saw theirs.  You see Gene took one of those spools that cable comes on which was about 3 foot tall laying on its side and he made a picnic table out of it.  I just thought that was the coolest and when we would go over there I always wanted to eat on that table.  The other thing I always liked was Connie's cooking but I never could figure out why Rocky was skinny and there was all that good eat'n around.

Summer baseball and sports in general in Shidler was never complete without Gene and Connie.  Great folks from the Osage.

So what do you learn in the Osage?

• Character - people had good character and you learned by watching
• How to laugh at your self and enjoy life like Connie
• Friends and family make a life

We love ya'll!

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

Friday Night Lights in Shidler -

Friday Night Lights has nothing on Shilder High School Football games.  The greatest anticipation for me was the weekly football games at Shidler.  Everyone showed up and the field was lined with cars all the way around it honking and yelling and cheering the team on.  The stands were always full and the farmers and ranchers and oil folks just rolled in for the festivities.  The concession stand was huge and every week it was loaded with teachers who supported us acidemically and then athletically.  The entire administration and all the maintenance folks and literally just about everybody in the school district were there.  The atmosphere was thick with excitement.

Every week on Saturday morning after the game I would count my cuts and bruises as if they were metals on honor.  I thoroughly enjoyed the stiffness and scars from the battle.  There was something about putting on a helmet that stirred my soul and made me excited to even practice.  The thing about football was the work never bothered me of getting ready each week with practices and drills and running.  If there was one thing that stuck in my mind it was the smell of those pads which never went away.  I think I can smell them today!  But other than that getting dressed after class and getting suited up to go practice was a thrill to me.  Looking back I really wished I would have been a more serious student of the game.  For some reason I never gave much thought to the technique outside of practice.  I did not watch film or lift weights but I listened to those coaches and tried to do just what they said.  It started with Coach Gilbreth who just kept me excited about the game and then Coach Bower or Bouher (not sure how to spell his name) who just seemed to make it a fun game.  I think what he loved most was hearing those helmets collide.  Probably the most outstanding coach to me was Coach Cotham.  He had a passion and understanding of the game but he loved us.  He praised us and yelled at us and all he wanted was the best we had.  I think he was able to bring that out of us particularly when the name of the game was defense.

Probably my senior year the best player was Frank Ball even though he never got the credit he deserved.  He was a lineman that worked both ways meaning he played offense and defense so he was on the field every play.  He was quick and huge.  I really don't know if he was as big as I remember but it seemed like he was the 6' 3" 300 lb. gorilla.  The great thing about Frank was that during the game he really was a gorilla and could man handle anyone but off the field he was a gentle giant.  I don't remember Frank ever getting mad or taking advantage of folks because he was the strongest and biggest guy on campus.  I guess I could say he was my biggest fan.

Now I will give one exception but I don't think he was mad as much as when he played sports he played to win.  We were playing cowboy basketball.  Now that is where everyone is on the court and there are no rules other than when it goes in the bucket you get two points.  You do not have to dribble or pass or anything other than keep about 50 people from tackling you at one time before getting rid of the ball.  Well Frank and I were on opposite teams and I was about at the free throw line when Frank came in for a landing and just about killed me.  All is fair in this game but we kind of got into it just a little.  Well Coach Cotham had gotten in these boxing gloves and everyone wanted to see Frank and I box and this was the set up.

A few days later a bunch of us were in study hall late in the day when Coach came and got all of us and took us to the gym.  There he handed out the boxing gloves and Frank and I were the featured match.  I have to tell you that Frank had a hay maker punch that scared me to death.  Luckily he did not catch me in the head and I survived.  I really don't remember who won and that may be because he knocked me out but just the same I don't remember.  I think it was a draw and I was glad to be out of the situation, free from Frank's hay maker punch.

Well what do you learn in the Osage?

• Shidler is as good a place you can find to raise a family or grow up
• Teachers are great mentors and we as a country need to let them teach and lead not be regulated to death 
• Shidler had the best teachers because they truly cared about the individual and they had good character
• I don't think I could ever say enough good about those teachers in Shidler, we will owe them forever

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

How many of you went sledding on a car hood?

I bet about everyone went sledding at one time or another on a car hood turned upside down and then tied to the bumper of a car or pickup and then running up and down the streets of Shidler.  Those were great times and I remember getting scared to death we would fly underneath the car pulling us and hit the exhaust pipe or at a minimum of the bumper and get our heads knocked off.

