Another day, another nickle #4: Horse Thief Moon

OMG, I have not heard Ian Tyson in a long time. Nor have I sat a bale of hay at dance in many moons either. Your making me homesick Tom!

I’m little homesick too. But you are right lumberjocks is a community, like that little coffee shop where everybody met in the morning, hopefully that never changes.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

Thos,

Your telling of the gathering at the school and the genuine sense of community is something many of us feel we have much less today. The gathering is an honest reflection of community we all seek. LJ is a place I can find some of that magic.

Dale

Oh how wonderful.
I’ve been to one barn dance in my life (before I was even in school and neighbour built a new barn) and a couple backyard hoedowns. Such a wonderful time.

I loved reading your story of the event. Now THAT is living!!
Well done.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

My wife is always telling me about the barn dances out at Three creek (pronunced crick) from when she was a little one.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

very well written story. a great read worthy of publication.

-- a legend in my own mind ...

Loved your story Thos!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Thanks for the insight Thos.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thank you, Thomas. Beautifully written (I especially liked the part about the hay bail keeping the babies “from rolling out of the nest”). With the majority of us surrounded by the beeps and flashing lights of what passes for modern day “civilization” it’s a joy to share a slice of life in ION country.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Thomas should be an article for Reminisce Magazine even though most of the articles are about the older better days, I believe that this would fit in.

A great read, thanks for writing it up for us all.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

There is an attractiveness about simplicity that just makes you want to stop and take a deep breath. Great story.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

Dennis, I remember the school programs and get togethers at the Three Creek school. We had a good time there as well. Tell your wife we share that memory.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

my highschool had a class of 42. thought that was small.

-- a legend in my own mind ...

thanks for sharing Thos.

-- Paul, Texas

wow ! that was such a great story ! think im inspired to tell one about where i live ! lets see we got concrete,traffic lights everywhere exaust fumes high rise everwhere …...... on second thought ill read thos story again !

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

Wow, Tom! It made me homesick for the Four-Corners, again. Not quite as small, but still countryfied. I let my wife read it, knowing she would like it, and she tells me you might know Dave Holl or Dave Mabe. The first was a puncher up there, the second was a pilot who works for Border Patrol, now. Small world when you used to cowboy and now make sawdust! “Old ways, sure are hard to change em. Come what may, it’s hard to teach a dinosaur a new trick!”—“Old Ways,” by Neil Young

God Bless,
Hawg
“Riding ‘neath the desert sky”—Marshall Tucker

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

Made me think of “Big Ball’s in Cowtown” Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. Except sweeter.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Doug,
I was thinking about Big Ball on the way to the dance last night. Grab some Asleep at the Wheel.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Sweet as honey Thos. my class of “68” had 46 kids and we had street dances, that is the only thing I can compare to that story. Small corn town here in Michigan. We had 1200 people and I swear you had to go to the next town to find a girl you were’nt related to. Friday football and the dance after, man that was heaven. Thanks for the trip back. You are quite a writter. Hope you did’nt hurt Frank’s feelings. mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Tom, have you heard the recording of Bob Wills and the Playboys “For The Last Time”? It’s a double album, with all the Playboys and Ole Bob who was dying at the time it was recorded. He can hardly croak when it’s time for “What Makes Bob Holler”. It’s one of my favorites.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Doug, I’ve heard parts of it. Quite a disc.

Mike, I think my class of ‘65 had about 36 in a small corn town in Northern Indiana, Twelve Mile. We were the first class in the new consolidated school, other wise there would have been about 11 of us. We had dances in the community building. I learned to play guitar playing in that building for square dances put on by the local saddle club. Yeah, we had fun.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Got nothin’ to say ‘sepin i”m jealous.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Thos. Angle.

Certain writers and their writings speak loud and clear on their own merits.

Your writings and shared experiences demand silence, along with reverent reflection from your readers.

This is in order that we may ponder, admire, and consider these words as we tuck them away and sort out there meaning for us on a personal basis.

We take your words under advisement, for further consideration.

We genuinely take in, all that you say ; and don’t say, along with the tones of your vivid written poetry.

This in turn allows us to paint the pictures and interpret the story you convey like few others can.

In turn, this silence , that your writings and you command, allows us to appreciate how you bring words to life.

You make them dance in such a way, that we feel a gentle sense of warmth, along with admiration for your gift that overflows each time you treat us to your written prose.

I tip my hat to you, signaling my respect.

Write on friend, its your calling.

Thank you for sharing your gift.

-- Dusty

Thomas you are a true Renaissance Man and an inspiration. Sounds like we are about the same age, as I graduated HS in 1965 as well – class of 175. I can only dream of living in a community such as yours – but unfortunately it’s not in the cards for me. Thanks so much for sharing a piece of your wonderful life – you are a lucky man.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

:-)

-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso

Dusty,
Those are kind and gracious words of undeserved praise. I learned to tell stories around the bull fires on the round-up wagons and in the hunting camps where there was no other entertainment but the well organized words of your fellow men. A good story teller was as respected as a top hand. We worked as hard at stories and poetry as we did at rideing a good horse and throwing a good loop.It’s not as respected today as it once was. Thank you for your comments.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Thors.

I am not surprised by that tidbit about sitting around the camp fire and its place in that arena.

Human beings crave friendship, story’s and story telling.

Even simple conversation nourishes the soul.

It is the uniter for our race, our bond and glue for our human fragility.

Yet it seems to be dieing: that is the simple act of civil talking and sharing ones experiences.

Thats both sad and to bad.

-- Dusty

Great writings. Thanks so much.

-- Dust collectors suck.

Great story Thomas. My own life experience is about as far from that as you can be and still be on the same planet. My graduating class was almost 300! But somehow the yearning for telling stories and having a laugh around a fire transcends.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

My graduating class was 1200 and I barely saw the same kids two semesters in a row. Stories about small classes where everyone knew everyone else make me terrible envious. Like Dusty says, humans crave stories and they do bond us together. It’s difficult to share stories with people you don’t get to know, we didn’t even bother to have a reunion until 30 years later (it was a bit of a failure). As a result I devour stories like this and savor the experiences shared. So, once more, with feeling, Thanks.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

“they” closed our local high school (not enough students) and now bus the kids to the “big city”.
When asked why they couldn’t bus some city kids out to the country high school (since there were talking about building a new city high school due to numbers) .. the reply was that it was too expense to bus the city kids and the families wouldn’t want the commute.
I guess the travel expenses are higher going one way than going the other.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Well MsDebbie, it’s all downhill going into the city.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

Shoot, I never get to go anywhere!

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I never thought of the downhill perspective. thanks for pointing that out ;)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Unless you walk then it’s all uphill.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I just read your story out to my wife all these miles away in Yorkshire. Sounds like such a different world! She reckons we could do with some of your community spirit in these parts. I never expected to come across anything like this when I signed on. Thanks for telling the story. Very special!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.