WHERE DID THAT WHITE BUS GO?

Toward the end of the White Star Bus Company, it made round trips from Madison to Cummins in Columbus. A Cummins worker drove the bus. It was a 1937 model, leaked every fluid put into it. A small snow fall would cause all kinds of zig zag driving. I wrote this as a tribute to the now out-of-business bus line:

Where Did That White Bus Go?

I was carrying a load of Liberty gates on a big order to fill       (NOTE 1)

My rig brakes failed coming down ice-covered Milton Hill      (NOTE 2)

I was praying hard, my heart was beating fifth gear fast

No doubt about it this was my end, the roll call at last

An old white bus mysteriously appeared in the front

Ice was flying and my runaway speed did slowly shunt

I pulled into a station and slowly stumbled from the truck

Crying, yet talking, I told the mechanic of my incredible luck

“Son, your were saved by the Phantom White Star Bus    (NOTE 3)

It happens so often nobody here makes any big fuss

Many years ago my ball team bus got stuck in the snow

Down Hanging Rock Hill an empty White Star Bus did go

The driver had seconds to decide if it was him or us

He saved the boys and flipped that old White Star Bus

We watched in horror as it cart wheeled over the side

We served as pall bearers in honor of his heroic ride

Folks say there were two miracles on that snowy night

Next day the police found no bus it was clean outta sight”  

Glenn C. Peck 12-23-10 (Dedicated to all White Star riders/drivers)

Note 1---The overwhelming number of Farm and Temp pens are made in Liberty, KY--My birth place

Note 2---This is on the Ky side of the Ohio River down a very steep hill

Note 3 ---Idea came from trucker song"Phantom 409"

I NEVER TOLD YOU THIS.............

During my PCHS days I saw two movies that continue to impact my life. No, I didn't see them in the Park or Ritz theathers in North Vernon. Ditto the Crump in Columbus. In fact, I do not remember the name of the theater. The theater was located in Covington, KY. Covington is just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati.

One of Dad's sisters lived in Covington for a while with here husband (the original Archie Bunker) and four boys and a girl. We would make an annual trip from Jennings County to visit our "city kinfolks." In fact, Cousin Albert and I walked to Crosley Field three times to see the Reds play baseball. I guess a round trip distance was 10-15 miles. When the Reds were not at Home playing on a Sunday, my three older cousins, my brother and I walked to a matinee showing at a theater which was about five blocks from the cousin's home. What follows is about two movies that are in my All-time Favorite Top Ten.


This Post is about those two very special movies: The Searchers, staring John Wayne and Moby Dick, staring Gregory Peck (no relation, I think).

Searchers has my all-time favorite musical score; (second is The Big Country, also staring Gregory Peck

"YOU KNOW OLD RIVERS DIED"---Walter Brennan

Seems like every day the truth of this song resonates in my heart with greater clarity. I've known a bunch of "Old Rivers"---still do. They were and are friends of mine.

Walter Brennan
Old Rivers lyrics

(Words and music by Crofford)

How old was I when I first seen old Rivers?
I can't remember when he weren't around
Well, that old fellow did a heap of work
Spent his whole life walking plowed ground.

He had a one-room shack not far from us
And well, we was about as poor as him
He had one old mule he called Midnight
And I'd trailed along after them.

He used to plow them rows straight and deep
And I'd come along near behind
A-bustin' up clods with my own bare feet
Old Rivers was a friend of mine.

That sun'd get high and that mule would work
Till old Rivers'd say, ''Whoa!''
He'd wipe his brow, lean back on the reins
And talk about a place he was gonna go.

Chorus:
He'd say, one of these days
I'm gonna climb that mountain
Walk up there amoung the clouds
Where the cotton's high
And the corn's a-growin'
And there ain't no fields to plow.

--- Instrumental ---

I got a letter today from the folks back home and
They're all fine and crops is dry
Down at the end my mama said, ''Son
You know old Rivers died.''

Just sittin' here now on this new-plowed earth
Trying to find me a little shade
With the sun beating down 'cross the field I see

That mule, old Rivers and me. 

HOUND OF HELL STILL ALIVE AND WELL!

I strongly suspect only a fraction of readers of this Post will have any clue as what I talking about. The cold hard facts of life is that Satan is real and alive and well.

In an earlier Post I spoke of the Hound of Hell being on my trail. This time he has brought the whole liter with him!

I ask for your prayers. This is serious stuff. Thanks.

""D.....MN, Your Dim Lights!!"

A fellow classmate was driving his car on the highway near the old Nixon's store. His passengers include three other Juniors, one of which was me.

