–Cotton Smith

 

     Greetin’s to yuh, Pard.  Coffee’s hot and strong, come an’ grab a cup.  Don’t yuh be bashful!  Trust yuh had a good week, no matter what though, it’s past.  Might be some consequences left over, but they’ll pass.  The thing is Pard, to face the day, and prepare for the future.  ‘Course we know that day might not show up, but we need to be ready if it does.  Same’s true ’bout the comin’ of the Lord.  It’s gonna happen, it might not be today, but we have our heart ready in case He comes tomorrow.

     Yuh know, seasons come and go, not only the seasons of nature, but of life and even in the short term.  Last night the middle granddaughter moved from the season of high school to the big adult world and the world of college.  Big change, but it is part of life.  Oh, not necessarily the college part, but the season of movin’ on with life after high school.  Boy howdy, I can remember that time.  I was ready to get on with the summer for baseball and then on to college.  I was raised right, and was ready to prove myself to the world.  It was time for me to be gettin’ on.  Long story short, I made it through–could have done better, but I made it.  Then on to the military, which I enjoyed.

     By the time I was headin’ for my Masters, I had my habits and routine down, and really enjoyed that work.  Yep, seasons come and go.  What’s that yuh say?  I’m in the season where I’m ridin’ my rockin’ chair now.  Pard, yuh best be careful or I’ll cut yur coffee rations.  Now, I’ll tell yuh the truth.  When I get up in the mornin’ to do my readin’ and studyin’ I sit in my rocker, drinkin’ coffee, lookin’ at the sun shine through the trees.  I’m not about to be thrown by that chair, but sometimes the readin’ stumps me or at least causes me to contemplate.

     Quit yur grinnin’.  But what I’m tellin’ yuh is that seasons come, and they go.  However, and get this Pard, get it good–the Lord is with us in all seasons of life, all seasons of change along the journey.  Our job is to be listenin’ to Him and obeyin’ His Word.  If’n we do that we’ll have a better time gettin’ through the obstacles on the trail and facin’ those fiery darts of the enemy.

     One thing I’ve noticed through the years of our partakin’ of coffee together.  No matter the day, the hour, or the season, I keep havin’ to reminding yuh to check yur cinch.  One of these days…   Well, we’ll leave it at that.

     Vaya con Dios.

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Radigan)

 

Howdy, Pard, glad yuh came by.  Sure, sure, the coffee’s hot and on the stove.  More of that coffee from over in New Guinea.  My it sure does satisfy the gizzard.  Pard, some things yuh just can trust.  The coffee’ll be on, if’n yuh went to my house Grandma always had the coffee on.  Funny, she didn’t drink the stuff, but she always had it in case some dignitary would show up.  Pard, it’s called Christian hospitality.  Granny, Annie’s Mom, always had soup ready for us when we came for a visit to her home.  Could depend on it, trust that it would be so.

     Pard, speaking of trust, well, it’s a wonderful thing.  I talked to ol’ Billy Basher the other day and found out why he had so many problems.  He didn’t trust no one.  What a way to go through life.  He tolt me that when he was a kid he climbed up in a tree, kinda like lit’le Zacchaeus, maybe it was a sycamore tree, but anyhow, he couldn’t get down.  He yelled and yelped and finally his Pa showed up.  He tolt young Billy to jump so that he would catch him.  Finally, after several minutes of coaxin’ Billy jumped towards his Pa’s outstretched arms.  The thing is, Pard, an’ it sorta riles me, just as Billy was goin’ to land, unscathed in those rescuin’ arms, his Pa jerked them away.  Ol’ Billy went splat, right there on the ground, groanin’ an’ a moanin’.  Didn’t break nothin, but his ol’ noggin’ took a lump.  His Pa looked down at him, pointed one of his long bony fingers and said, “Kid, that is a lesson yuh need to learn.  Don’t be trustin’ no one in this life!”

     Well, since then, ol’ Billy’s had some problems.  Imagine, goin’ through life, not even bein’ able to trust yur Dad.  Why it’s just natural for a youngster to reach out to his Mom or Dad in the midst of a terrible storm or other such ordeal.  When a perplexin’ problem comes our way, we can sure trust the Lord, that’s a solemn fact.  He won’t be pullin’ no arms away, but will catch us when we jump or if’n we fall–and that’s another solemn fact.  Pard, what would life be like if’n we couldn’t be trustin’ in the Lord?  It’s be worse that not havin’ coffee ready for yuh, an’ that’s a solemn fact.

