He sat the meal on the table in front of me and then poured a cup of some of the best coffee I had ever tasted; it was so strong it probably didn’t even need the cup.”
–Nathan Wright (Chester’s Last Ride)
Come on in, Pard. Let’s have some coffee together and jaw some. Hope yuh had a good week. Yuh know, for sure, Big Brother’s watchin’ us. I don’t have no doubt ’bout it! My eldest daughter sent me some coffee as a gift, and the next day my facebook is full of coffee ads. How in the world do they know? Hmmm, perhaps that feminine AI that lingers in the house tells them–Alexa. But she can’t see…or can she? No matter, so far the coffee’s been delicious, ahhhh.
Notice that we have progressed, Pard. When Heather moved back to Pennsylvania she left us her microwave. Now I don’t use it much, but I do like popcorn. Annie will use it to reheat coffee. Why just the other day she put instant coffee in the microwave and almost went back in time. Whooeee, good thing I was standin’ near. I grabbed her to jerk her to keep her in the present. Those contraptions are dangerous, next time yuh see me, if’n I’m not careful I might be glowin’.
Pard, we need to laugh once in a while. If’n yuh don’t think so, just take a look in the mirror. I just published my latest book, Stiles of Laredo, and have started on another. I have to stop and think when I use set, sit or sat, lay or lie. That brought to my recall a story by LeRoy Brownlow.
As a young minister, Grandpa preached a trial sermon in a village church, hoping to be called to that pulpit. Later the officials met with him to question his abilities. Wanting to be sure they got an educated man, they, with the help of a school teacher, had worked up a few special questions to test him.
The lead man, with an air of scholarship, began: “Preacher, would you say a hen sets or sits?”
The young sage from the hills answered: “I don’t care whether she sits or sets. What I’m interested in is: When she cackles, is she laying or lying?”
There were no more questions. He got the job.
Yesiree, Pard, in this crazy, insane, confused world it’ll do us good to smile once in a while. Life is serious business, always has been, but I’m tellin’ yuh right smartly that there’s little to smile at with the foolishness of the idiots around. That’s why when we get the chance we need to smile. Ol’ Solomon said that laughter was madness, and it doesn’t accomplish anything. In fact, when yuh read Solomon’s view of laughter it is distressin’. However, a merry heart is like medicine; it does good. See, what he is tellin’ us? There is a difference between the foolishness of laughter and the heart of joy caused by trustin’ in the Lord.
Ponder that whilst yuh take that last sip. Pard, I’ve got to tell yuh the truth, if’n yur saddle slips, an’ yuh fall off on yur noggin’ I might just have to laugh at yur foolishness for not checkin’ yur cinch.
Vaya con Dios.
(Story about Grandpa taken from A Time To Laugh)