"MOM"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. You know, you think about all the things that can happen to you in your lifetime that are sad, but you never realize the impact of it until it happens. I had thought about my Mother passing away because she had been quiet ill for a few months. This was back in 1989. Mom passed away in September of that year. A man whom I had met once, Jimmy Dean, from Plainview, Texas, the same Jimmy Dean who sings country music and founded the famous Jimmy Dean Sausage Company, had put out a tribute to his Mom and it suited my Mother so close, I used part of it and added parts to write this tribute to my Mom. Jimmy titled his I.O.U, and I saw no reason to try and think of a better title. It goes like this:-----MOM, FOR ABOUT 50 YEARS NOW I'VE BEEN CARRYING A BUNCH OF I.O.U'S AROUND INSIDE MY HEART AND I JUST HOPE IT'S NOT TOO LATE FOR AN ACCOUNTING. I OWE YOU FOR SO MANY THINGS, A LOT OF SERVICES LIKE NIGHT WATCHMAN FOR INSTANCE. FOR LYING AWAKE AT NIGHT AND LISTENING FOR COUGHS, CRIES, AND CREAKING FLOOR BOARDS FROM ME AND MY BROTHERS COMING IN TOO LATE. YOU HAD THE EYE OF AN EAGLE AND THE ROAR OF A LION, BUT YOU ALWAYS HAD A HEART AS BIG AS A HOUSE. I OWE YOU FOR SERVICES AS A SHORT ORDER COOK, A CHEF AND A BAKER FOR MAKING SIRLOIN OUT OF HAMBURGER, TURKEY OUT OF TUNA FISH, AND THREE BIG OLD STRAPPING BOYS OUT OF LEFTOVERS. I OWE YOU FOR CLEANING SERVICES, THE DAILY SCRUBBING OF FACE AND EARS, ALL WORK DONE BY HAND, AND FOR THE SMALL DUSTING OF A SMALL BOYS PANTS TO MAKE SURE HE LED A SPOTLESS LIFE. AND FOR WASHING AND IRONING NO LAUNDRY COULD EVER DO. FOR DRYING OUT THE PROBLEMS AND TEARS OF CHILDHOOD AND GROWING UP. I OWE YOU FOR SERVICES AS A BODY GUARD, FOR PROTECTING ME THROUGH THE TERROR OF THUNDER STORMS AND NIGHTMARES, AND OH YES, DON'T FORGET, TOO MANY GREEN APPLES. AND LORD KNOWS I OWE YOU FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION, FOR NURSING ME THROUGH THE MEASLES, THE MUMPS, BRUISES AND BUMPS, SPLINTORS, AND SPRING FEVER. AND LET'S NOT FORGET MEDICAL ADVICE EITHER, OH NO, IMPORTANT THINGS, LIKE DON'T SCRATCH IT OR IT WONT GET WELL, OR IF YOU CROSS YOUR EYES, THEIR GONNA STICK LIKE THAT, AND PROBABLY MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WAS BE SURE YOU HAVE ON CLEAN UNDERWARE BOY IN CASE YOU'RE IN AN ACCIDENT. I OWE YOU FOR VETENARIAN SERVICES FOR FEEDING EVERY LOST DOG THAT I DRAGGED HOME AT THE END OF A ROPE, AND FOR HEALING THE PAINS OF PUPPY LOVE. I OWE YOU FOR ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT THAT KEPT A HOUSEHOLD GOING DURING SOME PRETTY TOUGH TIMES WHEN DAD WAS AWAY. FOR WONDERFUL PRODUCTIONS AT CHRISTMAS, 4TH OF JULY'S, AND BIRTHDAYS'S, AND FOR MAKING MAKE BELIEVE COME TRUE ON A VERY LIMITED BUDGET. I OWE YOU FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK, FOR BUILDING KITES, CONFIDENCE, HOPES AND DREAMS , AND HOW YOU MADE THEM ALL TOUCH THE SKY. AND FOR CEMENTING A FAMILY TOGETHER SO IT COULD STAND THE WORSE KIND OF SHOCKS AND BLOWS, AND FOR LAYING DOWN A GOOD STRONG FOUNDATION TO BUILD A LIFE ON. I OWE YOU FOR CARRYING CHARGES, FOR CARRYING ME ON YOUR BOOKS FOR ALL THE NECESSITIES A GROWING BOY HAS JUST GOT TO HAVE. THINGS LIKE A PAIR OF HIGH HEEL BOOTS WITH A LITTLE POCKET ON THE SIDE FOR A JACK KNIFE. AND ONE THING MOM, I'LL NEVER FORGET, WHEN THERE WAS ONLY THREE PIECES OF APPLE PIE LEFT, AND FOUR HUNGRY PEOPLE, I NOTICED YOU WERE ALWAYS THE ONE WHO SUDDENLY DECIDED YOU DIDN' LIKE APPLE PIE IN THE FIRST PLACE. THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE THINGS OF WHICH PAYMENT IS LONG OVERDUE. THE PERSON I OWE THEM TO WORKED VERY CHEAP. SHE MANAGED BY SIMPLY DOING WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS SHE NEEDED FOR HERSELF. MY I.O.U'S ADD UP TO MUCH MORE THAN I COULD EVER HOPE TO REPAY, BUT, YOU KNOW, THE NICEST THING ABOUT IT ALL IS, I KNOW SHE WOULD MARK THE ENTIRE BILL PAID IN FULL IF SHE COULD JUST HEAR ME SAY FOUR LITTLE WORDS. SO HERE IS HOPING THAT SOMEWHERE UP THERE, GOD WILL OPEN A SMALL WINDOW JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR HER TO HEAR ME SAY, MOM, I LOVE YOU.-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Loed willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"COMPANY'S COMIN'"

Well, Kathy and Thomas are here from Roxton, Kendra, Jerry and Kakie Bear are on the way, Royce and Bea & Bryan and Mandy are in town, and Greg, Angie and Joshie live here now, so its going to be a great weekend of visitation. Joshie has sent out invitations to everyone to come to his house for breakfast Sat morning at 9 am. And to top it all off, My wonderful mother-in-law, Nanny II is here visiting and that makes it complete. Oh, and dont forget the K-9 group, Cowboy, Piper, Tarzan. Janie & Annie and of course, Mac & Jassie. I'm giving the old blog a rest for the weekend, but I'll be back on Monday. Ya'll take care.

"LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. About 50 years ago, a country singer/cowboy movie star named Tex Ritter wrote and recorded a song called "Hillbilly Heaven". He was the father of the late great John Ritter of "Three's Company" I re-wrote the song to my on version in poetry style and it goes like this:-----LAST NIGHT I HAD A DREAM, I WAS HEADED TOWARD THE SKY---RIGHT ON THROUGH THE CLOUDS I WENT, 'TIL I REACHED GOD'S HEAVEN ON HIGH---I FINALLY REACHED THOSE FAMOUS GATES AND WONDERED IF I COULD GET IN---WHEN A MAN CAME OVER AND APPROACHED ME, HE WAS TALL, NICE LOOKING AND THIN---HE ASK IF I HAD COME TO VISIT OR MAKE THIS MY PERMANENT PLACE---IT WAS ABOUT THAT TIME I LOOKED AND RECOGNIZED HIS FACE---STANDING HERE AT THESE BEAUTIFUL GATES TO WELCOME ME TO GOD'S GREAT CITY---WAS A COUNTRY SINGER I HAD ADMIRED SO MUCH, A MAN NAMED CONWAY TWITTY---I TOLD HIM I DIDN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO GET ME HERE---HE SAID ONCE YOU SEE THIS PLACE, YOU WONT EVEN CARE---HE OPENED THE GATES AND I WENT IN, AND BEGAN WALKING THOSE STREETS OF GOLD---THIS PLACE WHERE GOD'S PEOPLE ARE GATHERED, NEVER EVER TO GROW OLD---I SAW PEOPLE STANDING ON THE CORNER, I WENT TO SEE IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG---AND WHEN I GOT CLOSE ENOUGH, I SAW ELVIS PRESLEY SINGING A SONG---STRUMMING HIS GUITAR TO A COUNTRY BALLAD, WHILE LEANED UP AGAINST A PILLAR---I BEGAN TO LOOK THROUGH THE CROWD, AND I SAW ROGER MILLER---A LITTLE FARTHER DOWN WAS ANOTHER GROUP, AND THEY HAD FORMED A LINE---AND THEN I SAW A SIGN THAT READ, COME IN AND LISTEN TO PATSY CLINE---I WENT INSIDE AND BEGAN TO READ ALL THE SIGNS POSTED IN THE LOBBY---IT LISTED PATSY'S GUEST THAT NIGHT, JIM REEVES, MARTY ROBBINS, AND BUDDY HOLLY---ANOTHER SHOW COMING SOON, I KNEW WOULD BE ONE OF THE BEST---JOHNNY CASH, CARL PERKINS, AND THE BEAUTIFUL DOTTIE WEST---I WALKED AROUND THE LOBBY, AND A LOT OF STARS I MET---HANK WILLIAMS, ROY ACUFF, WAYLON JENNINGS AND TAMMY WYNETTE---I KNEW RIGHT THEN THIS WAS THE PLACE THAT I WANTED TO BE---I WANTED TO SHARE THEIR MUSIC, FROM NOW TO ETERNITY---I ASK WHAT I NEEDED TO DO, TO MAKE THIS MY PERMANENT HOME---AND WAS TOLD WHEN I DO THAT, I'D NEVER BE ALONE---GO TO THE GOLDEN TABERNACLE THEY SAID, AND SIGN UP TO JOIN OUR PLAN---AND WHEN I ARRIVED AS I'D BEEN TOLD, THERE I FOUND BUMPY AND ANN---AND WHEN I SAW THEM STANDING THERE, HAND IN HAND TOGETHER---I WANTED TO STAY IN GOD'S GREAT PLACE, AND I WANTED TO STAY FOREVER---I SAW A LOT OF SHOW OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, A LOT OF STARS I GOT TO MEET---AND ONE DAY I LOOKED UP AND SAW, JACOB, COMING DOWN THE STREET-----Now Jacob was carring a list in his hand that contained people who would be joining us over the next several years. People like George Strait, Kenny Rogers, Loretta Lynn, Lorrie Morgan, George Jones, Eddy Arnold, Brad Pasley, Randy Travis, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson and many many more. Then I looked at the list of other people, and it contained everyone in my family from Shonds's Little Jacob to Nanny 2 Sales. And scheduled after they all arrived at Heavens Great Country Hall of Fame was a concert: IN PERSON-MISS DOLLY PARTON. And that's when I started to wake up, and I thought, no, I'll just keep on dreaming, because someday, I know this dream will come true:-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

Answer to: "WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE"

Well, Nana had a great answer, Ang gave up, Karen was probably right for all of us, and Greg was too busy to answer, and I can understand that. The correct answer is KAYLEIGH FAITH and Kendra got 100, which means she now has another $10.00 added to her fund, Way to go Kendra!!!