An approaching car had its lights on High Beam. The driver, wanting to impress us said, "D....mn, your dim lights." We all had a big laugh because he meant to say, "Dim your D...mn lights!"

We kidded him many, many times thereafter.


Side Note:   I do not recall many times when boys would use bad language around girls during our high school days. Today, you hear girls using the same bad language as the boys. The easily overheard language today is loaded with "F Bombs" and crude references to body parts and sexual activity. References to past or future parties are frequent. Please, please understand this side note is in no way justifying the use of bad language by boys OR girls.

WELL, WHAT COULD I DO ???????????

           WELL, WHAT COULD I DO ???????

                Life is full of choices, more than just a few
                At the end of the day,surprise old and new 

                Critics gather like like ants to catch a view
                Speculation runs high as to what I might do

                It's getting very late; almost near curfew
                Choices,choices, what in the world to do

                It was an unpopular choice, made most blue
                My only defense, "Well, what could I do?" 

                                   ----Glenn C. Peck

TIME IN A BOTTLE ---Jim Croce

This song means more to me each year.

Songwriters: CROCE, JAMES

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
Till Eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then,
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

SONG OF SUCCESS---Robert Service

Robert Service has captured in this short poem what all of us are feeling: Getting old is coming too fast and the pleasures and vigor of youth is gone, forever gone, He laments we have only memories and not much time.

I have said publicly I would give all the money I could find to be 17 years old again on a Friday night in Indiana playing basketball! A date with a pretty girl afterward would be as close to Heaven a guy can get without a funeral! 

A Song Of Success

Ho! we were strong, we were swift, we were brave.
Youth was a challenge, and Life was a fight.
All that was best in us gladly we gave,
Sprang from the rally, and leapt for the height.
Smiling is Love in a foam of Spring flowers:
Harden our hearts to him -- on let us press!
Oh, what a triumph and pride shall be ours!
See where it beacons, the star of success!

Cares seem to crowd on us -- so much to do;
New fields to conquer, and time's on the wing.
Grey hairs are showing, a wrinkle or two;
Somehow our footstep is losing its spring.
Pleasure's forsaken us, Love ceased to smile;
Youth has been funeralled; Age travels fast.
Sometimes we wonder: is it worth while?
There! we have gained to the summit at last.

Aye, we have triumphed! Now must we haste,
Revel in victory . . . why! what is wrong?
Life's choicest vintage is flat to the taste --
Are we too late? Have we laboured too long?
Wealth, power, fame we hold . . . ah! but the truth:
Would we not give this vain glory of ours
For one mad, glad year of glorious youth,
Life in the Springtide, and Love in the flowers. 

Robert William Service

ROBERT FROST REVISITED

Robert Frost can be called America's best known poet. I found an old paperback book of his poems in my boxes of stuff and discovered a very haunting and touching poem. It follows:

THE IMPULSE ----Robert Frost

It was too lonely for her there,
And too wild,
And since there were but two of them,
And no child,
And work was little in the house,
She was free,
And followed where he furrowed field,
Or felled tree.
She rested on a log and tossed
The fresh chips,
With a song only to herself
On her lips.
And once she went to break a bough
Of black alder.
She strayed so far she scarcely heard.
When he called her--
And didn't answer -- didn't speak --
Or return.
She stood, and then she ran and hid
In the fern.
He never found her, though he looked
Everywhere,
And he asked at her mother's house
Was she there.
Sudden and swift and light as that
The ties gave,
And he learned of finalities
Besides the grave.

LOVE IN THE AUTUMN YEARS

                LOVE IN THE AUTUMN YEARS  

Rush and Hush quietly surrender to Slow and Know

Hallway pictures brightly echo of love from long ago

Once whispered words now fill all rooms in the house

Today, all day, joy is celebrate with my loving spouse 

Our love is always work in progress, never completed

Each chapter our very own and never to be repeated       

------Glenn C. Peck            

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012 !!!!!

In spite of the many challenges we face as a nation and as individuals, we are indeed most blest.

Statistically, we should have been born and reared in a nation with meager economic means. Statistically, we should have a much lower standard of living and life expectancy. Statistically, we should live in a country with much less freedom and opportunity. Statistically, we should live in a country with limited or no religious liberty.

But our all knowing, all powerful Heavenly Father chose by His Sovereign Grace and Mercy to place us outside statistics and permit us to enjoy the blessings of America.

Perhaps the words from the old hymn says it best: "Count your many blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings and see what God has done." 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING 2012 !!!!!!!!!!