It’s been a very hot and dry week around our little town. We are getting ready to have our temperatures climb up above 100 this week.  We are in great need of rain. Maryland is flooding and Florida is about to have a visit from Hurricane Albert.  We have a lot to be thankful for even in the midst of the hot and dry weather. 

I’ve had Brionna home with me since Thursday evening.  We went to Henrietta Saturday afternoon to see the wedding of Morgan and Jim Roberts. It was a very nice wedding. Brionna caught the bridal bouquet. Nolan Brown caught the groom’s garter. After all that excitement, we went to Nocona to see Mom for a little while. 

Sunday afternoon, my in-laws came over from Denison. We went out to the cemetery and buried Reid’s urn from his cremation. There were a few folks out at the cemetery that were taking care of their loved ones grave sites. I took some flowers out to our grave site on Memorial Day. The cemetery really looks good. It is freshly mowed. 

This Friday, we will be having our sidewalk sales, starting at 8:30. I am not sure what time Tina or Dennis will be starting their sales. 

This next Tuesday our city council will meet at 6:00pm. 

This past week, several folks from our local communities have passed away. Sandy Farris from Ryan, passed away this past week. Prayers to her family and friends during their loss. Cecilia Harnois’ husband, Robert, passed away the same day. Prayers to Cecilia and her family and friends during their loss, also. 

Ryan is losing one of our families that has been part of our community for over 30 years. Larry Ninman and his family are in the process of selling their home and moving closer to Larry’s mom.  They still plan on making trips back to Ryan on occasions. Good luck to them during this transition. 

Kim’s news for this week:

Thanks for all the knowledge from the Cowboy College. Lots of education like Dustan’s Indian fire starter demonstration. 

Brionna was back in town, we love having her around.

Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for rain and for each other.

Saturday nights dance at the American Legion Post #183 was a success.  The music was provided by a five piece band consisting of the regulars.   Bill Roberson, Cary Gore and Gene Chesley as well as newcomers Joy and Don McCullough supplied a mix of old country, middle aged country and gospel.  The music lovers and dancers don’t equal the days of the Old Ryan Stomp but the numbers seem to be growing.  I enjoyed hearing “Go Rest High On that Mountain” and also their version of “Arkansas River” but hearing Joy McCullough sing some old gospel tunes really took me back.  If you have not been to one of these get togethers then you are missing out.  Besides the music you can visit with your neighbors or even meet some new folks if you are of a mind.

 Don’t forget this coming Saturday the Ryan Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a 5K fun run/walk.  It will be starting at 8:00 am and they will be serving lunch after the event at the Fire Department.  Come out and support the fire fighters and all the participants.

 One of the members of the Irving Baptist Church told me that this last Sunday they had their monthly meal at the church.  It consisted of fried chicken, various salads, watermelon and home made ice cream.  Telling me this on Monday seems a bit mean spirited, but I’m not one to hold a grudge, especially if you tell me in time for the next one.

 Monte Wright is refurbishing the benches on Washington.  He has the new wood on the first bench and it is back in place.  It’s my understanding that the Ryan Beautification Group is providing the material and Monte is donating his time and labor.

 The book related section of this article is not about one book alone but about reading in general. How did my fellow readers get started down the road to being bibliophiles?  I don’t really remember how it got started for me but there were always books in our home while I was growing up and I had access to the school library.  After my folks purchased a set of World Book Encyclopedias, I spent a lot of time reading those volumes that told of far away places or animals and customs that were foreign to me.  From there I graduated to books that at times were probably a bit mature for me, some of those I re-read later and then could grasp the nuances that had escaped my young self.  Some books and authors were introduced to me by teachers  and older siblings.  Mrs. Rickard lead me to Shakespeare and Chaucer.  My brother Phil gave me the gift of Hemingway.  My father fed my love of history, on his bookshelf were stories of the American Civil War by Bruce Catton.  On my own (if that is even possible) I discovered James Fenimore Cooper and Emerson.  Some of my most prized possessions are volumes of Thoreau and Walt Whitman given to me by my sister Merrianne.  Not everything that I read is a classic,  I enjoy a good adventure story as much as the next person.  Drop me a line and let me known how you got started.

 Maybe next time I’ll discuss my musical influences and how my sister Lynn scarred me for life with some her musical tastes.   

This past Saturday was a great day for hunting Easter eggs around Ryan. Walker and Linda Ryan had a hot dog feed along with an Easter egg hunt just after dark, out at their house, east of Ryan.  There was a good crowd there and everyone seemed to be having a great time.

Brionna and I went over to Wichita Falls Saturday and went to the Whispers of Hope Horse Farm and visited Mary Elizabeth, that runs it.  We went to see the movie “I Can Only Imagine”. That was a really good movie.

Easter Sunday wasn’t quite as warm as we had seen on Saturday, but, we maybe saw a bit of precipitation for the day in the form of mist.  This morning, it was down-right cold again.  It is supposed to be in the 60s Tuesday and freezing Wednesday morning for this first week in April.  It’s amazing what changes we can have with our weather. 

I took Brionna over to visit her grandparents in Denison on Sunday afternoon.  We enjoyed lunch with them at the Cracker Barrel in Sherman.  Then we went over to their house to visit some more.  I stopped in for a visit with Mom that evening.  I played some hymns for them and they enjoyed singing with the familiar tunes.  We all had a good time.  Then I made it back to Ryan, safely before it was too late.  I watched Jesus Christ Superstar late Sunday evening.  I have heard mixed emotions about this production.  We got into a conversation about it during our Sunday school class and I just thought I would watch it for myself and form my own opinion.  I won’t publish my opinion about it.  The music was pretty good, though.

We had a good turnout for Brenda Johnson’s luncheon Friday afternoon. Three of her four kids were able to make it to have lunch with her.  There were some brother and sister-in-laws from Chickasha that came to celebrate with her.  She had all of her co-workers from the clinic with her, too.  There were friends and some of her patients from the clinic that came over to be with her, too.  I believe she enjoyed the lunch that we prepared for her.  We all had a good time eating and visiting together.  She actually got off work about an hour early Friday.  We will miss seeing Brenda in that clinic, but Cyndi Cosme has been working with Brenda and   Marc for a couple of weeks now.  Cyndi is the new LPN in our Ryan Family Medical Clinic. 

A number of Oklahoma teachers are taking a stand up at the State Capitol, asking for higher wages.  I saw a news clip on Channel 3 at 6:00 last week, where they interviewed a couple of students, as well as Mr. Chapman. They were discussing this issue on the news.

Joe Turner is still in the hospital in Duncan,  Ramona Johnson had her surgery in Dallas, and is expected to be discharged today. 

Kim’s news for this week:

Brionna lost her phone this week, but, Foxy had it in the back seat.

So, Gary Lee ran over his knee, working on his car alone. He almost hit his neighbor’s home.

Mollye, thanks a bunch for Brenda’s retirement lunch.

Dustan had a lot of snakes in a box. 

Resurrection Day, I can’t complain, I had a wonderful lunch at Blaine’s.

Everyone have a blessed week. Pray for each other and for rain.