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.

I'm A Country Song

My
life is truly a Country Song, I have always thought this to be true but today when I read Musical Mondays posted on my daughters blog these old eyes began to fill will tears. It takes a sentimental gesture like this to make a father realize that just maybe he had a little influence in the path of life his children may choose.

Merle Haggard has such a gift of telling a story with heartfelt emotions, one can close the eyes and be transported to a place and time so reminiscent of days gone by. The song "A Farmers Daughter" reminds me so much of watching my three daughters grow up after loosing their Mother just before Christmas. Another song "If We Make It Though December" is another one that I have a tearful time getting through.

Trying to fill the shoes of a wonderful Wife and Mother was the most difficult task I have ever undertaken. We had so many ups and downs, at times it seemed useless to try and get back up after being knocked down, but God was always on our side.

Time keeps marching on and music tries to change with the evolution, each generation that comes along have their favorite lyric, beat, or as to days young people say their own Rap. Even the country music of today has changed from the genre that artist like Merle Haggard leaves to the history of my generation. I too enjoy all type of Music, can't understand the Rap stuff so don't listen to it but I relate to big band, jazz, etc. When I want to drift back in time and reminisce of time gone by both good and bad I'll put on Merle, Ray Price, or Willie.

Social What??

I just can't seem to get the hang of this modern age method of communication. Thought I'd give that thing called facebook a try, seemed like a good way to visit with friends and family I seldom see. Things were going great, genealogy information and family photos were being shared, stories being told of good times past and present.
Like a flash and a touch of a keyboard this friendly social website suddenly became a battle ground of profanity & name slandering. Family roots were being ripped out like a storm of the century. For what ever reason written hateful words published for the whole world to see has resulted in a son disowning his Mother, a husband and wife filing for divorce, a father trying to console a daughter with a broken heart, diabetes, and numerous health issues, extended family searching for way to help financially.
When a woman gives her life to a husband and son for 23 years, giving every once of energy in her body to maintain a home while ignoring her own health one would expect just a little show of gratitude. Being a father, I have always believed that a husband should be the backbone of a family unit which includes providing medical insurance for a spouse or child. Watching my flesh and blood deteriorate with life threatening disease while all material wishes were granted to her husband and son breaks this old heart.
Only my faith in God will keep me strong and as long as I have breath in this old body I will do everything in my power to keep my children safe, healthy, and immune from being hurt in any fashion.

Closing Curtians On 2010

Once again father time had closed another chapter of life with old memories as we will venture off into another time of speculation.
I am still in awe at how my generation ever survived without all the gadgets of today. We didn't seem to need our fingers to do the talking for us and our eyes were usually looking forward so we didn't trip or get run over. Music was easily heard though an AM Radio, or the juke box in the drug store, and no one needed an interpreter to decipher the lyrics. Tattoos were something we paid an admission price at the carnival to see, especially on a woman. Love letters were written on fancy stationary and penned in ink with sincere sentiments attached. Boys learned at an early age what a belt was for and would never think of showing their underwear. Girls kept things like their dignity covered and never needed artificial boosters.
As this year comes to a close, I can look for the coming years to go just a fast with little or no improvements in the youth of today. Respect is something that got lost in 1950 and never returned. I just witnessed one of most heart breaking Revelations of my 70+years when I learned that my Grandson used the most disgusting language and name calling to his Mother. No human being should ever have to be that humiliated especially by their own flesh and blood.
There was a time long ago when broken teeth would have replaced the venom spewed out of a child's mouth even if the child is now an adult.
My hope for the coming year is that more people will learn the value of kindness to one another, get involved with electing officials who will keep America's core values intact. Reach out those who are elderly, poor or just in need of a friendly voice.
May God Bless America and all who took time to read my thoughts.