He blew the steaming black coffee awhile, then tentatively touched the rim of the cup to his lips.”
              –Elmer Kelton  (The Time It Never Rained)

Say, Pard, yuh havin’ trouble gettin’ off yur mount and waddlin’ into the kitchen?  My, my, my I can tell yuh didn’t mess around this Thanksgivin’.  Was it hard to eat with a mask on?  Jist had to throw that idiocy in; I didn’t see one mask at the Lake and all the campsites were full.  We had a grand time at the Lake, but the silly county went an’ placed a burned ban on–at Thanksgivin’ time.  Despite that, we had us a nice time.  Plenty of coffee an’ plenty of fixin’s that the wife made for the camp, an’ I’m still workin’ on the pie.
    I didn’t see if there were any houses in Oregon or California raided for havin’ too many people.  ‘Course, I don’t look at the news much.  Too much lyin’ for me.  Why, I’m a-thinkin’ that journalists now lead the pack in the lyin’ category ahead of the lawyers, politicians, and weather forecasters.
    Pard, that’s coffee sent to me from a former student who’s now in Okinawa.  Japanese roasted–how ’bout that?  Not bad…especially if I make it strong enough.  I was tryin’ to read what kind it was but all I could see were stick figures.
    I was doin’ some ponderin’ and it bothered me some.  No, not the ponderin’ the thought.  We have a special day set aside in which we are to be thankful.  Interestin’ how there has to be a special day to be remindin’ folks to be thankful.  In fact, I’m thinkin’ and believin’ that we should be practicin’ our gratitude every day.  We should have an attitude of gratitude, and that there’s a fact!  Some out there probably were a-frettin’ instead of a thankin’.  Well, I’m a-thinkin’ that if’n we did more thankin’ there would be less frettin’.  I’m jist tellin’ yuh.
    What’s that?  Yur goin’ to waddle off an’ hibernate?  Ha, ha, Pard.  Say yuh need a boost up?  Let me be tellin’ yuh one more thing before yuh head out this mornin’.  “Christmas Time’s a Comin'”!  And, Pard, with that added girth from Thanksgivin’ yuh best be sure an’ check that cinch.
       Vaya con Dios.

Then he blew on his coffee to cool it before taking a long careful slurp…ahh, real coffee.”
              –J.V. James  (Frye)

I had me a notion to sleep in, but I knew yuh’d be here waitin’ for me.  Guess I did a little, since it’s graylight out.  My, it’s a little foggy out this mornin’ in our neck of the woods.  That dampness makes the ol’ rheumatize start dancin’ in my bones.  Ahhh, but that is good coffee this mornin’; makes gettin’ up worth it.
    Say, yuh got yur turkey yet?  No, I don’t mean for yuh to go shootin’ at them bureaucrats.  I don’t think a buzzard would bother with some of them.  They’re just walkin’ corpses anyways, sooner or later one of them is shore to strangle on one of their own lies.
    Time for campin’, but they just put out a burn-ban in the county.  I’d think it was one of them bureaucrat shenanigans if I didn’t know our county better.  Why, part of the fun of campin’ is sittin’ ’round the campfire, jawin’ and sippin’ coffee whether it be breakfast or nighttime.  
    I’m plannin’ on sittin’ around the campstove, or by the side of the lake, drinkin’ plenty of coffee and contemplaitin’ on the goodness an’ faithfulness of the Lord.  I’m goin’ to enjoy family an’ friends, an’ yep, there’ll more ‘n’ likely be more than six.  I’m shore not goin’ to let fear run me down in the autumn of my life.
    We need to be thankin’ the Lord for His blessin’s not livin’ in fear ‘fraid of bein’ with friends and family.  Fear comes from our mind, an’ it’s ol’ slewfoot that puts the thoughts there then he giggles at how we accept them.  No!  My trust is in the Lord.
    Lookee, here now, we’ve done drunk us up a pot of coffee.  My mercy, where did the time go to this mornin’?  Yuh be havin’ yurself a fine Thanksgivin’!  Be thankful, count yur blessin’s.
    An’ remember that time yuh didn’t check yur cinch.  Be thankful that yuh didn’t fall out of yur saddle.  Not only is it embarrassin’, it hurts, and let me tell yuh, that ground comes up faster than it used to.
         Vaya con Dios. 

