When taking my seat for supper monday night I was once again reminded about how age can give very different points of reference. I heard a gentleman say that he was a big fan of Pistol Pete. To which a rather young Ryan alum started explaining how Pistol Pete was once the mascot for her high school. The first speaker thought this odd that a small school in Oklahoma would choose a former collage and professional basketball player that had no discernable connection to Ryan or Oklahoma as it’s mascot. Now Abe Lemons would be a different story, he at least was born in Ryan. The confusion was sorted out and all parties concerned can be forgiven in as much as the two gentlemen are not from around here and the young lady was not born by the time Pete Maravich passed away
On the drive home I was able to enjoy all the wildflowers that are currently blooming. There are spots where the Indian Paintbrush make an almost solid blanket of color broken only by the odd buttercup and the yellow of the bush sunflower.
I received a letter today from Jon Harris. It was nice to hear from Jon and feedback is always welcome. I’m sometimes concerned that I am using up too much space on personal stories and book reports. Those concerns take second place to my worry that I misspelled a kids name, angry grandparents can be mean.
I’m not going to write about the book I am currently reading, between this book and reruns of “Criminal Minds” on television, I’m lucky not to have nightmares. I am going to give another installment of my list of favorite books. Number one is a non-fiction book called “The River of Doubt” by Candice Miller. The book is about Theodore Roosevelt and his post presidential trip down the Amazon River tributary. Given Teddy’s propensity for adventure that may have had more to do with the trip than the science, although there was some of that as well. During the exploration of the largely uncharted river that was later renamed the Roosevelt River, the United States almost lost one of its most beloved Presidents. Between the river, wildlife and disease, the lives of a large portion of the party was almost lost. Number two is “The Walking Drum” by Louis L’Amour. If you have only ever read Mr. L’Amours westerns then you are really missing out. This story is about a trading caravan in 12th century Europe and the mid-east. Louis L’Amour was a student of history and an outstanding story teller and this is one of his better books.
My proof reader told me that there was not much of “Around Ryan” in this column. Au contraire, the discussion about the mascot was about Ryan. The wildflowers are around Ryan. Mr. Harris is from Ryan. And I read the books while living in Ryan, so there (I would blow her a raspberry but I don’t know how the spell it).
Until next week folks.
P.S. Happy Birthday Willie Nelson!
