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CHAMPION—October 6, 2008

        Autumnal delights abound in Champion and Champions walk around with their eyes wide open acutely aware of the seasons changing.  Every day every vista has new character revealed according to the hour and to the eye of the beholder.  Sublime.

        Oklahoma’s Ethel McCallie was in Champion last week.  She came over from Ava where she had been visiting her girlhood friend, Loraine Nash.  Her entourage included her son Larry, of Hutchison, Kansas, and daughter Brenda Haden of Springfield, granddaughter Jessica Mead of Pinedale, Wyoming and her great grandson Ethan Mead who is two years old and required four adults to keep up with him!  They had a pleasant tour of the scenery in Champion, had their picture taken and chatted up the local yokels…a Champion diversion.

        The Upshaws took a holiday trip to commemorate the birthday of Karen Faye and Linda Kaye.  In a caravan of several cars sixteen family members left after breakfast at Plumbers Junction on Saturday the 4^th and made the trek to Arkansas to visit old time family stomping grounds and cemeteries.  It seems like everyone had a good time and there have thus far been no reports of untoward behavior even by the General.  Faye has been under the weather, however, and Champions all extend their best wishes for a speedy recovery.  For a few days she is as old as her brother-in-law, Harley, but he will soon leap ahead again and be older than most Champions.  He and Barbara worked hard on their recent trip back to Champion.  Their big walnut tree out in the field near the road had suffered some serious damage in a little tornado that happened back in early August.  They cleaned all of that mess up and did lot other good work including making hay and doing good deeds for family and neighbors.  It is also noted that some serious golfing occurred.  Some Champions are just now beginning to become familiar with the rudiments of the game.  Beating the bogey man is apparently important.  That is done, they say, by concentrating on the goal.  That is to say, “Think about what you want and not about what you don’t want.”  While that sounds simple and sounds like it could be applied to many aspects of life, it seems to be quite difficult.

        The seventh annual Pioneer Descendants Gathering was another delightful event hosted by Dale and Betty Thomas over at Yates, south and east of Champion.  Betty said that Saturday was the big day this year with about a thousand spectators visiting.  In addition to a large number of Champions, there were people there from Canada, California, and Washington as well as a visitor from Amsterdam, Holland and a foreign exchange student from Israel.  There were a number of people camping there who routinely attend buffalo hunter get-togethers, mountain men rendezvous and black powder gatherings.  There were civil war re-enactors and crafts people like flint knappers and blacksmiths.  There was a molasses making demonstration and wheel righting as well as log splitting and horse shoeing.  This is a busy time of the year for these kinds of activities all around the country.  The Older Iron Club was well represented at the Gathering where they had several interesting exhibits.  They were selling chances on a John Deere NB Tractor that will be awarded at their shindig in Cabool on Saturday, October 11^th.  Bob Berry won the drawing at the Pioneer Descendants Gathering for the carved walking stick made by Norwood’s mayor Dale Garrison.  It’s a beauty and it couldn’t have found a better home.  Bob drove his beautiful red Studebaker in the parade and Mary Goolsby smiled her lovely smile as she waved out the window.  Van Kelly won the hand quilted quilt made by Betty Thomas.

        A source of unpredictable trouble and complexity or an unsolvable dilemma is called a ‘can of worms.’  This concept can be applied to almost anything on a farm or anywhere there is old equipment or where there are old folks trying to make any kind of equipment work.  Champions are as much affected by the vicissitudes of aging and aging appurtenances as are any folks anywhere, but most often Champions are able to maintain a sense of humor about the whole thing.  It is a gift.  A leaking water-heater installed years ago with no shut off valve for the water or the gas will need a professional to get it up and going again.  A sprained ankle can benefit from a comfrey poultice and rest.  The word comfrey, derived from the Latin word for “grow together”, reflects the early uses of this plant.  Greeks and Romans used comfrey to stop heavy bleeding, treat bronchial problems, and heal wounds and broken bones.  Poultices were made for external wounds and tea was consumed for internal ailments.  It is a common herb with many uses and it is a pretty plant.  Like all herbs, however, it should be used carefully so as not to open yet another can of worms.  Sharing herbs, garden plants and produce is a real Champion thing to do.  Huckleberry George Simms is sharing garlic to plant this month.  Beverly and Barney Barnhart have been sharing tomatoes with less successful gardeners and Louise Hutchison has been a green bean bank for several lucky Champions.  Linda’s Almanac from over at the Plant Place in Norwood says that the 16^th and 17^th will be good days for planting that garlic and other root crops.  Above ground crops that can be planted now will do well on the 8^th and 9^th, and on the 12^th and 13^th.  Linda’s Almanac for October can be found at www.championnews.us.

        An e-mail has come from Pete and Kate Proctor.  Pete says that his son Bryan called the other day from the army base in Afghanistan where he is stationed.  He is in the mountains near the border with Pakistan.  It is a dangerous part of the world.  He will be coming home in March.  It is to be hoped that those people in uniform all get home safely and will arrive to a reception of Love and Gratitude from the Nation they serve.

        The Nance family got together in Ava Sunday for their annual reunion.  Family members came from as far away as Washington State and the Carolinas.  Some were not able to make it this year, but those who did meet had a good time and enjoyed their touch with home base again.  “Home is the ultimate value that humans venerate.”

        “Show me the way to go home.  I’m tired and I want to go to bed.  I had a little drink about an hour ago and it went right to my head.  Wherever I may roam on land or sea or foam You will always hear me singing this song.  Show me the way to go home.”

        Home is where the heart is they say.  Drop a note telling what else they say to Champion Items, Rt. 2 Box 367, Norwood, Mo. 65717.  E-mail any kind of good neighbor hear say to Champion News.  Stand around on the porch at Henson’s Store on the North Side of the Square in Downtown Hometown Champion and hum that tune or any other that gets you to Looking on the Bright Side!