Well that never happened but we did hit many a ditch and many a car parked beside the yards but I don't remember anyone ever getting hurt.  I do remember Steve Chrisco and bunch of the guys (MOST LIKEY, AJ, Jim Heath, Rick Hill, Hugh Jones, Johnny Payne, Eddy Robertson, Dave Jacques, Dale Head, Rick Cottle and I actually just don't remember but these are some of the more likely ones)   from the class of '71 just acting crazy and sledding all over Shidler.  We would tie up one or two sleds with one being a car hood which held 2 to 5 folks and maybe more and take off down the streets.  The great thing is the cops (Dotty) never bothered you and folks would just laugh and wave and occasionally invite you in for some hot chocolate or some snack.  Helen Head actually was a great host and seemed to even like us when we were not in class.  Secretly I think she actually liked all of our ornery behavior.  I know Aunt Gladys (Mrs. Snyder) did.  She would always ask for the details and in a backward sort of way encourage our behavior.  One of the best parts was ultimately going to the local cafe and drinking a coke and eating one of those chicken fried steaks with white gravy and Heins 57 sauce and a giant serving of french fries.  Now that was good eat'n!

Now being the sophisticated group we were I learned a lot during those outings especially when we stayed the night at the Chrisco house.  Steve's folks were fun and encouraging but Steve, he was an educator.  He could do just about anything.  He could play basketball, football, baseball, play in the band, play a guitar, sing, attract girls.  He was one of the most talented people ever and he had the quickest ability to say something funny, insulting and hilarious.  But one of my memories was that Steve taught us all about gas and how it would burn.  He was a scientist.  You see one of those nights someone was cutting some gas if you know what I mean and Steve said, "get a lighter".  Steve also smoked so there was always a lighter available and he lit one of those gas secretions!  It lit up the night.  Steve should have gone into education because he figured things out.

Well back to the snow and sledding.  My dad grew up in Minnesota around Anoka, just north of Minneapolis, and then his later high school years in Womega, Kansas which is close to Manhatton.  Dad knew all about the snow and ice skating and making snow skis and he loved playing in the snow.  He made the biggest sled I ever saw and would tie it behind the pickup or tractor on a long chain and off we would go across the hills in the pastures and up and down the snow covered gravel roads.  It was absolutely gorgeous outside and the cold just made it incredible.  I remember coming back in with ice on our heads and clothes and snow packed all over us as the pickup or tractor would throw the snow back on us.  Sometimes we would hit a bump and fly through the air and out into a snow bank.  What a life! What great fun!  Sometimes we would build ramps just to make us get airborne only to crash into disaster many times.  The thrill of success and defeat but the memories are fantastic.

Well I better get back to studying as I have about 30 days left before the CFP exam.  Ten hours of exam and I am actually loving it.

What do you learn in the Osage?

1. Snow is not to stay away from but to enjoy and dive into
2. Don't throw away those car hoods, recycle
3. If you light your gas it is like green energy and you can heat your house
4. Everyone is a teach even if they don't know it, so be a good teacher

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

14 inches of Snow

We lived on a gravel road where most of it was going east and west prior to the last turn before heading to the house.  Now what that does when you have a big snow and the land on the north side of the road is a wheat field is it allows all the snow to blow off the wheat field and stop at the first fence line and drift across the road to the next fence line.  the snow drifts could easily reach 6 feet deep.  If you cannot picture that just remember how it looks when you are driving down a road covered with snow and you see those giant snow drifts by the highway.  Well on the farm with a gravel road those drifts just go right on across the road.  Dad, Cliff Olson, was not only a farmer, rancher, builder, but also the Rural US Postal Carrier which means that he is going to deliver the mail regardless of the snow.

One year I remember we had a monster snow around 14 inches and it drifted so bad we were snowed in for days, except for dad.  Dad got the old Allis Chalmers tractor and just marched right through that snow.  I should point out we lived on a dead end road that you had to drive one mile out just to get going somewhere.  Cack Harrington would grade the snow from the roads as fast as possible to help Dad deliver the mail.  Those two seemed to work well together.  Anyway Dad made a path where later he would take the pickup and drive to Grainola to "carry the mail".  Mrs. Heath (Jimmy's and Clarissa's grandma) was the post master and she would have the mail put in the boxes for the locals and then dad would sort the mail for the rural route. Again Cack would grade the streets so the locals could come by and get their mail then stop by Ruby's or Goldie's for a cup of coffee and some gossip.  How did women get the reputation for gossip when it was always the men at the local stores drinking coffee and catching up on the gossip?

I don't know how it works today but back then the Rural Mail Carrier and especially my dad took on several additional duties.  He made sure that everyone was OK and that old folks had heat and he would always carry a log chain to pull folks out of ditches or to be pulled out.  Dad would bundle up with gloves and a spare blanket, lots of socks, extra can of gasoline, and always a glove box filled with his favorite candy bar   .  If you were ever around Dad you knew he always kept a snack with him.  In fact here is a good place to insert a story about Dad.  

