Originally posted by orange turdfrog:
I'm the OB he is referring to. The woman is my great grandmother and was born in 1868 and grew up in some rough times after the civil war. She died in 1958 when I was 10. That store in Neches was started in1899 by my great grandparents. During the 50's, I spent 2-3 weeks there during each summer. To have the run of that awesome country store is as good a memory any young child could have. Her last year, she was partially paralyzed from a stroke. On Sunday, all her great grandchildren would go see her. I would pass by her bed and she would hold out her frail arm to shake my hand. She would say, " John, hitch your wagon to a star and you will get thar. " What a wonderful memory. It brings a tear to my eye as I type this.
My family came to Anderson County in 1839 and I'm fortunate to have had such strong and decent ancestors.
That is awesome, Turdfrog.
Here's one of my favorite things that I have posted on the page. It's the "Chili Prayer" as recited by Bones Hooks, a legendary old black cowboy and range cook who lived all over the panhandle. Bones was revered by all who knew him and was the first black man to serve on a grand jury in the panhandle. There is a park in Amarillo that is named after him. Here is the prayer, which makes no mention of beans.
"Lord God, you know us old cowhands is forgitful. Sometimes I can't even recollect
what happened yestiddy. We is forgitful. We jes' know daylight and dark,
summer, fall, winter, and spring. But I sure hope we don' t never forgit
to thank you before we is about to eat a mess of good chili.
We don't know why you have been so dogone good to us. The heathen
Chinee don't have no chili, ever. The Frenchmens is left out. The
Rooshians don't know no more about chili than a hog does about a side
saddle. Even the Meskins don't get a good whiff of it unless they stay
around here.
Chili eaters is some of your chosen people. We
don't know why you so doggone good to us. But, Lord God, don't ever
think we ain't grateful for this here chili we's about to eat. Amen."
For more about Bones Hooks, read this article:
http://amarillo.com/stories/051900/his_hooks.html
This post was edited on 3/12 10:24 AM by Hornius Emeritus