The Okie Legacy

Vol. II, Issue 84 -- 11 November 2000

Mystic Majestic Mountain of SW Colorado

"It's been an interesting life. I don't want to miss anything." -- by Harriet Hernandez, June, 1997.

This quote comes from a June, 1997, New Mexico newspaper article. It concerns the 90 year-old woman, (Harriet Hernandez). Harriet was the proprietress for 60 some years for the Bus Station, Cuba, New Mexico. In 1912, Ms Hernandez (approx. age 5 years) forded the San Juan River with her parents as they made the trek from Farmington, NM to Cuba, NM. arriet has been deceased since... sometime in 1999, but not before she left us with the above quote that practically says it all.

As we travel I-40 West just beside the "Old Route 66", we turn north on I-25 at Albuquerque and connect with hwy. 550 to Farmington and north to the Mystic Majestic Mountains of SW Colorado.

Around 5:00pm MST we make a dinner stop at the quaint Cuba Cafe located on the southend of the small community of Cuba, New Mexico. Do you like Mexican food? If you pass that way, look for "Cuba Cafe" on the west side of the street. Check out their wall of autographed pictures and memorabilia concerning the Dallas Cowboys while you are there.

On with the journey... As I sit in the mystic majestic mountains of SW Colorado writing this weeks newsletter and creating more memories of our journey to the Mystic Mountains, I am thinking,... "What an interesting life it has been up towards now. Like Ms. Hernandez... I do NOT want to miss anything."

It is Brrrrr... But Beautiful... Snow Fall with the firewood crackling in the fireplace to keep the chill off inside! The downy-like flakes of snow that are falling this Friday make everything else simply right! There is NO flurry of blowing, drifting snow like we sometimes get in the flatlands of Oklahoma... The mountain snow just kind of rhythmically drifts to the ground coating the Aspen, Blue Spruce, and everything around here gently for Winter 2000.

As you can see... I'm on the road again! This weeks newsletter will be filled with some "before" & "after" photos of the "Winter Snow 2000." If you have some Winter 2000 snapshots to share, please send me some by way of email Oakie. snow on Oakie's Eagle || snow 2000, uphill view || snow on North Bridge Rd || snowy backyard || snowy Mtn. cabin scene

To backup a bit... We departed Oklahoma around 2:30pm, Tuesday afternoon heading west on I-40, making Amarillo, TX around 7:35pm that same night. My heart was in my throat just after reaching the Texas panhandle as the snowy flakes became as big as downy, goose feathers, blowing straight at the windshield.

We had just rounded a hill -- We came upon a VW van that had not been so lucky. It was strung sideways across the inside lane of the westbound traffic on I-40. It must have just happened shortly before we arrived on the scene.

After taking a few deep breathes, being grateful for the life we were given, we slowed down considerably with the rest of the traffic. Sometimes the traffic was as slow as 25mph, not much higher than 50mph all the way into Amarillo, Texas that night. I lost count of the truckers that had jack-knifed off the side of the road. Wednesday morning brought 8.2 inches of snow at the Amarillo airport with blue, chilly skies for the rest of the adventure through Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

The truckers were out cruising double-time all day Wednesday to make up for slow traveling time the night before. It was trucker city on into Albuquerque! We made it through the first part of the journey in great shape -- reaching Durango around 8:30pm, Wednesday.

As for Past Oklahoma POW WWII News... I found another article in the September 12, 1943, newspaper concerning the POW camp that was located in Alva about that same time WWII was going strong.

Have a Great, safe Armistice (Veterans) Day, November 11, Saturday! Remember those who fought & died for the Freedoms we sometimes take for granted. You are important in this governing process! Do NOT let anyone take that away from you! Thanks for getting out in this Winter weather and exercising your right to Vote!

o OAKIE'S MAILBAG/LINKS

"Prisoner of War Camp Alva's First Military Installation -- German Prisoners Housed Here Until After Duration of War -- [Article taken from Vol. XLIV, Section D, 12 September 1943, Alva Review-Courier] -- History of the Alva Prisoner of War Camp - Woods County's first military installation in World War II - dates to a bombshell announcement on July 1, 1942, that a huge alien camp, equipped to house 3,000 internees and with a complement of 750 troops, would be built here."

