THINKING TODAY ABOUT DORA RUSSELL

Dora M. Russell

"THINKING  TODAY ABOUT DORA RUSSELL"

.......by Albin Covington

I got to thinking today about Dora Russell at old CHS. 

She was my homeroom teacher as well as Spanish 

teacher.

Years ago when I was in the Navy, I was aboard ship

with my brother Ross. We used to talk Spanish so guys

there didn't know what we were taking about. That was 

one thing that I was especially grateful for!

I have forgotten most of my Spanish now, but I do recall

once when I was glad to know it.

I was preaching at a church in Oklahoma, driving a school

bus, and also supplying as a substitute teacher. Hardly

anyone there knew any Spanish. There was a Mexican family 

that moved into this small farm community. Their kids spoke

perfect English but enjoyed using Spanish to sort of aggravate 

the other students.

One day I was asked to sub for a class. I went in at the time

the Mexican boys were giving the others a hard time---in

Spanish.

I set my books on the desk, after having overheard some of

the lingo...and in Spanish uttered loudly...one of Miss Dora 

Russell's favorite expressions--- "CALLATE Y SIENTATE!"

"BE QUIET AND SIT DOWN!" (A more literal translation could

be "SHUT UP!" Of course Miss Russell always said it with

a twinkle and much love in her heart for her students.)

**************************

When we all graduated from beloved old Clovis High School

in May if 1951, I went to work for the the ATand T; SFRY as a

"signalman apparent." I was on a gang which traveled from

place to place installing and maintaining railroad signals at

crossings and other places.

In the fall we went to Artesia, N.M. to install crossings signals

just south of town. We had a flatbed truck that we used to

haul our equipment.

One morning we loaded a large reel of cables on the truck,

along with our tools and three of us grunts. The reel should 

have been secured---but it wasn't.

As we headed south of town and turned off the highway, the

reel rolled toward the back of the truck. I grabbed a Pock

handle and stopped it---a dumb move since we were almost

to our work site!

When the driver turned the corner---a bit too fast---the reel

started over the side of the truck...taking me with it! When I 

hit the road, my left leg hit the pavement very hard.

My friends somehow summoned a doctor out of Artesia.

This elderly M.D.---a Dr. Russell, arrived and took me in 

his car to the hospital and then to a clinic. The clinic was 

in the doctor's house.He said my leg was not broken---just 

skinned-up and bruised.

I noticed a picture there on his desk. I was sure that there

couldn't be two people who looked like that! I asked him

if that was Miss Russell. "Yes," he said. I asked if she was

his sister. He replied: "No, she is my daughter."

We sat and chatted for a time and then he drove me out to

our railroad bunk car.  The next day he even drove out

to check on me and see how I was doing.

When I got back to Clovis, I went by and told Miss Russell

about my experience and she got a great kick out of hearing

all about it!

Many years later, I was on the staff at the college  in Artesia

and I was talking to the head of the nursing home there in 

town one day---and mentioned that I was from Clovis---he 

then asked me if I knew Dora Russell.

He then told me she had been in the home there for years.

and she had just passed away that week. I wish I had known.

(It'd be nice if I could remember Spanish as well as I do 

historic events.)

***************

FOR MIL'S PLACE

By Dr. Albin Covington, CHS '51

Guest Writer

October 17, 2015

A BALLOON FIESTA IN CLOVIS??

Scotty Snipes and Jake Snipes

by Bobby Joe Snipes, guest writer

It was 1981 when ballooning was gaining popularity and was both beautiful, exciting and amazing.   You didn’t see hot air balloons around Clovis like you did in Albuquerque, the capital of hot air ballooning.  In the traditional festive spring season in Clovis we always look forward to Pioneer Days which included the rodeo and parade and numerous old pioneer events and recognition of our western heritage.   

But in 1981, the Clovis Chamber  of Commerce decided to ad a balloon fiesta to the activities.   This was to be a two day event with an invitation to local businesses to sponsor a balloon. 

They received 12-13 commitments from balloon owners  around Albuquerque to attend the fiesta.  The reason for the sponsorship was to #1—for the business to pay $100 to the balloon owner and #2—provide a chase vehicle and crew to help with the balloon in ascension and landing.  

Well that sounded like a lot of fun so we sponsored two balloons,,,,,,one for Bob’s Mr. Shop and the other for Lady You Nique.   I do not remember much about the balloon sponsored by Betty’s store, Lady You Nique but this story is about Bob’s balloon.  

