Music From Yesterday

Sometimes when I start reminiscing, the old mind drifts back to a time when Song Lyrics were understandable and the stories they told somehow were a reflection of ones own life. Growing up in Pagosa Springs Colorado, we didn't have television to capture our imagination so the old Philco radio put me to sleep many nights listening to country music from Del Rio Texas. When television arrived the "Ed Sullivan Show" gave us a glimpse into the pop music and then "The Grand Ole Opry" came along and all the country songs we lived in our mind came to life. The artist of the time dressed in such colorful clothes and the female artist didn't have to show skin to prove they were ladies. With today's technology now I can visibly watch all those glorious memories, tap my toes and sing along, thanks to a thing called "you tube".

Pagosa Springs now is bringing back some of the good old country sounds through the Bluegrass Festivals there. There are many musicians that like to gather there under the pine trees on a hill side near the famous Hot Springs. I haven't had the opportunity to attend these celebrations but through the wonder of the computer age I can enjoy them by clicking onto a web site called "All Things Pagosa". Anyone who loves the outdoors, mountain air and country music should plan a vacation trip to this friendly little town in Colorado.

Where Are We Going

Where is this country headed anyway?

This question has been asked by each generation since the founding fathers signed that historic document called the constitution of the United States Of America.

Looking back over the past 70 yrs that I have been fortunate to live in this great democracy I have seen it go through changes and wondered how we have survived. Our fore fathers sought a country of free will but I often wonder just how free did they really mean. America is loosing its stand in the world as a country of high moral standards.

Even the English language has taken on a meaning of its own and Websters dictionary can no longer be the source for interpretation of defining the meaning of a word. There was time as a youngster in school I learned that the word gay meant a feeling of happiness and never refereed to as ones sexual preference. Marriage was a union of man and woman as described in every holy manuscript written.

The right to bear arms when the document was written was needed to allow states to form militias,and hunt for food, not to allow any one who so desired to stock pile weapons to destroy their fellow man.

Freedom of speech and press was never intended for distribution of porn, slander, or profanity

or foul language yet this is becoming second nature to our children.

I too am guilty of becoming a member of a corrupt society but I hope as I near the time when I shall be called to answer to a higher authority, I can be deemed a remorseful soul and forgiven my transgressions.

I am one of the lucky ones, my years left on this earth are becoming fewer and only the ones I leave behind will have to decide whether to continue to stray from the teachings of our religious leaders or stand up for morality.

Welcome Summer 2011

Here it is the first full day of summer and soon we will all be celebrating Independence day in some fashion. My times of hitting the road and traveling to my favorite retreat, the place I grew up in Colorado have diminished severely.

Reaching a milestone in marriage I attempted to rekindle the youth in my blood by taking my better half to see a show in sin city Vegas. Cruising along the highway and trying to keep up with traffic while listening to tunes from the past, I noticed a strange image pop up near the speed odometer. "Check Engine" message gave a chill that went down my spine. Here I am in the desert a hundred miles from my destination, do I stop and call for a tow or try to continue to the city? Thanks to today's technology I was able to phone ahead to a dealership and winged my way into their service department. The folks there were very nice and shuttled us to our hotel and retrieved us when the repair was done.

Although the cost of repair depleted my playing funds, the "Jersey Boys" show was fantastic and is a pleasant memory to last a lifetime.

I was also pleased to see Old Glory so proudly displayed through out the Palazzo Resort.

This time of years always brings back memories of the July 4th celebration in Pagosa Springs Colorado. If any of the readers of this blog have the time to venture there this time of year you will surely enjoy a patriotic and with some of the most beautiful landscapes America has to offer.

I'm sure that folks my age will remember some of the comic book hero's of the 50's, one of mine was a cowboy whose story originated right there in Pagosa, my home town, "Red Ryder." I always looked forward to attending the Red Ryder parade and Rodeo and my family often participated in making the floats for that parade. Even today as years have passed my older brother is very active in the American Legion and can be seen in uniform in some function of the parade.

Memorial Day Salute

Having just hung old glory out on this Memorial Day, its time to pause and give thanks to all who have served this great nation as our protectors of freedom. There are no longer ships like the USS Reaper which I so proudly served on during the cold war but the Iron Men of these wooden ships kept our shores safe with very little recognition. During the Vietnam war some of these old ladies were upgraded and saw lots of action.

Although I never served in a war zone and organizations like the American Legion do not consider my time served as worthy of membership, my heart still swells with pride when citizens salute me as a veteran.

