CASHEWS AND HAM SALAD SANS....AT WOOLWORTH

The year was 1944 and there was a war on.

It was a Saturday afternoon about 4 p.m. in

the little town of Clovis, New Mexico. The 

little kid (me) had worked all week, after school,

and on Saturday morning at the Magic Steam

Laundry, at 417 West Grand, doing what was 

called by us laundry-men--- "checking in."

That term meant opening each bundle of dirty

laundry (some were icky) and routing each piece

to the proper washer load, according to color,

fabric, whether it could take scalding water and

bleach...and if it were a mechanic's greasy pants,

or a mortician's dress shirt...that type thing...

Dad was overwhelmed with the work load. Much

of it came from the air base and by Monday noon,

a sign went up out front, saying "NO MORE

LAUNDRY ACCEPTED THIS WEEK."

So there I was, a pretty sharp little fifth grade kid,

doing a man's work and helping Dad, for you see,

the next day's "RUN," had to be set, before the 

doors closed at 6 p.m. He needed help.

The boiler was lit each morning at 6 a.m. (Believe-

you-me, people of those times believed in HOT

water.)

So about one p.m. each Saturday, Dad gave me

a genuine United States silver Walking Liberty

half dollar...fifty cents...the most beautiful coin

ever designed!

I made $7.50 a week and the other seven went

to Clovis National Bank ("pawdon me," I just

happened to be a kid "with prospects!") In those

days people saved money.

After all, times were hard and folks didn't make

much...or want much...or expect much. But for the

war, it could have been a grand time. There WERE

political parties, alright..but screwballs were few.

Anyway, I wanted to give you a flavor of those times

and that afternoon...

So the Lyceum had offered a bargain two movies

and a "serial," PLUS popcorn for fifteen cents. 

The serial was"The Perils of Nyoka," a cliff-hanger story in

fifteen minute segments, set in Egypt, with the usual "mean 

men," and Nyoka as a cute heroine out to thwart the perps.

The two 55 minute movies were a Tim Holt western

and a Charlie Chan mystery.

And with popcorn,  my cost was a Mercury dime

and a Buffalo nickel.

Now the movie was over, and I headed for

Woolworth's to see about a snack. Kids were 

hungry by four p.m.

So here's the deal he faced every Saturday

afternoon--- over there at "Wooly's," not in

the candy section---but in the needle and 

thread section--- was the neatest little round

plastic showcase, about 18-20 inches tall,

filled with little shelves of four or five kinds

of salted, heated nuts.

The heat came from a light bulb, which kept

the nuts warm and lit them up attractively, as 

the thing rotated. The aroma, coming mostly

from the cashews, drove little hungry kids crazy!

Here was the rub, and I know because I bought

the nuts only once...but I watched, as other kids 

did. You got only six or eight nuts, it seemed in a 

little party cup...FOR FIFTEEN CENTS.

It doesn't sound like much today, but it would

buy a hamburger, hot dog, movie and popcorn,

a malted milk, maybe a banana split. And I don't

know what all else.

It clearly wasn't the best bargain in town...and

kids back then could figure it out for themselves.

But there I was, standing, staring at, and 

smelling those marvelous cashews!

Then, as I usually did, I turned, walked right over

to the chromey-silver deli counter and ordered

"the usual"--- that wonderful ham salad san on

toasted bread...for a mere twenty cents.

Unforgettable  sandwich. You can still Google it,

even tho' it is on no menu at the moment. The

recipe is still "up," even thought there's no longer

a Woolworth's.

The ironic thing and what triggered this story

is that we received a giant jar of cashews for

Christmas, purchased at COSTCO, for about

$14.95, Excellent nuts...they would cost likely

$42.95 ordered. from a NUT company, 40 ounces.

Now and then we make the Woolworth's ham

salad. It's good on black rye.

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

Mil

January 1, 2017

NEW YEAR'S ASPIRATIONS

"OUR LIFE ON EARTH...IS BUT A SPAN....

      AND SO  I'LL DO THE BEST I CAN..."