"A MAN CALLED 'BUMPY'"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. Some 20 years ago, I lost my Father-in-Law. His name was Murrel Sales and we called him 'Bumpy'. Bumpy was one of a kind and his passing hit our close knit family very hard. He hadn't been ill at all and became sick shortly after supper one evening and by midnight he was gone. The day following his passing, I wrote a tribute to him and left it laying on the bar at the home where the family had gathered. One of the grand daughters, Michelle, found it, and to make a long story short, the day of the funeral, I found that tribute I had written laying next to the guest registration book at the entrance to the room where Bumpy lay. The family thought enough of it to want all his family and friends to see it, because I guess it kind of describe Bumpy as he really was. It goes like this:-----DEAR GOD,--WELL HE'S YOURS NOW AND WE THANK YOU FOR LETTING US HAVE HIM FOR A TIME. BUT, NOW THAT HE'S GONE TO BE WITH YOU, THERE IS A FEW THINGS WE WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT THIS MOST INCREDIBLE MAN. SOME THINGS WE WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO DO FOR HIM IF YOU HAVE TIME. HE DOES'T NEED MUCH BECAUSE HE ALWAYS GOT BY ON A LOT LESS THAN MOST FOLKS. MAKE SURE THERE IS A WATER FAUCET CLOSE BY WITH A CLEAN GLASS SO HE CAN HAVE A DRINK OF WATER EVERY NOW AND THEN. AND GOD, IF HE EVER STRAYS OFF VERY FAR, GET HIM BACK EARLY BECAUSE HE'S NOT MUCH FOR STAYING AWAY FROM HOME AT NIGHT. AND IF YOU HAVE AN OLD CAR OR AN OLD PICKUP SITTING AROUND UP THERE FOR HIM TO DRIVE, THAT'LL BE FINE. HE DOESN'T NEED A NEW ONE, HE NEVER HAD ONE. MAYBE THERE'S A SMALL PIECE OF LAND THAT HE COULD FARM, SO HE COULD RAISE A FEW BALES OF COTTON. I KNOW GOD, IT'S ASKING A LOT, BUT IF THERE HAPPEN TO BE AN OLD TRACTOR UP THERE IN THE BARN SOMEWHERE, PARK IT OUT THERE FOR HIM. HE LIKES AIR CONDITIONER ON IT, BUT, IF IT'S NOT THERE, HE WONT COMPLAIN. MAKE SURE THAT HE HAS AN OLD DOG TO TALK TO, HE LIKES AN OLD BIRD DOG, BUT REALLY, ANY OLD DOG WILL DO. AND GOD, IF THERE SHOULD BE A KID'S BALL GAME OF ANY KIND IN THE AREA, LET HIM KNOW ABOUT IT EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE, HE'D LIKE THAT. MAKE SURE HE ALWAYS HAS CLEAN CLOTHES, BECAUSE HE NEVER LOOKED ANY WAY BUT JUST NEAT. AND ONCE IN AWHILE AFTER A MEAL, NOT EVERY TIME, THROW IN AN OLD KING EDWARD CIGAR TO RELAX WITH. AND IF THERE IS TELEVISION UP THERE IN HEAVEN, GIVE HIM ONE OF THOSE FANCY CHANNEL CHANGERS SO HE WONT HAVE TO GET UP FROM HIS EASY CHAIR TO CHANGE THE STATION. MAKE SURE HE KEEPS HIS LITTLE GRIN IN THE CORNER OF HIS MOUTH, BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T BE THE SAME WITHOUT IT. THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A LOT GOD, BUT IT'S VERY LITTLE FOR A PERSON WHO WAS A LOT OF MAN. TAKE GOOD CARE OF HIM LORD, AND, IF YOU SHOULD RUN INTO HIM ANYTIME SOON, TELL BUMPY THAT WE LOVE HIM AND THAT WE WILL SEE HIM IN HEAVEN:-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.---I'm still waiting on a few people to respond before I can post the answer to "WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE", with all those ingredients mixed up together.

"WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE?"

ok, again, just for fun!! What Would You Have? if you took a small backyard swimming pool, emptied all the water, and filled it with the following ingredients: THE AROMA FROM 12 DOZEN RUBY RED ROSES: 25 5LB BAGS OF GRANULATED SUGAR: ALL THE SWEET JUICE FROM LOLLIPOPS THAT KIDS SUCK ON IN A YEAR: THE KISSES YOU GIVE YOUR GRAND KIDS IN A YEAR: MIX IT ALL UP AND SPRINKLE ON TOP EVERY NICE THING ANYONE EVER SAID ABOUT JESUS: POUR 7 FLAVORS OF ICE CREAM ON TOP, AND A DASH OF CHERRIES, ABOUT 75 TO 100 TOTAL: COVER IT WITH CHOCOLATE CANDY FOR A TOPPING: STACK ON TOP OF THAT ALL THE JOY KIDS UNDER 4 GET OUT OF CHRISTMAS AND BIRTHDAYS: AND FINISH IT OFF WITH ALL THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILES YOU'VE EVER SEEN: NOW, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE? CORRECT ANSWER WILL BE POSTED THURSDAY A.M. I NEED ANSWERS FROM NANA, ANG, KENDRA, KAREN, GREG, AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WISHES TO ANSWER.

"WHAT ARE GRAND KIDS"

GRANDKIDS MAKE GRANDPARENTS JUMP FOR JOY---MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF ITS A GIRL OR A BOY---THEY JUMP IN YOUR LAP FROM THE VERY START---BUT MOST OF ALL THEY JUMP INTO YOUR HEART---THEY THINK YOU'RE THE GREATEST, THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU---AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU THINK THEY ARE SPECIAL TOO---GRAND MA'S WILL SPOIL THEM, BUT NOT GRAND PA'S---THEY THINK BOTH OF YOU ARE A YEAR-AROUND SANTA CLAUS---WHEN THEY GET INTO TROUBLE, THEY KNOW WHERE TO TURN---THAT'S ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THEY LEARNED---MOMMA AND DADDY, WELL THEY ARE O.K.---BUT WITH GRAND MA AND GRAND PA THEY GET THEIR WAY---GIRLS PLAY GROWN-UP WHEN AT GRAND MA'S PLACE---PUTTING ROUGE AND LIPSTICK AND STUFF ON THEIR FACE---MAKING COOKIES AT GRAND MA'S SURE NEVER HURT---ESPECIALLY WHEN THEIR MADE OUT OF WATER AND DIRT---PLAYING IN THE MUD AND YELLING REAL LOUD---BOUNCING ON THE BED MAKING BELIEVE IT'S A CLOUD---ROLLING IN THE DIRT, GETTING CLOTHES ALL DIRTY---AND WHEN YOU SEE THEM, THEIR STILL PRETTY---GRAND KIDS ARE JEWELS AND YOURS ARE THE BEST---MUCH MORE VALUABLE THAN ALL THE REST---LOUD AND ROWDY, NEVER QUIET, LIKE A MOUSE---THEY CAN DO AS THEY PLEASE INSIDE GRAND MA'S HOUSE---THERE ARE TIMES THEY ARE ANGELS, YOU DON'T HEAR A PEEP---AND MOST OF THAT TIME IS WHEN THEIR ASLEEP---BUT GRAND MA'S AND GRAND PA'S, THEY JUST DON'T CARE---AS LONG AS THEIR GRAND KIDS ARE CLOSE BY SOMEWHERE---AND WHEN IT'S ALL OVER AND IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE---MAKES NO DIFFERENCE IF THERE'S 20 OR JUST ONE---GRAND KIDS ARE THE GREATEST AND THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE---THEY KNOW HOW TO MAKE GRAND PARENTS, LIGHT UP AND SHINE:-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"NANA'S CHRISTMAS"

T'WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, IT WAS QUIET ALL AROUND---NANA KATHY WAS WATCHING SNOW, FALL TO THE GROUND---NO ONE COULD TRAVEL, THE WEATHER WAS BAD---JOSHIE COULDN'T GET THERE AND NANA WAS SAD---SHE PUT ON SOME MUSIC, A GEORGE STRAIT CHRISTMAS SONG---SHE KNEW THAT THIS CHRISTMAS MIGHT BE VERY LONG---THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A NOISE SHE HEARD---SHE LOOKED AT THOMAS, BUT DIDN'T SAY A WORD---SHE WALKED SLOWLY TO THE WINDOW, LOOKED OUT INTO THE SNOW---BUT IT WAS ONLY THE WIND, STARTING TO BLOW---WITH TEARS IN HER EYES AND HER CHEEKS TURNED RED---NANA, SLOWLY, WENT OFF TO BED---SHE DREAMED OF HER JOSHIE AND IT HELP LIGHTEN THE LOAD---SHE WOKE UP WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE, COMING UP THE ROAD---SANTA'S REINDEERS HAD PAVED A LANE---AND DRIVING UP TO THE HOUSE WAS "THOMAS THE TRAIN"---SOMEONE WAS DRIVING, WHO COULD IT BE---NANA RAN THROUGH THE SNOW, TO SEE IF SHE COULD SEE---SHE RAN TO THE TRAIN AND MUCH TO HER SURPRISE---THERE STOOD HER JOSHIE, RIGHT BEFORE HER EYES---TO SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH NANA, HE HAD TRAVELED ALL NIGHT---RUDOLPH AND HIS RED NOSE PROVIDED THE LIGHT---NANA WAS HAPPY, SHE WAS NO LONGER SAD---JOSHIE HAD MADE CHRISTMAS, THE BEST, NANA EVER HAD---AND AS "THOMAS THE TRAIN" PULLED OUT OF SIGHT---THEY WAVED GOODBYE AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT:-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"HEADIN' WEST"

