August 24, 2015
CHAMPION—August 24, 2015
The best spot to watch the garden grow…
There is nothing wrong with staying at home. Minding one’s own business and attending to the necessities of the household and grounds are laudable exercises. Still, a chance adventure off the place during this remarkable August is an adventure. Whenever in August has it been so green…so cool? Rain totals keep adding up and there are extra cuttings of hay and beautiful lawns that need frequent mowing. A trip to town is like driving through storybook land—Narnia—with a picturesque view around every bend. Though there seem to be extra mosquitoes (very small and vigorous mosquitoes), fewer walnuts and varying degrees of garden success, Champions find no reason for complaint.
Every part of the country has its charm. For example, Iowa has any number of things about which it can be proud. There is the world’s largest frying pan in Brandon, Iowa, the largest wooden nickel in Johnson County, and the world’s largest garden gnome in the Rieman Garden in Ames. It stands 15 feet tall and is made of concrete. It is very near the butterfly garden which is said to be one of the best such gardens in the world. It sounds like a nice place. Nice people come out of Iowa. A couple of the Ewoldt brothers came down from Iowa and visited in Champion for a few days recently. They come every year to enjoy family ties while being inscrutable and enigmatic. Pleasant Iowa folks are always welcome.
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Take a quarter mile stroll on the new walking path that has just been measured, paved and landscaped at the Skyline School. Walk around it four times and you will have gone a mile. It is open for the use of anyone in the community and will get plenty of activity from the school population. It comes in a grant from the Douglas County Health Department—another gift to the community. The 23rd of August was the second birthday of Drayson Cline. He shared it with his great grandfather, Charlie Cline. Drayson has a little brother, Carson, who will always be his chum. It is very sweet. Skyline third grader, Dana Harden, has her ninth birthday on the 25th and Rowdy Woods will be ten on the 29th. Jenna Brixey and Kalyssa Wiseman will both be eight on the 31st. Exciting things are in store for these children. The 30th was to have been the 79th birthday of Wayne Anderson. He and Jo Ann celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary in May. His loss is a big one for the whole community because his life was a meaningful one. Other Champions who have slipped away from us recently are Velma and Gene Schroeder. They lived in the community for a long time and participated in it the way good neighbors do.
The Thursday night bluegrass jam at Vanzant was another beautiful evening. Songs ranged from ‘Bobbie McGee’ and ‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’ to ‘Blue Kentucky Girl’ and ‘I Wonder How the Old Folks Are at Home’. Jerry Wagner did a lovey rendition of ‘Just Bumming Around’. Kenneth and Barbara Anderson were there and the many friends who regularly enjoy this gathering carried on in the usual way, all the while feeling an absence. Elmer Banks sat outside visiting with Murphy and others. He wanted it known that the County Road people have done a beautiful job on V Highway. It is mowed from fence to fence and looking gorgeous.
 Ready to watch some fireworks.
Jo Ann and Wayne…Chris, Amber, Miles, London, and Griffin. |
An OHL friend points out “that in some cases there are arguable points about the direction of this country from both ‘sides’, and probably the best answer would include the best ideas and beefs from both. It may be that you can attract more flies with a little honey and still open minds.” He goes on to support the free flow of ideas. “ A liberal….someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people—their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, and their civil liberties—someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a ‘liberal’, then I’m proud to say I’m a ‘Liberal’”, said JFK. The Heritage Foundation says that conservative public policies are based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. John Steinbeck said, “All war is a symptom of man’s failure as a thinking animal.” Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend.” An Old Champion says, “What a valuable thing is an enemy! There is a reason, an excuse and fellowship in knowing you are absolutely right and the enemy is wrong.” Being unified with a bunch of people who believe the same thing that you believe is comforting and makes the world less frightening. The inflammatory rhetoric from both ends of the political spectrum is worrisome. There is anecdotal evidence that “Frightened people do stupid things.” It seems that both ends are trampling over the middle in an effort to destroy each other. It is like FDR said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”
After her annual August hiatus, Linda will open The Plant Place again in September. She will have mums and perennial plants and good garden advice for new gardeners and veterans as well. This will be her last year in business and while retirement may be good for her, Norwood and the whole area will have lost a great resource. Her Almanac says the 29th and 30 will be good days for planting root crops, fine for vine crops and good days for transplanting. There is time to get some turnips in the ground for some good greens and in case Lem and Ned come to help out with the fall chores. It feels like fall on these cool mornings. By afternoon the wide veranda on the Historic Emporium will be peopled by philosophers and historians as well as by local tourists just relishing the spectacle of the Behemoth Bee Tree and the tranquility of the Village. It is nestled on the wide, wild, wooly banks of Old Fox Creek where country roads meet the pavement at the bottom of several green hills—Champion! Looking on the Bright Side!
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