The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Happy 2020! I'm a hop'in everyone behaved themselves as they ushered in the New Year and this weeks column finds ya mighty happy and thankful for all the Christmas go'ns on this past week and also hope'n that you didn't put on too many extra pounds.
If'n ya did-who's ta say there's anything wrong with that? Not me anyways, fer eat'n is yet one of several joys worth work'n and live'n fer.
It has always been a mystery fer me to hear someone say they don't like work.
Eat'n and work goes tagether, I figures, fer whatever work ya has little means fer eat'n and few meals taste quite as good as one right after a hard effort of work.
I'm a guess'n that's why a few of those fellers on permanent welfare are occasionally so owly. Their attitude and muscles has not worked up a good solid appetite, result'n in a cranky attitude.
But then, ya see so many folk eat'n at those fast food joints a feast'n on doctored up hamburgers that ya has to wonder if'n they knows what good food tastes like anymore.
The good food I'm a talk'n about is the kind years ago that took time to secure flavor and consequently took time to prepare.
It's not that I don't eat at a fast food establishment from time to time, but I relish yet those good ole home prepared meals that Ma Bruke does such an excellent job with.
I haved a suggestion. Grab yourself a tape recorder and let your family interview you as the machine tapes for posterity your thoughts, views, and values. It will be a priceless momentous for generations to come, I assure you.
When I was a young married feller, years ago, with small children in diapers, I did a similar thing.
We had a family gather'n in my parents home with great-grandparents on both sides of our family as well as six sets of grandparents and great-uncles and great-aunts, along with uncles and aunts, inlcude'n both sets of parents for both Mrs. Bruke and myself.
One by one I pulled them away from the crowd to an isolated back bedroom and asked lots of questions while the recorder diligently caught their answers. Most of these folks were born before the turn of the century and some by a good many years before.
Some of the questions I asked them were:
And on and on the questions went for each and every one of them.
I get those tapes out from time to time and listen to them, oft times with tears in my eyes. All that was taped are long gone into eternity now. Gone but not forgotten. And the young'ns today have hear their voices and learn from their experiences.
Oh, and by the way I did not ask the question on inheritance nor would anything like that ever have entered our minds. I only put that question in there to see if'n you were foller'n me closely.
They did leave a wealthy inheritance for me and all of my many siblings (families were larger in those days) but it was not measured in monetary terms or material things. Measure'n those things by todays standard they all would be considered rather poor even though no one thought so at the time.
What they did leave was an appreciation for life and how to get along with other folk, some wisdom, common sense, and good judgment to draw on.
I'll never forget my grandfather firmly state'n "ya needs to be satisfied with your lot"
Even though they had experience losses of homes to chimney fires, loss of loved ones to T.B. and other sickness as well as terrible farm accidents from time to time, they were always "satisfied with their lot".
On those experiences alone I could write a book from those tapes. Their experiences built character for themselves then and do so yet today for any young'n will'n to learn.
Good luck with the tape recorder. With todays technology, cell phone etc. it should be easier than it was years ago.
As I look back on 2019-it was a whirlwind filled with lots of blessin's and good folk everywhere. I'm looking forward toward conditnued bless'ins in 2020.
Hope'n you start the new year in church Sunday.
Remember, where ever ya are, what ever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
Barnyard Bruke