Livers, Gizzards and Wings

Rural convenience stores sell gas, cigs, and beer----just like their urban counterparts.

Many of the rural Oklahoma convenience stores sell a variety of ready to eat fast foods. Pizzas are popular but do require a prep time before they are ready to be picked up.

It is the deep fried chicken livers, gizzards and wings (and sometimes catfish) that brings in the pickup trucks, motorcycles, and all manner of cars. Cowboys, ranchers, oilfield hands, students, ballplayers, busy Moms who work outside of the home, fishermen, hunters, sales people, and a vast array of other folks stop to sample these Sooner State tasty delights.

Upon entering one of these rural stores, the smell of cooking oil that is near the flash point can be detected. Sometimes a thin transparent light blue cloud hangs magically suspended from the ceiling. The cloud signals a busy and profitable day for the store.

Many of the stores have a few tables and benches where the gourmet food can be consumed and juicy gossip exchanged. Retired men, hunters, and fishermen usually get first dibs on the few tables and benches.  

Of course gas, diesel fuel, candy, soft drinks, bread,
milk and beer is offered for sale. Some stores sell sacked cow and horse feed, weed killers, worms and minnows.

The front windows are nearly covered with school sports schedules.  Coming rodeos and church event signs are there also. A hastily drawn sign seeking blood donors for a community member injured in an auto accident shares adjacent space with another hand drawn sign for items requested for a burned out family.

These stores are routine transit points for most of the people I know, love and serve. How blessed can this old preacher be?

Glenn <><
Just West of Yesterday