The week of the event I was out visiting with my parents,,,,,just visiting and I was telling them about the Balloon Fiesta.   Just off  the top of my head I said “Hey Dad,  would you like to go up in a balloon....you could ride with Scotty”.   He thought for just a second and his eyes brightened up and he said “yeah, I would like to do that”. 

I wasn’t really surprised because Dad always enjoyed life and was a fun loving type person.   Scotty, our son, was 17 and Dad was 75 and it never entered my mind that this could be a little risky.

All preparations were made....balloonist arrived in town Friday evening.....meeting and instructions planned for about sun up Saturday morning.   Each balloon had a banner on it with the businesses’ name.   We met in a large vacant area just north of the new hospital which was west of town.  They monitored the weather closely.   Wind speed was light from the SW and they forecast a beautiful day with maybe a little breeze later in the day.

Everything was go....balloon off of the trailer..... unroll and spread out the balloon(man those things are big)....hook up the gondola....fire up the propane burner.....lean the gondola over to start the gas in the balloon....be careful.....hold the balloon opening up....don’t burn the balloon and she starts filling....bigger and bigger and bigger and she starts standing up.  Grab the tether rope....hold on,  hold on....a couple of you grab hold of the gondola.....get the first passengers in....that was Dad and Scotty and that added some extra ballast to hold the balloon down.  The pilot was a lady and she turned that burner on full blast and that balloon crept up into the wild blue.  What a thrill.

We were all helping with the balloon....excited about the ride with visions of a slow lofty ride into the silence of where the birds fly, hearing nothing but the frequent blast of the propane burner to adjust the height of the balloon.  The plan was to take several people up for a ride with the pilot setting the balloon down every mile or so and changing riders. 

But almost instantly our plans changed.   The gentle breeze turned into a brisk wind....much to strong for ballooning....woe....those balloons began to move fast.  We all jumped in the pickup and took off....the problem being that the balloon did not follow the section roads...and we had to. 

It was the chase crew’s responsibility to try to move ahead of the balloon and help stop the balloon when it was landing and hold it while they changed passengers.  The plan was to set down south of Ned Houk Park.   We drove up the Grady HI way at speeds you wouldn’t believe, trying to catch that balloon.  Betty was screaming at me to slow down, everyone was scared to death and the balloon flew on and on and on.  

We hustled to the planned area but our balloon was way east so we had to go about 6 extra miles around the park and Running Water draw to find our balloon.  But as we were leaving, there was another balloon attempting a landing.  There were high lines that he had to pass over and then he had about a 100 yard area to land.

He was a great pilot; he missed those high lines and dropped that balloon down about 30 yards the other side but he was coming down hard and fast because of the wind.  He had one passenger,  a young lady that weighed about 170 lbs.  When he hit the ground, that gondola bounced about 6’ up and threw that girl out of the gondola.  She hit the ground rolling and tumbling.   I just knew she broke something but not a scratch.   Her balloon, after losing that ballast went straight up about 100 yards before settling off.   She was shook up but walked over to her chase crew and jumped in their pickup. 

Needless to say that we located our balloon already on the ground a couple of miles on the north side of the draw.   They had a hard landing but the instructions were to squat down low in the gondola and hold on to the rail.  They did....it was rough but the pilot quickly released the flap on the top of the balloon and it quickly dragged the gondola to a halt.    Dad and Scotty were all smiles.   We rolled the balloon up and loaded and headed for home to make plans for the next day.   No more rides in this wind!

Dad said when they took off they were headed right straight for that grain elevator north of Clovis.   He got a little concerned when they got closer and ask the pilot “What are we going to do when we get to that elevator”?  She looked at him and smiled and said “We are going to go over it”  and they did.   She was a good pilot.  

Just to finish the story, the next day was wonderful.  Just a trickle of breeze right out of the west which drifted us slowly across the north part of Clovis.   We hollered at folks on the ground and watched the dogs run and bark at the mysterious balloon that belched out intermittent gas flames.

We made one stop and changed passengers and the next stop ended our Balloon Fiesta.  After the balloon was rolled up and stuffed in the gondola it was time for the final step.  Four guys picked Betty up and lifted her over the gondola and dropped her on the balloon.  They said they needed a lot of weight to tamp the balloon down.  They said it was just a tradition.   We had a lot of fun.   It was worth $100.    Dad retired from ballooning.   Scotty later got his private plane license.   

