It is sad news to hear of the passing of Harley Krider. He was here from Peoria for his class reunion in September and then more recently for the funeral of his sister Vivian Floyd. He and Barbara have been coming back to Champion for the 58 years of their marriage, bringing fun with them. Recent visits had Harley spinning yarns in the store while Barbara laid waste to any Scrabble challengers there in the game room. Harley grew up here, attending the Champion School, where he and Punk (Eldridge) Hicks and Larry Wrinkles were a teenage trio that could melt a heart with their rich gospel harmonies. Arthur Porter was their teacher back then. Harley complained about having to stem gooseberries when he was a kid when he would rather have been doing something else. His many friends and family here will be reminiscing about a genuinely nice man. His dad, Oscar, had grown up around Brixey and his mother, Goldie, over on Bryant Creek at 76. They settled in Champion where they milked cows and raised a family. Both Harley and his brother Lonnie said their dad never went to town without a hymn book in his pocket. He could always find someone on the corner to sing with him. He passed the gift of music to all his children. Harley had a beautiful voice that will be much missed.

Looking back to last week: Sister Ruby of Our Lady of the Golden Slippers was fanning herself with a paper plate at the Vanzant Jam. Her habit was hot. The Gypsy was hot too, glittering and dazzling in all her finery. Ruthie came as her lovely self, as did many sensible people. At least three big black hats designated cowboys and two handsome gents sported overalls, though that is their regular attire. They were not in costume. Sherry was in costume, but she always sparkles. The gala affair featured eight guitars and at least a dozen guitar players, four mandolins, two bass fiddles, a bass guitar, a ukulele, and a fine fiddle. Bill Tackett from Caufield brought his mandolin and Jerry Tackett came over from Dora with his guitar. Notably absent were the hippies from last year. The fiddler of that pair was off on an oinking expedition. Then, there was the “boy of summer,” referring to a baseball player. All the various fastpitch teams for which he played were represented in the uniform of General Fastpitch, topped off with a stunning pink chapeau. What a way to end summer!

The General has so far not revealed his pic in the World Series. An article from “The Screwball Times” says that the U.S. Army has long recognized that gum chewing reduces stress and chewing gum has been included in combat rations since World War I. “There is little doubt that chewing gum can be a powerful stress buster. One has only to look at a tightly contested baseball game on TV to see how many players, coaches and managers are vigorously chewing bubble gum or something else to relieve their pent up tension.” When Red Barber and his contemporaries were broadcasting baseball on the radio, somehow it seemed to be a more elegant sport. Champions try to look the other way, grateful to not be so ‘up tight.’ Play ball!

Sunday’s welcome to fall that feels like winter gives some old Champions a chance to bring in the last of the garden gifts. The wonderful inch or so of rain soothes nerves about forest fires and affords people purging paper the opportunity to set the heap ablaze. They will be bundled up to do so. The Chiefs had to bundle up in Denver. It was a cold, hard difficult day for them, but their fans have faith they will be back on top when they play the Miami Dolphins over in Germany next week. People who just get their television over the air and do not get a bill for it will have to wait until after Thanksgiving to get to see their Chiefs again. Meanwhile, there will likely be football to watch several times a week.

The striving and struggle for optimism is ongoing. Exciting Halloween hoopla, baseball’s world series, college and big league football, the internet, daily work and chores, friends and family, solitaire, homework, and music practice can combine and/or alternate to keep our focus away from the horrific things going on in other parts of the world, natural and manmade. Even these many distractions cannot wholly insulate Champions who are always trying to Look on the Bright Side!

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