The Okie Legacy

Vol. 1, No. 38 24 December 1999, Friday

'Twas The Night Before...

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse (or dog); The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The Thirteen-year-old dachshund was nestled all snug in her bed, While visions of bones & arthritis danced in her head; And Oakie was planted snugly in front of her 'puter just dashing & dancing away at the... Keyboard!... "Night Before Christmas".

Someone sent these questions to me recently. How do you fare?.... "Are you festive? Are you ready for the big holiday? Are all your presents wrapped? Are all your presents purchased? Did you forget that one last item for the big meal?"

Don't fret the small stuff! AND... Yeah... Don't forget what the Season is really about (Celebrating the Birth of Christ) AND... Family & Friends gathering around you... Enjoy them while you can!

How many times have you seen the 1946 movie by Frank Capra, "It's A Wonderful Life" with James Stewart? I quit counting a few years back. Maybe the question is, "Is there anyone out there that hasn't seen it?" I found this website that says the movie is celebrating it's 50th anniversary and you can meet the child stars as they are today. "It's A Wonderful Life, 50th Anniversary"

Did you know that Karolyn Grimes was the little girl whom played Zuzu Bailey in this 1946 Christmas classic, "It's a Wonderful Life."? She is the one that said, "Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!"

You know! There are moments in that movie when James Stewart makes these certain expressions that reminds me of my Paris-cousin (Ronnie Smith) on my mother's side of the family. My Paris Family are originally from Orion & Chester (Tailholt), Oklahoma. Ronnie and his family now live in Chickasha, Oklahoma and he is working as a Veterinarian, I believe.

Speaking of Chickasha (Oklahoma), has anyone out there been down to view Chickasha's "Festival of Lights (Christmas decorations)?" I've always talked about heading down that way to see them and never have. Maybe I will this year! I hear you can view them until 31 December. I also hear that the place to eat great Bar-B-Cue is at "Roy's BBQ Restaurant" there in Chickasha.

As to Chester (or Tailholt, Oklahoma)... I recently came across some info of "How" Chester, Oklahoma got it's nickname of "Tailholt". If some out there are reading this and have a different version or can enlighten us further, please Email Oakie. I would love to hear other versions of the story if some of you Major Countians in Chester, Oklahoma have anymore info.

For those of you who don't know Chester... It is a small town in Major County, Northwest part of the state. It's where hwy. 281 intersects in the middle of town with the hwy leading east towards Fairview (hwy. 60). It seems that way back when (not sure of the date) there were sandy roads in Chester which caused autos to get bogged-down in the sand and unmovable. On one of the corners an elderly man had a couple of Donkeys that he would hitch to the front of the entrapped autos. After everything was set up and tied on, he would take hold the donkey's tails (in a tailhold) and crank those stubborn mules into motion. Henceforth, the nickname of "Tailholt" was born.

I have been tracking an Oklahoma carved buffalo that I sent via http://www.ups.com to some friends in Long Island, NY. (They have this buffalo fetish). It has really been great seeing the different stops it makes and the progress of it's journey to it's NEW home in NY all the way from Oklahoma Territory.

I just got word at 3:04PM EST that it arrived quietly and made it from Oklahoma to Earth City, MO then the next day it found itself grazing in Meadowlands, NJ overnight. Luckily making it through the NJ traffic. The following day it moved eastward towards Suffolk-Patchogue, NY for it's permanent grazing ground of green grass in SUFFOLK-STONY BROOK, NY, US. So... I guess it didn't get bogged down in too many Toll Gates and cause havoc in the NYC Boroughs & NJ traffic!

Buffalo Report Update from back East: "...He is absolutely gorgeous !! I 'bonded' with him immediately. Holding him in my hands I felt the power of him. An elegant and kingly presence; well aware of his regal being...."

You can also view your FedEX packages online. Just go to http://www.fedex.com and navigate to the tracking section to check on the progress of your gifts to friends and relatives. Of course you need to know your tracking number on your sales receipt.

Here is something more from that jolly, old St. Nicholas as I leave out of here for a "Silent Night" and "Joy To The World!"