FOR MIL'S PLACE
by Bobby Joe Snipes, CHS '53
Guest writer
Oct. 21,  2015

"S'MORES....GRACKLES....AND DISGRONIFICATORS"

She looked me right in the eye

                     coyly

She knew I liked words

                      and knew

I knew a bunch of 'em

And she said with a twinkle

                       in her eye

"What is a grackle?"

Remembering she had

     stumped me once before

With "What is a s'more?"

    and I had answered

"A small rodent-like burrowing

     animal that dozes a lot"

"WRONG," she said, pleased with

                                       herself

"It is a campfire-type sandwich,"

                            she announced

"made of graham crackers, chocolate,

    and a melted marshmallow."

So I decided to BLUFF "grackle".

    " A grackle is splendid snack

in a sack that is wonderful to eat

     while watching old John Wayne 

movies---it is made with a secret 

     recipe, combining Fritos

                               and Cheez-its!"

"WRONG AGAIN," she almost shouted!

    "It is a Big Black Bird," 

obviously proud of her alliteration!

"Okay, MY TURN," I said "What is a

                               disgronificator?"

I had her...and she knew it...I thought

Putting her graceful fingers together in

    in an oval...(signifying great knowledge?)

She answered : "A disgronificator is a

     sort of speedometer, in reverse, 

for measuring speed when one is backing-up!"

Uh oh, you don't suppose she's right!

-----------------------

MY MIL

October 5, 2015               

ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA

PHOTOS BY JAMES FANNING

THE ANNUAL  ALBUQUERQUE BALLOON FIESTA

*****************************************************

The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began Saturday

morning, October 3 at dawn, here at Balloon Fiesta Park.

(The early morning October temp will likely be 57 degrees, 

a bit warmer than usual this year....light jacket weather....)

Once just a pasture north of own, the "new" venue now has a 

museum, nice grounds with lawn, several modest administration  

buildings and by now a "carnival-like" line, 3 blocks long---

of vendors' shacks and tents. It once featured a Mexican 

restaurant.

At this awesome and exciting ROW of little "shoppes," you can

fill out your balloon pin collection; you can buy balloon jackets, 

sweatshirts with hoods, or most certainly find a dozen different 

types of burritos---the unofficial breakfast food of the early-riser-

attenders. They will likely be pricey---maybe $8.95.

Sort of overlooking the balloon field---to the east--is a parking area

for RV's and it will be shining (as seen from the air) with rich 

symbolic-silver AIRSTREAMS, with some FIVE-WHEELERS

sprinkled in. 

Traveling retired folks, with cash, rent a costly space 

for a week and thus watch from their lawn chairs---each morning's
mass "ascension," while having their Folgers!

Six to seven hundred balloons from all over the world will take to 

the air---kind of in shifts. The field itself becomes a hotch-potch

(British) as the crowds mix right in with the balloon pilots and 

inflater-crews. "Packed" is an understatement!

If the rain and wind don't interfere (as they sometimes do), there 

will be a  "Special Shapes Rodeo," evening events such as "Balloon

Glows," a key-snatching-contest-for-a-free-car, parachutists, and 

"I-don't-know-WHATALL!"

We've been twice, back in the nineties. Our dear neighbors (who,

alas, finally retired and moved back home to Florida,) took us both

times...as they did to all kinds if events, with great skill and ease. 

(Traffic and parking at 4:30 a.m. are only for the experts.)

They were always fun, what ever we did...but they had a habit of getting

their money's worth---and whatever they attended, they didn't leave until

it was OVER....as the saying goes---"THE FAT LADY HAD SUNG
AND THE LAST DWARF WAS TOSSED." 

It is the type event that children never forget...the younger, the better. 

Standing for four or five hours is a bit grueling for older citizens.

The first big balloon ascension in Albuquerque, as I recall, was in 1973. 

Thirteen balloons took off that fall from the State Fair grounds. My 

office at that time was on Jefferson, just north of Central--a  mile or so

west of the Fairgounds. 

The big balloons oft came right over my office--low-- in those

early years...with that strange sound (as they fired their burners) like that

of a giant exhaling.

The balloons later went up from Coronado Shopping Center for a year or
two, until the big move to the new grounds, north of town.

Comment from Donna:

When our boys were little, we used to see balloons in our neighborhood
looking for a landing place. If we saw a balloon near the foothills looking
to land, we'd get in the car, chase it down, watch it land and see the 
balloonists pack up.  The boys loved it! I once had a balloon land on the
playground of the school where I was  teaching.  I was in the middle of a
lesson, and we all heard the tell-tale "swoosh", looked out the window,
and POOF!  My students vanished like smoke and were soon crowding
around the balloon in frenzied excitement.  Well, it was hard to restore
order after that!

