Even though we are in the midst of March Madness, baseball is in the air. A few years ago, I experienced a trip I had long hoped to take: Spring Training baseball in Florida to watch my New York Yankees. I have always loved baseball and watch as many of the Yankees’ games as I can. I suspect my children will watch many of the games as well. You see, baseball is in the DNA of my family. Devotion to baseball was bred into me by my father and I have passed this gene on to my kids.

It is so good to see Joyce Brinlee up and around. For three months she has been very sick and was in the hospital for several weeks. She wants to thank everyone for their prayers and added “they worked!”… …I learned this past week that my friend and classmate Lyndle Ellis is in the hospital in Tulsa. Lyndle was one of the outstanding baseball players of the 1965 HHS State Championship baseball team…..I was in Calvin recently and had the opportunity to visit with my longtime friend Sue Chapman. She is one of the finest Christian ladies I have ever known. Her late husband Amos was also a fine Christian gentleman and I would often drive to Calvin just to buy my gas at their station. Sue’s daughter, Terri is an incredible pianist. I learned from Sue that she is on YouTube and Dayna and I plan on watching her performance this weekend. If you would like to hear her music, go to Terri Chapman Haynie. You will be glad you did….Had a great visit with Bob and Carol Irby Friday. I hadn’t seen them in quite a while. Bob and I have been best friends since our school days….He was also best man at my wedding…over 40 years ago! ….I was in Tecumseh recently and saw Kerry Brinlee. We had a really good visit. His wife is the former Becky Smith. He told me his dad Curtis is doing good but is not getting out much. He has been a good friend for many years and I always enjoy visiting with him…..Daylight Donuts is one of our family’s favorite places to go. Owner Mary Chronister is such a great lady and always upbeat. My grandson Augie and I went in Saturday morning and Mary said, “You are five minutes late!” I thought she meant they were out of donuts, but it was something much more unusual. One of her customers had brought a baby kangaroo into the shop. There were several kids in there at the time and they loved it. She promised to call me when the owner brings it back. That kangaroo is living proof that business in Holdenville is really “hopping.”…. My close friend Phillip Wood stopped by the office Saturday and we had a good visit. Phillip is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever known and also one of the best harmonica players I have ever heard…..A special thank you to my good friends Jack and Beverly Chapman for their help on an article from the past that I recently found without a date…..

(Editor’s note: Graphic details follow about the reality of human sacrifice by the Aztecs to their gods. The Aztecs “... sacrificed daily in the belief that the sun would not rise otherwise,” according to Lisa Lucero, a researcher and archaeologist.

“How may I serve you?” The young girl working in the fast food restaurant asked me that question the other day: She didn›t ask «What would you like to eat?» or say «I›m ready to take your order.» She said she wanted to serve me. At least that’s what she said-- and it proved to be true.

Facebook is not exactly known for truthfulness much of the time. However, I received a call this past week alerting me to the fact that one of the frequent contributors to a local political Facebook group had referred to the City Council as “corrupt” after witnessing a scene made at a City Council meeting. That is a very serious charge and we felt we should look into the matter. Here is what we found out….

We’ve all seen a little kid holding on to a toy, refusing to share, and yelling “MINE!” Sometimes it’s cute but most of the time it’s annoying. We usually end up intervening, prying their little fingers from the item and telling the kid to “let go”.

When I was 16 I tried out for my high school basketball team. My school of 1800 students had 60 guys try out that year. I knew my odds were slim. But I hustled and sweated and made the first cut to 40. Then I made the cut to 25. But when Coach posted the final cut to 15 I wasn’t on the list. I know because I checked the list three times. Neither was one of my buddies, Bob. Dejected and defeated I dragged my gym bag and myself home and pitifully flopped on my bed.

I was in Daylight Donuts this past week getting some of their delicious treats for the grandkids. While there, I saw my dear friend Faye Chronister. She continues to go through cancer treatments but remains upbeat. She is very special to us and we need to keep her in our prayers….Recently, a friend gave me an old pen with “Jerry’s Market, 400 S. Echo, Ph 379-3771, Holdenville, Oklahoma, Jerry and Deanna Pickett, owners.” Many of us remember their store and were customers of theirs. It was originally Ross Grocery and later Frankie Buck’s grocery. Our family traded there until it closed. Jerry and Deanna were good friends of ours and we still miss them. I also miss that store. It was the last of the homeowned neighborhood grocers. Mr. Ross gave me my first job when I was in Jr.High. I stocked the shelves and cleaned up just before closing. I have never known two finer people than Guy and Ida Ross. I was in the same class as their daughter Janice and she was just like her folks….. Congratulations to my longtime friend Richard Ellwanger of Wewoka for being elected as president of the Oklahoma Museums Association. He is the son of Peggy “Taylor” Ellwanger a graduate of Holdenville High School. Richard is the Executive Director of the Seminole Nation Museum in Wewoka. He has also been helpful in our local HSPS and Hughes County Museum. We are very proud of all he has accomplished and continues to accomplish……Bettye Phillips and Bonnie McCoy stopped by the office recently and they are always so much fun to visit with. The two of them never seem to age but they will not share their beauty secrets with me!......We are so glad that our good friend Betty Sanders is out of the hospital and doing so much better. She was really missed by all of her friends and customers. We also appreciate all Betty does to take care of the homeless animals in our area…..Had a good visit with our longtime friend Jim Keefer. He was at the store getting ready for the bad weather…. From our files – The Year was 1948 – GAVE LIFE FOR U.S. – Conrad Hugh Lawrence, 21-year-old son of R.W. “Bob” Lawrence, 121 N. Lowe, “was killed in action” while serving with the United States navy, his father has been informed by the Navy department. Young Lawrence was a Machinist’s Mate, Third Class, receiving his preliminary training at Norfolk, VA. His home was at Daytona Beach, FL. Survivors include two young sisters, Winifred and Billye June Lawrence, Holdenville…..EIGHTH GRADER WINS THRIFT CONTEST AT PECAN GROVE SCHOOL – Charles Giles, 14-year-old eighth grader at the Pecan Grove School today was announced as the winner of a thrift contest held through the fall season at the school under auspices of Commissioner R.B. Knight and Principal G.W. Hooper. Charles, who knows how to keep track of his money as well as how to make it, displayed records showing $54.02 earned during his spare time this fall. He made the money picking cotton and gathering pecans, doing it without missing any appreciable amount of school. During the season he picked almost 1,900 pounds of bolls, earning $18.89 in that manner and earned $29.18 gathering pecans. A small patch of cotton of his own netted him $5.95. “Most of that money is gone, though,” young Charles grinned. He buys all of his own clothes and school supplies with his earnings. Charles is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas W. Giles of Pecan Grove.

More than 16 million Americans fought in World War II. The fewer than 325,000 still with us deserve our attention, our love, and our unending gratitude.

A special thank you to Claudia Olivo for stopping by and helping me put up my new flag. I asked her about her mom Alice and she told me she was doing great. The Olivo family is very special to us and are life-long friends. Alice’s husband Snooks and my dad roughnecked together for many years and always had some great stories to share . . . Seven year old Grandson Augie told Dane that he was supposed to dress up like an old man for school Friday. He then told Dane he wanted to dress like I do . . . That reminded me of Owen Wilkes who was getting his four-year-old grandson out of his car seat when he gazed into my his eyes and delivered this bit of wisdom: Papa, you’re old. But at least you’re not dead yet.” Readers Digest