April 12, 2010
CHAMPION–April 12, 2010
If this seems familiar, it is because for some reason the Herald repeated the previous week’s article, then did not print at all the following week. It is their newspaper!
Champions, alert to the inevitability of change, welcome it with the same ease and grace with which the seasons come and go. Even so. Let it be. The genuine heart of Champion does not change, however, the part that acknowledges the importance of good neighbors and good deeds and that part that recognizes and celebrates the beauty of the place.
Someone said that the farther down the hill a person goes, the more magnificent the view from the summit is remembered. That is not entirely revisionism as the beauty of a moment is often only clear in retrospect. Revisionism itself can serve the lofty purpose of sparing the old folks back home the worry when a young person is newly out in the big world experiencing unexpected adversity. It can also spare the young person from the sting of an “I told you so” from those old folks. Personal matters are eventually resolved. In bigger matters, saying something over and over does not make it so and one is cautioned to be alert to the darker side of revisionism and collective deception. Champions rely on their own memories for history and are not easily dissuaded from the truth.
The big build up for the All Fool’s Day Fandango at Plummers was not big enough. The place was jumping! Champions, Tennessee boys, denizens of Denlow and Drury joined with the Vanzantians to swell the ranks of the celebrators until soon it was hard to tell the spectators from the spectacles. “Now look here, some of you in the audience are going to have to go outside so we can get more musicians in here!” That was the General’s idea of the way to handle things. Once he settled down musicians continued to come and go. Esther Wrinkles said at one point there were nineteen playing at once. The crowd was twice that big and every one of them having a good time. Wayne Anderson sat next to Jerry Wagner, the yodeling fiddler, and they sang The Wabash Cannon Ball and Wayne did his famous train whistle. There were a number of young musicians in the group as well as the regulars who make Thursday such a high spot in the local week. It is lovely to see the established, practiced, accomplished musicians being generous and encouraging with the younger ones. While in the music business it is true that everyone has to pay his dues, it is also true that everyone needs a chance and a place to start. The evening started off with a good joke on Himself, as the General ordered his burger and fries. “Order up!” and he was served a burger that measured somewhat larger than a quarter but less than a silver dollar and the tiniest little French fries you ever saw! Not everyone saw it, but everyone heard about it and the generally good natured General had a good laugh about it along with the pranksters. It was said of Ebenezer Scrooge, after his run in with Bob Marley’s ghost, that he thereafter kept the spirit of Christmas every day. That is the way the General is about April Fool’s Day. About any day of the year he can be found up to some sort of mischief. He hijacked the Champion Easter Parade and had it organized, orchestrated and over on Saturday afternoon! It was quite a surprise to Easter Sunday parade goers to have missed it by 24 hours. He and his great nephew, Dillon Watts, took center stage at Henson’s on the North Side of the Square and performed some tunes that many more would have been happy to hear had he only made a courtesy call or two …. Well, no use beating a dead horse. That was Jacob Marley, anyway, not Bob Marley. Bob Marley sings, “Don’t’ worry. Be Happy.”
Ms. Mae Grell of Louisville, NE reads the Champion column in her neighbor’s paper every week so she is pretty close to being a Champion already. She wrote about the bumper stickers mentioned recently as having been some of the favorites of some Marines. “If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read it in English, thank a Marine.” It really struck a cord with her though it is unclear if she is a teacher or a Marine or both or neither. She likes the sentiment, though and doubtlessly joins all her fellow Champions in extending Love and Gratitude to all those in uniform serving in the dangerous parts of the world.
The website Champion News has a good picture of young Jacob Coon and this March Monkey as he was high bidder in the Silent Auction that ended at 5 pm on March 31st. The proceeds of the auction are destined to help the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department to make its Fire Truck payment. The April Monkey has already sparked some spirited bidding as Bob Chadwell, the erstwhile Route 2 Mail carrier, and a Champion from Champion East battle it out. They both are determined to have it and it is indeed a lovely monkey. Go on down to Henson’s Store and give it a look. Bidding closes April 30th. It seems like each monkey has its own personality.
The fourteenth of April is Bob Berry’s birthday. It is also the New Moon and a day to prune to discourage growth…a good day for a haircut. The 15th is also a good day to prune to discourage growth and to pay your taxes! It could be a good day to weed the garden or to celebrate the birthday of Dustin Cline who shares his birthday with Vivian Floyd and G. Gary Jones. One would have to know all three of them to determine that there is something to astrology. There definitely seems to be something to it. Amazing. The 16th and 17th will both be good days to plant crops that bear their yield above ground and to transplant. This is according to Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood. While many have been daydreaming about getting Lem and Ned to come pick rocks, cut sprouts and plow, Linda has already been quite busy. She has about anything a person might need to get a good start in the garden, including her Almanac for April. Pick one up there or look on the Champion website to print one out for yourself.
The thirty-fifth wedding anniversary of Robert and Sharon Upshaw was the focus of a pleasant evening over at the Skyline School on Saturday night. A sumptuous pot-luck spread was laid out and some very tasty cake was enjoyed by a good sized crowd composed of kinfolks and kindred spirits. There were plenty of jokes going around and a slideshow featuring the couple from their youth to their present…still quite young, at heart, at least. Robert joined Buzz Woods, Kirby Clark, Wayne Anderson, Jerry Wagner, Linda Anderson, and Sue Murphy in making some lively music to the delight everyone. Jerry Wagner said, “It takes a big dog to weigh a ton.” The General said, “Fifty pounds of flour would make a big biscuit.” Nobody knows why they said those things. It probably does not matter.
“Going up Cripple Creek, goin in a run. Goin up Cripple Creek to have a little fun. Going up Cripple Creek goin in a whirl. Goin up Cripple Creek to see my girl!” Champion, Dillon Watts lives over in Tennessee near Cripple Creek the same way Champions live on Fox Creek or Clever Creek. Probably there are some tunes about Fox Creek too. If you don’t know one, make one up and come on down to Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square in the heart of the entertainment district of Historic Downtown Champion any afternoon and give it a try out on the locals passing the time on the promenade. Send a copy of it to Champion News or to Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717. Buy a Champion picture postcard and transcribe your Fox Creek Song to share with distant friends and family marooned elsewhere out in the big dreary world. Pick up their spirits and help them remember Champion–Looking on the Bright Side!