A crowd favorite, especially for the kids, is the Special Shapes Rodeo which 

features several dozen fascinating balloons...such as cows, Mickey Mouse,

spiders, a stagecoach, a milk bottle, two bees .... memory fails to 

recall them all.

The fiesta event ends Sunday morning, October 11, with a mass ascension at 

dawn.

(An interesting thing: over the years, the  security folks at the fiesta found
they had a plethora of "lost" children being brought in, sans parents.

They have developed a system whereby you can sort of register//serial
number// stencil your kid with name-address-phone number to alleviate
this problem.

************

MIL

9/30/15

STORY OF THE FLOWERS

"THE STORY OF THE FLOWERS"

*****************************************

The little boy, across the street

    was five-years-old and

          awed with existence....

He already knew his calling 

    and mission in life.

For he had watched, every 

    Tuesday mornng early,

          out on the street

the big glorious, powerful,

    and noisy sanitation trucks

doing their jobs---both sides 

    of the street,

AND STOP...right in front of his

    house!

So he began to arise early, and

    stand by the curb, so as to

have a better view....

And wait for that MAGNIFICENT

      TWO-TOOT SALUTE

from those splendidly loud air horns,

      which the drivers always gave.

HE was going to be a TRASHMAN!

(We at breakfast heard those salutes

        and knew---that our little

neighbor boy was out front!)

Now my wife loved little boys, 

      for she had raised TWO of 'em!

One day, she took a little sack of tomatoes 

      over to the boy and his mom---

from our garden.

He ate one,  right there by the curb---juice

    was dripping down his chin,

and off his fingers, and onto his 

    shirt!

"He loves tomatoes," his mama 

      explained.

Donna took him more tomatoes,

      over time---

for we had plenty!

ONE DAY. recently, the doorbell rang---

      Seemingly a smaller ring than usual,

tentative-like...

She went and opened the door...but alas---

      No one was there....

AND THEN...she looked down...and there

      was the little neighbor boy, age five,

from across the street...

In well-rehearsed lines (she thought),

    he managed to say:

"Miz Mo-wer...it's me, Gabriel---remember...

      Thank you for the  'matoes which 

I liked....and here are some flowers

      for you."

"Bye."

That is the story...of the flowers.

*******************

MILS PLACE

BY MIL

27 September 2015

      

"MY FATHER'S HOUSE"

 CLOVIS POET AND AUTHOR, BOBBIE BOLTON BURNETT

Bobbie Bolton Burnett, Clovis High School, 1959, has

recently written a most interesting and compelling 

autobiography. 

She is also an accomplished poet. We posted one of

her fine poems a few weeks ago, and were happy to   

have a CHS '59 writer to go with a number of CHS '50, 

CHS '51, CHS '53 writers on MIL'S.

Bobbie, a "PK," (preacher's kid), moved to Clovis in 1952

when her father, Clovis Bolton, became pastor of the

Christian Church at 5th and Mitchell.

When reading her book, with its adventures of her

teen-age growing-up years in Clovis...and on through 

her exciting life, I couldn't put it down.

It is true that "No grass ever grows under her feet!" She 

was/is  always intensely involved in life!

A  skilled writer, the sentences flow smoothly

and rapidly as one becomes engrossed in her book.

Bobbie is also a pianist, singer, actress, drama-producer,

radio host, and, as mentioned---a poet!

Her book tells stories of friends, family, Thanksgiving dinners,

homey Christmases, old-home-week type stories...that will make

you love this memoir!

If you, as I,  love everything "Alaskan," you will be 

caught up---as Bobbie lived in Alaska a  number of

times! (Even in an "igloo" once---the former North Pole 

Post Office building; she also lived in a log cabin.)

Her autobiography spares none of the bumps in the 

road, of one kind or another, that we all face...on this

journey through life.

The attractive cover was styled by her son, Chris, and

the book is absolutely full of a lifetime of photos.

A nice bonus: at the end of each chapter is a POEM, by 

Bobbie!

Follow her writings on   https://bobbieburnettcom.wordpress.com

Copies of her book may be ordered directly from her at

PO BOX 1660 SHOW LOW, AZ. 85902

Cost is $19.95 plus $3.00

shipping. (Note, Mil considers the paper quality and cover

to be excellent.)