Author: lewisotr

One Hell Of A Guy, If I do say so myself.
Crazy Times, Kenny Lewis, My Friends, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Hay Hauling – Smithwick Style

lewisotr

At 15 cents per bale, three young boys could make a fortune hauling hay or so we thought. Our Dad furnished the pickup, a 55 Chevy ¾ ton with a 4 speed and a 6 cylinder engine. But we had to pay for gas, which was cheap – $.30 per gal and flat repairs, which was a big unknown. We kept several spare tires around just in case. That’s what you did back in those days. Kenny was the driver, the pusher, the big boss man of the bunch. That left big Jimmy Palmer and me to load the hay … Continue reading Hay Hauling – Smithwick Style

My Friends, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Big Jim’s Ride

lewisotr

Jim and Hanna put Jimmy in his first vehicle, a “53” Chevrolet 1/2 ton step-side pickup. It was a red color, with a few dents all around it, but it was solid. (This is about the best photo I could find to replicate that old pickup) He drove that old pickup for a few years before he bought Wallace Herberts gold “65” Impala. (This is a close resemblance to his Impala) I would say he wasn’t real easy on a vehicle, but he was always able to keep them going. That’s probable a good testament to how well built vehicles … Continue reading Big Jim’s Ride

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, My Friends, Smithwick, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Gift

lewisotr

Some of my best memories growing up was hauling hay and doing the hard work. I’m not sure why those are my best memories, but they are. A few years ago when Madeline and I turned 60, our kids along with Kenny and Carol threw us a grand party out at Kenny’s place on Cow Creek. Jimmy Palmer brought me one of the best gifts I could have received. It was his hay hook that had hung in his barn for all these years. He wanted me to have it to remind me of the time that when he got … Continue reading The Gift

Another Daily Happening, Crazy Times, My Friends, The Early DaysLeave a comment

Big Jimmy Got An Ear Full

lewisotr

I told you a story about Big Jimmy Palmer giving the workers Feenamint Gum on the job one day and we lost the whole crew for that day. I’m not sure if anyone around, including those workers knew what had happened or if they thought they’d eaten some bad taco’s for breakfast. Along about that same time period, while on the same job, Jimmy and I drove back and forth Marble Falls to Austin everyday. This was circa 1972. Since I was furnishing the pickup we figured Jimmy could do the driving. An arraignment that worked pretty well, especially for … Continue reading Big Jimmy Got An Ear Full

Crazy Times, On The Job, The Early DaysLeave a comment

The Day Jimmy Shut The Job Down

lewisotr

We were running short on work one time when Big Jimmy and I were young guys. We went over to help a competitor get caught up. Big Jimmy was a real pushover. He always carried packages of gum. All the labor crew would aggravate him about wanting a stick of gum. It was costing him a small fortune to keep them all in chewing gum. Or at least that was his claim. He was complaining about that when we made our morning stop at a store. There in the sundries were packages of Feen-A-Mint Gum. I said give them each … Continue reading The Day Jimmy Shut The Job Down

My Friends, Smithwick, The History of Texas4 Comments

Big Jim, The Best Friend A Feller Could Ask For

lewisotr

When Jim Cox married Hanna and moved her and her young son, Jimmy Palmer to Smithwick, life would never be the same. He was 9 years old, putting him a 1/2 year older than Kenny and 3 older than me. They moved into Jim’s house that was across the highway from my Grandmother, Nonie. Since we spent most of the summers there with her and every weekend until we moved back from our years at Jollyville, we were together much of the time. Jimmy was as big for his age as I was small for mine. Kenny, having a strong … Continue reading Big Jim, The Best Friend A Feller Could Ask For

Amazing ThingsLeave a comment

A Singer, I’m Not

lewisotr

I have never been a strong singer would be putting it mildly, but if there were plenty of other people singing at church I have belted out a fairly loud noise before. I love the old hymns very much. It doesn’t seem like we sing nearly enough of them anymore. Back at that time on fifth Sunday’s we would use the Cokesbury Hymnal (it’s a Methodist thing) and take turns calling out for requests. Everyone knew every song so it was always a joyous time. Madeline was not there this one particular Sunday and no one was sitting very close … Continue reading A Singer, I’m Not

Crazy TimesLeave a comment

Don’t Always Believe What Your Children Tell You

lewisotr

It was the mid 80’s. We were still living in south Austin on a secluded little street. It was a neighborhood anyone would want to live in, if you have to live in the city. We moved In with on Jan. 1, 1977 and spent a decade there. We had a 2 1/2 year old son when we moved in and by the time we left there our family had grown to a total of 5 sons. We were having a party. We had lots of parties. There were an abundance of friends and family there. The door bell rang. … Continue reading Don’t Always Believe What Your Children Tell You

My Friends, Thoughts and MusingsLeave a comment

The Way To Know When You Have Been To A Memorial Service For a Very Special Person

lewisotr

Today was the day of D. L. “Punk” Turner’s Memorial Service. A large crowd of people gathered to celebrate the life of Punk. Then a nice meal was enjoyed afterwards at the Oatmeal Community Center. The day was spent talking about the positive things about Punk. While there was sadness felt by all, because he will be missed, there was a joy in the air for what he meant to every person in attendance. Whether family or friend, whether life long friend or newly made friend, everyone could say that Punk left a mark on their life. The love, the … Continue reading The Way To Know When You Have Been To A Memorial Service For a Very Special Person

The Jollyville YearsLeave a comment

There Were These Giant Earthworms……..

lewisotr

When I was a small boy growing up in Jollyville and going to school at Pond Springs Elementary, after a heavy night of rain when we would show up to school the next morning all over the playground would be these foot long earthworms crawling everywhere. We would gather them up and chase the girls around the school yard. When the sun was out they would go back underground, not to be seen again until the next heavy rain. I don’t remember ever seeing that phenomenon anywhere else. I researched and found several places around the world that has earthworm … Continue reading There Were These Giant Earthworms……..