My veteran hero has always been my older brother, I was lucky to have served on the same ship with him for a period of time. Ron has continued to dedicate his live for his fellow servicemen by volunteering with the local chapter of American Legion of Pagosa Springs Colorado. He continues to see that every veteran of that region is recognized when laid to rest in the local cemetery and every grave is located and properly marked.

Looking Back

Wondering if anyone reads this blog? Seems that I am forever recreating stories from the past and trying to paint pictures from memory to share. Without photos of Pagosa's past to reference my recollections, it would be very hard to appreciate the stories.

There is one very vivid memory of one of the landmarks I would love to see a photo of. Back in the 1950's there was one of the hottest Honky Tonks in the area just a few miles from downtown Pagosa Springs. "Pine Grove Inn" on Saturday nights would be the place to be if one liked dancing, drinking, or fighting. So popular was this place that it acquired the nick name of "Bloody Bucket"from all the scuffles in the parking lot. I can attest to this, as I too became a victim of the brutality there.

"Pine Grove" was located about six miles east of Pagosa Spings, this land has since been developed and no sign of what used to be remains. This land also was once one of the largest cattle ranches in the area "Stevens Ranch" which was sold and now is becoming a little city of its own, leaving the downtown Pagosa Springs a thing of the past.

Another Saturday night adventure for those who liked to dance but found Pine Grove a little too rough could always venture out to the old Bales School House. This was an old abandoned one room school house with plenty of floor space to cut a rug. Local musicians would furnish the music, wife's would bring food and of course the men would gather outside to sample each others home made wine. One of the finest wines were made of wild berries that grew in mountains called choke cherry's, this berry also was a favorite of the bears.

Missing The Seasons

Todays weather pattern across the nation reminds me of winters when I thought the sun would never appear again. I was always anxious for spring to bring out that glorious sight of the sun breaking through the clouds. Oh, how I would be so glad not to hear that crunch of snow under those overshoes sending chills up my spine. Being a normal weather complainer, it wouldn't be long before the snow would be melting

and then one would be knee deep in gooey mud. In my day there was no such thing gas clothes dryers so our Levis hung out on a clothes line to dry and had to be laid over an open oven door to thaw before we could dress for school. Of course the daily morning chores meant that the first one up had to build a fire in the kitchen stove with wood and coal.

Residents and visitors to that winter wonderland of Pagosa Springs with ever changing weather are lucky to live in the 21st century with all the modern gadgets. Snow tires and four wheel drives diminishes the challenge of driving those country roads and if one gets lost there is always a GPS. The old long johns with a trap door in back have been replaced with thermal underwear and overshoes with steel clasps are seldom seen anymore. Oh how I wish my dad would have had a snow blower, but I guess the old shovel didn't do me any harm.

These new digital cameras really bring out the true beauty of landscape, the old point and shoot black and white kodaks took a good eye and steady hand to get the perfect shot so there wasn't a lot memories captured like today.

If anyone reads this and longs for a memorial vacation be it summer, winter or fall I don't think they will find a more beautiful area in this great country to visit. Just be prepared with charged batteries in the camera and ready for any weather change.

Bring Back Morality

I often wonder just where my generation failed when it came to teaching our off springs the meaning of self respect, to honor their parents, the reward of dignified employment to know the difference between use and abuse. With the world as a whole in so much turmoil of wars, poverty, famine, storms, why would any person try so hard to take advantage of elderly poor parents. In my own family there are some who believe that parents, no matter how old, sick or frail they become somehow have the means to provide for children well into the golden years themselves.

Each of us as we age look for the day when all we have to worry about is our own health and happiness. Love is a very emotional burden, yet the bond of love that binds a family together can sometimes be the very thing that destroys a relationship.

Every parent tries to provide all the worldly goods to their children that was never within their reach during their youth. Sometimes this seems to make the relationship strong until one day a crisis arises and the so called money tree no longer produces good fruit. When such things happen and the children feel cast off they soon retaliate by doing and saying things they know will destroy the root of the family tree.

Looking for a cure to such relationship illness can bring on a nervous break down but really there is no cure. One must find the strength to cope with such heartaches through divine guidance and learn to say NO with conviction.

Children who become adults and find the need to call their parents foul names, continue to move in and out at will, expecting the care they recieved as infants, will one day answer to a higher power than those they abuse. I firmly believe those who disreguard the ten commandants like "Honor Thy Mother and Father" will forever suffer on earth and beyond.