"A FORTIES CHRISTMAS AT POP'S PLACE"

and ...A CHRISTMAS TODAY...

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

It has been a tradition in our family---dating back seven 

or eight decades---to do the big Christmas-present-

opening and related activities on Christmas Eve night.

At Pop's Place (he was my granddad),  SW of Lamesa, 

Texas  a few miles, all manner of happy things were

going on. The big Christmas dinner was always held

the next day, on Christmas Day.

A younger uncle was charged with getting all the little

kids together, and telling them stories they had heard

many times before--- "The Three Billy Goats Gruff,"

"Little Red Ridng Hood," "The Troll," and "Little Black

Sambo."

We went outside to shoot fireworks and being city

dwellers---with our eyes dulled by electric lights---

were amazed to see  the incredibly dark, black

sky...filled with millions of bright, vibrant stars,

all the while breathing in that pure fresh frosty

Christmas night air.

We shot up that big heavy paper sack full of fire-

works which Mom had bought us out of her egg

money. She stashed that sack, each year,  in the

same corner of the living room---out of the way---

there by the big ceramic white swan which she had

bought at a roadside stand, just outside Mineral

Wells...when returning home from a family reunion

in the piney East Texas country.

These fireworks, maybe bought even on Black 

Friday (before that inane day was even dream't of)

may have cost her five bucks....anything for the

grandkids!

What fireworks were in that big sack, which likely

would cost thirty dollars today?  One skyrocket, 

two Roman candles,  some erupting spray fountains, 

twirling streakers, Chinese firecrackers, red "Baby

Giants," some "torpedoes, and lots of sparklers.

On the farm there were plenty fresh eggs and egg

nog was a traditional holiday drink, to say the least,

and high priority with Pop. In the kitchen the ladies

had two bowls "working," and Pop lurking.

The kids were not supposed to notice the two bowls

or Pop as he clandestinely (he thought) drew a bottle

of Turkey Knob from somewhere in his bib overalls,

and flavored one bowl liberally!

I was a witness...I saw it all---as a kid, I never missed

anything...repeat....anything!

It came time later in the evening to open the presents.

All gathered in a circle around the living room using 

every chair that could be scrounged and  brought in.

Times  (the Great Depression, which hadn't really ended 

yet), were tough, and people had to be a

bit frugal with gift purchasing and giving. The gifts

reflected the times.

The farm boys might have received an Old Spice

Shaving kit, a subscription to LIFE magazine, or 

a Pendleton wool shirt, maybe  a western belt and

buckle, or even cowboy boots. A really much-loved

gift was a Stetson hat or even a Borsalino, out of

Italy. Parker 51 pens were popular if the boys were

heading off to college, or the military.

Little boys were more interested in what the men got

than women's things...which might have been a 

Sunbeam Mixmaster, or something like that.

NOW, TODAY'S CHRISTMASES----last night we read

memories of previous Yules,  some long ago, from

Donna's journal. Brian brought his concert guitar,

and he can play almost anything...and we sang: some

Simon and  Garfunkel, Peter, Paul, and Mary, Crosby,

Stills, Nash,and Young----

We sang "Where have you been Mrs. Robinson?" We 

sang "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that

I have gone...you can hear the whistle blow a hundred

miles," and "The answer my friend is blowing in the

wind."   And oh, what harmony!

The big hit, which all people would have enjoyed, (as

we did), was "In The Village The Lion Sleeps Tonight.."

"A Weemaway, a Weemaway, ah..ah..ah...a Weemaway,"

and my boys and I were all singing in falsetto... Oh,

it was GRAND!

It was break time...and food time...and the choice was

Mexican---posole, tamales, enchiladas, tacos, chili

con queso and guacamole dip...and what else to drink

but ice-cold Diet Pepsis!

Then it was back to the tree for us and Silver Bells, I'm

Dreaming of a White Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting, and

Little Drummer Boy.  

We sang a lot of carols, including Joy To the World, The

First Noel, Silent Night, and O Come, All Ye Faithful.

The same two grandkids who read the Christmas Story,

years ago when they could barely read---now in their

twenties, read it once again, with a flow and feeling...

And then it was time to open the presents...the moment

all had been anticipating.

