–Vivian Sinclair  (A Western Christmas)

 

Pard, things are movin’ fast.  The end of the year is fastly approachin’, Christmas is comin’ upon us fast, time and age seems to be hittin’ us at a faster rate.  The only thing that doesn’t seem to be any faster is the time it takes for this coffee to perk and yur waddlin’ across the kitchen to get yur cup.  However, the way yur guzzlin’ it down, I’ll soon have to be makin’ another pot.

       I’m not even lookin’ at the next year yet.  That’s one thing about bein’ retired, I don’t have to live by a calendar, ‘ceptin’ for doctor’s appointments.  Boy howdy, Pard, they get yuh comin’ and goin’.  Maybe not a monthly calendar, but I do try to keep a daily list of things to be a-doin’.  Don’t usually get them all done, but they’re there in front of me for the next day.  Pard, we, even in our later years need to be plannin’ ahead knowin’ that each day is in the Lord’s hands.  Somedays the starter’s gettin’ harder to start, but I’m still up most days by 5:30 to make the coffee and send out a greetin’.  

       This mornin’ ‘fore yuh showed up the words of that song written by that ol’ puncher R.W. Hampton came to my mind.  “No it’s not the cold wind I’m thinking about a baby boy and a long long ago Christmas night.”  Was it cold that Christmas so many years ago?  Did the wind moan through the trees, or was it still, almost too quiet, waitin’ for the angels to burst forth in chorus?  Were the shepherds dozin’ on their watch?  Were the wise men havin’ trouble with their camels on their trek from the East?  Did Joseph have to build a small fire in the stable to keep Mary and the baby Jesus warm, or was the night warm and muggy?  Hmpf, one thing I doubt they had an’ that was a pot of coffee.  From what I’m tolt it hadn’t been discovered yet.

       Sure nice to be home for Christmas.  “There’s no place like home for the holidays…”  Pard, since yuh done drunk up all the coffee, guess it’s time to be wrappin’ this up for this Saturday.  Shore glad yuh stopped by an’ don’t be frettin’ ’bout time catchin’ up with yuh, that’s a certainty.  Yuh can’t outrun it, yuh just have to be ready for when it does.  Walk hand-in-hand with the Lord, have a joyous week before Christmas, an’ as always, don’t forget to check yur cinch.

         Vaya con Dios.

                        –Lou Bradshaw  (Big Man’s Keeper)

 

Pard, I had to chuckle when I read the above comment by our ol’ pard.  It shore hit home this week.  I had to go have labs taken, that means seein’ the vampire to get blood drawn, and since I had to be fastin’ as is my custom I went to Denny’s for breakfast right afterward.  I noticed immediately that the menu had changed, and that usually means one thing–prices have gone up.

       Well, better take a sip ‘fore I go on.  That’s it a deep one if’n it’s not too hot.  When I received my bill, I saw that coffee was $3.39.  I was shore glad I had at least drunk three cups.  The coffee’s not real bad, not as good as that yur drinkin’ for shore.  But, my mercy–$3.39.  I had to laugh for I remember the time when my Grandpa Jones slammed his hand down on the table at a cafe and declared, “Ten cents for a cup of coffee; that’s ridiculous!”

       I can well remember that back in college when I had a few cents to go out I made sure that I drunk enough coffee to pay the bill.  For example, I could get a cinnamon roll and coffee for $.75 so I made sure I drank at least seven cups of coffee.  That was about my limit.  When I started datin’ Annie, I tried to keep a dime to buy a coke at the snack bar in the evenin’ or an ice cream.  We would then share it.  My big money was saved for Sunday night.  A couple of times a month we would go to the Village Inn Pancake House where we could each get a meal for around a dollar.

       Pard, I said all of that to jist remind yuh not to be over spendin’ this Christmas.  I understand the scheme of things, and I know that if the price of this goes up, then the price of that has to go up.  The thing, Pard, where does it all end?  So don’t be spendin’ much on me, unless you’re buyin’ me a new pair of boots, or a new Stetson.  Then I’ll gladly accept it.  Christmas, I know, is for givin’, but we ought also to be puttin’ our focus on the reason for givin’.  Focus our sights on the Lord Jesus Christ and I guarantee that it’ll be a very Merry Christmas!