Hi Folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw and, this morning I guess I better bring you up to date on the Heffner Family. This one is called "Headin' West", and, it goes like this:-----THEY LIVED IN A TOWN CALLED "BIG 'D'", LIFE WAS ALWAYS IN A HURRY---RUSHING TO WORK AND RUSHING HOME, KINDA TOPSY TURVY---ONE DAY THE HUSBAND TOLD HIS WIFE, I THINK IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE---SHE SAID I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT MY MAN, OR MY NAME ISN'T ANGE---I'LL BID GOODBYE TO CAPITOL, I HOPE IT'S FOR THE BEST---AND WE'LL LOAD JOSH AND ALL OUR THINGS, AND MAYBE HEAD OUT WEST---THEY PACKED ALL THEIR BELONGINGS, IT WAS A TRAILER LOAD---PUT JOSHIE IN HIS CAR SEAT, AND THEN THEY HIT THE ROAD---THEY ARRIVED IN A SMALL NORTH TEXAS COMMUNITY, ONE EVENING ABOUT SUNDOWN---AND HERE THEY'D START A BRAND NEW LIFE, IN GOOD OLD PAMPA TOWN---HE FOUND A JOB, THEY FOUND A HOUSE, THANKS TO BEA AND ZOE---A HOUSE ANG'S MOTHER LIVED IN, ALMOST 25 YEARS AGO---HE'S LEARNING TO BE AN ELECTRICIAN, JUST WORKING ON THE LINE---THANKS TO MAC SUPPLY AND GOOD OLD COUSIN BRYAN---JOSHIE HAS A BACK YARD, BIG AND LOTS OF GRASS---DAD DRIVES A COMPANY TRUCK, MOM GOES TO WEIGHT WATCHERS CLASS---AND JOSHIE MISSES NANA, AND PAPA THOMAS TOO---SO HERE'S A KISS FROM JOSHIE, AIMMED STRAIGHT AT BOTH OF YOU---S M A C K-O---THEY SEEMED TO HAVE SETTLED IN, A BIG CHANGE IN THEIR LIFE---JUST ANOTHER HAPPY TALE, FOR A HUSBAND, HIS SON, AND HIS WIFE!-----I think things are really going to work out for Greg, Angie & Josh, it looks better every day. This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"GOD IS MY CO-PILOT"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw, with a story and a poem for you about my oldest grand daughter, Angela, and a small part of her life that happened 11 years ago. I received a letter from Angie, telling me of a decision she had made. She informed me that when she got out of high school, she was going to Missionary School in Waco, Texas and study to be a missionary and maybe go into foreign countries if that was what God wanted her to do with her life. Shortly after, Angela graduated from High School and enrolled in a Missionary School in Waco. I wrote this poem for her on June 5th, 1994. I titled it "God Is My Co-Pilot", and it goes like this:-----WITHIN YOUR HEART YOU HEAR A VOICE, AND SAID, DO I ANSWER THE CALL---IS THIS REALLY JESUS, MAY LORD AND SAVIOR, ASKING ME TO GIVE HIM MY ALL?---WHAT GREAT WORK IN THIS FIELD OF HIS, MIGHT HE HAVE IN STORE FOR ME---IS THIS MY CHANCE TO THANK MY LORD FOR DYING ON CALVARY'S TREE---I WONDER AS HE HUNG WITH NAILS IN HIS HANDS, DID HE THINK OF MY JOURNEY THEN---AND IF HE DID, I ASK YOU GOD, WHERE DO I BEGIN---AND HE MAY ANSWER, HAVE NO FEAR, I'LL BE THERE TO LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD---ALTHOUGH YOU MAY NOT KNOW IT NOW, YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE ROAD---DOES HE INTEND FOR ME TO LEAVE MY FAMILY AND LOVED ONES BEHIND---TO CAST MY CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ASIDE IN SEARCH OF MY MASTER'S SIGN---ONLY THE LORD WILL PROVIDE THE ANSWERS AND TELL ME WHICH DIRECTION TO TAKE---AND I HAVE TO BELIEVE WITHIN MY HEART, I'M DOING IT FOR JESUS'S SAKE---WHAT WILL I DO, WHERE WILL I GO, WHAT WORDS WILL I CHOOSE TO SAY---BUT I SHOULD KNOW THAT WORDS WILL COME, IF I ONLY CHOOSE TO PRAY---I MUST FULLY COMMITT MY LIFE TO HIM, PLACE MY SOUL ENTIRELY IN HIS HANDS---AND WHEN HE FEELS MY TIME HAS COME, I'LL JOURNEY TO THOSE FOREIGN LANDS---THE 3RD VERSE OF THE 23RD PSALMS SAYS THAT HE LEADETH ME---IN THE PATH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HIS NAME SAKE, MT HEART MUST BELIEVE IN THEE---AND WHILE I AM THERE IF HE DESIRE I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH---I WILL FEAR NO EVIL FOR I AM COMFORTED, BY THY PRESENCE, AND THY ROD, AND THY STAFF---I KNOW HE WILL CALL AND SOMEDAY SOON, AND I MUST BE READY FOR THE TASK---TO ACCEPT THE JOB HE HAS LAID DOWN FOR ME, AND DO IT WITHOUT WEARING A MASK---I MUST BE ME, AND ONLY ME, AND MY PRAYERS MUST COME FROM MY HEART---AND I MUST BE READY TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE, WHEN GOD SAYS CHILD, IT'S TIME TO START!-----I am very happy to say that after enrollment at Waco, Angela traveled to Turkey on a missionary journey with other students.. I was so proud of her, not only for following Gods will, but, she made my poem come true. This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"A TOUCH OF CLASS"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw, and this morning I would like to share with you a poem I wrote for my wife again, this one was on our 50th wedding anniversary. It's called "A Touch Of Class". It goes like this:-----I HAVE A FRIEND, A SPECIAL FRIEND, SHE WALKS ON HOLY GROUND---AND ONCE IN AWHILE, WITH A BEAUTIFUL SMILE, SHE COMES AROUND---AND TENDERLY, SHE COMFORTS ME, FOR AN ANGEL SHE COULD PASS---I CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY, THAT EVERYDAY, SHE HAS A TOUCH OF CLASS---AND WAY BACK WHEN OUR MARRIAGE BEGAN, THIS FRIEND SHE PLANTED A SEED---AND SINCE THAT TIME, THIS HEART OF MINE, HAS NO OTHER NEED---I'M NEVER ALONE, THE SEED HAS GROWN, AND IS CLEAR AS CRYSTAL GLASS---SHE FILLS MY LIFE, FOR SHE'S MY WIFE, WITH A BEAUTIFUL TOUCH OF CLASS---OUR MOMENTS TOGETHER WILL LAST FOREVER, AND NEVER BE TORN APART---AND THIS FRIEND TO THE VERY END, WILL REMAIN DEEPLY IN MY HEART---AND WHEN DARKNESS FALLS, AND GOD CALLS, AND INTO HEAVEN WE PASS---THE WORLD WILL KNOW, THAT MY BEAUTIFUL JO, WAS SOMEONE WITH A TOUCH OF CLASS!-----This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"AN ANGEL TOOK HER HOME"

IT'S BEEN AWHILE SINCE ANN WENT AWAY---WE ALL HOPED AT FIRST THAT SHE COULD STAY---BUT GOD, WE REALIZE, HE HAD A PLAN---AND WE KNOW NOW IT INCLUDED ANN--HE TOOK HER ON A SUNDAY NIGHT---YEARS AFTER SHE FOUGHT A COURAGEOUS FIGHT---AND MOUNTED HER ON THAT EAGLE'S WING---AND TOOK HER HOME WHERE ANGELS SING---IT'S RUMORED THAT WHEN HE'S READY FOR YOU TO COME---HE SENDS AN ANGEL TO SHOW THE WAY HOME---WHO WAS THIS ANGEL THAT CAME THAT DAY---TO BRIGHTEN THE PATH AND SHOW ANN THE WAY---WAS IT AN ANGEL WHO HAD BEEN THERE AWHILE---WAS IT AN ADULT OR MAYBE A CHILD---WHO WAS THIS ANGEL THAT CAME FROM ON HIGH---TO SHOW ANN THE WAY TO GOD'S HEAVENLY SKY---I THINK THIS ANGEL WAS SOMEONE SHE KNEW---SOMEONE ALSO DEAR TO ME AND YOU---SOMEONE WE LOST A FEW YEARS AGO---WHO STILL KEEPS OUR MINDS AND HEARTS AGLOW---I THINK BUMPY CAME TO HEREFORD THAT NIGHT---IT MUST HAVE BEEN A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT---AS HE CAME THROUGH THE CLOUDS LIKE A SNOW WHITE DOVE---AND LIFTED HER UP TO GOD'S SWEET LOVE---THATS THE REASON WE SHOULD NEVER CRY---FOR NOW WE KNOW THE REASONS WHY---THE ANGEL WHO CAME WANTED US TO SEE---ANN IS WHERE SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE---FOR BUMPY HE HAD A FIRST HAND LOOK---WE ALL KNOW HE WAS IN GOD'S BOOK---AND THE MESSAGE HE GAVE US, WE KNOW IT'S TRUE---ANN'S NAME WAS WRITTEN IN GOD'S BOOK TOO---IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE HER CREATION---IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HER DESTINATION---FROM THE DAY SHE WAS BORN TO THE NIGHT THAT SHE DIED---THE ANGELS WATCHED OVER HER WITH GREAT PRIDE---SO, HER AND BUMPY ARE UP THERE ON HIGH---THEY WILL COME AS ANGELS. SEEKING YOU AND I---AND IN DEATH, LIKE ANN, WE WON'T BE ALONE---FOR ANN AND BUMPY WILL COME TAKE US HOME---AND WHEN WE'RE ALL THERE WITH OUR SISTER AND DAD---A FAMILY REUNION ONCE AGAIN WILL BE HAD---AND WE'LL HEAR THE SWEET MUSIC OF HEAVEN PLAY---AND REMEMBER THE NIGHT THAT ANN WENT AWAY---IT WAS SAD AT THE TIME BUT NOW WE ALL KNOW---WHEN IT COMES TIME THAT WE SHOULD GO---GOD ONCE AGAIN WILL SEND AN ANGEL DOWN BELOW---AND BECAUSE OF ANN--WE'LL BE READY TO GO........Two Rexas PawPaw, signing off.

TRIVIA ANSWERS

1. Aaron, Tupelo, Miss/ 2. No presidents picture on $10.00 bill, Hamilton was never president/ 3.Reynolds/ 4.J Woodward/ 5. Dolly Parton/ 6. Strait signed in 1980, Web shows two different first No 1 singles, either is correct, If Your Thinking You Want A Stranger and Fool Hearted Memory in 1982. Unwound was first No 1 Album./ 7. Rogers/ 8.Autry/ 9.J J Walker/ 10. The Judds.-----Only three took test, Angie made 85, Kathy made 75, Greg made 65.

'TRIVIA DAY'

Just for fun, let's see how many questions you can answer correctly. 10 points for each right answer and it may take you a bit of research on your part. Correct answers will be posted on Friday, Oct 21st: No 1---What was the birthplace of Elvis Presley and what was his middle name? No 2---Which presidents picture is on a $10.00 bill? No 3---Who played the town blacksmith in the original "GUNSMOKE" series back in the 50's and 60's? No 4---One of the longest marriages in Hollywood is Paul Newman. Who is his wife? No 5---Unscramble this name: LLOYD RATPON. No 6---When was George Strait signed as a professional recording star and what year did he have his first No 1 hit and what was the song. No 7---Name the only person who is inducted into the Country Music Hall Of Fame twice. No 8---What cowboy movie star owned the Angels Professional Baseball Team? No 9---Who was the original recorder of 'MR BOJANGLES'? No 10---Who recorded the song "GRANPA". Good Luck!

"IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw and I know you are all waiting to hear what the last thing you would do if you won the Texas Lottery. Before I tell you, I'm going to give you some Food For Thought! It's a poem that I borrowed part of and added part of and it makes for some interesting thinking. It goes like this:-----IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE TO SPEND A DAY OR TWO---IF HE CAME UNEXPECTED, JUST DROPPED IN ON YOU---I KNOW YOU'D GIVE YOUR NICEST ROOM TO SUCH AN HONORED GUEST---AND ALL THE FOOD YOU WOULD SERVE HIM WOULD BE THE VERY BEST---AND YOU WOULD KEEP ASSURING HIM YOU WERE GLAD TO HAVE HIM THERE---THAT SERVING HIM IN YOUR HOME WAS JOY BEYOND COMPARE---BUT WHEN YOU SAW HIM COMING, WOULD YOU MEET HIM AT THE DOOR---WITH YOUR ARMS OUTSTRETCHED AND A WELCOME FOR YOUR HEAVENLY VISITOR---OR WOULD YOU HAVE TO CHANGE YOUR CLOTHES BEFORE YOU LET HIM IN---OR HIDE CERTAIN MAGAZINES AND PUT THE BIBLE WHERE THEY HAD BEEN---WOULD YOU TURN OFF THE T.V. AND HOPE HE HADN'T HEARD---AND WISH YOU HADN'T UTTERED THAT LAST LOUD HASTY WORD---WOULD YOU HIDE YOUR WORLD OF MUSIC AND PUT SOME HYMN BOOKS OUT---COULD YOU LET JESUS WALK RIGHT IN OR WOULD YOU RUSH ABOUT---AND I WONDER IF THE SAVIOR SPENT A DAY OR TWO WITH YOU---WOULD YOU GO RIGHT ON DOING THE THINGS YOU ALWAYS DO---WOULD YOU GO RIGHT ON SAYING THE THINGS YOU ALWAYS SAY---WOULD LIFE FOR YOU CONTINUE AS IT DOES FROM DAY TO DAY---WOULD YOUR FAMILY CONVERSATION KEEP UP IT'S USUAL PACE---OR WOULD YOU FIND IT HARD EACH MEAL TO SAY A TABLE GRACE---WOULD YOU SING THE SONGS YOU ALWAYS SING AND READ THE BOOKS YOU ALWAYS READ---AND LET HIM KNOW ALL THE THINGS ON WHICH YOUR MIND AND SPIRIT FEED---WOULD YOU TAKE JESUS WITH YOU EVERY WHERE YOU PLAN TO GO---OR MAYBE WOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR PLANS FOR JUST A DAY OR SO---WOULD YOU BE GLAD TO HAVE HIM MEET YOUR VERY CLOSEST FRIENDS---OR HOPE THAT THEY WOULD STAY AWAY UNTIL HIS VISIT ENDS---WOULD YOU BE GLAD TO HAVE HIM STAY FOREVER ON AND ON---OR WOULD YOU BREATH WITH GREAT RELIEF WHEN AT LAST HE HAD GONE---IT MIGHT BE INTERESTING TO KNOW THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD DO---IF JESUS CAME IN PERSON TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU---YES, IF JESUS CAME TO YOUR HOUSE, I WONDER--WHAT YOU WOULD DO!-----This is Two Texas PawPaw. signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow. Oh, by the way, the last thing all of you would do if you won the Texas Lottery, YOU WOULD WAKE UP FROM A TERRIBLE DREAM!!!