At Pop's Place Christmas,  in the late thirties and early 

forties,  there was never singing....people didn't do it 

much then...and WWII was coming on....

One thing in this world is certain---CHANGE---times

change...people change...Christmases change...but

the REASON for Christmas...never changes.

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

By Mil

Christmas Day, 2015

MERRY CHRISTMAS

"UNTIL THE FEVER OF LIFE IS OVER..."

"UNTIL THE FEVER OF LIFE IS OVER..."

A TIME. FOR REMEMBERING...

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

The Christmas season and the year's end are for

more than giving and getting. This is a good time

to look back and look ahead...

Somehow today my mind flashed back "through 

the mists of time," as they say to a time when I

was about thirty years old and workIng in Church

Music for the Baptists of New Mexico.

At the Inlow Church Camp for N.M. youth, we were

having a choral music week for young people ages

13-18.  It lasted each summer from Monday thru Friday,

and closed with a Friday morning concert of about 250

youth voices (and small orchestra) singing in the

rustic pine-log big open "tabernacle."

I had founded this camp and it was my "baby."

No cute little choruses and ditties for our kids---

this was the "real McCoy." We sang college-level

choral pieces that I cut my teeth on in A Cappella

Choir at Hardin-Simmons University.

To boot, we invited the top college and seminary

choral conductors, really---in the world.

The sounds of praise to our Creator echoed across

those Manzano Mountains. like had never been 

heard before. Two hundred-fifty kids, singing 

soprano, alto, tenor, and bass reverberated quite

impressively...and who knows...may still  be echoing

even today throughout the cosmos...

Here is what I remembered today---this morning 

during this ,Christmas time....

The camp is located on the east side of the 

Manzano Mountains, just west of Tajique,

and near the Fourth of July Campground,

(famous for its red oaks in autumn),...

That day, which I remember very well, tho'

it was 51 years ago,  I, being director of 

the camp-- needed to head  into Albuquerque

one afternoon to pick up some necessary

items---you. always run out of something...

Our excellent "choral clinician," Dr. Green,  

and our esteemed Camp Preacher, Dr. P.,

decided they wanted to ride into town with

me in my 1960 Chevy, the one with a lot of 

miles.  A "break" would do them good, they

thought.

We were on mountain Road 10 and halfway 

to town and Dr. P. said to Dr. G. (in discussing

the camp music):  "Paul, why did you choose "O

Lord Support Us All the Day Long."

It was not a a rousing,  fast-moving piece of

choral music by any means.

I'll never forget what Dr. Green replied---in a most

serious and sincere tone: "HAVE YOU READ THE

WORDS CAREFULLY? Then, as I drove, he recited

the brief piece from the right front seat:

"O LORD, SUPPORT US ALL THE DAY  LONG

      THROUGH THIS TROUBLOUS

             LIFE...

UNTIL THE SHADOWS  LENGTHEN

       AND THE EVENING COMES,

              AND THE FEVER OF 

                    LIFE IS OVER

              AND OUR WORK IS 

                     DONE.

THEN OF THY MERCY GRANT US A 

      SAFE LODGING AND. A 

             HOLY REST....

       AND PEACE AT THE LAST...

AND PEACE...AT...THE LAST."

(from Book  of Common. Prayer,  1928)

For several years, my office had requests

from "youth week music directors" out in 

the churches and even from adult church 

choirs to borrow this choral piece from our 

plentiful supply.

People have told me: "This is in my 'final

service' file."

Though my dear 250 Christian youth choir

members from that Music Camp (and the

camp still runs today) are somewhere around

ages 63-68, and I see one now and then, but

don't recognize them---I have never heard of

any of them rioting, burning buildings, being

drunk, or going to prison.

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

BY MIL

MIL'S PLACE

December 23, 2015

A Christmas Piece

THAT MOST WONDERFUL BOYHOOD COIN

  It was the most magnificent and beautiful coin in the world

  to me, a little boy aged five, in 1939 !! You might say it was the

  most miraculous thing I had ever seen. It had power!

  Why if you could just get possession of one, you could buy

  all kinds of sweets with it down at the candy store! You could 

  even get five cent potato chips, Planter's peanuts, and Tom's

  four crackers with peanut butter.