The fire was kindled, and the coffee pot prepared.”  
              –Johnny Gunn  (Terror on Flat Top Ridge)

Ugh, that’s an old Indian word for “taxes”!  At least that’s what ol’ John Hardwood told me.  ‘Course, he used “Ugh” for just about anything disagreeable.  Well, at least they’re paid for another year.  Before yuh, take a sip, I need to warn yuh that’s it’s extra strong.  If’n yuh don’t think so, before yuh take a sip, jerk one of them hairs from yur scraggly moustache, stick it in, an’ see if it don’t stand up straight.  After payin’ muh taxes I need some strong coffee, plus the fact I’ve been readin’ some of the most ridiculous, antiChristian, lack of common sense garbage.
    My mercy, Pard, this nation must be grievin’ the heart of the Father.  After all He’s blessed us with, and brought us through, and guided us through hard times, He just has to be.  I’m a-thinkin’ there’s no hope for America unless there is a genuine “Awakening.”  
    Well, I’m not goin’ to go on ’bout politics.  Can’t do much about it and all it does it rile my innards.  I’d rather stay cool and calm.  Why some of them liars could bring the hate out of me, an’ that wouldn’t be right.  The Lord will take care of them in His good time.  Plus He’s not nervous at all, so why should I be?  He expects me to be prepared, but also to be trustin’ in Him
    Pard, yuh be keepin’ life simple.  Check yur gear, make sure its in workin’ order, read yur Bible.  Don’t be pollutin’ yurself with lies and shady characters.  And for mercies’ sake, be checkin’ yur cinch.
        Vaya con Dios.

When we’d cleaned up our mess and each had a cup of coffee in front of us, I began to tell him what had happened today.”
              –Lou Bradshaw (Agular)

“Ohhhh, along the trail that’s windin’ always upward, this troubled world…” sorry Pard, yuh caught me in a moment of jubilation.  With all the consternation out there, I’m gonna keep my heart focused on my faithful Lord.  
    Say, but get in here, I promise I won’t cut loose with my singin’ until yuh leave, unless yuh want to sing along with me.  I’ve got the coffee on, and it is stronger than black sorghum.  Just right to keep yur liver runnin’ smoothly, an’ don’t rile the gizzard either.
    Take a sip, for I’ve got somethin’ to talk to yuh about.  Yuh keep funnin’ me about always remindin’ yuh to check yur cinch.  Well, I was watchin’ that ol’ bronc-buster Stoney Burke the other night.  Right off, a cowpoke is ridin’ one of them cantankerous hosses, yuh know the kind.  All of a sudden things went bad for him, the horse fell an’ the rider went with it.  It ended up that the rider was killed.  Upon checkin’ the cause it was found that he had an’ old, torn cinch and it ripped apart with all the buckin’.  Now if that could happen in fiction why for shore it could in real life.  So don’t yuh be hawin’ at me when I go to remindin’ you!
    This ol’ world ain’t the same as it was when we was a growin’ up.  No, sure ain’t, an’ Pard I don’t believe it is goin’ to get any better.  My mercy, the lyin’, the riotin’, the thievin’ that’s happenin’.  It’s a wonder that the good Lord don’t holler down at us, “that’s enough.”  But yuh know, I think He has an’ we’ve done gone an’ ignored what He’s said.  Pard, it just don’t make sense, yuh see the reason for the strong coffee this mornin’, now?
    I know, yur headin’ out since the pot’s dry.  Well, yuh be careful.  Don’t be mountin’ any rank hosses, nor forgettin’ to watch where yuh step.  Yeah, I know there’s a lot to be rememberin’ about bein’ wary in this world, but best yuh don’t forget none of it.  Be alert, that ol’ slewfoot would jist like to knock yuh out of the saddle.
    Oh yeah, don’t forget to check that cinch! Ha!  “This troubled world is not my final home.” Yeehaw!
          Vaya con Dios,