When he was about 27 years old and in the Air Force during WWII he got some kind of parasite in his stomach.  Back in those days they operated and took out 90% of his stomach and 28 inches of his small intestines.  Later in life they took out 80% of his colon.  After that surgery the doctor came in and asked what happened because he was expecting to see a stomach and some small intestines (you really could say dad did not have guts).  The funny thing is back in those days all the medical records were not shared and the doctor had no idea all of that was missing.  Dad literally ate about 10 or 12 times a day.  Generally he would get up every night about 12 or 1 and get a small snack.    Well back to the story:  It seemed that everyone had a story about how dad would help them out during a winter storm or he would walk the mail to their door so they would not have to get out and sometimes he would get them things at the store and bring back to their house.  Dad was a great example of a servant.  To say the least every Christmas the mail boxes would be filled with gifts for Dad and family and it was a delight to know you had such great friends who appreciated the little extra efforts.  

One last thing about the giant snows and that was you had to feed the cattle and you could NOT do that within the warmth of a pickup.  You had to hook up a flat bed four wheel trailer and load it with hay and   cattle cake.  Refer to previous stories if you don't know what that is.  The worst part outside of the cold wind was backing up that doggone four wheel trailer.  If you have never tried it then you should and from then on you will know why farmers and ranchers cuss.  Well the last thing you did before pulling out of the barn to head out looking for the cattle was grab an ax to chop ice.  From there we drove "over the river (creek) and through the woods" and across the pastures and hills to feed the cows.  Generally the cattle would be in tight groups painted white from the snow and ice frozen to their hair and backs waiting on you to show up.  They were glad to see you and it was fun watching them enjoying the food.  Of course as you already know the next part was chopping through the ice with the ax so the cows could get water.  I think this was the hardest and most aggravating part of taking care of them.

The best part of all was getting back to the house next to that giant fireplace of ours and mom would make one of her great breakfasts.  Even the dog got to slip into the house and lay by the fireplace and Mom never liked animals in the house but she had a soft heart on those rough winter days.

What do you learn in the Osage?

• Be good to your neighbors and watch out for those in need
• Hard work makes for a great appetite
• Every man needs a tractor and a BARN (how about it Lidya?)

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

How to lose 20 lbs in one day? I did it!

Kenny and me on the hay wagon.. Don was driving

You have probably heard the easiest way to lose 20 ugly pounds in one day is to cut off your head but I figured that was not a good idea.  However one summer Kenny Kelsey, Don Kelsey and I did learn how to lose 20 lbs. in one day.

gambrel barn 

One hot summer day when the clouds seemed miles apart and the sun was baring down on mother earth in Osage county we were working at the Codding Cattle Research Station.  We were moving hay from one gambrel barn  to the next one which was about 100 feet apart.  I will have to tell you that Harold and Julian NEVER showed up to help.  Now if you don't know it those barns had tin or sheet metal roofs (rufs in my book) and when it was 100 degrees outside those roofs were so hot you could literally fry an egg on them.  The real blessing is that inside that barn with lots of hay which creates humidity and heat in itself.  Then you add tin roofs that are somewhere around 140 degrees and you have what most folks called a convection oven.  Now the way things worked was that Don worked on the wagon outside where there was a little air flowing and Kenny and I worked in the barns where the air was nice and still and about 140 degrees with some humidity.  This situation makes New Orleans a cake walk, if you know what I mean.

Well we would start before daylight and finish after dark every day for about a week of this paradise.  I recon that this environment was like the equator in the middle of summer, nice and toasty.  Fact is I wonder if we could have put those eggs in a piece of bread with a hole in it like the boy scouts do and make a nice sandwich?  I should try that NEXT TIME, NOT!  I have no idea how much water we drank in those few days but I guarantee you that I sweat off 20 lbs. in a day.  I know one thing and that is I never  had to go take a leak for those few days.  Do I need to explain that?  I certainly hope not.  Side note:  There was an old farmer who said, "it is better to be pissed off than pissed on".  I know it is off color but my dad use to say it so it is fair game.  If you are lucky I will tell you about how alfalfa seed is smaller than nat shit someday.  Another of my dads famous sayings.

Now here is my idea about how to generate a new business and make a killen (that is make a lot of money). I was thinking we could set this up as a new health concept to help folks lose weight and we could charge them.  Think about the marketing idea here:  Lose weight and eat and drink all you want, or LOSE WEIGHT THE OLD FASHIONED WAY AND WORK FOR IT, or we could find a farmer with two barns who wants them cleaned out during the hot summer and he would pay us for the work and we could charge the workers for losing weight!  What an AH HA moment!  I think we can get rich.

