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DECEMBER 2021/ VOLUME XVI / Issue V
Happy Holidays!
~ Tulsa to Oklahoma City and everywhere in between ~
Wonderful Speed
A WINTER WONDERLAND CREATES
Enjoy wonderful speed from your internet, too. It’s more fun to move more quickly, whether you’re sledding down a snowy hill or flying through downloads at home. So why not give your family the gift of faster internet this holiday season? It’s sure to make the new year more wonderful for the binge watchers, gamers, teleworkers, and students in your household.
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LOOKING FORWARD
Not just a magazine...a part of your life! Next Month: JANUARY - FITNESS EDITION
FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Love Edition Home Improvement Edition Sports Edition Real Estate & Industry Edition
ON THE COVER
This month’s On The Cover feature is a handsome cowboy named Galen Porter from Stillwater. Let’s all give our thanks to him as he delivers our gifts by horseback. What a way to travel! Keep him warm with hot cocoa and chips. He’s not Santa Claus and has decided to pass on the milk and cookies! Thank you from all of us at The Corridor Magazine for another great year! Don’t forget the carrots! COVER PHOTO by CRYSTL’S PHOTOGRAPHY
Merry Christmas from NEW AGE AUTO REPAIR
Travel Edition Patriotic Edition Back to School
Fall Festivals
Don’t Cuss! Just Call Us!
Dining Edition Thanksgiving & Hunting Edition Christmas Edition
200 W. 6th St. Davenport OK 74026
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OWNER: Jason Chrisman
The Corridor Magazine is published by The Corridor, LLC
OUR ADVISORY TEAM: PUBLISHER:
Joe Gooch (405) 823-7561
OFFICE: P.O. Box 885 / Cushing, OK 74023
405-823-7561
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jereeann@me.com EDITORIAL ADVISORY:
Jeree Milligan, Rick Reiley, Diane Brown, Pastor Paul Ragel, Missy Husted, Robbie McCommas, Alana Owen and Allison Eldredge
PHILLIP EVANS ATTORNEY Ahrberg Law Office
©2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited. All requests for permission and reprints must be made in writing to The Corridor Magazine, at the above address. Advertising claims and the views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the publishers or its affiliates.
A business-oriented and results-driven Attorney with thirteen and a half years of broad-based experience, including civil, criminal, and domestic litigation experience, plus experience with contracts, probate, title opinions, oil and gas title work, land, easements, and oil field construction.
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 3
CHRISTMAS EDITION 4 WISE WOMEN Lincoln County On Stage 5 EDITORIAL by Latresha A. Evans
SINCE 1901
TH ROGERS EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP COMPANY
LUMBER COMPANY “We Sell to Serve Again”
401 S. Main Bristow, OK 918-367-3359
Make Christmas Special for Dad with ON SALE Combo Drill ! Milwaukee $ Kit 249 Drills! HOURS: Mon-Fri 7:30-5:00 / Sat 8:00-12:00
4 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
6
SLOW DOWN! by Allison Eldredge
12
CHAMBER CHARLIE Cushing Chamber
17
IN MEMORY OF TERRY HOGGETT
22
FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN by Dustin Williams
28
KIDS ON THE CORRIDOR by Jeree Milligan
32
NOTES ALONG THE CORRIDOR by Rick Reiley
42
THE COUNTRY ELVES FROM ‘HAPPY VALLEY’ by Joe Gooch
44
PASTOR PAUL’S PASSAGES by Paul Ragle
44
DELILAH’S DILEMMAS by Diane Brown
50 RECIPES by Jeree Milligan
Happy Holidays!
CUSHING FAMILY
& COMPOUNDING CENTER IMMUNIZATIONS / COMPOUNDING / MEDICATION SYNC PROGRAM / DELIVERY Jason Thibodeau, DPh, Pharmacist/Owner
200 S. Highland Ave. • Cushing, OK / 918.225.5200 • FAX: 918.225.0828 www.cushingpharmacy.com
From the EDITOR I write this on a day of Thanksgiving. Today is The Thanksgivin g! We’re not just grateful for one day. Here, at The Corridor Magazine’s home office we are grateful for THE DAY. Today’s day, yesterday. But we’re most THANKFUL for the day of tomorrow, which hasn’t yet arrived. How can we give thanks for a day not yet received? We just do. Life changes. People change. The days change. No matter what you think, no matter what we think, no matter what I think…change is nothing but extraordinary and purposeful. “I wasn’t meant to be here. I’m an accident,” Joe always says. “I’m not your average Joe,” Joe always says. “I don’t know who I am anymore,” Joe always says. I’m both grateful and thankful for Joe AKA Donald Joe and his son Little Joe AKA Dakota Joe. I once said, “I want to be a Joe,
by LATRESHA EVANS
too! I’ll be JoJo!” And I smile for that memory. Joe knows…he’s exactly as he’s meant to be. He’s The Joe Gooch. Today, Joe does know who he is. He’s always Kind. He’s always Happy. He’s always Smiling and he’s always Joe. Joe always asks me, “Why do you hang around with me?” “Because you’re funny,” I always say. But the truth is, without the two BETTER THAN AVERAGE, ‘JOE’S, I wouldn’t be here on Thanksgiving cooking them a meal, cooking a meal with them. Giving Thanks for who we all are on this most giving of all days. Today, yesterday and tomorrow I am and always will be THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING. Thank you to ALL The Gooch’s. Your blessing is mine, too. I am JOJO.