     Pard, as we go our separate ways, yuh can be sure that the Lord will catch yuh if’n yuh forget to check yur cinch, or at least pick yuh up and doctor yuh some.  Yep, Pard, it’s good to be travelin’ through life with a Pard like the Lord there beside us–an’ that’s a solemn fact!

       Vaya con Dios.

                    –Louis L’Amour  (Borden Chantry)

 

Good mornin’ to yuh, Pard.  My, my what a pretty mornin’ an’ yuh look all chipper this mornin’.  Pie?  None around this house, has been, might be some more later.  There is a mini-pie in the freezer, apricot, but it wouldn’t come close to satisfyin’ yur tonsils.  I will tell yuh that I had an apple pie instead of cake for my birthday, along with a chocolate pie.  It sure made the ol’ gizzard happy, with plenty of coffee to help it settle.  

     Sure had loads of thoughts flittin’ through my ol’ noggin this past week an’ reckon they all done flitted out my ears or somethin’.  Sure can’t think of them now.  Pard, goin’ to have to start writin’ them down, but usually they come to me while I’m ridin’ or tryin’ to sleep.  Say, how’s that coffee?  One of my presents from the wife from New Guinea.  Sure does hit the spot.

     Speakin’ of the wife, I recall the words of that ol’ puncher from the Wild Horse Desert, Bobby Cavazos.  He sure hit Annie right on the spot, “She’s a remarkable woman like my grandmother. They’re made of something that no modern woman has—steel.”  Too many women out there today do more than the thoughts in my brain, they flit from one place to another, wantin’ this an’ that.  My gal, knows how to make a good life for her family.  She can keep a smile on my face.  Apple pie, why sure ‘nough, there’s none to compare to hers!

     What!  I don’t smile.  Why, Pard, I’m smilin’ all the time.  Just look into the eyes an’ if’n yuh can’t see a smile yur blind.  Plus the wife and the Lord puts the joy down in my heart and soul.  Listen, if’n I’m anything in this life it’s ’cause of the two of them workin’ on me.  The Lord sure fixed me up right when he allowed me to rope that gal!  She makes sure my cinch is tight.

     So, Pard, if’n yuh have a mind to, wear a white carnation tomorrow.  That is if’n yuh happen to have one.  My Mom and the rest of those who helped raised me are gone on up to be with the Lord, but I’ll sure be flittin’ several memories of them through my mind.  Yuh be havin’ a wonderful day and week.

      Vaya con Dios.

                    –Gary Church  (Fate Rides a Tall Horse)

 

Mornin’ Pard.  It isn’t evening, and it ain’t supper, but I’m sittin’ in my rocker, watching graylight approach and sippin’ my coffee.  Doin’ some relectin’, but not deep enough for contemplatin’ as of yet as I don’t have time.  My daughter is makin’ breakfast for us, so we have to be climbin’ aboard the steel mount and headin’ out.  Coffee’s on the stove if’n yuh don’t make it over on time.

     A thought came to me of the many places I’ve been.  I decided to reflect on some of them like fishin’ an’ campin’ at Lake San Cristobal.  The girls were little and the little one was sittin’ underneath the table playin’ in the dirt.  I think about one of our favorite places up in the Indian Peaks Wilderness.  Then the thought comes to me of the time we got drenched hiking in Lost Maples and the time ridin’ Maid of the Midst.  The campfires are too many to count, but I can relate to the peace that comes from sittin’ ’round one and drinkin’ coffee.

     Where is that special place for you, Pard?  Is it still there, or only in yur memory.  Yep, memories run through my mind of favorite places.  I read somethin’ from an ol’ boy who lived many years ago, “That spot has much charm, it greatly soothes weary minds, relieves anxieties and cares, helps souls who seek the Lord greatly to devotion, and recalls to them the thought of the heavenly sweetness towards which they aspire.” Pard, there’s more to what ol’ Bernard was a-sayin’ but there are those places in our minds, those inspirin’ experiences that bring us closer to the Lord.

     Pard, reckon that right now, my special place is in the mornin’ with my daily routine of studyin’ and readin’ and writin’ watchin’ the sun appear through the trees while drinkin’ my coffee.  Once in a while, I’ll admit more often than not, there’ll be a cookie that Annie has made me sittin’ nearby so I can take a bite whenever I please.  

     Time to be headin’ out.  Yuh take care of yurself, stay alert, and don’t yuh be a-frettin’ I’ll check my cinch before I mount.

     Vaya con Dios.