.....Old Southern Gospel

"More holiness give me

More striving within

More patience in suffering

More sorrow for sin

More faith in my Savior

More sense of his care

More joy in his service

More purpose in prayer

More gratitude give me

More trust in the Lord

More pride in His glory

More hope in His word

More tears for His sorrows

More pain at His grief

More meekness in trial

More praise for relief

More purity give me

More strength to o'ercome

More freedom from earth-stains

More longings for home

More fit for the kingdom

More used would I be

More blessed and holy

More Savior like Thee."

WORDS AND MUSIC---
PHILIP P. BLISS
     1838-1878

PORK 'N BEAN MUSINGS....IN THE ATTIC

A cold norther has blown into town on this,

the second day after Christmas, and things 

being much quieter by far since the kids have

all gone home, I'm sitting up here in my cozy

attic, a little log in the woodstove, the wind 

whistling around the house, the old mulberry

branch slapping under the window, and I'm

studying my larder shelf of canned goodies!

I was cozied here, having coffee from an heirloom 

chrome percolator, vintage 1960's, and just

relaxing---taking a break from reading "The

Poetry of William Carlos Williams," my eyes 

settled on (why I do not know)--- a can of Van

Camp's Pork 'n Beans.

(Those of you who have kept up with my. attic

stories know that I have a  "knocked -together"

rustic raw wood pine shelf filled with Wolf's

chili, Hormel tamales, canned tuna, canned

salmon ((small cans---which I eat "raw")),

Vienna sausage, Dinty Moore Beef Stew, and

sardines in tomato sauce!) Plus SPAM.

The age-old question was nagging at my 

mind: "Where is the PORK...in those pork-

and beans?" You'd think Van Camps, with 

their excellent, amazing product would---of 

all companies---show the world---SOME 

PORK!

I know, I know---what you're going to say---

"Hey, haven't you seen that little tiny square 

white thing, amongst the beans? You dummy,

THAT is the pork!" "Doncha know?!"

All possible joking and levity aside, let's 

be serious.  "From time immemorial,"  as they 

love to say at weddings, pork 'n  beans seem

to have been with us.

Even before some West Texas highways were

paved, and when gas pumps were uprights;

and there were no McDonald's, and people 

didn't have the money anyway---filling stations 

all sold cheese, crackers, and pork 'n beans.

A self-respecting hunter of half a century ago

and earlier would not have been found in the

wild without his can(s) of beans, Vienna sausages,

an onion, and maybe some crumbled crackers

in his old kit bag.

Sometime later, a miracle occurred in the halls

of Van Camp Company. Some innovative young

outdoorsman invented (TA DUM, TA DUM !!!

DRUM ROLL) ---"BEANEE WEENEES!"

I hope they gave him a big fine office, a bonus,

and erected a statute to him, wherever Van

Camps is located.

For you see and know, (if you read much at all),

that most hikers, bird-watchers, hunters, and

outdoor people (check Creek Stewart)--- have

what they call "Bug-Out-Bags," These bags are

ready to go at all times, in case of emergencies.

Which we all hope will never come.

These bags are filled with a versatile Swiss Army

knife, a heavier survival sheath knife, a small

aluminum-looking space blanket, .22 ammo and

piece, Advil, a spoon, socks, Fruit-of-the-Looms,

parachute cord, waterproof matches, compass,

Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying," and canned foods.

Yes---pork 'n beans, Beanee Weenees, small

cans of fruit cocktail, peaches, and pears...

oh, oh, almost forgot the biggie---SPAM.

I am loving this quiet time often Christmas,

quiet---except for this marvelous storm 

blowing just outside my attic window, and

whistling through the vent crack...

I think I'll just open me a can of those Beanee

Weenees, up there in the shelf, and get a chunk

of cheese out of my Avanti former-office-fridge

and wash it all down with a big NEHI-GRAPE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

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

By MIL

12/27/16

l

TRUFFLES

"TRUFFLES"

((I'd heard of "truffles" somewhere along the

way...and I guess, paying little attention to 

their mention, I thought "Well, I've never hunted

them...mostly it's been bob whites and blues and

once't some Gambel's and prairie chickens....

and of course---pheasants!"

"Guess they are like grouse, ptarmigans, and other

Alaska birds..."truffles..." Hmm, I'll look into it!))

                       TRUFFLES

I'm a simple boy from the cotton country

of that Great Place! West Texas!

