Behind the scenes/the Swamp Fox
Rip Snorter is joined from time to time by The Swamp Fox, legendary veteran of the Revolutionary War who knew what was going on behind the lines.
Gene Obee of Burns was featured by writer Janet Post in the Peabody Gazette-Bulletin last week. Janet did a great job of presenting the facts, and just in time for the patriotic holiday. Obee is a great guy, which was expertly conveyed by the article. He served in the 99th Infantry Division during World War II, the same as your Ol' Editor. But, few people realize that we had "next door serial numbers." Both came from the Flint Hills prairie, Burns and Cassoday, both joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps at the age of 17 and were put into the Army Specialized Training Program. You never forget your Army serial number. Mine was 17 176 684. Gene's was 17 176 685.
We went to Ramona and Peabody to celebrate the Fourth. We drove the little red car, with the top down, and were burned by the July sun. It was fun. It also was fun to watch the kite flying contest at Ramona. Every boy who flew a kite will never forget the thrill. Ramona was dolled up for the holiday with the entire town decorated in a patriotic theme. It was a "bang up" Fourth, well organized and deemed a success.
After then driving to Peabody, top down, we parked on the shady side of the street to watch the parade go by. It was a good parade, lasting about 30 minutes with more than a thousand spectators (plus nearly another thousand participants.)
Peabody lived up to the town's decades of tradition for fireworks displays with intricate standing pieces and spectacular aerial displays. The event was heightened by a low level flyover of two B-1 bombers, afterburners ablaze. The capacity crowd enjoyed what all acclaimed as the "best ever."
Those who say all men are alike, "they put on their pants one leg at a time," aren't keen observers.
Boys jump into their trousers. Young men hold them in front, unaided, while putting in one leg at a time. More mature men lean against a doorway while pulling up their pants. And old men put on their trousers while seated.
Other differences observed include that boys pay scant attention to girls. Men go ga-ga about cute young things and lose all sense of reasoning. More mature men enjoy watching good looking women but, due to commitments, can't do much about it. And old men enjoy watching, too, but don't remember why.
Some men are born old while some never grow up. Age doesn't depend on years.
H.L. Menken said something about the fact that the older he became the more he mistrusted the doctrine that age brings wisdom.
— BILL MEYER
