Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Fall Full of Southern Traditions

It is a special time of year. High school ball on Friday nights. See my my Blog Post about Friday Nights with Burke Taylor. Then tail gating on Saturday and watching college football. Many spend hours getting ready for hunting season. Blinds and stands to be built or repaired. Scouting for game trails and looking for birds. Fall fishing provides many hours of fun and excitement for its disciples. 


Of course some take an annual pilgrimage to the NC mountains to witness God's handiwork as the colors of fall reach their peak. It is a time to be thankful to our maker as we move toward Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fall Festivals and Bon Fires bring folks together. Who doesn't enjoy a good pig pickin'?


One of my personal favorites are partaken in months with the letter "R" in them. I am talking about an old fashion Oyster Roast. Johnathan Swift is quoted as having said, "He was a bold man that first ate an oyster". The brave among us slip over to the side and open them raw. We let it slide off the half shell right into a waiting orifice. Sounds of appreciation and exclamations of saltiness follow. I always wondered why folks just don't add salt if the oysters are not salty enough. The oyster opening table is a great area for fellowship. The congregation stands patiently waiting for the roaster to dump a basket of steaming hot bivalves. Hands work with skill and speed. It is amazing to see how quickly a half bushel can disappear.  Conversation resumes and the waiting for the next batch begins. Soon the usual sophomoric jokes about the  aphrodisiac qualities begin. There is always an individual who is especially skilled with an oyster knife who will open oysters for those disciples who gather around his station. It is considered bad form not to shuck a few for your spouse. Your dipping sauce recipe is always a topic of conversation. Some opt for melted butter, some cocktail sauce and blends of both with dashes of Texas Pete and Horse Radish. When you hold your roast this year please use the contact info on this page to invite me. I will shuck a few for you.


Those of us who were born Southern by the Grace of God and those who have become Southern by the purchase of Real Estate are truly blessed. Fall is a wonderful time of year and I encourage you to enjoy the culture of a southern fall. 


If you need lessons on southern speech, culture or need to become southern by purchasing real estate I am available.


Please consider leaving a comment of about your favorite Fall tradition.


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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

11 22 and 9 11 Numbers Not to be Forgotten

Dates I will always remember. On November 22, 1963 I was returning from recess at Fort Totten to our classroom at Eleanor Marshall School when a distraught lady pulled her car to the curb. Our teacher went to her car to check on her. When she returned she explained that the President had been shot. We were living in a fearful time. We had drills to practice diving under our desk in case of nuclear attacks. The news was full of riots and demonstrations about issues that we were perhaps too young to understand. Multiple leaders were assassinated. Our society went through very dynamic changes. Eventually as time progressed things seem to improve.

Fast forward to September 11, 2001. While having my morning coffee a report came across the screen that one of the Towers at the World Trade Center had been hit by a plane. I left home to go to the Tent River Coffee Company to join the discussion at the table where all of the worlds woes were solved. Soon after my arrival the second Tower was struck. We watched and listened as it became apparent that our country was under attack. Rage, fear and confusion were experienced that day. The country's psyche would never be quite the same. I had not been born when Pearl Harbor was attacked but I imagine the feelings were much the same.

America will not forget the heroes of that day. People who ran toward the flames and destruction to protect others. Since that time two million young Americans have seen combat to make us safer and to improve the lives of those living under oppressive regimes. The America in which I live is still a wonderful place to live and I will always be grateful to those who have made it possible.

Gary Barker
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