The Okie Legacy

I was taking a stroll through one of my favorite Dandelion Fields on the web the other day and came across this little bit that a friend had written, "...And the best things don't come easy... It's one thing to know something... Another to be it... Struggle is just the bumps on the road... But what a great view." Arden - http://www.dandelionfield.net/

The best things don't come easy, and the struggles do show us how the bad can turn into the good things when we finally make it over the little bumps. Some days I find myself struggling for the words and thoughts to put down on paper. Sometimes it just takes awhile to find the right flow of words.

I know that eventually, when the right combination of thoughts and words do come together, things will spell out and overflow. I guess that is just one of those little bumps on the road, huh, Arden? And... Yes! It is a great view all along the way. Even as the struggles add a bit of a humanistic quality to your life, it makes you realize that you can survive and move forward over all the little bumps on the road. All the while gathering new and interesting experiences and friends through out your life. It is a grand view and something I cherish each day.

I don't profess to know everything, and those things I don't know, I enjoy searching out and discovering the How, Why, When, Where, etc. from others or wherever.

That brings me to the following... It's only two weeks before Alva and NW Oklahoman's' begin filling the streets, motels, cafes, the downtown square and homes with Goldbug Alumni for the Alva High School Reunion 2000 in NW Oklahoma.

Could any of you Goldbug Alumni out there help this lady concerning the basketball game to be played? This is what Dorothy is asking, "I'm with the Class of 87. I am really interest in basketball game that is to be played. Could you please send me some info on that please. Thank you. Dorothy Conaway, mailto:gabsunco@hotmail.com"

I need to say this about my UN-official Goldbug Reunion 2000 web site... I began offering my time and a few pages on my web site as FREE advertising for the Reunion 2000 Committee members who have been working diligently organizing everything for this big Reunion 2000 that takes place June 30th thru July 4th, 2000 in Alva, Oklahoma.

I don't know everything there is to know about WHO or WHAT classes are meeting WHERE or WHEN. I mainly donated the time and pages to help get the word out on my web site. I also created a guestbook so other Alumni Goldbugs who happened by could sign in and leave informative comments for other Goldbug passer-byes.

As to the Class of '66... It is my understanding from others that those in Alva that work with the 3 classes that meet every 5 years decided to postpone our normal reunion until 2001. Nothing has been planned for the Class of '66 during the reunion as a scheduled event, but the weekends should see some impromptu parties and gatherings.

They say Alva is very limited on meeting halls and places. Others have said the reunion plans were progressing and the response has been overwhelming. It seems that even though the committee had put a cut-off date for reservations, people are still calling. http://paristimes.com/reunion/

As to the NW Oklahoma Wheat Harvesters... Towards the beginning of this week the last of the custom harvesters headed north into Kansas & Colorado leaving only the local farmers to finish up what wheat they have to harvest.

Because of the abundance of spring rain we received in some areas of the state, some wheat fields have been abandoned due to wetness and disease. I guess no one is immune to bumps on the road, huh?!

They say the local yields in this area have been between 40 & 50 bushels per acre (some lower than that even). The price of wheat was still hanging around 2.30 and 2.40 in some areas and expected to reach 2.50 at some point. I overheard a farmer saying that the only way he could cover the cost of his wheat, harvesting, etc. was if he could make 60 to 70 bushels per acre. "The Oklahoman" & "The Wheat Harvest Journal" had several interesting articles concerning this years wheat harvest compared to the last few years. http://www.oklahoman.com/?b-harvest

"Hey Oakie, I have all kinds of family in the Orion cemetery. I was raised just north of bado store which is about 5 miles east of there. We also have some graves up on the top of the hill in the cemetery that are my dad's sisters but they have never been marked. Years ago they did have a brick that showed where they were but with time they got lost. You can go from one end to the other of that cemetery and see the Tucker name. Just thought you would like to know."

"Your friend, Grace, wrote an exceptionally interesting story about her New England. I have been in New England area she speaks of and although I enjoyed the visit very much, she made her world come alive in a vibrant manner, which I enjoyed very much... Thanks for sharing it with us. (Another reason I enjoy your weekly H&H so much.)"

"Dear Oakie, Thanks again so much for your help and your great newsletters which so often have offered a ray of hope for me much like my monthly church magazine has which shows to me how inspired you can be and on such a regular basis; you are a marvel. You can quote me on that last sentence or two where I compliment you... and I wish you would do that in one of your next newsletters as I want people to know how uplifting and welcome they are to me personally. Love ya...."

GOLDBUG REUNION 2000 --
CAN ANYONE HELP DEB...

"The class of 74/75/76 get together July 1st, I have been unable to find out who is in charge of this and I'm sure there is a admission fee, but have never received any information from my class of 74. I have tried Beverly and Mark and they are unable to help me. Living 300 miles away makes it a little hard to get and find info. I guess if all else fails I will just show up that nite and pay then. I have been trying for a month now and the reunion is only 3wks away. I must say I've gotten more info on the Alva web page than anywhere else. Thank goodness, the lack of information from my class has been really frustrating. Thanks for any help you can send my way." Deb Boeken mailto:boeken@dailynews.net