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This little bit of "Pumpkin yard art- in the spirit of the season..." comes from a friend in Long Island, NY. Thanks, Joel! It made my Winter day! LOL_ROFL

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By BOB HERBERT: Could Bush Govern?... "It's bad enough to win the presidency without winning the popular vote; it would be much worse if questions about fairness tainted the victory in the state that put you over the top."

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By WILLIAM SAFIRE: The New 'Long Count'... Rather than taking to the streets, sleep-deprived voters are taking this stupendous civics lesson in stride, happily proud to be participants in making American history."

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"Hi Linda, Larry and I spent a month in Germany (West) in 1977 with my cousin. We went to Rothenburg am Tauber. My cousin was quite the historian, and told us that that was the only square remaining since World War II that still had all four walls. I have some pictures of it as it was in 1977 (all tourists). Will try to make time to scan them for you. Hope all is well with you. We've had lots of rain Thursday and Friday, but we need much more. I'm enjoying your letters." Ann

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Hi Linda! I started the Turkey Creek School program here at the Museum of the Cherokee Strip in Enid. The Turkey Creek School was built in 1894 in Imo, Oklahoma school was held there until the late 1940's. I could get exact dates at the museum if you're interested. I did the research for this project in 1994. The school building was moved from it's location in Imo to the Humphrey Heritage Village in 1993. Actually there were several schools established before 1903. I worked at the museum full time until 1996, now I volunteer for special events such as the Land Run celebration. Let me know if you'd like more information! Talk to you later! Rhonda Aunt Runner's Recipes

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"Linda! Your weekly newsletter always fills me with questions and the wish to share more information. Two things this week:
1)--Mrs. Evelyn Paris was my Spanish Teacher for three years at AHS (and one of my favorite teachers of all time, but don't tell my OTHER AHS teachers that!) I can't figure it out, but from your writings, you MUST be related somehow. Do you have communication with her? If so...tell her hello from Scott Downs. No. Wait. Tell her "Hola!" from Scott Downs. :) (tell her that yes, I'm still baking wheat germ bread, on occasion). Hahahaha! www.scottdowns.net
2)--Funny you should mention the Pilgrim Bard this week. Just a few days ago I ran across an autographed 1923 Pilgrim Bard soft-cover book and put it up For Sale on Ebay! I had no knowledge of this book until reading your newsletter this week. Thanks again for a great e-mail to wake up to every Saturday Morning!" -- Scott

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To subscribe to a FindLaw Newsletter, visit the FindLaw Newsletter Subscription Center

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ELECTION 2000 -- Florida Recount Proceeds as Lawyers Line Up

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Buchanan Says Disputed Florida Votes Are Gore's

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YOUR VOTE DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE- - "I was so troubled. But, I thought, `One vote. How much could that count?'" - HELEN HALPERIN, ,81, of Palm Beach County, Fla., who says she mistakenly cast her presidential vote. Full Story

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As our First Lady emerges from the shadow and begins to cast her own in the NY US Senate victory, I believe it will also be for the betterment of the whole country... NOT just New York State. As my older Sister always says, "We are all in this together!"

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San Juan Mountains of SW Colorado before the Winter Snow 11/08/00
before the Vallecito snow, 11/08/00
before the Vallecito snow 11/08/00
before the Vallecito snow 11/08/00
before the Vallecito snow 11/08/00

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"A Thanksgiving Thought... The following is something to ponder:
If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death ... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare, even in the United States.

If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful ... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder ... you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and remind everyone else how blessed we all are."

o OAKIE'S QUOTES/POEMS

"It's been an interesting life. I don't want to miss anything." -- by Harriet Hernandez, deceased 1999, at the approx.age of 92 years-old, Cuba, New Mexico.

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