"YOU WON THE TEXAS LOTTERY"

OK, this should be fun, follow the story line. You stop at a convienent store and purchase a ticket for the Texas Lottery for Wednesday night. After the drawing, you discover that you hold the winning ticket. The pot is $20,000,000.00 and after taxes you receive clear $12,000,000.00. The first thing you do is go to Austin and pick up your money. After that, you decide what the first 5 things you will do with the money and tomorrow, I, Two Texas PawPaw will tell you the last thing you are going to do. This is for five people to answer: NANA, ANG, KENDRA, GREG, and KAREN. Let me see some answers.

"MARTY ROBBINS"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw and this morning I want to give you a tribute to a country singing legend. If you're above the age of 40, you probably know who Marty Robbins was. If you're between 30 and 40, you've probably heard his music. If you're below the age of 30, you may have never heard of him, and if you don't like country music, you've missed some great entertainment in your life. Marty has been dead for almost 23 years and he was always one of my favorites. I hope he was one of yours. It goes like this:-----THE DAY, DEC THE 8TH, 1982---THE DEATH OF A COUNTRY STAR WAS THE HEADLINE IN THE NEWS---HE PASSED THROUGH THIS WORLD ON A VERY LARGE NOTE---HE LEFT US EVERYTHING FROM "EL PASO" TO "A WHITE SPORT COAT---HIS SONGS THRILLED MANY MILLIONS, NO MATTER WHAT THEIR AGE---WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH A RECORD OR PERFORMING ON THE STAGE---HIS HOME WAS THE GRAND 'OL OPRY, IN 1953 HE CAME---AND JUST WEEKS BEFORE HIS PASSING, THEY VOTED HIM TO THE COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME---"MY WOMAN, MY WOMAN, MY WIFE", WAS 1970'S BEST COUNTRY SONG---THE LIST OF HIS OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS, YOU'LL FIND IT VERY LONG---THE DEATH OF MARTY ROBBINS LEFT MANY BALLADS IN OUR SITE---THE WORLD LOST A TALENT, COUNTRY MUSIC LOST A GIANT---WE WILL REMEMBER YOU MARTY ROBBINS AS ONE OF COUNTRY MUSICS BEST---YOUR SONGS WILL LIVE FOREVER, AND WITH GOD YOUR SOUL WILL REST-----Do you remember these other great country stars we lost? Jim Reeves, Roger Miller, Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Faron Young, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Roy Acuff, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and the list goes on and on. I hope you are a country music fan, and, until next time, this is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"WHAT IS A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw and this morning I want to give you a description of "What Is A Daughter-In-Law". -----A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW COMES IN TO YOUR LIFE SOME 18 TO 22 YEARS AFTER YOUR SON IS BORN, BUT SHE ALSO COMES INTO YOUR HEART, LIKE MINE DID---A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TAKES AWAY THE ONE THING YOU HAVE SPENT THOSE 20 ODD YEARS TRYING TO DO RIGHT BY, BUT SHE ALSO TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY WITH HER CHARM AND BEAUTY, LIKE MINE DID---A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW IS THE CAUSE OF A NEW BEGINNING IN THE LIVES OF 4 PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT EVERYTHING WOULD ALWAYS BE THE SAME, AND YET YOU FIND YOURSELF THANKING GOD THAT SHE CAME ALONG AT ALL, LIKE MINE DID-----A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW EMBARKS UPON YOUR BIRTHDAYS, YOUR HOLIDAYS, YOUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS'S AND THEN YOU REALIZE SHE BECOMES THE GREATEST GIFT YOU EVER HAD THE PLEASURE OF RECEIVING, JUST BECAUSE SHE IS YOUR DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, LIKE MINE IS-----A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TAKES FROM YOU A PART OF YOUR LIFE THAT SEEMS AS THOUGH IT TOOK YOU AN ETERNITY TO CREATE, AND YET SHE GIVES IT ALL BACK WHEN SHE BLESSES YOU WITH A GRAND SON THAT I AND HIS GRANDMOTHER WILL CHERISH FOREVER, LIKE WE WILL-----THE DREAMS AND THE HOPES THAT YOU HAD FOR YOUR FAMILY BEFORE SHE CAME ALONG SEEMED ALWAYS JUST OUT OF REACH, AND YET, AFTER SHE ARRIVED, THE DREAMS AND THE HOPES BECOME ACCEPTABLE JUST AS THEY ARE, REGARDLESS OF THEIR RICHNESS, LIKE MINE ARE-----THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING BELINDA OUR WAY, AND MAKING HER A NECESSITY IN OUR LIVES, LIKE SHE IS-----WHO IS AND WHAT IS A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW? YOU'LL NEVER KNOW UNLESS YOU GET ONE, LIKE MINE-----I can't imagine life without Bea. This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"JACOB"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. My poem this morning is a tribute to a great little guy, Jacob Williams. If you are not a member of my family, you didn't know Jacob, he was my neice's boy, my great nephew and a wonderful little fella. 18 years old and as full of life as anyone could be. We lost Jacob in June of this year, 2005, and we know where Jacob is today. He left behind a mother and father, two sisters, two sets of grandparents, almost 100 other family members and a multitude of friends in Anton, Texas and other places he lived in his short life. He had just enrolled in college and his desire was to become a sports broadcaster because of his love of all sports. He was a member of the Anton High School football team and graduated from Anton shortly before he went to be with the Lord. This is how that tribute goes:-----A LIGHT WENT OUT IN ANTON TODAY--JACOB WILLIAMS HAS GONE AWAY--HIS SHINNING LIGHT WAS BRIGHT AND CLEAR---THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF, BUT THE GLOW IS STILL HERE--HIS MANY FRIENDS WILL MISS HIM SO MUCH--HIS CHEERY WAYS AS THEIR LIVES HE TOUCHED--HIS MANY FRIENDS KNEW HIM SO WELL--AS THEY LAUGHED AT THE FUNNY STORIES HE WOULD TELL--ROGER AND DANA, SAD TIMES YOU WILL FACE--BUT REMEMBER, JACOB IS IN A BETTER PLACE--HANNAH AND JORDAN, YOUR BROTHER IS GONE--BUT REMEMBER, HE'S WITH GOD, HE'S NOT ALONE--BUSTER AND LORETTA, YOU ALREADY KNOW, IT WAS GOD'S WILL THAT JACOB SHOULD GO--AND TROY AND JANICE KNOW TOO, THAT FROM THIS DAY--JACOB IS CURED IN A HEAVENLY WAY--THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS IN JACOBS SHORT LIFE, HE NEVER GOT TO SEE--BUT WE SHOULD NEVER WORRY ABOUT WHAT JACOB WANTED TO BE--BECAUSE SOMEWHERE UP IN HEAVEN THERE ARE SPORTING EVENTS, PLAYED IN "HEAVENS HALL OF FAME"--AND IF YOU LISTEN REAL CLOSE, YOU WILL PROBABLY HEAR, JACOB WILLIAMS BROADCASTING THE GAME. GOODBYE JACOB-WE WILL MISS YOU.-----This is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"THE PINK LETTER"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw , and today you get a double dose. This is not a poem, its a tale about a man in his 30's and the adventure of his life because of a letter he received. It goes like this:----- A MAN LIVING IN A BOARDING HOUSE IN A SMALL TOWN RECEIVED A LETTER ONE DAY IN A PINK ENVELOPE. HE OPENED THE ENVELOPE AND FOUND A LETTER WRITTEN ON PINK PAPER THAT MATCHED THE ENVELOPE. IT WAS WRITTEN IN A FORIEGN LANGUAGE WHICH HE COULD NOT READ. HE LOOKED AT THE POSTMARK AND SAW IT WAS FROM GERMANY. STANDING ON THE FRONT PORCH OF THE BOARDING HOUSE, STAIRING AT THE LETTER, THE LANDLORD CAME OUT THE FRONT DOOR AND SAW HIM. HE TOLD THE MAN HE HOPED IT WASN'T BAD NEWS. AFTER THE MAN TOLD HIM WHAT HE HAD, THE LANDLORD REPLIED THAT HE COULD READ GERMAN AND HE WOULD BE GLAD TO TELL HIM WHAT THE PINK LETTER SAID. THE MAN HANDED THE LETTER TO THE LANDLORD AND AFTER READING THE FIRST TWO LINES, THE LANDLORD TOSSED THE LETTER AT THE MAN RAPIDLY, SOCKED HIM IN BOTH EYES, KNOCKING HIM DOWN TO THE PORCH, AND SCREAMED AT HIM TO GET HIS BELONGINGS OUT OF HIS BOARDING HOUSE AND LEAVE BEFORE HE DECIDED TO SHOOT HIM. THE MAN HURRIEDLY PACKED AND LEFT. WALKING DOWN THE STREET CARRYING HIS SUITCASES, HE MET AN OLD WOMAN, SHE LOOKED TO BE 85 OR 90 YEARS OLD, SHUFFLING ALONG WITH A WALKER FOR ASSISTANCE AND A CANE HANGING ON HER ARM. SHE SAW THE MAN WAS BRUISED IN THE FACE AND ASK IF HE WAS ALRIGHT. HE TOLD HER WHAT HAPPENED AND SHE REPLIED THAT SHE COULD READ GERMAN AND SHE CERTAINLY WAS IN NO POSITION TO HARM HIM AND SHE WOULD BE GLAD TO READ HIM THE CONTENTS OF THE PINK LETTER. THINKING THAT SURELY HE WOULD BE SAFE FROM HER, HE CONSENTED TO LET HER READ THE LETTER. SHE TOOK THE LETTER, ADJUSTED HER GLASSES, READ THE FIRST COUPLE OF LINES, WADDED THE LETTER UP, THREW IT ON THE GROUND, AND BEGAN HITTING THE MAN OVER THE HEAD WITH HER CANE. A POLICEMAN DRIVING BY SAW THIS ACTION, STOPPED, AND RUSHED OVER TO THE SCENE AND ASK WHAT WAS GOING ON HERE. THE OLD WOMAN ASK THE POLICEMAN IF HE COULD READ GERMAN AND HE SAID HE COULD. SHE PICKED THE LETTER UP FROM THE GROUND AND HANDED IT TO THE OFFICER. HE READ THE FIRST TWO LINES, REACHED FOR HIS BILLY CLUB AND KNOCKED THE MAN TO THE GROUND, SLAPPED THE HANDCUFFS ON HIM AND HAULED HIM OFF TO JAIL. THE NEXT MORNING THE MAN WAS TAKEN BEFORE THE JUDGE AND THE JUDGE ASK WHAT WERE THE CHARGES AGAINST THIS MAN. THE COURT REPORTER HANDED THE PINK LETTER TO THE JUDGE, AND, ABLE TO READ GERMAN, READ THE FIRST TWO LINES, SLAMMED HIS GAVIL ON HIS DESK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND YELLED TO GET THIS MAN OUT OF HIS COURTROOM AND SEND HIM TO PRISON FOR 20 TEARS. WHILE IN PRISON, THE MAN WAS BEATEN 147 TIMES BECAUSE OF THE PINK LETTER. AFTER TWENTY YEARS, HE WAS RELEASED AND HAD DECIDED TO GO TO GERMANY TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND OUT WHAT THE PINK LETTER WAS ALL ABOUT. HE BOUGHT A TICKET AND GOT ON A BOAT TO SAIL FOR GERMANY. THE FIRST NIGHT ON THE BOAT HE WAS STANDING ON THE DECK WHEN THE SEA CAPTAIN OF THE BOAT CAME UP TO HIM. THE SEA CAPTAIN WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR AND ONLY HAD ONE ARM. THEY STRUCK UP A CONVERSATION AND SHORTLY INTO THEIR CONVERSATION, THE MAN TOLD THE SEA CAPTAIN HIS STORY. OF COURSE THE CAPTAIN OFFERED TO READ THE LETTER BUT BY THIS TIME THE MAN HAD LEARNED NEVER TO TRUST ANYONE AGAIN.. THE CAPTAIN TOLD HIM, LOOK, I'M IN A WHEELCHAIR, ONE ARM, AND YOU CAN STAND OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DECK WHERE I CAN'T REACH YOU, AND I PROMISE I WILL READ YOU THE ENTIRE CONTENS OUT LOUD AND NEVER HARM YOU. NO ONE HAD EVER PROMISED THE MAN BEFORE LIKE THE CAPTAIN DID, AND, CONSIDERING HIS CONDITION, THE MAN AGREED TO THE CAPTAINS OFFER. HE HANDED THE CAPTAIN THE PINK LETTER, WALKED OVER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DECK, AND AS THE CAPTAIN LAID THE LETTER IN HIS LAP WITH HIS ONLY GOOD ARM, HE REACHED INTO HIS POCKET FOR HIS GLASSES. JUST AS HE DID, A PUFF OF WIND CAME ACCROSS THE DECK AND BLEW THE LETTER OUT TO SEA, AND THE MAN NEVER KNEW WHAT THE PINK LETTER SAID.-----This is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don"t rise, and I don't get shot, I'll be back tomorrow.