".....He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, 'HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD-NIGHT!'" FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS

May God Bless You...We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Century filled with prosperity, health, happiness and friendships throughout the year. Don't let the shopping & shoppers get you down. SMILE! You've made it this far and you can overcome anything! Remember... Real Reason for the Season... Enjoy those precious times with family and friends!

GOD BLESS YE ALL!

OAKIE'S LINKS & MAILBAG:

'Twas the Night Before Christmas or Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863). According to the University of Toronto English Library, this ballad was written in 1822 for Moore's two daughters, Margaret and Charity, and a year later was anonymously published in the Troy [New York] Sentinel on December 23, 1823.

"Dear Oakie--as I have come to know you--you have said it all and so beautiful at that--all but one thing--Thank God for sending us all email to bring us together as we have been this last year--Friends from all over and good friends at that. With all life's stress it is so nice to be able to reflect back and see all the things long forgotten. I pray for peace in the coming year and all kinds of good things for you and your family and friends. Keep us all together with your beautiful thoughts and wanderings through life--keep giving us that little bit of peace in this wild-crazy world. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW. YEAR -- 2000."

"We never know who and how are writings/newsletters affect others. They may not write and say so, but they do affect others. We need to keep this in mind when we write. So keep up the good work my friend, people appreciate you!"

NORTHWESTERN RANGERS HAVE DONE IT IN 1999! I was in "Floridinos Restaurant in Alva thursday afternoon and got to view the fantastic trophy the Rangers brought home. The Rangers are now the New NAIA Champions of 1999 -- Beating Georgetown, Kentucky 34-26 on December 18th, 1999! Northwestern coaches (Garin Higgins, Troy Haub and Tim Albin) Accepted the trophy after the 34-26 victory over Georgetown College in Savannah, Tenn. STOP BY the Northwestern Ranger Football website.

Here are some "Cool Words from The Lighter Side of Language and having to do with the 1920s College Slang."

Words and Meanings first used by The Bard and coined by Shakespeare.

Dan Cedusky is searching Surnames of Cook, Paris, Clift, Boyle, Conyers, Hood, Stengle. He is looking for info on Family of Alfred & Rebecca Hardy Cook. Their Children: Rebeca June Cook, John William Cook, Charles Ed Cook, James Franklin Cook, Morris Cook, Fannie Cook, Julette Cook Paris. He would like to make contact with any descendents, Vic of Alva, Dacoma OK, and ST John's Kansas.

OAKIE'S REPLY: I have some info on Dan's COOK ancestors because Juliet Cook married my mother's Uncle Volney Paris. You can view more of my PARIS/COOK Info.

"The world's largest online encyclopedia of graphic symbols" is a fascinating directory of scientific, industrial, political, religious, linguistic, and other emblems. Many of the images are accompanied by articles explaining their origins and uses.

WORD OF THE WEEK:

EPISTLE -- noun, e-pis-tle (ih pI sEl) - 1. a letter, esp. one having a formal subject or tone. 2. (cap.) one of the letters from apostles to early Christians, included as a book in the New Testament.

GEEZER -- gee·zer (gzr) n. An eccentric old man. See Usage Note at adage. [Probably alteration of dialectal guiser, masquerader, from Middle English gysar, from gysen, to dress, from gyse, guise, fashion; see guise.]

GEEZER \Gee"zer\, n. [Dial. corrupt. of Guiser a mummer.] A queer old fellow; an old chap; an old woman. [Contemptuous, Slang or Dial.]

WORD HISTORY: A relationship with a word we know well is disguised in the word geezer. A clue to this relationship is found in British dialect. The English Dialect Dictionary defines geezer as "a queer character, a strangely-acting person," and refers the reader to guiser, "a mummer, masquerader." The citations for guiser refer to practices such as the following: "People, usually children . . . go about on Christmas Eve, singing, wearing masks, or otherwise disguised," the last word of this passage being the one to which geezer is related.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK:

"Use your thoughts to improve the quality of your life and the world around you. They are yours to control and direct. Make the most of your thoughts and your living reality will reflect the effort." Ralph S. Marston

© 2008 by WWWPubCo & OkieLegacy.org   All Rights Reserved. Webmaster