Patriotism

Having been asked to write a song about "patriotism," for our Lee's Summit Men's Chorus, I have reflected back to some of the "patriotic scenes" I have viewed, in Cedar Vale.

One was for a funeral for one of our veterans. George Beggs, our esteemed band director, asked if I would play the "echo" at the grave-side ceremonies. I said, "sure!" I remember the ride out to the cementary, with all the VFW men. Lots of laughter, lots of stories, lots of remembering. We got there. Services were held. Shots were fired.

Then came the time for "Taps!" Mr. Beggs told me to go a distance, behind a tree, and that after he played "Taps," I was to respond, in kind. He played. Goosebumps went up my spine! I didn't want him to quit playing.... Then, it was my turn, I played the "echo" as well as I could. Not a soul around. Just me, the trumpet and God, and all those who came to the grave to give their final respects. Final is not the right word. Those "respects" will last forever!

On our way back to town, what had been a laughing, joking crew, turned into silence. No words were spoken. No glances met. We arrived home. We departed. That "moment" has stayed with me. Though very young, I felt, in some small way, the way they felt, burying their brother.

And so, if you have "some lines" that might be incorporated into a song that will sing of freedom, of liberty, of justice for all, I will try to use them in a "song of freedom!

God bless you, each and everyone!

Ma Mama's Cooking

I did this as a post instead of a comment because I like to see new posts on the blog.
My mom was a good cook, not a great cook, and certainly not a gourmet cook. A staple of our diet was basic Kansas farm family cooking. She made the best fried chicken, potatoes and gravy, usually with another green vegetable. I loved that and still remember that taste. KFC could not compare. Another dish that she often prepared that I have not had since she died was her own recipe of spagetti and meat-balls. You con-o-sewers (I did that because I could not remember how to spell it)of good Eye-talian food would not like her sauce because it did not have those typical seasonings, but it was delicious. Lemon ice-box pudding was a dessert that she made fairly often, with fresh graham cracker crusts and fresh lemon juice. Sooo Good. And apple crisp with the best topping in the world. But some things I hated. My dad liked oyster soup, so every Sunday evening she would fix home-made oyster soup. I hated that and asked her why she made it, and she always said, "Your dad likes it". He was strange. One of his favorite "meals" was bread and milk. He would break up a slice of bread into a glass of milk and eat that mess with a spoon. Another thing that she made that I didn't like (hated) was her homemade grape sherbet. The first time she made it, I told her I did not like it (I probably had not even tasted it) and we had a big fight, and she made me eat some. But I showed her. I threw up the nasty purple stuff all over the kitchen table and floor. Funny thing, now I like grape sherbet.
We had a lot of chicken-fried steak, and bacon and eggs, lots of stuff cooked with lard and Crisco, homemade ice cream on Sundays made with cream skimmed off the big crock that sat in the old Frigidaire, toast smeared with home churned butter and pork chops from our own pigs. No wonder I had by-pass surgery at age 60. I remember Dad had a two-inch lead pipe that was about six inches long, and he kept a roll of dollar bills in that pipe hidden in the bottom of the old Frigidaire. I guess he didn't trust the banks because he had gone through the times when the banks did fail. (Sorry, that had nothing to do with mother's cooking) During corn season, we would have fresh roasting ears every day until the crop was gone, again smeared with lots of butter, salt and pepper. Funny, now I don't put pepper on them. Oh, yes, she would make donuts; deep fat fried and each of them weighed about three pounds, I think. Another good source of cholesterol for my coronary arteries. But they were sure good. She usually had a tin of homemade cookies hidden somewhere in the kitchen filled with either chocolate chip or peanut butter cookies, or SnickerDoodles, or coconut cookies that I can not remember the name of. It was a game to see whether she could hide the cookie tin where I couldn't find it. Good days.

Yo Mama's Cookin ...

Okay, let's test your taste bud memories! Several of you have mentioned "Herb" and his hamburgers and chili ... how bout yo mama? What were the specialties that set her apart from all the others, (then and now)? It would likely make her proud to hear you brag of her culinary delights (and/or) allow her a smile should you tell of her occasional failures.

Only scratched the surface ...

Actually, we have only scratched the surface of the opportunity given us by Gary White in regard to "CV Memories". Certainly, that which has been published has been very interesting and is a good start. At the same time, so many folks that were instrumental to the town have been largely ignored and it is time to reflect upon their early efforts to establish a good place to live. Some of the folks may not be remembered but others will ... or our parents or grandparents may have possibly regaled us glimpses of the folks of those early times.

There are also many individuals during the time while we were "growing up" that are important to the overall story. Many of them have been mentioned and could be expanded upon but many of our contemporaries have been forgotten at this point. Should you have stories on some of these folks you need not have dates and/or statistical information to back your story but just your memories. Should a need for correction arise most likely others among us will offer our own reflections of the report.

Here are a few individuals that would qualify (in my mind) as good prospects for illumination:
L. C. Adams, W. R. Babb, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Baird, George Beuoy, H. L. Cox, Eva W. Dale, J. M. Dosbaugh, Kenneth and Faxine Dunn, Jess Foster, L. N. Guthrie, Dr. and Mrs. L. C. Hays (and those important to the hospital), Swain House, Frank Hubbard, W. M. Jones, John Murphy, Lincoln Robinson, Clyde Shaffer, Dr. Josh Stone, Nellie Study, J. P. Tabler, Stella Walker, Kale Williams, and J. J. Willson.

Even a completion of this listing would most likely allow many important stories of our past to remain untold. For instance, it seems that I do somewhat remember Jim Hutchins (as noted in Rick Hollister's story concerning Hooser). At the same time, I'm not sure that my memory is accurate ... and more information on Jim and others of the times would be interesting and give future generations a more complete indication of what it was like during our era. Very little about the depression and the war years has been revealed to indicate the conditions of our early lives. Though our children or grandchildren have possibly "rolled their eyes" when some of our personal stories have been told may later wish to know more about the times that helped in the development of our personalities. When they want to know (and many of them will) this spot will be available for their study and for others having some interest.

Other individuals of importance would be those that went to school in the area and later attained fame, fortune, or even achieved some bit of important negativity. There are those that read these reports that are rich sources of information and your input would allow this venue to be even more comprehensive. There are others that you should wish to invite to join our motley crew.