Community
THE JOURNAL, Thursday, October 15, 2020 A7
JOY
Page A4
hospital. We lifted up the City leaders, Sanitation and
the Utilities department. V
My daughter, Mary, has a birthday this month. I am
trying to think of something really delightful to give
her. 1
She is beautiful, savvy, bright and creative in many
artistic fields, loves her. son, daughter and all the grand
children.
In the news this week Firefighters estimate that a fire
in NW. OKC will cost at least $30,000.00. Cancer
patients who used Zantac may be compensated.
The OSU-Baylor game for Oct. 17th has been post-
poned. Baylor suspended football operations due to
medical tests after multiple positive Covid—l9 results.
Lindsay native teams up with Cajun Navy relief to
assist in Hurricane Delta relief.
Boris Johnson briefs ministers today about a three-
tiered lock down system for England. Amid stark
warnings by leading scientists that the country is at a
“precarious position” in the Corona virus crisis.
Some of the real crisis is adjusting to the crisis!
Emotional levels rise in our lives and families. We
need down time for play and exercise.
We still have gang—related crimes in the large cities.
Drug use is taking the lives of our young people. A
normal life style of the “good old days” does not exist.
7 What are some techniques for coping....enough sleep,
time for prayer, practicing safe distancing and wearing
masks, using sanitizer, taking care of your health and
practicing gratitude for what you have in life.
It is important to praise and give recognition to those
who have loved and mentored us in our life time. One
of my very favorite people was Sherrill Lewis who just
had a birthday in Heaven.
Beautiful, articulate, artistic in many craft areas,
sewing, jewelry making, writing and photography.
Sherrill loved “life” and was a fantastic business
woman.
I treasure our cOnversations and celebrations. Lewis
had this unique gift of helping others see that they could
reach their goal. -’
This week find those who have “loved on you” and
helped heal broken places, and take time to embrace
those moments of joy.
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BAD MARY’S .
As much as Eli hated it, one saloon across the way became
the most popular. The place was run by a large woman name
of Bad Mary. Mary had been in the saloon business since she
was twelve or so when her mother, who was a whore, was
beat to death by a drunkard who didn’t feel he was getting
his money’s worth. Her mother left her seven dollars,,some
cheap ear rings, a .36 caliber pistol and small hope.
Mary used, the seven dollars to bury her and went to work
doing the only thing she could.
For quite a while the girl was known as Little Mary but
when she was about fifteen or so started gaining weight and
by} the age of tWenty-two became Mary the Big. She became
Bad Mary the day she caught a gambler going through her
purse and shot him full of holes with her .36, then dragged
the man out of her room and threw his body down a flight
of stairs. She then slowly walked down the stairs, reloading
along the way and shot the dead man six more times. A good
dozen men had run out the saloon door not believing what .
they had just seen.
The bar keep came up from behind the bar, looked at her
and said, “That’s bad, Mary. Real bad.”
The bar keep was blind as a bat, his eyes all grey from cat—
aracts. He was old as the hills and had kept the bar for years.
This shooting was a final straw. He didn’t think he could do
it anymore. Mary stepped over the dead man, walked to the
bar and poured herself a drink, then another.
“Mary, I gotta get outta this.”
“What you mean?”
“I mean I can’t do this no more. I’m too old. I’m gonna sell,
sure as hell I’m gonna.”
Bad Mary looked at the old man. “Just What do you think
you might have to have for this shit hole?”
“Well, I figure two hundred. I’m gonna put a sign out. I’m
gonna put it out today, sure as hell, I’m gonna.”
Bad Mary patted the old man‘on the hand and said, “You
wait right here.” Up the stairs she went.
“Here’ 5 the two hundred and I want it all, everthing ya hear?”
The old man counted the money and cast his one good eye
f?" {131' 2:5,
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JOSHUA E. MORRIS, AGENT
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405-547-2971
at the heavy woman. “You been here a long time and I never
asked, would you mind if’ n I wuz to touch one a those?” I
“You old bastard, there ain’t another man gonna touch me
again, not never!”
She threw back another drink, walked out the door and
down to the livery to buy a wagon. At the livery she hired
a Mexican boy of about ten years to come up to the saloon
and help her load up. She and the boy loaded everything, all
the whiskey, several jars of pickled eggs and sausages and
all her suitcases. It was too exciting to think about. Mary had
two weeks to get there. Plenty of time before the 22nd. She
looked at the old man behind the bar and spit.
Bad Mary looked down from the wagon seat at the skinny
Mexican boy, “You can go on home now.”
He looked up. “Lady,I ain’t got no home. I sleep down there
with the horses. My Momma dead long time. My daddy up
an run off, long time too.”
The big woman looked all around and scratched her neck.
“Look here now, you’re gonna come with me.” She reached
over and extended her hand. The boy took it.
“You gotta name?” .
“My name Rudolfo de la Villa. I got a friend though, he
call me Rudy.”
“Well, you got two friends now, Rudy de la Villa. Come 1
on, we got a ways to go.”
She reined the horses. Free land was waiting, Mary had
a future now, free land for a large woman who had worked
since she was twelve years old and a young Mexican boy
who until now had absolutely nothing to look fdrward too.
Bad Mary pulled up in front of the mercantile at the edge
of tOWn and stopped. '
.“We’re goin in here and get some stuff. You need a change
of clothes and maybe a hat and I need some pants.”
“But, you a woman.”
“I’m chuckin this dress and I ain’t never wearin one again.”
“I’m sorry, lady. I wuz afraid to ask.”
“Rudy, your days I of bein afraid are over. You ask me
anything you want. You can trust me. From now on, it’s just
you and me. In the store they went.”
Rudy walked out of the store all smiles in a new shirt and a
brand—new hat. Mary came out dressed in canvas pants that
were too big, a checked shirt and boots, carrying a holster
for the .36. Both climbed up to the wagon seat, Rudy still all
smiles as he mashed the hat around making it pointed in front.
The big woman gave the horses a light tap with the reins.
“Lady, where we goin?” '
“Well, Rudolfo de la Villa, we goin into Oklahoma. In
a couple of weeks, they’re givin away free land and we’re
gonna get some of it, you and me.”
They rode for a while without speaking then Rudy turned
toward the woman. “Lady ,1 don’t know your name.”
“My name is Mary, Rudolfo de la Villa, my name is Mary.
“I’m thankin ya, Miss Mary.”
“No, Ruderhank you.”
Bad'Mary gave the horses a pop and westward theywent.
Rudy moved closer so that he could touch the big woman and
gave his hat a slight pull to the left. He put his right hand on
hers so he could help drive. She didn’t mind. '
Dagne County residents deserve the best qualified candidate: ’
. TomDugger
Dedicated to Education
Tom Dugger and several family members graduated from Oklahoma State
more!
University. At OSU, he was recognized with selection to Phi Kappa Phi and
Beta Alpha Psi honorary societies. His wife of 50 years, Ann Dugger,
retired
from Stillwater Public Schools after a 35-year teaching career in Oklahoma.
She currently serves as an Adjunct Professor in the OSU College of
Education
and Human Services helping train the next generation of teachers. Tom and
Ann raised a family in Stillwater, and together they understand the
importance
of educating our children for the future of our state.
For more information about Tom Dugger for State Senate:
https://Www.faceb00k.com/duggerforstatesenate
tomdugger.com
Authorized and paid for by Tom Dugger for State Senate, PO. Box 191,
Stillwater, OK 74076
