CLOSE KNIT part 2

   Well, one weekend turned itself into three weeks.

   Uncle Henry, (actually, no-one calls him ‘uncle’ because he is aunt Susie’s fifth husband), couldn’t pull his Plymouth back from the clutches of vehicle perdition where it caught hellfire in the middle of our driveway.

   Unfortunately, it also sparked up the grass of the front 40 and lit up the night in such a manner that folks living some eight miles away saw the glow. Fortunately, it was a windless summer night and we had the flames under control by the time the fire department arrived, about thirty-five minutes after the call went out.

   "Hey, that fire fightin’ job looks like a sweet deal," said Uncle Henry, a state worker for the office of such & such, down Lane County way.

   "[ language blocker ] - Henry," Grandpa yelled, chasing Uncle Henry clear up a holler where the night spooks and Boogens lay in wait, just itchin’ for a chance to have a go at a chubby city boy.

   "That man doesn’t have the sense God gave a turkey," Grandpa muttered when he got back to the porch an hour later and still in a lather. "He can just stay up there for the rest of the night."

   All right, calm down Grandpa. Now, where was I? - That’s right, the fire - anyways, the Captain of the ‘responding’ fire department said that they were going to send Grandpa a bill for burning down his own hay and causing them to show themselves up in the wee hours, disturbing the general peace, disturbing the serenity of a calm summer night, and disturbing the restful sleep of the firehouse.

   "You dumb sons of - [language blocker ] didn’t get here until after the fire was out! Everybody was headin’ back to bed when you all came blarin’ in with your sirens screaming!" Grandpa chased the firemen also, except they had enough good sense to jump on their fire engine and head down the driveway.

   "I didn’t realize that I would be gettin’ so much exercise tonight, when I went to bed five hours ago."

   Grandma had breakfast ready as the new day dawned upon the farm. We never did get back to bed after all the commotion, so when the smells of her biscuits and gravy filled the house, everyone realized how hungry they were and a stampede ensued toward the kitchen.

   Nearly the entire family was there, five generations under one roof, and a few of the neighbors who had helped fight the fire, when I saw something I had never seen before - Grandpa grasping hands within the prayer circle for the giving of thanks before the meal.

   In our family, prayin’ before a meal is usually only done during the holidays and Grandpa always waited in another room until he heard the ‘amen’.

   But lately, since the cancer has begun taking it’s toll on Grandma, she has been seeking the strength of her God and giving thanks at every meal.

   I saw some tears in Grandma’s eyes as she saw Grandpa join in the circle ‘round the table, and I believe he did so for Grandma’s sake, because he doesn’t know how else to help her fight the cancer other than calling on a higher power to send down some miracles. I don’t believe Grandpa has ever liked God, and I’d like to hear the story behind his reasons why, but he’s never been face to face with a force more stubborn, stronger or deadlier than himself - until the curse of cancer found our home and family.

   I’m not going to repeat the words that Grandma prayed that morning, they will only be for those of us who were there. But Grandma has always said that, "it doesn’t matter who your God is, just as long as you give thanks when giving thanks is called for."

   I can tell you what I believe, though. I believe that Grandpa is the second strongest being on this earth. Right behind Grandma.

   Amen.

   Special Note:

   Our hometown hero, PBR champion bull rider Ross Coleman raised $50,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation with his Ross Coleman Invitational Bull Riding event in Molalla, Oregon. Please donate to this very special organization if you can. A link to them is on Ross Coleman’s site, rosscoleman.com  Ross Coleman is one of America’s top athletes, and a good guy who helps his friends and his community. Cruise his web site and show your support.