Minkler Cash Store

Blink and you'll miss it.  It's that small of a town. Population 30. Pretty soon the cars won't speed past. The new freeway will divert traffic six hundred feet to the north. Visitors on their way to the Giant Sequoias on Highway 180 will miss this treasure. Most miss it anyway. They whiz by when going to the big city. They take it for granted.  I know I have. Until a few days ago when I stopped and went inside the Minkler Cash Store. A woman sits at the old bar. She cuts strips of paper and writes notes for customers to take.  Encouraging words and scripture verses. We visit and she tells me that her New Year's Resolution is to think about what she says before she says it.  Good advice, I say.  I wander around and admire the local handmade crafts. I buy a ceramic bowl and a small wooden cross.  The cross is made by the woman. She's also the owner. If you're thirsty for an encouraging word or a bottle of pop, slow down before you see the corner.  Ease your way into the Minkler  Cash Store.  It'll settle your nerves and cool you down. Mind, body and soul.

I Gave My Dad a Hug Today

I gave my dad a hug today.  He sits in his chair and waits for a friend or neighbor to visit.  He doesn’t go to town or drive his truck anymore. No more coffee shop hour with his friends. He likes to watch Walker Texas Ranger.  If I could get Chuck Norris to visit dad that would be awesome.   Dad has traveled the world but no longer travels.  He loves people. If anyone is within earshot, he will tell them his life story and that story includes being a Christian.  He will tell you, “It doesn’t matter what church you go to, what matters is that you know Jesus.”  He is a life force even from his living room chair.  He is mostly blind, hard of hearing and has a hard time walking.  Yet he’s the one to always encourage me.  "Keep looking up, keep your eyes on Him.”  I came to give my dad a hug today.  And in return I’m blessed beyond measure.

Butterflies and Notepads

I love butterflies.  They seem magical somehow.  You never really see where they come from, or where they go.  They appear, flutter and vanish.  I like to make up stories.  Many of my ideas have never been written down.  They stem from something like a butterfly flitting by.  I say a few lines about the moment.  Then finish what I'm doing.  Imagine what would happen if I stopped to write all the thoughts I have about what I see. I used to carry a small notepad with me wherever I went.  I think it's time to do that again.   Most of my stories have come while going for a walk and scribbled down on a piece of paper.  No butterflies around now, except for the one in my hair. 

Billy Graham Turns 95

He is a man I grew up with.  Yesterday he celebrated 95 years of earthly living. I find his voice comforting. I always have. Through wayward times in my life, I seemed to always find him. I wanted the hope he offered.  I believed in the things he stood for. His passion was sincere.  His message never waivered.  I wished I could be like him.  Bold, honest, driven.  How does a man keep his passion for 95 years?  How can an old man bring so many to think about the thing that matters most in life?  It's not the man that gives the hope. It's the message. He is a willing messenger.  Billy Graham's simple message of salvation through Jesus Christ has brought millions into the kingdom of God.  Isn't it amazing that a simple man, with a simple message commands so much attention?  Perhaps it's worth contemplating.  After all, eternity is forever.

My Private Beach

I've been coming to this beach for fifty years.  Right now the water is low, and you can walk for miles up or down stream.  I can't believe there's no one here.  The Kings River runs through my town.  The beach is pretty much empty this time of year.  The wildlife is rich and the sand is cool.  I feel the warmth of the sun on my forehead.  The quietness fills my mind. From the grains of sand to the graceful egret that swoops across the water, there is no denying that only God could create such splendor. 

Television ,Laughter and Bedtime

Someone once told  me to watch something funny before going to bed. No offense Hollywood, but the t.v. shows of today don't come close to when I was growing up.  I don't know why I pay extra for cable.  I either watch Netflix or dvds.  If you want to relax, laugh and have your heart warmed, might I suggest one of the following as a nightcap?  Oh my, nightcap? That really dates me.

• Feeling nostalgic? The Andy Griffith Show. 

• Feeling idealistic?  The Mary Tyler Moore Show. 

• Want some silliness?  The Brady Bunch.  I mean silly in the most respectful way. 

• Ridiculous yet endearing, Hogan's Heroes. (I love Schultz.)

• And just plain funny, I Love Lucy. 

 

Noon Whistle

I just cracked open the window in my house.  Here it comes, one long siren.  It's not a fire, it's lunchtime in Small Town U.S.A.  I think the noon whistle is one of my favorite small town sounds.  When I moved away to the big city for a decade, oh how I longed for my noon whistle.  I think most people in town enjoy it.  Although a few years ago there was a movement by a few non-whistle blowers to silence the noon time tradition.  A few letters from both sides of the whistle to the editor in our local paper seemed to keep the whistle blowing.  So tomorrow, I will listen for the whistle, and if you're ever traveling through Small Town America, roll down your window at noon and appreciate the whistle.