"WHAT IS A SWEETHEART?"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. Some of you out there, if not all of you, might get tired of me talking about my wife, but I never get tired of writing about her, so grin and bear it. We were married in Sept of 1953 and she had just turned 16 in Feb. Everyone said we were too young and it would never last, but I guess after 52 years, we fooled them all. In 1977, she turned 40 and I wrote her a poem on her 40th birthday. I call it, "What Is A Sweetheart?" It goes like this-----TODAY YOU'RE TURNING 40 AND I'VE LOVED YOU FROM THE START---AND NOW I WANT TO TELL YOU, "WHAT IS A SWEETHEART"---A SWEET HEART IS THE SOMEONE YOU WOULD WRITE A BOOK ABOUT---THE ONE YOU LOVE TO BE WITH AND WOULD HATE TO BE WITHOUT---A SWEETHEART IS A KNOWING LOOK, A HAND WITHIN YOUR OWN---THE VOICE YOU ALWAYS WANT TO HEAR WHEN YOU PICK UP THE PHONE---A SWEETHEART UNDERSTANDS YOUR MOODS, AND LAUGHS AT THINGS YOU SAY---OR SEES YOU WHEN YOU'RE AT YOUR WORST BUT LOVES YOU ANYWAY---A SWEETHEART IS THE ONE YOU KISS AND MAKE-UP WITH AGAIN---WHEN THERE IS A LITTLE DIFFERENCE OF OPINION NOW AND THEN---A SWEETHEART IS THE SOMEONE THAT YOU'RE ALWAYS THINKING OF---AND THE VERY SPECIAL REASON WHY YOU KNOW THAT YOU'RE IN LOVE---AT FORTY YOU'RE AS FULL OF LOVE AS YOU COULD EVER BE---THAT IS WHAT A SWEETHEART IS, AND YOU MEAN SO MUCH TO ME-----Feb 11, 1977. This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"THE 80TH BIRTHDAY"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw. Last night, Nanny and I had a great dinner with my grand daughter and her husband Greg and my best friend, Josh, in their new home. Had a great visit and the food was outstanding. It seems that everytime we go and visit any of the family, its a great event, which brings me to my next poem to pass on to you, About 5 years ago, a wonderful woman turned 80, my mother-in-law. There is no way to describe her other than to say she is the perfect mother-in-law. By that I mean she has been a rock to everybody in the family. She is still living in Slaton Texas and about to turn 86 and going strong. In 1999 the family honored her with a birthday party at her church in Slaton and I think everyone was there. This is the poem I wrote for her at that time. It goes like this-----SHE GOES THROUGH LIFE SHARING LAUGHTER AND TEARS---SHE ROCKED SIX CRADLES IN THE EARLY YEARS---SHE DID HER BEST TO KEEP HER CHILDREN FROM HARM---AND SHE RAISED ALL SIX ON A COTTON FARM---SHE NURSED THEM ALL THROUGH BRUISES AND BUMPS---FIGHTS AND FLU AND MEASLES AND MUMPS---IT WAS ALWAYS THEIR SAFETY SHE WAS THINKING OF---AS SHE WORKED ALONGSIDE BUMPY, THE MAN THAT SHE LOVED---THEY RAISED THEIR CROPS AND HAULED IT TO THE GIN---GETTING JUST ENOUGH MONEY TO START OVER AGAIN---AND WHEN CHRISTMAS CAME AND THE CHILDREN NEEDED A LIFT---SHE MADE SURE EACH ONE GOT A SMALL GIFT---AND WHEN ALL THE GIFTS HAD BEEN HANDED OUT---AS LONG AS THEY GOT THEIR'S, SHE COULD DO WITHOUT---AND WHEN THEY GREW UP AND BEGIN TO LEAVE HOME---SHE KNEW SHE'D NEVER WORRY ABOUT BEING ALONE---EACH OF HER CHILDREN HAD FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN---BUT EACH OF HER CHILDREN LOVED TO COME BACK HOME---AND GRANDKIDS ALL OVER LIKE TO GO TO THEIR GRANNY'S---AND THERE WAS NOTHING LIKE A WEEKEND AT NANNYS---AND LATER VACATIONS WITH HER DAUGHTERS EACH YEAR---WAS ALWAYS FULL OF TENDER LOVE AND CARE---AND NOW SHE'S TURNED 80, BUT SHE'S STILL THE SAME---WE JUST VOTED HER TO THE "MOTHERS HALL OF FAME"---AND WHEN SHE'S NEEDED, SHE NEVER FAILS---THE "MOTHER OF THE CENTURY" IS EUNICE SALES---SO HAVE A HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AND BE AS YOUNG AS YOU FEEL---BECAUSE WE, YOUR CHILDREN ALL LOVE YOU, AND, WE ALWAYS WILL!-----My goal right now is to write her another poem when she turns 90. The way she is rolling along, she'll probably out live us all. This is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"BRYAN"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw and this morning I'm going to talk about my grandson, His name is Bryan and I wrote a poem for him on his 21st birthday. That was five years ago and a lot has happened since then and I might add, it's all been good. He is married now, a complete about face from his early intentions, to a very sweet girl named Mandy and she is a real gem. The poem I wrote for him goes like this-----HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR SEVERAL YEARS, AND HIS NAME IS BRYAN---HIS GRANDMA JO THINKS HE IS COOL AND SWEET AS A GLASS OF GOOD WINE---HE WORKS WITH DAD IN A BIG BLACK TRUCK, AND HE'S AN ONLY SON---HE'S ABOUT TO START A BRAND NEW JOURNEY, HE'S TURNING TWENTYONE---HE CLAIMS HE'LL BE A BACHELOR, HAS NO DESIRE TO BE A GROOM---THE CLOSEST HE GETS TO ANY GIRL IS CHASING HER AROUND THE ROOM---I'VE HEARD THAT BACHELOR THING BEFORE, IT HAS A FAMILIAR RING---MANY, MANY YEARS AGO, HIS DAD SAID THE SAME DARN THING---WE LABEL HIM THE "NEW KID IN TOWN", HE'LL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU---NOW HE CAN DO LOTS OF THINGS, THAT BEFORE, HE COULDN'T DO---HE BOUGHT HIMSELF A HOUSE AWHILE BACK, MOVED AWAY FROM MOM AND DAD---HE GOT HIMSELF A ROOM MATE AND MADE HIM A BACHELOR PAD---HE'S NOT MUCH FOR COOKING, NOR EATING OUT ALONE---AND WHEN HE WANTS A GOOD MEAL, HE KNOWS THAT MOM'S AT HOME---HE SELDOM EVER GETS IN TROUBLE, THIS WE DO NOT DOUBT---HE KNOWS IF HE GETS OUT OF LINE, DAD'S GONNA FIND IT OUT---SO HERE'S TO GRANDSON BRYAN, AN ADULT HE WILL BE---AND NO ONE COULD BE PROUDER THAN HIS GRANDMA JO AND ME---AND HE SHOULD KNOW THAT WHEN HE'S OUT, AND HE SHOULD EVER PASS US---AND THERE IS ANYTHING HE NEEDS, ALL HE HAS TO DO IS ASK US-----Bryan has his own business now called MAC SUPPLY in Pampa, Texas. Its an electrical business and I must say, quiet successful. I'm very proud to call him "My Grandson". This is Two Texas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

'THE LITTLE PONDEROSA'

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw with a tale for you done in poetry style, so saddle up and come along with me, its the nearest thing to heaven their is, and I call it "The Little Ponderosa": It goes like this-----WAY BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF GOD'S COUNTRY, PRETTY CLOSE TO THE ARKANSAS LINE---THERE IS A PLACE I CALL LITTLE PONDEROSA, I SURE DO WISH IT WAS MINE---IT'S A PLACE THAT ANY TEXAN WOULD LOVE TO CALL HIS HOME---WHERE CHICKENS AND GOATS AND COWS AND HOGS AND A BUNCH OF LITTLE DOGS ROAM---A HALF DOZEN PONDS WHERE YOU CAN FISH IF THATS WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO---A SUN SHINY MORNING, PEACE AND QUIET, AND A MOON TO WATCH OVER YOU---I GO THERE OFTEN TO VISIT THOSE FOLKS, IM BLESSED WITH HOSPITALITY AND GOODWILL---I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO SEE LITTLE JOE CARTWRIGHT COME RIDING OVER THE HILL---I CAN GO THERE ANYTIME I WANT TO, THOSE FOLKS, THEY DONT CARE---THE REASON I'M WELCOME AS A NEW BORN CALF, IS BECAUSE MY DAUGHTER LIVES THERE---THE FELLA WHO OWNS IT SURE CAN COOK, HE REALLY FIXES A MEAL---ITS LIKE YOU'RE ON A CATTLE DRIVE, EATING, LEANING AGAINST THE CHUCK WAGON WHEEL---NOW THAT'S FINE LIVING, COUNTRY LIVING, SO DRESS UP IN YOUR COWBOY DUDS---AND HEAD NORTHEAST TO GODS COUNTRY, AND VISIT MY FRIEND, TOMMY WOODS---EVERYTHING THERE IS DOWN TO EARTH, YOU WONT FIND ANYTHING STRANGE---I CALL IT MY HOME AWAY FROM HOME, TRULY A HOME ON THE RANGE---LITTLE PONDEROSA, NO FINER PLACE, TO SPEND AN ENTIRE DAY---I'LL GO THERE EVERY CHANCE I GET, COME-A-TI-YI-YIPPIE-YI-YIPPIE-YI-YAY-----Well, that's my yarn for today, this is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorroe,

