OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE

Better days are coming for many

The heartbreaking sight of devastations causes my eyes to blur and my nose to need wiping.

All of the problems of life on this rock pile are very small today. The news was so dark, and my close relative and I sat in silence as we watched the stark pictures flash across the screen. Prayer after prayer was sent for the folks who did make it alive and for those who were unaccounted for.

And then there is the part of the country where a river runs through it, the homes and all the land. What is to become of the population there? A plugged sewer line is about the most dire of circumstances on our place. No, my mind cannot begin to understand but my heart continues to hurt for all of them.

The corn is up and we didn’t plant a big field this year. I just wanted enough to mix with the feed for weaning stock and some for the passersby. I need to correct the first statement. The corn was up. Now the corn is covered with silt and beat to shreds from hail. Shoot, that won’t even make a blimp on the screen of disasters this country has seen in the last few months.

In conclusion of this gathering of information, I would like to shine a light in the darkness: We Americans are resilient and tough. The most important fact is we live in the Bible Belt of the U.S.A. and there are many good ole’ boys helping to restore the lives of the living. There will be a plethora of red necks showing as the wreckage is erased and only the healed scars are visible.

Fescue foot is showing up in many herds due to the inability of the grass to dry out. Checking with the vet is good business when more than one is too many to have sore footed. My personal vet, the one I send most of my spare change to, has a couple of smart tips for us during the wet periods. “Do not ignore the problem because it won’t get better” is probably the number one tip.

The same advice is excellent concerning thistles. I try to stay ahead of the sticky devil weeds but they are fast. I am waiting for school to be dismissed so a couple of the Grands can walk around pastures carrying shovels. Don’t get your nose bent. Of course, I will pay them! I don’t think they would appreciate me stating the amount of their pay to the public, but it won’t make the Forbes list!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, better days are coming for many people and the memory of this season will make the survivors stronger. Be devoted to your family and help out your neighbors when you can, refrain from judging others and be kind to your dog. Remember the suffering folks as you live in comfort and have a dry bed to sleep in tonight. Prayer is the most needed ingredient now, as always.

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 06/01/2011