  Right north of the Clovis State Theater, was a little greasy 

  spoon that sold hamburgers for five cents....even if they came 

  with only small meat, smear of mustard, catsup, and small piece 

  of dill pickle.

  The Red-and-White Store, at about 521 West Grand in old Clovis

   had all kinds of nickel candy in its display case---Hersheys,

   Snickers, Baby Ruths, Black Cows, Paydays, Bit O' Honeys,

   O Henrys, Heath bars, packages of red hots or licorice....

   Mounds and Almond Joys (with coconut) were TWO  nickels

   as well as "plumgranites," which were sold only at the little store 

   across Thornton Street from La Casita School.

   A nickel would also buy us a soda pop...and we leaned toward

   (at that tender age) BARQ'S BIG ORANGE or their ROOT BEER;

   Delaware Punches with grape flavor and no FIZZ--- grapes, limes,

   and we rarely tested out those too-strong little 6 1/2 ounce Coca

   Colas in the fascinatingly-shaped light green bottles.

   As we little kids reached six, seven, eight...Pepsi Cola became a 

   favorite...they even had a jingle on the radio: 

        Pepsi Cola hits the spot

        Twelve full ounces, that's  a lot!

        Twice as much for nickel too,

         Pepsi Cola is the drink for you...

         Nickel, nickel, nickel

         Rubi-dot dot ta...!"

    We succumbed to advertising, and any time we could put 

    together TWO nickels we would buy a Pepsi and peanuts...

    and what else---pour the little sack of peanuts into the 

    Pepsi!  Its main drawback was that it was TOO much

    drink at twelve ounces---for little kids!

    As we got older and mowed lawns for a hot hour in the

    100 degree summertime, we amassed some change in 

    our pockets @ fifty cents a lawn...and had a few Mercury

    dimes and maybe a Walking Liberty half dollar, along with 

    our buffaloes, jingling in our pockets, for a movie and 

    popcorn, or a Gene Autry funny book. Now and then a 

    ten cent WWII SAVINGS STAMP.

    Those were splendid times, though hard on the nation,

     and even little boys....but it was a great country, a great

     time to come on the planet...and who CAN EVER FORGET

     THAT MOST BEAUTIFUL AND LOVED COIN OF ALL---

      THE "BUFFALO NICKEL ?"   I WON'T....NOT EVER....

      *********************

       BY MIL

       CHRISTMAS SEASON 2015

'THE JEEP ON 2"

Bobby Joe Snipes

CHS '53

I was watching the high lights of the Texas vs. Texas Tech game and the announcer said that TT was lined up in a “Victory Formation”.   There was about 2.5 to 3 minutes left in the game.   I had never heard of a victory formation but I assumed that it was a kneel down formation to run out the clock.  All players were bunched up with a running back(Grant) setting up close to the center inconspicuously.  When the ball was hiked, the ball went to Grant, he ran left close to the line.   The QB and RB ran to the right leaving the appearance that the play was to the right.  This faked the Texas defense and Grant, who is very fast, ran up the side line (dodging a couple of secondary Texas tacklers) for a touchdown.  Grant later said that the name of the play was “Hook’em” and they just added it this week. 

Now this reminded me of a high school football game between CHS Jr. Varsity and Tucumcari.   Tucumcari had a good team, big linemen and fast backs.   I do not know this for sure but I think the CHS coaches realized that Tucumcari would outclass our Junior Varsity really bad.  Consequently, they decided to send some of the “A” team reserves to kinda even the match and get some experience for the reserves.  

I don’t remember all of the reserves but I do remember that Johnny Hamilton, Dwayne Perry and I were three of the reserves that were to make the trip.  We had not practiced with Jr. Varsity but we were familiar with all of the basic plays.  Dwayne and Johnny were very fast and elusive and I was slow as a snail but would try to run over a truck.  

I don’t remember scores but I think we were behind at the half.  We didn’t have a punter so Dwayne punted when needed.   Dwayne was the QB and we kinda held our own even though our timing was all out of sync. 