"A BEND IN THE ROAD"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw, and this morning I want to talk about my youngest grand daughter. Now theres a real Princess if I ever saw one. About a year ago, she went through a divorce. In some spots it was rather smooth, but in other spots, it was sort of nasty at times. But, when you're trying to raise a two year old alone, its never easy. I ran across this poem written by Helen Stiener Rice, and I'm sorry I didn't write it because I thought it was beautiful. But because of her situation and struggles, maybe it will give her something to think about. I thought it fit her to a "T". It goes like this:-----WHEN WE FEEL WE HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE, AND WE ARE SURE THAT THE SONG HAS ENDED---WHEN OUR DAY SEEMS OVER AND THE SHADOWS FALL, AND THE DARKNESS OF NIGHT HAS DESCENDED---WHERE CAN WE GO TO FIND THE STRENGTH TO VALIANTLY KEEP ON TRYING---WHERE CAN WE FIND THE HAND THAT WILL DRY THE TEARS THAT THE HEART IS CRYING---THERE'S BUT ONE PLACE TO GO AND THAT IS TO GOD, AND DROPPING ALL PRETENSE AND PRIDE---WE CAN POUR OUT OUR PROBLEMS WITHOUT RESTRAINT AND GAIN STRENGTH WITH HIM AT OUR SIDE---AND TOGETHER WE STAND AT LIFE'S CROSSROAD, AND VIEW WHAT WE THINK IS THE END---BUT GOD HAS A MUCH BIGGER VISION, AND HE TELLS US IT'S ONLY A BEND---FOR THE ROAD GOES ON AND IS SMOOTHER, AND THE PAUSE IN THE SONG IS A REST---AND THE PART THATS UNSUNG AND UNFINISHED, IS THE SWEETEST, AND THE RICHEST, AND THE BEST---SO REST AND RELAX AND GROW STRONGER, LET GO AND LET GOD SHARE YOUR LOAD---YOUR WORK IS NOT FINISHED OR ENDED, YOU'VE JUST COME-TO A BEND- IN THE ROAD.-----Kendra, I hope this gives you a lift, and remember, you are loved by more people than you will ever know, God bless you and Pretty Little Miss Kayleigh Faith. This is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"AN OLD MAN"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw with a poem for you about a lonely old man. This was written a few years ago when I lived in Dumas Texas and lived away from my family, My wife and I would see each other on weekends but it was hard to see the rest of the family. I guess I was feeling sorry for myself, but in the end it all worked out. It goes like this-----IT WAS LATE DECEMBER AND COLD OUTSIDE, AND CHRISTMAS WAS JUST A FEW DAYS AWAY---AN OLD GRAY HAIRED MAN SIT FULL OF FEAR OF BEING ALONE ON CHRISTMAS DAY---HE LIVED IN A SHACK WITH HIS LITTLE OLD DOG, A CLOSE FRIENDSHIP THEY HAD FOUND---HE HAD A FAMILY A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT, THEY QUIT COMING AROUND---HE READ HIS BIBLE MORE THAN THE PAPER, AND HIS FAMILY HE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT THEM---AND HOW THEY CELEBRATED CHRISTMAS TOGETHER, REMEMBERING JESUS IN BETHLEHEM---EVERY SOUND HE HEARS IT STARTLES HIM, HE THINKS ITS A KNOCK ON THE DOOR---BUT ITS ONLY THE WIND BLOWING THROUGH THE TREES, THERE ARE NO KNOCKS ANYMORE---FATHERS DAY, BIRTHDAY, THANKSGIVING, EVERY HOLIDAY IS THE SAME---WHAT A WORLD OF JOY IT WOULD BE TO HIS EARS, TO HEAR SOMEONE CALL HIS NAME---SO ANOTHER YEAR HAS COME AND GONE, AND ONCE AGAIN THERE'S NO SURPRISE---NO MORE LAUGHTER, NO MORE GIFTS, ONLY TEARS IN THE OLD MANS EYES---AND SOON HE'LL LAY DOWN AND CLOSE HIS EYES, AND BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT HE'S BEEN GIVEN---HE'LL GO TO SLEEP AND WHEN HE WAKES UP, HE'LL SPEND CHRISTMAS WITH GOD IN HEAVEN.-----Well folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

"SISTER IN LAWS"

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw, and this morning I want to talk about sister in laws. You got any? Well, if you do, I hope yours are as sweet and beautiful as mine because I've got the greatest ones in the world. I had three but we lost one back in 1998, Ann, and she was a jewel. I've written several poems about Ann but here's one a lot of the family might not have ever seen. It goes like this-----THERE IS A DEAR PLACE, A WONDERFUL PLACE, WITH A SMALL COMFORTABLE BACK YARD---IT'S HIGH IN THE SKY, FAR FROM YOU AND I, A PLACE WHERE ANGELS STAND GUARD---THIS PLACE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY SOMEONE IN HEAVEN, TO GET THERE IT'S NOT AT ALL HARD---JUST FOLLOW YOUR HEART FROM THE VERY START, TO THIS PLACE WHERE ANGELS STAND GUARD---WE KNOW SOMEONE THERE, FOR WHOM WE REALLY CARE, IN OUR LIFE SHE ONCE STARRED---SHE WENT A WHILE BACK, AND RODE THE RIGHT TRACK, TO THAT PLACE WHERE ANGELS STAND GUARD---SHE NOW CALLS IT HOME, AND SHES NOT ALONE, SHE NEVER NEEDS A PLASTIC CARD---BUMPY'S THERE TOO, WAITING FOR YOU, AT THAT PLACE WHERE ANGELS STAND GUARD---AND SOMEDAY SOON, AT NIGHT OR AT NOON, WE WILL GO THERE TO SHARE THAT YARD---WITH BUMPY AND ANN, WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN, IN THAT PLACE WHERE ANGELS STAND GUARD.-----Bumpy was my father-in-law, and Ann's Daddy, we lost him back in 1985, and no finer man ever lived. Well folks, this is TwoTexas PawPaw, signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

THE CHRISTMAS LETTER (DEAR DADDY)

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw with a story for you about Christmas. With Christmas just a lttle over two months away, I suppose it isn't too early to talk about it.. Years ago at our house, it was always a family Christmas, but then the kids got older, and they had families and obligations of their own and we didn't get to spend every Christmas with them. But thats ok because my little girl gave me a Christmas many years ago that will last me a lifetime. Her name is Kathy and she has been and always will be my Pride and Joy, whether shes 8 days, 8 weeks, 8 years, or 48 years old, she is definitely my Pride and Joy. Let me tell you about that Christmas:-----I TIPTOED INTO HER ROOM ONE NIGHT, A FEW DAYS BEFORE SANTA WAS DUE---AND SHE HAD WRITTEN A LETTER BEFORE FALLING ASLEEP, I ASSUMNED TO SANTA LIKE MOST KIDS USUALLY DO----WELL, I PICKED IT UP AND IT READ "DEAR DADDY", SO I SAT DOWN ON THE EDGE OF THE BED---AND I BEGAN TO READ THOSE PRINTED WORDS, THIS IS WHAT THE LETTER SAID---DADDY I'M WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING, AND AT THAT MOMENT I HAD TO PAUSE----I KNOW I'LL GET LOTS OF PRESENTS FOR CHRISTMAS, AND I ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S NO SANTA CLAUS---IT'S JUST A DREAMWORLD THAT KIDS LIVE IN AND SOONER OR LATER THAT DREAMWORLD WILL FALL---BUT DADDY THERE MUST BE LOTS OF KIDS AT CHRISTMAS IN THIS WORLD WHO WILL GET NOTHING AT ALL---DADDY I HAVE LOTS OF TOYS AND THINGS THAT YOU AND MOMMIE BOUGHT ME ALL THROUGH THE YEARS---AND THOSE KIDS WHO DONT HAVE A MOMMIE OR DADDY, WILL ONLY HAVE EYES FULL OF TEARS---I'M SURE THAT THERE'S PRESENTS HID AROUND THE HOUSE THAT YOU BOUGHT FOR SANTA TO BRING---BUT DADDY I WAS WONDERING IF YOU AND MOMMIE WOULD CARE IF I DID JUST ONE THING---LETS BE THANKFUL WE HAVE EACH OTHER, YOU, AND MOMMIE, AND ME---AND LET ME PUT MY PRESENTS THIS YEAR, UNDER SOMEONE ELSE'S TREE---WELL AS I FINISHED READING WHAT MY LITTLE GIRL HAD WRITTEN, I FELT TEARS GO DOWN MY CHEEK---I SHOWED THE LETTER TO HER MOMMA AND NEITHER OF US COULD HARDLY SPEAK---AND THAT IS WHY THIS YEAR I CAN LOOK BACK AND IN THE DISTANCE I CAN SEE A LIGHT---HOW THE THOUGHTS OF A VERY SPECIAL LITTLE GIRL, MADE IT A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS NIGHT.-----Well folks, this is TwoTexas PawPaw signing off, and, the good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

THE LEGEND OF JOSHUA ALAN & KAYLEIGH FAITH (the final episode)