They can cook down there and know how

to cure unbelievably-good bacon and sausage.

Their "main sauce," you French, is BUTTER---

except some old-timers like sage on their corn

bread dressing at Thanksgiving.

We left there when I was four and moved to NM,

just ten miles from Texas. Clovis---a fine town!

The first really big joys in life that I remember, were 

the five cent candy bars, mostly made of 

chocolate:

Hersheys, Snickers, Baby Ruths,  O Henrys,

Milky Ways, Black Cow suckers, Bit O' Honeys,

Best Pals, Mounds, Almond Joys, and 

Walnettos!

Somewhere, much later on, there came the

chocolate candies which came in boxes like 

Whitman's and collections too numerous and

expensive to name...

Chocolate covered cherries were unusual

and one always wondered how they put those

things together so nicely....but they were messy

when bitten-into!

Now one day, a dear friend of me and BE, sent

us each a fancy little box with a two-word

French name...and it had "truffles" written on

it. There were two big ones in the box.

Ah, truffles are candy!

They were almost as big as golf balls, I thought.

You bit into one and ate and ate the creamy

chocolate filling (and it didn't "run") which was

"decadent," as they love to say it! I mean---these

were  big---compared to some I ate later---which

were much smaller.

BE and I finally found out where to buy these big

ones, but the gift-lady did not remember the

name of the truffles!

We will head out to Model Pharmacy, almost to

downtown, and see about a BIG BOX FULL...and

they may run $2.00 each, per truffle---who knows?

No prob---we are not going to Branson and 

spending the big bucks.

Also, Model is known far and wide to the-lunch-

crowd for its great sandwiches!

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

BY MIL

9/17/16

AND THE REST OF THE STORY.....12/26/16

Sit down, my dear reader for this one!  Christmas gift 

opening occurred at our house two days ago.  But 

before that...

My son was here and had to make a long run downtown,

was passing the Model Pharmacy, and had heard of my

desire for some REAL, GENUINE truffles!

He stopped, went in, and bought me a DOZEN!  They are

made by Le Grand.  The lady at the counter will load you

a box of two, four, or six.  A very attractive real chocolatier

box!

Yes, two boxes he gave me!  Hand packed.  Choice of 

truffles from counter:  $3.50 each.

Mil

PLAYING "GOOBER TOWN" IN THE SNOW

By Richard Drake, guest writer

It did not snow often in Clovis when we were growing

up.

The annual football game with The Portales Rams 

was always played on Thanksgiving Day....it was an

old tradition.

One Thanksgiving we had to play the Rams after a

big snow. The Clovis school system did its best to

remove the snow from Wildcat Field. They "cleared"

the field pretty good and a freeze followed...just 

enough to make a messy field.

There were ridges everywhere. I loved it! I had good

cleats and knew which direction I was going. Jerry 

Lott and Dwayne Perry were good with their passes.

It was a wonderful game, especially since we beat

"Goober Town" High School. The exact score is lost

somewhere in the mists of time!

They had found that their manager had a good passing

arm, and they put him in and threw a spread formation

at us. Their problem was that their guards and tackles

did not have enough speed to block our crashing ends!

It was not fair but we did not let up. The poor passer

barely survived.

Bob Snipes, CHS, had a good game as our fullback.

WHAT HAPPY MEMORIES!

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

FOR MIL'S PLACE

By Richard Drake, 

   "The Bard" of CHS '53

THE SCARY BASEBALL PITCHER FROM CHS '50

IN MEMORIUM, Cameron Mactavish 

                  1932-2016

   The Clovis "Boys of Summer"

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

That spring afternoon in 1947, at the chicken

wire backstop at the corner of Reid and Tenth 

Streets, we were "old enough" and trying to 

play real hardball!

Art and Bob Snipes and I and one or two others

had gone to the old lake bed for wire and

2X4's; also houses galore were being built

all around the neighborhood at that time; they

in turn had lumber scrap piles, that somehow

got filled with long two-bys! Fair game for us 

kids...needing a ball diamond backstop!

Rule One: You couldn't be forever chasing 

missed balls and our "hind-catchers" were 

generally either "chicken" or inexperienced 

when it came to catching HOT pitchers---some 

of whom could throw mean curve balls and 

more terrible (to kids)---faster fastballs!

