People went to the polls and voted, some of us did anyway. I worked some elections way back when you had to count and certify the ballots and then someone had to take the ballots to Fayetteville, Ark., around midnight or later. Voting machines have sure done a great job of handling that chore. I appreciate the folks that take the time to handle that. It takes a much longer time in Arkansas because we vote for a week.
One year Pat and I had to vote early so we went to the courthouse. We asked if we could vote and the lady said yes if we had ID. Being a smart aleck I asked her if a prison release card was adequate and she nearly swallowed her teeth. I showed her my driver’s license and told her I was only teasing. I don’t know why people think that being asked for ID while voting is racist. You can’t climb on a plane without it or get a motel room, cash a check in many places or get information over the phone without it.
But anyway, I would like to see the Keystone pipeline built from Canada. The effects of the U.S. having enough petroleum are lowering gas prices. If we had more from the South Dakota region it would be great, and the Canadians need to sell theirs as well. I would rather get it from Canada than the Middle East. People are openly bribing us with large political donations not to do it; that should be criminal in my books.
Lowering gas prices helps the economy and many retired and working people have enough trouble getting by in our region with no public transportation to speak about. Lots of people living in big cities don’t even own cars so they aren’t that worried but many farmers and rural folks are prisoners of high gas prices. My book editor in New York said he had to move his car every day from one side to the other side for street cleaners that came through at night. He took the subway into the city. He was very proud of it and I asked him one time on the phone how his vintage Mustang got along. He said, “Oh they stole it and I never got it back.”
I am certain they still steal cars but my new pickup even has a finder on it if I forget where I left it. They can stop it from a satellite if in pursuit. And it cost more than some ranches I bought too.
The holiday season is upon us. Things like that come around a lot faster than as a boy when I waited, to say, get a driver’s license. Days lasted much longer than they do for me now. Since most of my family is in a 40-mile radius we always have a common Thanksgiving and Christmas at one of our kids’ house. They used to come out here, but the holidays are now at their door.
My wife’s brothers always had beagle dogs and we spent many Thanksgivings rabbit hunting after the noon meal in the fields. Back then there were lots of grown fields and abandoned farms to prowl over in Madison County. Rabbit hunting was fun. My arthritis today wouldn’t carry me very far up and down mountains but we still recall the many hunts and fun we had. One year we had skeet shooting too. My shoulder was sore for a week from shooting one of their 12 gauges. My grandfather gave me a double barrel 20 gauge and I preferred it. In those days I could out gun them with it but for some reason I switched to theirs in the competition.
I hope you have family or friends to share the coming season with and I wish you my very best. God bless you and America, Dusty Richards