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw with the final episode of the story of Josh and Kayleigh-----NOW KAYLEIGH LIVED IN ROXTON, SHE OWNED A FINE SALOON---JOSHIE WAS THE MARSHALL NOW, SHE THOUGHT HE HUNG THE MOON---THERE HADN'T BEEN ANY OUTLAWS SINCE THE DAYS OF ROXTON RED---AT LEAST FOR MILES AND MILES AROUND, THATS WHAT ALL THE FOLKS SAID---ONE DAY A BAND OF OUTLAWS CAME RIDING INTO TOWN---THEY SAID WERE HERE TO ROB YOUR BANK AND BRING YOUR MARSHALL DOWN---THE LEADER OF THIS OUTLAW GANG WAS A MAN NAMED "BIG BOY BLUE"---HE WAS SEVEN FEET TALL AND HE WEIGHED 422---HE WENT IN THE BANK AND CAME OUT WAVING MONEY IN THE AIR---HE SAID YOU'RE POOR FOLKS NOW AND I'M A MILLIONAIRE---KAYLEIGH RAN DOWN TO THE JAILHOUSE, JOSHIE SHE WOULD TELL---BUT FOUR MORE OUTLAWS INSIDE HAD JOSHIE LOCKED IN A CELL---SHE RAN DOWN TO THE MAYORS HOUSE AND SAID WHAT CAN WE DO---THE MAYOR SAID I'M LEAVING TOWN, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU---SO KAYLEIGH RAN TO HER HOUSE, WENT IN AND LOCKED THE DOOR---SHE CRIED AND CRIED FOR FEAR SHE WOULD NEVER SEE HER JOSHIE NO MORE---MEANWHILE BACK AT THE JAILHOUSE, OLD BLUE TOLD JOSH ITS TIME TO DIE---WE'RE GONNA TAKE YOU DOWN TO THE STABLES, AND THERE WE'RE GONNA HANG YOU HIGH---THEY PUT HIM UP ON SILVERS BACK AND LED HIM DOWN THE STREET---BLUE LOOKED UP AT JOSH AND SAID, YOU'RE MAKER YOU'RE ABOUT TO MEET---THEY PUT A ROPE AROUND HIS NECK AND STRETCHED IT UP REAL TIGHT---JOSH LOOKED AROUND ALL OVER TOWN, BUT, THERE WAS NO HELP IN SIGHT---BIG BOY BLUE RAISED HIS ARM TO SLAP OLD SILVERS REAR---WHEN A VOICE CAME FROM DOWN THE STREET AND IT WAS LOUD AND CLEAR---THERE STOOD PRETTY MISS KAYLEIGH IN A BRIGHT RED COWGIRL SKIRT---SHE SAID IF YOU HARM MY JOSHIE, YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAD, DYING, OR HURT---THE OUTLAWS LAUGHED AT KAYLEIGH AND ON THAT DREADFUL DAY---THEY DREW THIER GUNS TO SHOOT HER DOWN, BUT KAYLEIGH WAS BLAZING AWAY---SHE SHOT ONE IN THE HIP BONE, ONE IN THE LEG AND ONE IN THE BACK---ONE IN THE HEAD, ONE IN THE HEART, AND ONE IN THE SACARILLIAC---AND, WHEN THE SMOKE HAD ALL CLEARED, KAYLEIGHS BULLETS WERE ALL GONE---OUTLAWS LAY ALL OVER THE GROUND, BUT BIG BOY BLUE STOOD ALONE---HE SLOOOOOOWLY RAISED HIS PISTOL AND AIMMED IT AT KAYLEIGH---OLD SILVER RARED UP ON HIS HIND LEGS AND KICKED OLD BLUE IN THE KNEE---HIS GUN FLEW OFF, HE SPUN AROUND TWICE AND TUMBLED TO THE GROUND---KAYLEIGH RAN OVER AND UNTIED JOSH AND JOSHIE HE JUMPED DOWN---BUT OLD BLUE HAD A GUN HID IN HIS BELT, AND HE WHIPPED IT OUT REAL FAST---KAYLEIGH HAD A GUN HID IN HER BOOT, AND OLD BLUE CAME IN LAST---KAYLEIGHS BULLET WAS SINGING THROUGH THE AIR, LIKE A PRETTY MEADOWLARK---IT HEADED STRAIGHT FOR BIG BOY BLUE AND QUICKLY FOUND ITS MARK---JOSH WALKED OVER TO BIG BOY BLUE AND KNELT DOWN BY HIS SIDE---AND BLUE WHISPERED IN JOSHIES EAR JUST BEFORE HE DIED---JOSH LOOKED UP AT KAYLEIGH AND THIS IS WHAT HE SAID---THIS OUTLAW LEADER, BIG BOY BLUE, WAS THE BROTHER OF ROXTON RED---THE FOLKS ALL CAME OUT CHEERING, THEY KNEW THEIR MONEY WAS SAVED---KAYLEIGH HAD SHOT THE OUTLAWS AND SENT BLUE TO JOIN RED IN HIS GRAVE---THEY KNEW THEY WOULDN'T BE POOR FOLKS, IT WAS A GLORIOUS DAY---THEY WAVED TO JOSH AND KAYLEIGH, AS THEY WALKED AWAY...Well folks, I sent a copy of this poem and story down to old Lead Betters, the editor in Roxton, and he sent me a letter back and told me I had not told the complete Legend of Kayleigh Faith because I hadn't said anything about who else came to town or any recognition she may have received for saving the towns money and the marshall. I sent him a letter back thanking him for reminding me of this and then I sit down and added two more verses, and I'm proud to bring them to you right here, right now, today, I know you can't wait to hear them---THE CAPTAIN OF THE RANGERS CAME TO TOWN THE NEXT DAY---HE CALLED ALL THE FOLKS TOGETHER CAUSE HE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY---WE HEARD WHAT KAYLEIGH DID HERE, IT WAS A TERRIBLE SCENE---BUT FOR ALL OF HER HEROICS, WE'RE GONNA MAKE HER "TEXAS RANGER QUEEN"---And now you know the Legend of Joshua Alan & Kayleigh Faith, King & Queen of the Famous Texas Rangers.---I wrote this for my two great grand kids in Nov of 2004, and finished it in March of 2005. Neither is old enough to understand it now but when they are and get to hear it, I hope they get some amusement out of it, and I hope they know that I love them both.---This is Two Texas PawPaw signing off , and, the good Lord willing and the creeks don't rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

THE LEGEND OF JOSHUA ALAN & KAYLEIGH FAITH (cont'd)

Hi folks, this is Two Texas PawPaw with the continuing story of Josh and Kayleigh.-----I ARRIVED IN ROXTON AROUND NOON TIME AND FIGURED IF I WENT DOWN TO THE TOWN SQUARE I MIGHT FIND SOME OF THE OLD SETTLERS WHO REMEMBERED JOSH AND KAYLEIGH. SURE ENOUGH I MET AN OLD FELLA SETTING ON A BENCH WHITLING ON A PIECE OF WOOD. HE INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS TOMMY WOODS AND TOLD ME HE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE SPIT AND WHITLERS CLUB THERE IN ROXTON. I INFORMED HIM OF THE NATURE OF MY BUSINESS AND HE TOLD ME IF I WANTED TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN OR AROUND ROXTON IN SAY THE PAST 100 TO 150 YEARS, I NEEDED TO GO DOWN TO THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE AND TALK TO LEAD BETTERS, THE EDITOR, CAUSE LEAD KNEW EVERYTHING. NOW OLD TOMMY WAS OVER 100 YEARS OLD, NOBODY KNEW FOR SURE JUST HOW OLD HE WAS, OLD TOMMY DIDNT EVEN KNOW HIMSELF. BUT, I THANKED HIM FOR THE INFORMATION AND WENT ON DOWN THE STREET. I FOUND THE NEWSPAPER OFFICE, WENT IN, AND SURE ENOUGH, THERE WAS OLD LEAD SITTING AT HIS DESK. NOW OLD LEAD TOO WAS OVER A 100 YEARS OLD HIMSELF. WE BEGAN VISITING AND SHORTLY INTO OUR CONVERSATION, HE TOLD ME THAT A LOT HAPPENED IN THE LIVES OF JOSH AND KAYLEIGH AFTER THE ROXTON RED INCIDENT, HE SAID JOSH RETIRED FROM THE TEXAS RANGERS, HE DID IT FOR THREE REASONS. ONE, HE GOT TIRED OF RUNNING AROUND OVER THE STATE OF TEXAS CHASING BADMEN, TWO, HE WAS READY TO SETTLE DOWN IN ONE PLACE AND HE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A TOWN MARSHALL AND ROXTON TOWN COUNCIL HAD HIRED JOSH TO BE THEIR TOWN MARSHALL. AND THE THIRD AND MOST IMPORTANT REASON WAS THAT MISS KAYLEIGH HAD SETTLED DOWN IN ROXTON AND HE WANTED TO BE AS CLOSE TO HER AS HE POSSIBLY COULD TO MAKE SURE SHE WAS SAFE. NOW, MISS KAYLEIGH, WELL HER LIFE WAS ALMOST PERFECT, IF YOU REMEMBER, HER FATHER WAS THE BANKER IN ROXTON, AND SHORTLY AFTER THE ROXTON RED INCIDENT, HE PASSED ON, AND KAYLEIGH CAME INTO A LOT OF MONEY, I MEAN A LOTTTTTT OF MONEY. NOW, WHEN THE TRAIL HANDS CAME IN TO ROXTON OFF THE CATTLE DRIVES, THEY WOULD GO TO THE LOCAL SALOON CALLED THE "SHORT LIMB" SALOON. THEY WOULD DRINK ,GET DRUNK, HAVE FIGHTS AND NOW AND THEN THERE WAS A LITTLE GUN PLAY. JOSH, BEING THE MARSHALL, WOULD HAVE TO GO IN AND ARREST THEM AND A LOT OF TIMES HE WOULD END UP IN THE FIGHTS AND THE SHOOTOUTS. WELL, KAYLEIGH WAS AFRAID JOSH WAS GOING TO GET HURT, SO SHE DECIDED TO ELIMINATE THIS PROBLEM FROM HER LIFE FOR GOOD. SHE WENT DOWN TO TALK TO THE OWNER OF THE SALOON WHO WAS MISS DOGGIE. NOW MISS DOGGIE HAD A SISTER UP IN DODGE CITY, KANSAS NAMED MISS KITTY, AND MISS KITTY OWNED THE LONG BRANCH SALOON THERE, WELL MISS DOGGIE OWNED THE SHORT LIMB DOWN HERE IN ROXTON. SHE TOLD MISS DOGGIE THAT SHE WANTED TO BUY THE SALOON AND MISS DOGGIE, KNOWING SHE HAD A GOLDMINE HERE, SAID THE SALOON WASN'T FOR SALE..MISS KAYLEIGH SAID IT BETTER BE, BECAUSE YOU ARE GOING TO GO BROKE AND OUT OF BUSINESS. MISS DOGGIE SAID, I DONT UNDERSTAND, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? MISS KAYLEIGH REPLIED, I HAVE GONE TO THE TOWN COUNCIL AND PERSUADED THEM TO PASS A NEW ORDINANCE THAT PROHIBITS THE SALE, SERVING, OR ACCEPTING OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES WITHIN THE TOWN LIMITS OF ROXTON, AND IF YOU SERVE ONE MORE DRINK ACROSS THAT BAR, YOU'RE GOING TO JAIL, AND WHOEVER YOU SERVE IT TO IS GOING TO JAIL WITH YOU. MISS DOGGIE SAID, YOU CAN'T DO THAT. MISS KAYLEIGH SAID, I ALREADY HAVE, BUT, THERE IS A BRIGHT SIDE TO THIS, I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH MONEY SO YOU CAN GO OUTSIDE THE TOWN LIMITS AND BUILD YOU A BIGGER, BETTER, AND NICER SALOON. THAT WAY WHEN THE TRAIL HANDS COME TO TOWN, THEY CAN GO OUT THERE TO GET DRUNK AND FIGHT AND SHOOT EACH OTHER, JOSHIE HAS NO JURISDICTION OUTSIDE THE TOWN LIMITS, HE CANT GO OUT THERE AND I DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT HIM GETTING HURT. WELL, MISS DOGGIE, FIGURING SHE WAS BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, ASK HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY ME FOR THE SALOON. MISS KAYLEIGH SAID HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT. MISS DOGGIE WAS A VERY CLEVER BUSINESS WOMAN, AND SHE FIGURED IF SHE STARTED HIGH, SHE COULD COME DOWN IF SHE HAD TOO. SHE SAID I'LL TAKE $10,000.00. WELL ANYONE KNEW THE PLACE WASN'T WORTH THAT KIND OF MONEY, BUT, MISS KAYLEIGH WAS A VERY CLEVER BUSINESS WOMAN HERSELF AND SHE REPLIED, HOW 'BOUT I GIVE YOU $20,000.00. WELL, BEFORE KAYLEIGH COULD GET THE T-Y OFF OF TWENTY OUT OF HER MOUTH, MISS DOGGIE WAS PACKING HER BAGS, SHE WAS READY TO GO. NOW, YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT DID MISS KAYLEIGH WANT WITH A SALOON IN ROXTON, FINE, UPSTANDING, CHURCH GOING LADY LIKE KAYLEIGH. HERES WHAT SHE DID. SHE RENOVATED THE WHOLE PLACE, AND SHE PUT A WALL RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE. ON ONE SIDE OF THE WALL SHE OPENED A RESTAURANT SERVING SOME OF THE FINEST FOOD YOU WOULD EVER HOPE TO FIND IN THE WEST. THE ONLY THING YOU COULD GET TO DRINK IN KAYLEIGHS SALOON WAS WATER, COFFEE, MILK, SODA POP OR SASPARILLA. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL, SHE PUT IN AN AUDITORIUM, WITH A BIG STAGE UP FRONT, AND OUTFITTED IT WITH 75 SEATS. YOU SEE, THERE WAS ONLY ABOUT 75 ADULTS IN ROXTON, BUT POPULATION WAS 750 TO 800 BECAUSE EVERY MARRIED COUPLE IN TOWN HAD ANY WHERE FROM 8 TO 12 KIDS.YOU SEE, THE MEN WERE NOT ALWAYS DOWN AT THE TOWN SQUARE WHITTLING ON A PIECE OF WOOD, AND THE WOMEN WERE NOT ALWAYS OUT IN THE BACK YARD EXCHANGING GOSSIP OVER THE CLOTHES LINE, THEY WERE IN THE HOUSE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN. NOW, THE OLD WEST WAS FAMOUS FOR ITS ROAD SHOWS THAT TRAVELED AROUND THE COUNTRY. SHOWS LIKE MAE WEST, LILY LANGTRY, WILD BILL HICKOCK AND HIS TRICK SHOOTING SHOW, BUFFALO BILL AND HIS WILD WEST SHOW; WELL WHEN ONE OF THESE SHOWS CAME THROUGH ROXTON, MISS KAYLEIGH WOULD RENT OUT THE AUDITORIUM TO THEM SO THEY COULD PUT THEIR SHOW ON THE BIG STAGE. SHE WOULD CHARGE THE ADULTS 15 CENTS A HEAD AND SHE LET THE KIDS IN FREE. IF YOU BROUGHT KIDS, YOU COULD ONLY BRING TWO AND THEY HAD TO SIT IN THE SAME TWO SEATS WITH MOM AND DAD BECAUSE OF THE SEATING SHORTAGE. IF THE ADULTS WERE FROM THE POOR SIDE OF TOWN, MISS KAYLEIGH JUST LET THEM IN FREE TOO ALONG WITH THE KIDS, SHE WAS THAT WAY. WELL EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT; MISS KAYLEIGH HAD EVERYTHING RUNNING SMOOTH IN HER LIFE, JOSHIE WAS ENJOYING A NICE PEACEFUL, QUIET TOWN MARSHALLS JOB, ROXTON WAS A NICE LITTLE TOWN AGAIN, UNTIL THAT DREADFUL SUMMER DAY WHEN A BAND OF OUTLAWS RODE IN TO TERRORIZE ROXTON, STEAL THE BANKS MONEY AND DISPOSE OF THE FAMOUS TOWN MARSHALL, JOSHUA ALAN.-----------Well folks, tune in to my blog tomorrow to find out the continuing saga of what happened to Josh and Kayleigh, until then, good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, Two Texas PawPaw saying so long and I'll see you tomorrow.