That is why I, at the tender age of thirteen found

myself flat on the ground by home plate...dirt in

my mouth...I had barely ducked, I thought, a

curve ball headed straight for my head...I mean

right at me..and for a curve it was moving!

This was my first real experience with real 

hard-ball, with real pitchers...for you see, there

were some guys in our class (and the Class of

'50) who were richly endowed athletically...and

THEY COULD "THOW!"

They had radar too, and if anything like a 

baseball field with backstop showed up in the 

NW quadrant of Clovis---they'd be there---

with real Clovis Pioneer baseballs---no friction-

tape-covered-balls for them..which were all we

had! (They were likely Bell Park shaggers.)

Cecil and Bruce Davis were two ('50 and '51)

CHS friends of ours who were very talented

pitchers.

Cameron Mactavish, CHS '50, was another. He

lived, I think, up in the WWII "Santa Fe Heights"

subdivision, north of us four or five blocks, at

Thornton and Fourteenth Streets.

Cameron, as he appeared to us younger guys,

was hard as nails..he was a tough wiry kid. He

wasn't the type to sit in the shade on a summer's

day, and shoot marbles, or tell ghost stories, or

play mumblety-peg---I mean that boy was all

business...and could he pitch!

In fact, it was his curve ball that had me flat on

the ground that day, in front of the backstop...

not fifteen feet from the intersection. 

Have you ever tried to hit a real pitcher throwing

those hard balls right at you? They say being a

"good batter" in baseball is the hardest single

feat in all sports. You must have no fear of the

ball and you need instant reflexes...quickness.

It was the day I realized that baseball was not my

sport, though I was a mean shortstop with good

hands. Batting was incredibly tough.

I don't remember much about Cameron in High

School---he was a year ahead and the boys of '51

had their own fish to fry. But I always admired him

as one of the toughest kids I knew...and he has

crossed my mind now and then, through the years.

Cameron Mactavish...Clovis High School 1950...

passed away last week. I just heard from Vernoy

Willis (CHS '50). He was one of us boys  that 

grew up in the finest of American towns...along

with us on the journey...and he is gone..

I remember him fondly, tho' we were not close

buddies. I don't know how his life turned out

but he was okay to us young "boys of summer."

"Therefore, never send to know for whom the 

bell tolls...it tolls for thee." ...John Donne, 1620

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

MIL

10/04/16

"WE MOVED TO CLOVIS ON PEARL HARBOR SUNDAY"

WE MOVED TO CLOVIS ON PEARL HARBOR SUNDAY"

    By  Dr. Albin Covington

    CHS '51

"I reminder that fateful day well."

Our president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on  December 8,

asked  a joint session of congress for a declaration of

war, speaking these famous words: "A day that shall live

in INFAMY..."

The horror of that day, in the surprise attack that killed over

2400 Americans, is indeed a day that we will never forget.

I was eight years old at that time. I had no idea what Japan 

was, nor where Pearl Harbor was. But I do remember that day!

We learned of Pearl Harbor over our car radio as we

drove from Sudan, Texas to live in our next home in Clovis,

New Mexico. We were residents of Sudan for only a short 

time as we made the change from Mertzon,Texas  to Clovis.

Dad has transferred to Clovis to work on the "bridge gang,

in that area for AT&SF.  He had finally found a house for us

to live in at our new town.

All eight of us had been living for a short time in a three-room

house, and now we moved into a nice house on Thornton 

Street. I had never seen indoor plumbing before. In fact, Mom

got all over me for standing in the bathroom flushing the 

commode over and over just to watch the water, as it swirled!

Our "new" abode had a basement and we five boys slept

down there and life was so much better!

But there was another--special thing--that I remember. I had

never remembered having a friend except for my three older

brothers and one younger one. (I didn't really think so at that

time, for Ross was always chasing me and hitting me.) Now

I think the world of my brothers.

But there is another person who befriended me. He lived 

down Thornton a ways toward school at La Casita.

It was Arthur Snipes. He befriended me. We used to walk

to school together. He was the first real friend I ever had

outside of my family.

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

FOR MIL'S PLACE

by Dr, Albin Covington

CHS '51