The coffee was hot and strong enough to stand by itself, without any cup.  I drank it and liked it.”
              –Louis L’Amour (The Proving Trail)

Welcome, Pard, welcome.  Woooeee, we’ve got a new year in front of us.  Let’s climb aboard and see what kind of ride we’ll have this year.  Yeehaw!  Powder River let ‘er buck!
    Whew, enough of that.  I don’t want to get worn out right at the start.  Coffee’s on; it’s hot and strong.  Fact is; its downright black.  I received a gift of a new brand out of San Antonio, Texas–Gonzalez Garrison, and it’ll catch yur attention, but this mornin’, due to yur delicate nature I stuck with my regular blend–strong.
    Looking back over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that though it is a New Year, nothing is really new.  Same ol’ stuff from December 31st is followin’ us into the year.  Fact of the matter, I heard that the virus has mutated in Colorado, and there’s a new one found in China.  My, can you believe that?  Ha, ha, the world is wringin’ their hands, that is, except for those in charge.
    Me, well, I’m thinkin’ that right now the best I can do is sit down, watch the birds flitter on the branches, and sip my coffee slow and easy.  Ahhh, not much I can do about the world’s situation, and I’m surely not goin’ to get in a frenzy over a virus whether it’s natural or man-made.  One way or the other, the Lord will see me through.  He’ll see me through the troubles of 2021, or He’ll see me over the Great Divide and into those pearly gates.
    Thanks for joinin’ me this first Saturday of 2021.  Always enjoy yuh stoppin’ by an’ always have time to swaller some coffee with yuh.  Don’t yuh be forgettin’ yur resolutions!  Check yur cinch!  See, some things don’t change.
     Vaya con Dios,

They sat quietly drinking their coffee and watching the light go from the sky.”
              –C. Wayne Winkle (Down the Long Trail)

Mornin’, Pard.  Yep, I’m a little late.  I was nice and cozy, and it’s cold outside, but then figured yuh might be ridin’ by.  Hope the coffee’s to yur likin’ this mornin’.  Say, do yuh realize that this is the last Saturday in 2020, that means the last Perc for the year as well.
    Take a deep sip, ahhh.  Now do I have a story to tell.  No, it’s not a story about the day after Christmas.  But, my, my, wasn’t yesterday wonderful?  We had a grand time.  Ol’ Santa didn’t stop by, but my family shore poured the gifts on this ol’ boy.  But back to my story.  It’s about trust.  How many people do yuh trust?  I mean trust with yur life or yur family?
    “Pepe Rodriguez was one outlaw who misplaced his trust.  He was one of the most notorious bank robbers in the old west.  He lived just across the border in Mexico, but he regularly crept into Texas towns to rob banks.  Then, he’d slip back into Mexico before the Texas Rangers could catch him.
     “In hot pursuit one day, the frustrated lawmen were so embarrassed they illegally crossed the border.  They finally cornered Pepe in a Mexican bar.  Unfortunately, Pepe couldn’t speak any English.  So, the Rangers asked the bartender to translate.  When the bartender explained in Spanish who the Texas Rangers were, Pepe began to shake in fear.  With guns drawn, the Rangers ordered the bartender to ask Pepe where he had hidden all the money he had stolen from the Texas banks.
    “Tell him if he doesn’t tell us where the money is right now, we’re going to gun him down on the spot!” they threated.
    “The bartender translated the message to the quivering outlaw.  Immediately, Pepe explained in Spanish that the money was hidden in the town well.  They could find the money by counting down seventeen stones from the handle and looking behind the seventeenth stone.  All the loot he had stolen was hidden there.
    “The bartender turned to the Rangers and said in perfect English, ‘Pepe is a very brave man.  He says you are a bunch of stinking pigs, and he is not afraid to die!'”

    So, Pard, who do yuh trust?  Yuh drank that coffee, so yuh must have had some trust in me.  Yuh sit in the saddle and ride, so yuh trust that cinch not to give.  Trust is a vital part of life.  Take some time to think about trust; make sure yur a trustworthy person.  Don’t be forgettin’ the great Friend.  He is closer than a brother.  He purchased us with a price, His own blood.  He is a Person yuh can trust.
      Vaya con Dios. 