At the half Coach Manning went over our short comings both offensively and defensively.   Coach Manning had the will to win and came to CHS from W. Virginia.....I think.   In his effort to pump us up, give us some confidence and assurance to win he said “Now we are going to have a new play this second half”.   He diagramed the play on the chalk board.   He said we call it “THE JEEP”!    He said “Johnny,  you line up right behind the left guard and stay low.....Dwayne, you take the snap from  the center and tuck the ball in Johnny’s gut.  Bobby, you flare right and Dwayne will fake a pitchout to you.  Johnny, you just stay low and look for an opening”.   Coach Manning walked us through the play.....the half was over......time to go and he says “Lets go”.  

All of us guys loved to play football,,,,,we loved to hit as hard as we could and didn’t mind taking a hit.   The second half rocked on and we held our own....they scored and we scored.  We were behind and then Coach Manning sent in the play.....run The Jeep.    Dwayne called the play......”The Jeep on 2”.   We lined up with anticipation and a little doubt.....we were just doing what coach Manning told us to do.   The play was flawless and even though it did not go for a touchdown, we did make a first and 10.   Did we win?????   Yes, we won the game!    CHS  Jr. Varsity defeats Tucumcari.  Long live The Jeep!

Bobby Joe Snipes, CHS '53

For Mil's Place, 12/10/15

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

Response by Robert Stebbins, CHS '51

Bob....Enjoyed your Jeep story.  I can still see Coach Manning romping around Wildcat stadium during practice in those old grey sweatpants and sweatshirt that he wore.  Or, him in the Junior High gym with Bill Stockton whipping the guys into shape for another win.  And, I believe you are correct...that he was from West Virginia. Your story is a keeper, and should be on Mil's Place.  Hope all of you had a nice Thanksgiving and didn't run out of turkey.  Robert

CAUTION----WIMMIN' MAY GIVE AWAY YOUR STUFF!

CAUTION---WIMMIN' MAY GIVE AWAY YOUR STUFF

MY OLD COLLECTOR'S MINNOW BUCKET WAS 

   WORTH FIVE BILLS! EASY!

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

Boys, there's no getting around it---the old planet

would be 95% less interesting, challenging, and 

exciting without our wimmin'.

Without them, it would hardly be worth it at all. 

Just the LILT in their voices, when they talk and

laugh is almost miraculous...and have you ever 

noticed the glee with which they greet each other 

at the door, say? Amazing. A genius bit  of creation!

And what about their baking...yes Boys...BAKING!!

Have you ever been pooped out in the fall from 

Saturday chores and you've settled in with football

and your team is down 49-3 and your woman 

glides into the room and announces: "I suddenly

got the 'baking urge' and am making a BIG PAN

of BROWNIES!!!"

VOILA, EUREKA, PINCH ME BOYS! A MIRACLE.

Like: "The moment we men were put here on Earth

for!"

Ah, but there's always a little (or big) drawback

with baking. Somehow at creation, the baking 

gene and the philanthropic gene in wimmin' got

intertwined...

ERGO: BAKE...AND GIVE IT AWAY. "You can 

have a big piece and then I'm taking the rest over 

to Mildred, whose dog has been sick for a week!

She has had a hard time."

All that being said...it gets worse! All my stuff is 

disappearing! It's true.First thing ya know, I myself

could disappear. If spring cleaning keeps coming

around, I won't have any stuff left.

That's why my attic is important. So far, it has 

escaped the loss of stuff. The old beat-up USMC

K-Bar stickin' right there in the side of the bookshelf

seems to stake my claim on my whole cozy heaven-of-

a-room---as if a sign were saying: "UP HERE, HANDS

OFF---IT'S ALL MIL'.S STUFF!"

As in: "DON'T EVEN TOUCH MY SPAM," if'n you run 

out of hors d' oeuvres at the wimmins' party, 

downstairs!

You think I'm blowing smoke? Well, my beloved DUCK

decoys, covered with dried Rio Grande mud are 

gone...Gary got 'em. (a good guy--Gary)  But those 

decoys were more'n  plastic ducks---they were friends 

and we remembered old wading times together---talkin' 

up there in the attic...when I was agile, and could wade 

the old river, quicksand and all---loaded with stuff...But 

alas, they're gone...a piece of me...

Then there were the newly-leather-upholstered 

stadium seats, that we sat on until they wore out, 

and were re-done---watching our son Alan kick field 

goals for UNM on many cold, (and one snowy,) 

Saturdays. Ah yes,  that stadium climb got to be too

much for me...the church sold our seats for missions...

