Champion News

CHAMPION—February 25, 2008

        In Champion if the Bachelor Meets the Old Maid he better hope he meets her at the Ladies’ Auxiliary Chili Supper in Skyline on Saturday, because Friday is February 29^th.  That’s Leap Day!  It falls on Friday only once in 28 years—once in a generation.  Regardless of the day of the week it is Sadie Hawkins Day!  Back in the fifth century when St. Bridget complained to St. Patrick that the ladies grew weary of waiting for the men to propose, St. Patrick allowed that the yearning females could themselves propose on Leap Day once every four years.  As late as 1258, if the man declined the proposal he could be fined a kiss, a silk dress, a pair of gloves, or who knows what?  More recently and closer to home Al Capp reprised the practice in the Lil’ Abner cartoon.  If Daisy Mae could have imposed a fine on Abner, what would it have been?  How did that work out anyway?  Did they ever get hitched?

        There is a long and complicated history concerning Leap Year.  Ancient calendars from all over the world deal with it in a variety of ways.  Some of the famous people born on Leap Day are Gioacchino Rossini was born in 1792.  He wrote the William Tell Overture—(The Lone Ranger), and The Barber of Seville—(Bugs Bunny).  Legendary saxophonist, conductor, songwriter, Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy’s Brother, was born in 1904 and Dina Shore in 1916.  There might be worse things than having a birthday only every 4 years!

        The Missouri Conservationist Magazine calls this year the Year of the Frog.  In an informative article called ‘Taking Action,’ Arleasha Mays provides a lot of information about a variety of frog species that are in jeopardy due to environmental contaminants, disease and habitat destruction.  This is a beautiful magazine, free to any Missouri resident.  Drop a post card to Circulation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102.

        Irene’s nice nephew, Larry, has loaned her a golf club to use as a cane until she is mended from her icy fall.  She was at her own mail box on that slick day and turned to dodge a fast kid on a sled.  Irene will be off the mail route for a few weeks while she heals up, but she is OK and Champions are all glad about that.

        Is the new worn off a beautiful new car once it has been used to haul cattle feed?  It has the On-Star and the super-radio and the leather, heated seats and who knows what all, and it has now hauled cattle feed.  What a deal!  Louise!  She is making her famous coconut desert that is so delicious for the Skyline Chili Supper Saturday.

        Someone wrote to say that on the YouTube there is a 1 minute 40 second video of the Coyote actually catching the Roadrunner!  It is called an historic moment and the title of the cartoon is “Coyote Road.”  Antiquated equipment rendered the cartoon unavailable to be reviewed but there were 447 comments posted about it.  They covered the wide range of emotions expected including “Now what?”

        Champions just don’t complain about the weather.  It is not a rule.  It is just the way Champions deal with things over which they have no control.  Nevertheless, it is certainly a subject of much conversation and wonderful stories of neighborliness.  Old Champion and good neighbor Tom Alsup many times pulled Mrs. Powell out of mud holes and cut downed trees out of the road.  Stories of deep creeks and deep mud holes, deep snow and thick ice abound.  Irene’s sister over in Vanzant has the good fortune to be neighbors with R.A. Robert Upshaw.  Regardless of the stories that have circulated about him, even if some of them are true, he is a good neighbor who keeps the walkway and steps clear of ice and snow for his good neighbor.  An old Champion friend from up in Mtn. Grove, Catherine Coffman, said that use to be snow would land in November and be on the ground until near Easter!  It may not be that way these days, but last year there was winter then spring then winter again after everything had budded out.  All the peaches, apples and blueberries that Champions have enjoyed since then have been imported.  The buzzards and robins are back in profusion and waves of geese have been spotted headed North already, so Spring can hardly be far behind.  Seed catalogues are choking mail boxes and early birds are jumping guns to get their hands dirty.  Good neighbor Linda over at the Plant Place in Norwood is getting everything ready so the impatient gardeners will have what they need.  She has a good bridge lesson this week on the two club response to a bid of one no-trump.  She also has a Birthday coming up next week!

        In 1776, Thomas Paine wrote:  “These are the times that try men’s souls.  The summer soldier and sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”  It is muddy and brutally cold this time of the year in Afghanistan and Iraq.  Two hundred thirty two years later US Service Personnel are not shrinking, but are doing what is asked of them….there are a lot of Champions over there.

        There will be a lot of Champions and good neighbors getting together at Skyline on Saturday.  The weather promises to be wonderful.  The food and entertainment are always splendid at the Ladies’ Auxiliary Chili Suppers.  Chances to break out of the cold and into the fold of friends and good fun is timely!  It is always an excellent time to support the great work of the Skyline Area Volunteer Fire Department.

        Timely things and good neighbor reports are welcome at Champion Items, Rt. 2, Box 367, Norwood, MO 65717.  E-mail answers to the question, “Now what?” or any of those interesting if unsubstantiated rumors about Admiral Upshaw to Champion News.  Leap up on the porch at Henson’s Store in downtown Champion on Sadie Hawkins day to pop a question or to get popped by one.  Fines will be assessed by resident  Champions who are always Looking on the Bright Side!