Oakie's Heart to Heart -

Vol. 1, No. 33, 20 November 1999, Saturday
by LK Wagner

Once Upon A Time...100 & 30 Years Ago

Once upon a time and only a century ago, our pioneers were facing similar questions of human nature as the 19th century was passing new life into the 20th century. 100 years ago what was it like in other parts of the world?

According to "The Daily Oklahoman", 5 January 1900, Dan Peery was claiming that nearly all the Bohemians in Oklahoma were against the Republican Party on the Expansion Issue. Delegate Flynn of Oklahoma was meeting in conference with the President concerning "Free Homes" and "Statehood Bills."

My southern Oklahoma friend says, "Those of us that were born sometime during this 20th century each have a vantage point that is peculiar to his/her own time & generation. Therefore, each generation could tell an entirely different story from another." A Father's Legacy

He also shared these thoughts with me the other day, "The things that were occurring in other parts of the world back then are really no different from what is happening today. Human nature and the nature of man is no different from what it was 2000 years ago. I know it has been said - 'Man without knowledge of the mistakes made before is destined to repeat the same mistakes.'"

"My mother told me that she had lived in part of two centuries, but it was unlikely that I would ever enjoy that experience."

Now look at us! We are about to experience just that. Nothing is unlikely and everything is new!

Once upon a time... Over thirty years ago a Peachbottom, Pennsylvania, Lancaster Countian came out west to Northwestern State College in a small, NW Oklahoma town.

That's when it all began. . . The College day memories. Friends connected and spent many hours changing learning experiences into College days memories.

Lately, there hasn't been a week that has gone by that we haven't had thoughts of old college chums. To make a long story short - This Peachbottom, PA friend has recently become a NW Okie working with the Food Service Management Department at Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NWOSU) in my hometown.

I found my old college friend this week when I was dining in a downtown eating establishment in Alva. This interesting, but hesitant, quizative lady approaches me Monday evening and asks, "Is your name Linda.....?"

An apprehensive, puzzled gaze and light clicked inside as I enthusiastically understated, "Yes!"

I knew exactly when she mentioned her name and Northwestern in the same breathe. All those memories of college days came flooding back as if the moment and time were meant to be now.

Have you ever had that feeling before. . . Like something in has come full-circle and drawn you back together for yet another unknown purpose. . . Only to anxiously await for a sign of what is to come?

If any of you NW Oklahoman's and NWOSU readers out there see Marge on the Northwestern campus or around town, print this newsletter out and give her a copy "Special Delivery." You see, she isn't hooked up to an Email Addy yet. And... I wanted to let her know how fortunate this Okie is to have re-connected after these thirty years. Thanks!

Marge is just one of many special, unconditional sisters I have adopted during my lifetime and "NSC College Days." She mentioned to me she still has the adoption papers that were (in pure innocence) handwritten over thirty years ago. I have been truly blessed and bubbling over with excitement in so many ways by so many people who have crossed my path this week. I hope it comes through in the written word as it does face-to-face, voice-to-voice.

Let us all end the 20th century and start out the Millennium on a positive note. Reconnect unconditionally whenever the chance arises with someone from your past. It brightens the soul and refuels the energy level.

Speaking of "Special Delivery", Happy Thanksgiving & Holidays to my friends in America, Canada, Oklahoma (especially, Alva, Buffalo, Central Okla., Cherokee, Dacoma, Freedom, Hopeton, Southern Okla., & Waynoka), and don't forget that Fantastic Football Team at NWOSU this year.

Speaking of Northwestern, they have been having a winning streak this year. Their football play-offs are at hand and you can feel the excitement as a long awaited winning season buzzes and permeates throughout the entire rural communities in these NW Oklahoma Counties.

Let me leave you with these thoughts, "May the friendships we give be unconditional. May we expect nothing in return. May we be blessed with many new and wondrous things in our lifetimes. Remember . . . Finding something to Laugh & Smile about each day helps release the stresses in your life!"

OAKIE'S LINKS & MAILBAG

These following Farm/Ag-Links are courtesy of Ms Belle. She thought maybe Freedom and other small, rural communities might be interested in the links and resources provided at some of these sites, if someone hasn't already found it. There might be programs and funding sources that they haven't discovered before. I have also put these same Links on my "FairValley Co-op website."

AgNIC (Agriculture Network Information Center) is a distributed network that provides access to agriculture-related information, subject area experts, and other resources. It was established by an alliance of the National Agricultural Library, land-grant universities, and other organizations committed to facilitating public access to agricultural and related information.

DIRAGIR points to subject- and geographic-focused directories of agriculture-related information resources on the Internet. The headings, based on a broad cut of the semi-hierarchical AGRICOLA Subject Category Codes, are organized alphabetically. The code associated with each heading is linked to its description.

The Rural Information Center (RIC) provides information and referral services to local, state, and federal government officials; community organizations; health professionals and organizations; rural electric and telephone cooperatives; libraries; businesses; and, rural citizens working to maintain the vitality of America's rural areas. About RIC

The National Agricultural Library (NAL), part of the Agricultural Research Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is one of four National Libraries in the United States. NAL is a major international source for agriculture and related information. This Web site provides access to NAL's many resources and a gateway to its associated institutions.

Services and Programs

Nat'l Center for Ag Law - Research and Information

Farmland Information Library

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"The enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth, persistent and persuasive....." by John F. Kennedy

The Okie Legacy

Once Upon A Time...100 & 30 Years Ago

See Y'all later! Linda (Oakie)