THE LEGEND OF JOSHUA ALAN & KAYLEIGH FAITH

Hi folks, this is Two Texas Paw Paw with a story for you about the old west, A lot of stories have been written about the old west, some are true and some are fiction, but, after you hear this story, you be the judge as to whether it could have really happened in another life time. Cowboys back in the old west use to stay busy herding cattle on long drives from Abilene to Wichita, having fights in the local saloons, shooting up the town. But the days of the outlaws, the gunfighters, and the local town marshall is a thing of the past. Well this the story of a young cowboy named Joshua Alan, not just any cowboy but a very special cowboy. And his lady friend, not just any lady friend but a very special lady friend named Kayleigh Faith. And this is how that story goes.-----NOW JOSHIE WAS A COWBOY WORKING ON CATTLE RANCHES OUT IN WEST TEXAS. AT THIS PERTICULAR TIME HE WAS WORKING ON THE MCGEEHEE RANCH JUST OUTSIDE OF SLATON TEXAS. THE RANCH WAS OWNED BY A MR MCGEEHEE WHOM THEY CALLED DEN DEN, AND HIS WIFE LIBBY. THEY PAID THEIR COWHANDS $5.00 A MONTH, ALL THEIR MEALS WERE FURNISHED AND A NICE BUNKHOUSE TO SLEEP IN. JOSH WAS WORKING TRYING TO SAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO FULFILL A LIFETIME DREAM HE HAD HAD SINCE CHILDHOOD. AT THE END OF ONE MONTH HE TOLD DEN DEN OF HIS DREAM, SO THE NEXT MORNING BRIGHT AND EARLY, DEN DEN AND HIS WIFE LIBBY HOOKED UP THE BUCKBOARD AND CARRIED JOSH INTO TAHOKA TO THE STAGE DEPOT. THEY ARRIVED LATE THAT AFTERNOON JUST AS THE STAGE WAS PULLING IN. JOSH PURCHASED HIS STAGE COACH TICKET, BID GOODBYE TO THE MCGEEHEES AND STARTED ON HIS JOURNEY. AFTER FOUR DAYS AND FOUR NIGHTS, HE ARRIVED AT THE STATE CAPITAL BUILDING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. THERE HE FOUND HIS WAY TO THE OFFICES OF THE FAMOUS TEXAS RANGERS AND HE SIGNED UP. NOT LONG AFTER JOSH BECAME A TEXAS RANGER, HE EARNED THE REPUTATION AS "KING OF THE TEXAS RANGERS" BECAUSE HE ALWAYS GOT HIS MAN. THIS IS THE STORY OF JOSH'S LAST ASSIGNMENT AS A RANGER, GIVEN TO HIM BY HIS RANGER CAPTAIN, WHO HAD GOTTEN A REPORT ABOUT A SMALL NORTH EASTERN TOWN IN THE CORNER OF TEXAS CALLED ROXTON THAT WAS BEING RUN BY AN OUTLAW WHO WAS CHARGING THE TOWN FOLKS SO CALLED PROTECTION MONEY AND TAXES JUST TO STAY IN BUSINESS. JOSH'S JOB WAS TO GO TO ROXTON, ARREST THIS OUTLAW, BRING HIM BACK ALIVE IF POSSIBLE, AND RESTORE LAW AND ORDER TO ROXTON SO THE PEOPLE THERE COULD HAVE A PEACEFUL COMMUNITY. and this is what happened:----------NOW JOSHIE WAS A COWBOY WHO BECAME A TEXAS RANGER---HE RODE A WHITE HORSE NAMED SILVER AND HE WASN'T AFRAID OF DANGER---HE WAS RIDING TO A TOWN CALLED ROXTON CAUSE EVERYONE HAD SAID---THIS TOWN WAS RUN BY AN OUTLAW BY THE NAME OF ROXTON RED---THE BANKER HAD A DAUGHTER, PRETTY LITTLE MISS KAYLEIGH---AND RED HAD SAID TO HER ONE DAY, LITTLE GIRL YOU WILL MARRY ME---KAYLEIGH SAID NO I DONT THINK SO, I'D BE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF TOWN---YOU'LL HAVE TO FIND ANOTHER GIRL TO WEAR YOU WEDDING GOWN---OLD RED HE GOT ANGRY AND HE GREW HIMSELF A BEARD---HE SNEAKED INTO HER HOUSE ONE NIGHT AND KAYLEIGH DISAPEERED---HE TOOK HER UP INTO THE HILLS AND HID HER IN A MINERS SHACK---THEN HE BROUGHT HER DOWN TO THE EDGE OF TOWN AND TIED HER ON THE RAILROAD TRACK---JUST ABOUT THEN, RANGER JOSH RODE IN, RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET---HE WAS HOPING THAT HE AND ROXTON RED WOULD SOON MEET---WHEN DOWN AT THE OTHER END OF TOWN SET A RIDER ON A HORSE OF BLACK---AND HE SAID YOUR TOO LATE RANGER, SHES DYING ON THE RAILROAD TRACK---YOU COULD HEAR THAT WHISTLE BLOWING, THAT TRAIN WAS COMING FAST---RED SAID THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO LEAVE MY TOWN BUT IT WILL BE YOUR LAST---JOSH SAID I'M HERE TO ARREST YOU RED, AND TAKE YOU BACK ALIVE---AND IF YOU REFUSE ME, YOU'LL MEET MY FORTY FIVE---SO UNTIE PRETTY MISS KAYLEIGH AND THROW YOUR GUNS DOWN ON THE GROUND---FOR JUST A FEW SPLIT SECONDS, YOU COULDN'T HEAR A SOUND---OLD RED JUST LAUGHED AND HIS HAND WENT DOWN REACHING FOR THE GUN THAT HE WORE---LITTLE DID HE KNOW IF HE DREW THAT GUN, HE WOULD NEVER DRAW NO MORE---BECAUSE QUICK AS A FLASH AND LIGHTNING FAST BEFORE FOLKS COULD REALIZE---JOSH DREW HIS GUNS AND SHOT OLD RED, RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES---JOSH RAN OVER TO THE RAILROAD TRACK AND UNTIED PRETTY KAYLEIGH----HE SIT HER UP ON SILVERS BACK AND SAID YOU'LL RIDE WITH ME---THE FOLKS CAME OUT CHEERING, THEY KNEW THEIR TOWN WAS SAVED---JOSH HAD RESCUED KAYLEIGH AND SENT OLD RED TO HIS GRAVE---THE KNEW THEY HAD THEIR TOWN BACK, IT WAS A GLORIUS DAY---THEY WAVED TO JOSH AND KAYLEIGH AS THEY RODE AWAY---------- WHEN I HEARD THIS STORY FOR THE FIRST TIME, I KNEW I WOULDN'T BE SATISFIED NOT KNOWING WHAT HAPPEND TO JOSH AND KAYLEIGH AFTER THE ROXTON RED INCIDENT, SO I DECIDED TO GO TO ROXTON TO SEE IF ANYONE KNEW ANYTHING, SO OFF TO ROXTON I WENT. Well folks, this is Two Texas Paw Paw signing off, tune in my blog tomorrow to find out what I found out in Roxton Texas. Till then, the good Lord willing and the creeks dont rise, I'll be back tomorrow.

THE TREE

I guess the proper way to post my first blog would be a poem I wrote about my wife of 52 years. The first year we were married, we lived in the small town of Tahoka just south of Lubbock, Tex where I grew up. We lived in dads rent house because naturally it was cheaper. The back yard ran right in to the back yard of the old home place and in the center of the yard was a tree. Following is the result of that tree: THERES A TREE IN TAHOKA WE BOTH KNEW---WHERE I CARVED OUR NAMES IN HEARTS WITH I LOVE YOU---WE WERE YOUNG AND SO IN LOVE NOW WEVE GROWN OLD---BUT I STILL BELIEVE THOSE HEARTS WERE CARVED IN GOLD---NOW THAT TREE HAS GROWN TALL UP TO THE SKY---AND IT STILL HAS THE MARK OF YOU AND I---AND I STILL LOVE YOU DARLING JUST THE SAME---AS I DID ON THE DAY I CARVED YOUR NAME---MANY MILES ON THAT JOURNEY WE BOTH MADE---AND THE MEMORIES WE SHARED WILL NEVER FADE---AND THE LOVE WE BUILT TOGETHER WAS SO TRUE---AND I COULDNT HAVE MADE THAT JOURNEY WITHOUT YOU---THERE IS NOTHING I WOULDNT DO FOR YOU---AND I KNOW THAT YOU FEEL THE SAME WAY TOO---AND WHEN WE REACH THE BRANCHES OF THAT TREE---IN GODS GREAT HOME IN HEAVEN WE WILL BE-------------------Well folks, 2texas paw paw signing off, and the good lord willing and the creeks dont rise, Ill be back tomorrow.

Hi folks...this is my new blog. Keep in touch.