The Siege of September

We will remember
The Siege of September
When Pickens came slickin'
Twixt the Good 0l' Boys.
One Night,
Wandering,
Reminiscing,
Thinking
What's Missing?
I harked back to the Good 0l' Joys.
Motioned,
Petitioned,
Jumped through the Hoop!
Hilarious?
Nefarious!
I thought of BURWASH SOUP.

The Story of Burwash Soup
( A McGill Family Tale)

1955 -- On our way to Alaska, late one evening, after Gene had driven past place after beautiful place to camp, after Vada was pretty upset, and we were all tired and hungry, it started to rain. The rains came. So did cold. So did dark.

We came upon a gas station/cafe out in the nowheres and Gene decreed We will Eat!!! We went in, through the rain, cold, wet, hungry, just tickled to death because we should get to eat in a restaurant. The kitchen was closed; the grill cold; only one thing they could be prevailed upon to feed us. It was called 'Corn Chowder.' Doesn't that sound creamy and buttery and hot and good? And, next to tomatoes, corn was then my favorite food of all that grows below God. It was the most watered down, left ,over, does-your-bowl-have-a-corn-kemel?-I'll-trade-you-soup that anyone has ever dared refer to as an edible viand. (As Justin might say: "You call that soup?!")

Gene threw a fit. We left. He drove. He drove. We drowsed. We drove out of the rain, into a place to park the station wagon and tear drop trailer. Gene fired up the stove. Vada cut up potatoes and onions into two cans of Dinty Moore stew and we feasted and laughed and huddled in blankets and started retelling the McGill Family Tale and learning the lessons of 'Burwash Soup.'

Why I felt compelled to write the story this morning is that I was standing watching the weather channel while faxing papers to Kinko's in Oklahoma City so Linda and Dave could copy, collate and get it all to Marj so she could file applications and petitions and motions... and on the screen was a map. BURWASH. NW Territories? Alaska? WHAT!?! There is really a PLACE named BURWASH? I thought it was just one of Gene's really good names for things... as in cold, watery BRRRRWASH soup.

Mike and I started out this evening to concoct a Burwash Soup recipe. We think it is so good that we have decided its formal name should be ... 'Siege of September Soup.'

Siege of September Soup
(DoRight & Michael)

Preface - Acknowledgment - Appetizers, Sauces & Relishes
Breads, Rolls & Pastries - Soups, Salads & Vegetables
Cakes, Cookies, Pies & Desserts - MainDishes - Candy, Jelly & Preserves
Mike's OSU Aggie's Better Than Se...xxx Cake - Old Indian Recipe

Okie Legacy

The Siege of September

The Story of Burwash Soup ( A McGill Family Tale)

The Story of Burwash Soup
( A McGill Family Tale)