–Cliff Hudgins  (The Cry Not Heard)

 

Mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  The good Lord has seen fit for us to share coffee once more.  Sure is good to be home, but we had fun on the trip; it was a nice time.  Lot’s of things went on whilst I was gone, and when we got back we had to fill up the pantry.  Hold on, coffee’s comin’ right up.

     As I was a-sayin’, we had to fill up the pantry.  Yuh know I’m a pie man at heart, but one of my favorite cakes is from a ranch out in West Texas near Buffalo Gap.  It is my go-to desserts, and I like to have a piece of it for a snack with my coffee when I get up.  The missus has modified it some, but it is good, I’ll tell yuh that out straight.  Sorry, Pard, we had to go to the grocery to get some applesauce for the cake.  Now get this, on the label it says, “made from real fruit.”  What would I expect from a jar of applesauce, beans or peas?

I know, there is food (?) out there made by what they call bio-engineering, but do I need to be told its real fruit?  Its like labeling a hot cup of coffee–hot.  Why sure it’s hot!  We are becomin’ a bunch of dummies.

     Ahhh, now that’s not bioengineered; it’s the real stuff, strong enough to make yur hairs stand right up in delight an’ yur gizzard turn flip-flops in happiness.  Like I was a-sayin’ whilst I was on my little foray back east, there was lots I came across an’ I’ll share some of the stupidity with yuh.  There are folks who are sayin’, in fact one of them is in Congress, that to drink whole milk is “white supremacy.”  My mercy, and to go on further some say that is one of our racist problems servin’ “white milk” in schools.  Did the doctor slap them on the wrong end when they were born?

     Here’s another kook, it happened in our neighbors to the north, but there are plenty enough knotheads in our country that would think the same.  Go ‘head take another swaller, an’ I’ll tell yuh.  There’s this here male (they call him a man, but I doubt that fact) who left his wife and seven children to pursue his dream as living as a six-year old girl.  Lord, help us through the jungles, and yuh wonder why our government is a mess.  I don’t need to get into the nonsense of the “furries.”

     And without getting into the politicizing, there is a full-blown fruit-loop a-sayin’ that the Declaration of Independence must be replaced.  Audacity!  Yes, and more, an outright attack on the basic principles that formed our country–God-given rights.  Plus some of that nut crew is callin’ for the abolishment of the Senate sayin’ it is an undemocratic institution.  Talk about how the ol’ devil has brought deception into our country.  Pard, more an’ more we need to be strong like that thar coffee yur a-drinkin’.  The pure thing, strong, tasty, givin’ off a good aroma, not the putrid smell of evil and garbage.  Ol’ Paul had it right that it would do us right good to be hearkenin’ to his teachin’ when he wrote somethin’ like this, Be on yur guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong.  Yuh can find that in the sixteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians verse 13.

     Well, Pard, this is it, the coffeepot’s empty an’ the day is movin’ on.  Yuh don’t be lettin’ no fool deceive yuh this week.  Stay in the holy Word of God and be strong.  Go with the Lord, and be a-checkin’ yur cinch before yuh mount.

    Vaya con Dios.

                    –Buck Corrigan  (The Ghost of the Galiuro)

Home, sure it’ll be good to be back home again.  The wheels on this ol’ steel mount jest keep a-rollin’ down the black asphalt of the highway.  And, pard, there’ a word I’ll leave with yuh, then back to the road.  It comes from that ol’ puncher Eugene Manlove Rhodes. “Rhomboidinaltitudinous isosohedronal catawampus!” and as far as I can tell it means someone who has to be a-drinkin’ motel coffee on the road.
     What was it ol’ Jansky said, “We’re lost, but we’re makin’ good time”?  Nah, we’re not lost, but yuh know there are plenty of folk out there who are completely lost and undone in this ol’ world, but they’re a-makin’ good time on their way to perdition.
     I’ll be arrivin’ soon, but in the meantime be ridin’ tall in the saddle, stay alert and ready, and be sure an’ check yur cinch.  I want to see yuh all in one piece the next time yuh come around.  We’re travelin’ the road with the Lord by our side, yuh be doin’ the same.
    Vaya con Dios.

                       –R.O. Lane  (Will Fain: West Texas)

 

Greetin’s Pard, hope yur doin’ fine.  Been thinkin’ ’bout yuh this mornin’ an’ trust that yur gettin’ yur coffee somewhere or brewin’ yur own.  Time’s shor does changes things.  Not only does it affect my purty looks and enthrallin’ personality, but the way it’s brewed.

     Gone are the days when I used to carry a pot and a bag of coffee in the ol’ steel mount.  Gone are the times when we would eat out lunch on the road an’ I could brew up a small pot.  Gone are the days of a sterno stove or the little tripod for a hexamine tablet.  The ol’ starter’s startin’ harder, an’ the ol’ gettin’ is gettin’ got.  

     Gone are the days of ridin’ up to the high country, doin’ some fishin’ an’ brewin’ coffee over a fire or the Coleman.  Bacon by the lake, along with eggs, biscuits, and strong coffee are part of the memory now.  Good memories!  Gone are the times of sittin’ in a tent, sippin’ coffee and listenin’ to the rain beat on the canvas or watchin’ it hit the once burnin’ campfire causin’ it to sizzle.

               May yur belly never grumble,

               May yur heart never ache,

               May yur hoss never stumble,

               May yur cinch never break.

               May yur coffee always be strong,

               May the pot never go dry,

               May you continue to amble along,

               May yur table always be filled with plenty of pie.

The Lord be keepin’ yuh ’til our trails cross again.  Ride tall in the saddle, don’t be takin’ no wooden nickels, remember, not only is the Lord directing yur steps along the trail He is already around the bend ‘for yuh get there.

      Vaya con Dios.

                    –J.V. James  (Old)

 

Whoooeee, friend it’s hot.  But then again it’s summer and the fourth of July.  Daughter is supposed to be makin’ the coffee this mornin’, we’ll see how she does.  She knows right well, how to make it.  Say, an’ Pard, don’t be playin’ around with them there firecrackers.  We don’t need a hand that is shorthanded.  I remember one ol’ boy, that some of the crew was callin’ fingers ’cause he shor wasn’t much of a hand.

     Left the middle granddaughter to take care of the homestead whilst we’re away visitin’.  Had to drink that hotel coffee on the road, but did have some good coffee at the one way station–Pilot.  It usually has some decent coffee. Yuh never know what yuh might come up with at one of those “inns”.  

     Think about it Pard.  If’n we didn’t have that there Boston Tea Party, we might still be like the Limeys and drinkin’ that instead of coffee.  See, there was great wisdom in throwin’ that tea in the harbor.  Now, I’m not against tea, and in fact I like a cup now and again, but not as a constant companion.  Hey Bob, let’s meet for a cup of tea.  It jist don’t sound right.  Men don’t have tea parties, unless the feminists would have their way.  It’s, I’ll meet yuh at the diner for a cup of coffee.

     Now, Pard, I’m goin’ to stay away from politics this Fourth of July.  I’m goin’ to stand up proudly when Old Glory goes by or when I see it flyin’ in the breeze.  I get sorta tired of hearin’ I don’t like this country, yet they stick around an’ enjoy the wonderful blessin’s of it.  Most of them there folks are nothin’ but two-faced liars who like to hear themselves spout foolishness.

     So, Pard, on this Fourth of July, think of the wonderful blessin’s of this country.  The sacrifices that were made to make it the greatest country the world has ever seen or known.  Enjoy the day, your family, and the blessin’s of liberty that you have in this country.

     Vaya con Dios.