Phone lines and internet connections were full blown wonderful for the old guys who could not see their sons and daughters in person. Those who were able to cook dinner for their fathers or have them do the cooking or just sit with the old man on the porch for a while on Sunday afternoon can count themselves lucky, knowing that it will not always be possible. Many of us have only memories of our dear fathers to keep us company. He taught valuable life lessons and provided the support and encouragement we needed to become the adults we are today. Many of us wish we had taken the opportunity while we had him with us to ask the questions we ponder now. What was his life like as a child? How did he feel about his own father and what might he have liked to have known about him? Ask while you can. Happy Father’s Day. We can celebrate him every day all year.

Helen Batten said attendance at the Skyline Second Saturday Swap Meet was down a little this time due to the Tri County Fair. (Champions Jenna and Jacob Brixey had a good showing of their beautiful Jerseys there.) The next Swap Meet will be on July 12th with all the eggs and animals, baked goods and crafts and with the enjoyment of getting together with seldom seen friends, a nice part of this good community.

Haymakers had a few days to get the rake and bailer working before the rain hit again on Sunday, hard and heavy. It came with lots of wind and thunder for a while amounting to another couple of inches that was not needed. One local farmer said hay making was not as much fun as making other things, but he was glad to get what little he was able to get done. It is to our credit that in these ‘interesting’ times we are able to find things about which to be glad. We are not necessarily glad about more rain in the forecast. Oh well.

Saturday was exciting all over the country. Twenty-five or so individuals enjoyed hanging out on the corner of Highway 5 and Springfield Road in Ava with signs stating their various points of view on a variety of subjects. Horns honked in approval and solidarity while others voiced different opinions, respectfully for the most part. Freedom of speech is one of the many things for which to be grateful here in our beautiful country.

Saturday found Tom Peters at the Oldfield Opera enjoying some great tunes there. He had been part of Kaitlyn McConnell’s “Ozarks Alive” group that got to tour Topaz Mill that morning. Kaitlyn gets around and shines a light on the many interesting places in the Ozarks and brings pies while she is at it. On Monday evening Tom said there were eleven musicians among the crowd of thirty-six at the McClurg Jam. A mystery elf appeared on a video as a substitute dancer for Andy and Jane Elder who generally cut the rug when they hear “That’s Earl.” One might ask Mike O’Brien who that might have been. Other toe tapping tunes included “Rachel” with Cameron Wells on the banjo and “Cherokee Shuffle.” Tom’s hosting and sharing the weekly jam is a real gift to the community at large.

Kinfolks from the north had nothing but lovely things to say about the beauty of Champion’s countryside. What fun it is to see city children get the opportunity to pick ticks while being mesmerized by hummingbirds. “Tadpoles are growing legs!” they shout, “and there are so many of them!” Frogs lizards, baby deer, squirrels, centipedes and dirt daubers provide great entertainment for boys about to be nine years old. Gardeners welcome willing weeders and everyone enjoys other people’s cooking. Consider one of the good rules to follow: “When it is good, say so.” We say so in Champion—Looking on the Bright Side!

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