It was a fire burning at the entrance of the cave.  Crispin was boiling coffee and frying bacon.  The smell attacked his nostrils.”
               –Cliff Hudgins (Viejo and the Ranger)

     “Ohhhh, can’t yuh hear them bells, ringin’, ringin'” Say, good mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  I was just singin’ away, havin’ a joyful song in my heart, while waitin’ for yuh to show up.  What?  Didn’t sound too joyful?  My, Pard, yuh just don’t hear the way I hear.
     My mercy, Pard, Christmas is a week away!  Waitin’ for?  Pard, I have to wait, Christmas is not until next Friday.  Oh, I see, I haven’t poured the coffee yet.  Say, I haven’t heard much from those crazy folk wantin’ nothin’ to be said, about Christmas, the birth of Jesus or any of the rest of the Christmas story.  Yuh know those fools–atheists I think they’re called.  Guess there is too much on their mind. 
     There’s plenty of Grinches and Grumpies and Scrooges out there, let me tell you.  Of course, I don’t watch the television much, don’t listen much to the liars of the media, don’t take a newspaper, and didn’t get out shoppin’ much.  Isolated, yuh say!  Nope, not really, I just don’t want much to do with all the lies and shenanigans.  But I did hear this, there is a bunch of hoopla over the vaccine for the virus.  Hmmm, when I heard that I was a-wonderin’ if my coffee was strong enough to ward away any virus.
     By this time next week, yu’ll have eaten yur fill, and opened yur presents.  Listen, Christmas is a-comin’ and that doesn’t mean just presents, though there will be those.  It don’t just mean ornaments, decorations, and carols, yet that is so much a part of it.  The main thing is to realize and recognize that first great Christmas, of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  The second focus should be on the comin’ together of family for festivities and memories.
     And, Pard, as soon as yuh check yur cinch, mount up and ride off, I’m goin’ to burst out in joyful song again.  Might even start as yuh sit there.  Yeehaw! “Joy, joy, hear them singin’…Christmas is a-comin’!”

The ol’ cook] had a bucket of snow water coming to a boil.  He emptied half a pound of coffee into it, and began yelling, ‘Coffee-time, you mountain bums!  Boots and saddles!  The herd’s broke over the big mountain!’”
              –Richard P. Hobson, Jr.  (Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy)

Git yur coffee, Pard, drink it down, but I’m feared we can do little to stop the stampede!  The senseless stupidity of ignorant, foolish men have started to run and I’m not sure there are enough of the stalwart ones to stem the tide.
    Sorry, Pard, don’t mean to be alarmin’ yuh on a Saturday mornin’.  I know this is a time for relaxin’, doin’ some talkin’ and enjoyin’ good coffee.  I jist got riled this mornin’.  I started singin’, “Silver Bells,” and realized that most likely those days are over.  “City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style…” ha, fear has taken over.  Where is the feelin’ of Christmas?  Why the bureaucrats are tellin’ yuh to stay home, away from friends and family this Christmas.  Looks as if Scrooge has won.
    Better drink up, that cup needs to ease the bile in my gizzard.  That’s it, calmed down, I’m not goin’ to let some ruin my love of Christmas, the season, and all that it means.  Why, this is the Lord’s birthday!  They want me to stop seein’ my family and celebratin’ His birthday?  
    Yuh know, what I think?  Well, I’m a-goin’ to tell yuh.  One of the saddest things is that those that die from this devilish virus die alone.  Now think of that–family at home, beside the Christmas tree, unwrappin’ presents, and the ol’ sick person is lyin’ in bed, in some forlorn hospital–alone.  I sure hope those hospital “Sky-Pilots” are there with them.  Good time to snatch them from the flames if’n they don’t know the Lord.
    Let’s finish up this pot, then yuh can join me, “Ringa ling, hear them sing, Soon it will be Christmas Day…”  Yeehaw, Pard, let the stampede continue.  We’ll enjoy Christmas!  Say, in all the jinglin’ and ringalingin’ don’t be forgettin’ to check yur cinch.  It’s be terrible to fall off in the midst of the stampede.
      Vaya con Dios!