       I see yur smile; yuh enjoyed that coffee this mornin’.  Good, it was black, hot and strong.  Makes a man’s innards take a notion to get on with the day.  Yuh, be havin’ a good week, and I needn’t remind yuh to check yur cinch.  Ride easy, ride watchful for there’s plenty of fools out there on the road.

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –Lou Bradshaw  (Teton)

 

“Christmas time’s a-comin’, Christmas time’s a-comin’…”  Coffee’s hot and strong, come join me.  Say Pard, just ’cause yuh ate the last piece of punkin pie don’t mean there’s not more on the horizon, an’ along with that there’ll be those Christmas cookies with all the sprinkly things on top.

       This is a wonderful time of year.  The lights, the bells, songs of yuletide dreams and carols of the wondrous love of God.  Food, goodies galore, and presents, and yuh best be watchin’ what’s over yur head it might just be mistletoe.  Pard, with all the fun and happiness and joy that Christmas brings it is also a solemn occasion.  It is a time of memories for those who cannot be with us or those who have gone on to their eternal reward.  It is a time that we should contemplate the greatest gift of all–the Lord Jesus Christ.  It’s hard to fathom the great love of the Father who sent His only Son for one main purpose–to redeem mankind.

       Woe is us, for we were lost but God in His love sent that great present.  Jesus wasn’t wrapped in those gorgeous papers that lie underneath the tree, but in swaddlin’ cloths.  And it don’t make no difference to me whether it was a wooden manger or a stone one, I’ve seen both kinds, that became His bed.  None of those fancy cribs, no warnin’ signs on the blankets or mattress.  My oh my, what would Mary think if she was livin’ today?

       How ’bout that coffee?  Made some of that special coffee roasted by my friends at the Spring Ridge Roasters.  Yep, Papua New Guinea.  One of my two favorites and I’m sharin’ it with my Pard.  Not much love greater than that unless you add an apple pie to the table.

       Pard, I want yuh to take extry careful care this season.  We want to enjoy all that the Lord has for us, and also the fellowship of family and friends, but yuh can’t do it if’n yuh fall off yur horse on yur noggin’ ’cause yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Yuh probably will be out an’ about quite a bit, so be extry cautious.  Why today, already I had two different road hogs pull out in front of me, not obeyin’ signs, just ’cause they think they can.  So be alert, be wary, for some reason folks can get very unfriendly durin’ this most joyous time of year.

      Vaya con Dios.

                    –Charles G. West  (Hell Hath No Fury)

 

Waddle in here, Pard.  Shore looks like yuh had yur fill on Thanksgivin’.  It was really a blessed day.  ‘Course everyday is but this one was extry blessed.  We went to the lake as is our custom and had food and fun with family and friends.

       Say, I saw somethin’ yuh might want to check into for a Christmas present.  I saw that they have special ergonomic bowls for cats to eat from.  Supposed to make the food go down better and gives them better posture when they eat.  Now how ’bout that?  I was thinkin’ if’n they can make ergo bowls for cats then they might come up with an ergonomic saddle that makes yuh still look fresh as a daisy after a hard’s day work.  No more slouching in the saddle.  Then agin, I’ve seen plenty of so-called punchers look pretty fresh after a day’s work mainly ’cause they ain’t done a lick of it all day.  Hard to work with those guys, boot-lickin’ lackeys.  Most of them would rather whine and grumble and then go off on welfare where you and I have to pay their wages for doin’ nothin’.  At least they’re good at that.

       Pard, let me tell yuh the truth.  My daughter made the coffee the first day of camp, bless her heart.  My mercy, it wasn’t just strong, it sorta meandered down the throat it was so thick.  It took a cup of it for me to get used to it.  Yuh didn’t swaller it, yuh had to let to flow, sorta like lava.

       Shore hope yuh’ve been takin’ to heart what I said ’bout bein’ thankful.  The Lord is good to us beyond our deservin’.  Why I didn’t see one individual with bumps on their noggin’ ’cause they forgot to check their cinch.  Yuh be ’bout yur exercisin’, yuh need to lose a couple of pounds ‘fore that Christmas dinner rolls ’round.

         Vaya con Dios.