“The goat must browse where she is tied” reads the sign at Parker’s (Parker Sneed) on the corner of Hwy 66 and 99 in Stroud. How sage are those words today as they apply to our current situation. We are “the goat”. We have been asked to shelter in place. Many no longer have a job to go to. Others have been asked to work from home while others risk their lives every day to provide essential services to the public. Children can no longer go to school which has created another level of disruption. But, as Parker’s saying goes, “the goat must browse where she is tied” and make the best out of everything life throws at us.
This also reminds me of something Brent LaGere and Ben Walkingstick were fond of saying years ago to the L & W sales staff: Even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while. I think they meant even if you were not a born salesman, if you just kept hustling and rooting around for insurance clients, you would be successful. That adage still applies today. If we can stay positive and keep trying, day after day, eventually we will make it through this storm.
I see examples of this every day and especially in those of the G.O.A.T—Greatest Of All Times—generation. Our folks at Prairie Pointe are remarkably resilient. They’ve lived through the Dust Bowl, the Depression, World Wars and conflicts. They have lost parents, siblings, spouses and children along with their life savings a time or two. They have experienced life’s ups and downs, rises and falls, rain and shine. They know life is a series of events, sometimes painfully full of sorrow and hardship. It is that wealth of life they have experienced which makes them so resilient. Hopefully, these challenging times will help all of us learn and grow and appreciate the many things we take for granted. I have heard this question asked many times: What if you woke up tomorrow with ONLY the things you were thankful for today? And when we are bemoaning our current and temporary situation, think about the two years Anne Frank spent in hiding and let us find beauty, gratitude and purpose in this trial.
But…..you can only push this “be happy with what you got” talk so far. Glenda would rather miss the World Series than a hair appointment and Rachel is still worried she has not hoarded enough toilet paper and she’d really like some Clorox wipes.
Keturah would really like to escape to Tammy’s house and everyone is missing Joe Bill Shelhope, James Bond’s Bible Study and all the church groups on Sundays. The Bret Graham concert scheduled for March 25 was cancelled. His visits to Prairie Pointe are very special so that was yet another downer. Finally, we all are missing the family and friends that visited Prairie Pointe often.
Prairie Pointe residents worshiped together again this past Sunday. Country music singer and songwriter, Alan Jackson, provided gospel music via his CD and Wirt Trawick read a devotion from Gary Hohweiler’s book, “Fear Not.” Gary is the son-in-law of Patsy and Richard James. He and wife Randa Lea moved to Stroud a few years ago and have restored the big plantation style house east of the Stroud Cemetery.
Joe Bill and Sharon surprised us with fresh from the garden beets last week. Chef Jo Weeks shaved them thin and cooked in salt water with a little sugar. Absolutely delicious! Thank you Joe Bill and Sharon for the fresh veggies and Jo for cooking them up so perfectly.
Prairie Pointe welcomed a new resident today. Hellen Horton of Tulsa is happy to now be close to her sisters here in Stroud, Vivian and Leon Henshaw and Alta Skinner.
I will have more about Hellen next week.