Oh well, what do you learn in the Osage?

• losing weight is a function of getting your but off the chair and moving
• Eating is not the issue unless you don't get out of the chair and do something
• Do Something even if it is wrong, you will feel better than doing nothing
• I better get started on some exercise, I need to lose about 40 lbs.!

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

Abe Lincoln must have been from the Osage

This says it all and it was written by Abe Lincoln.  You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.  You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.  You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.  You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.  You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.  You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.  You cannot help people permanently by doing for them, what they could and should do for themselves.

  Now that I think about it, I bet Abe would never be elected today and here is why:

• He was not pretty or even handsome
• He told the stark truth
• He loved our country more than politics
• He knew free enterprise was best
• He knew hard work and discipline made a people and a country

And my small opinion which is very unpopular is that if every person were required to join the military out of high school and learn  discipline and leadership rather than spend two years of college taking courses that don't matter prior to focusing on core knowledge related to getting a real job we would all be better off.  Boy, I bet this irritates some folks.  Let me know what you think.

What do you learn in the Osage?

• discipline
• respect for others
• hard work keeps folks out of trouble
• you can get a head if you have high values and good work ethic (some call it luck)
• Luck is from gambling but hard work with morals and ethics is gambling on yourself and that is not luck!

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com

How about a hayride again?

One of my favorite things was taking hay rides and they usually went for 9 miles, yes 9 miles.  The reason was that it always started at our house which was on the dead end of a gravel road.  There was no way out but over  three hills (remember the bicycle story) past Vea Harris's house (home of Eddy) then you could either go north or south.  One of the great things about Oklahoma is that everything is marked by section lines which usually have a gravel or paved road.  If you don't know what a section is that is one mile by one mile which equals 640 acres UNLESS there is a correction line.  Who says you don't know math or geography if you live in a remote place?  How many folks know what a correction line is or why you have one?  Well let me tell you a hint, THE WORLD IS ROUND.  Send me an email if you can't figure it out and I will explain. Anyway back to turning north or south.

You see we lived in the middle of four sections which means we lived in the middle of four square miles and we typically took the road south from Vea's house one mile where you turned right or west toward the old Beaver Creek Bridge.  Right at that corner you could see the Eaton's house (home of Benny, Cathy and Paul) and the Head family house (home of Head Country BBQ Sauce and Billy Don) then after about one mile you passed Helen Conner's house (Aunt Helen as I called her).  It always seemed to me that you could find a coyote or bobcat or even a badger along the road just past Aunt Helen's house.  Another great thing was you could see more stars and the Milky Way  (not the candy bar) as clear as any place in the world.  If it was a cold night and you stopped the tractor and trailer you could hear the oil field pumps from about 8 miles south pumping oil to the surface.  I loved it, the sounds and the animals.  There were always lots of rabbits including jack rabbits and cotton tails and back in those days there was very rarely a dear.  It was always great crossing the old bridge with the wooden planks popping and the bridge crackling and creaking.  Soon after the bridge you turned back north past Soup's house and the old red gambrel barn and then past Don Connner's (Mike and Ida's house).  There were two miles before you turned back to the East and toward the Kelly's and what was once the Shumate's but before that Cal Lavely (I still have an old swing given to my parents and it is over 100 years old and sits in my cabana) and then after the Shumates (Sally and Janie) was David and Jan Harris (PET was her special name from the class of 71) but they basically built a new house (my dad and I built it).  Before you got to the Shumate house there was a low water bridge where the water was generally running across the road and you drove through it.  It was surrounded with trees and it was always very dark because the light of the moon was blocked and it made it a pretty scary place.  When you got to the corner to go up to John Murphy's house you turned back south where you climbed a very long hill which was extremely steep on the other side as it dropped off to Vea's house.  I promise if you drive your car fast enough over that hill you will leave the road, ask David or Jan.

I know that was a little long but between the stars at night, the wild animals crossing the road everywhere, and if you were old enough to have a girl snuggled up next to you those hay rides were about as close to heaven as one could get without dying.  Cold air, hot chocolate and a bonfire were always part of what made it great.  There is just something about a hayride that makes life a little sweeter.

Oh well, sigh,  just thinking about how nice it was.

So what do you learn in the Osage?

• You can't count the stars but you can count your blessings
• Home is where your heart is so keep it in the right place
• Get outdoors more and get some exercise, it is good for the soul

Thanks for your time,

gary@thepioneerman.com