What about my dozen hunting arrows, all racked in

a carrier, ready to climb five thousand feet into the 

Manzano Mountains and hunt deer or call coyotes... 

they went to charity...

My two once-excellent office chairs, with the web 

upholstery...well the hydraulics slipped on both of

those comfortable made-in-China chairs...and I was

gonna fix 'em both someday...and they sat on the

back patio covered with a tarp...and one went to

charity...and who knows...did a hobo get the other?

Some guys I know have LOST practically brand new

stuff at spring cleaning time...not to be critical here,

but it pays to be alert.

But what would we ever amount to without our 

wimmin'---the joys of the world.

They can't help it. Their very genes cry out against

STUFF! And that's okay, but please, not just MY

stuff!

Boys, just a tip. Keep an eye on your new TONY

LAMAS...and your BUCK KNIFE!

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

Glossary---WIMMIN'...an extremely endearing term,

  thought to have originated in Florida, USA--- which

  elevates the fairer sex to its highest pedestal,

   far above "women" or "ladies." It is practically

   a term of worship.

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

BY MIL

MIL'S PLACE

12/06/15

...with a modicum of 

   humor...

"HAVE A SPAM CHRISTMAS"

"SPAM MATTERS"

Ah, in a brotherly and forgiving spirit, may we hope that

this will be THE YEAR when "Spam-bashing" becomes

history...and all the naysayers see the light!

Can't you just visualize that famous scene in AIRPLANE

in which the passengers were lined up in the aisle, awaiting

with hammers, hatchets, Stillson wrenches and whatall to

bash some sense into the pussilanimous-panicking-

passenger.

To knock sense into Spam-haters, I visualize a more-humane

treatment...like the old backhand back-and-forth, back-and-forth

facial slap...until you hear the famous movie line: 

"THANKS...I NEEDED THAT!"

SPAM deserves some reverence...some appreciation...some

RESPECT. After all, how could we have won WWII without 

it. Yes, we have discussed this before.

Time to tell APPLE to take a hike and dump their derogatory

iPad terminology "SPAM" for that junk column. Insulting! Got 

any ideas for them?

I'da never made it through that semester at Southwestern

Seminary one of the summers I studied there--- without 

Spam...for you see, money was short and I lived on Spam 

and home-fried potatoes...yum...yum. the whole time..

You are saying "Well, I've been there and done that

Spam and potatoes---NO GOOD!"  This is not new to

me---I've heard it before. Don't you get it? YOU FORGOT

THE KETCHUP!!! Plain and simple....It was: THE 

KETCHUP!

"Not to" interject a negative here, but you know the 

scariest thing I've ever seen in my life? It was Raley's

Supermarket, when they closed in circa 2012 (a mile

down the street from us.)

They had a "sell-out" sale, and the third week I dropped

by for old time's sake---one last time---and guess what.

THE SHELVES WERE EMPTY. (You don't want to see

it, trust me.) Oh, a few mops and brooms and dented 

tomato juice cans, and whatever.

When global warming melts Antarctica and Mexico goes

under water and the grocery shelves empty (or when

the dollar fails)  don't expect to walk into a store and

find four or five cases of Spam stacked nicely in the

vast empty shelves....and load up your basket...the 

guy ahead of you did...already... 

Yes sir, Spam will be the first thing to go, along with

tuna, Wolf's Chili, Hormel Tamales, and Sardines

a'floatin in tomato sauce...plus all the canned fruit...

Just say'in...

A friend of mine, who has traveled in Hawaii

a lot, tells me that over there they LOVE

SPAM---why he went to a luau in which they

had a 70 pound fake pig made out of SPAM!

I ask you, doesn't that sound...just marvelous?!

As to stockpiling, I try to avoid it...somewhat...

In WWII they called it "hoarding." But I do

have a coupla cases stored in my attic. If an

emergency arises, I could spare you a few 

cans, maybe...

As far as a hint for any Christmas present 

for ole Mil this year----well, I think you know

WHAT I LIKE!

May you too...HAVE A SPAM CHRISTMAS!

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

BY MIL

DECEMBER 10, 2015

"MERRY CHRISTMAS"