Remember.. FREE delivery just like Santa! 920 Manvel Avenue Chandler, OK 74834
405.258.1717 www.brown-furniture.com THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 5
Slow Down by ALLISON ELDREDGE
Every year before we have even finished celebrating Halloween, stores will begin to bring out their Christmas goods and decorations. Then as Thanksgiving nears, stores ramp up the promotion of sales and Black Friday deals. Online all that seems to be in a greater degree. Black Friday starts before we even have turkey dinner. As a kid of the 80s, I don’t remember stores jumping the gun so early. The JCPenney, Sears and ToyRUs catalogs would come early enough to get those wishlists ready, but not before we had celebrated The Great Pumpkin day. Halloween would end and all the candy decorations would go on sale at 50% off. Then Thanksgiving and fall themes ruled until Thanksgiving Day. Back then, our Turkey Day was sacred. Football, family and food. The turkey was stuffed and by the end of the day, all of us were stuffed, too! Christmas plans might start before Thanksgiving, but, to us kids, it didn’t begin until the leftovers were put up for the day. If mom was ready, we’d start putting up the tree that night. If not, the next day was the only other option. The tree was always put in front of the living room window. The center focal point of all the seating in the living room. I remember, evergreen garland was placed around the windows, too. The tree had a certain order to it. All sides were to be decorated well. Lights….some years all colors, other years a solid color. The decorations were brought out and certain ones had a specific place that never changed. The red fairy and the silver and golden elves
6 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE /DECEMBER 2021
were always placed near the top of the tree. Partly because they were fragile, and partly because they were treasured items. An Angel or a star would top the tree, most years. Pipe cleaner candy canes were always placed where ever my brother and I wanted. They weren’t breakable and we had lots of them. We usually had regular peppermint candy canes on the tree, too. I remember buying my first Christmas ornament from my church’s bazaar: A purple and white beaded snowflake. I still have it and the red fairy and some other treasured ones. My grandmother made us stockings one year. We used them every year after that. There was a wreath made by my mom and my grandmother, I believe. And I have that in my Christmas decorations as well as the stockings. I haven’t used the stockings since I got married, but I get them out every year to look at and remember. Once the house was decorated, we would all sit down and watch the tree twinkle and enjoy all the hard work my mom had done to make it all feel festive. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, presents would start arriving under the tree. Christmas Eve, we were usually allowed to open one gift. Mom would have
to go thru the gifts and get out the one that we could open. A couple of times, she chose the wrong gift and would spoil the surprise for one of us. But we didn’t really care. We were opening presents. Usually my brother and I would have some sort of matching gifts. One year, we got twin Cabbage Patch boys (yes, boys got Cabbage Patch dolls back in the day, especially if they had a sister). Then between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, the stockings would fill up with gifts. One year, I remember getting up around 5 am and the stockings were empty. I went back to bed and when we woke up around 8, they were full! Mom was sneaky like that. Christmas day, we would have another fabulous feast, open presents, and the guys would watch football while we kids played with our new toys and stuff. I remember sitting on my bed with my new stuff and deciding where everything would go. I’d use my new makeup or play with my new Barbie and the Rockers dolls. Television during the holiday season was another great tradition. Every year, we’d watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the Sound of Music and the Wizard of Oz. These shows were always on between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Now, I’m older and a parent and I realize all the hard work that my parents and grandparents did to make our Holiday Season so memorable. I read somewhere that
if you have great childhood holiday memories, Thank your Family! My grandmother and mother were sneaky sometimes to get us the presents we wanted or that they thought we needed. For example, one year my grandmother called and said we needed to get to her house quick. Why? She wouldn’t say. My brother and I worried in the back seat of our car as we traveled as a family to see what could be going on. When we got there, we were relieved that the house wasn’t on fire and that there wasn’t an ambulance in the driveway. Nope, it wasn’t an emergency, it was a secret present. My parents had gotten our first VHS player and my grandparents had recorded a movie from Television the night before for us. I don’t know if anyone out there beside me and my brother remember Babes in Toyland with Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves. We watched and watched and re-watched that movie. We have both now seen it as adults and let’s just say, we don’t know what we were thinking. Nowadays, the world seems smaller, light displays seem bigger, presents seem more designer. I try to create some of the Christmas magic that my parents created for me. We decorate the house and tree as a family. We fill up stockings after our daughter goes to bed on Christmas Eve. We go to parades and to look at lights. We have hot chocolate with holiday movies. I hope each of you have many homespun Christmas memory making moments this year. n
Merry Christmas from
R. JOE REMINGTON CPA PLLC 1202 N. Jim Thorpe Blvd. Prague, OK 74864
rjoeremington@gmail.com remingtoncpa.com 405-567-0258 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 7
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1030 E. Cherry St. | Cushing 918.725.1901 MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00am–5:00pm
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CUSHING CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
S H O P L O C A L C H R I S T M A S C A M PA I G N
Chamber Charlie
SCAVENGER HUNT Where is Chamber Charlie, our Elf on the Shelf?
Stay tuned to the Cushing Chamber Facebook page for daily clues as to which Cushing Chamber Member Business he is in. He will be in the Broadway District of Downtown Cushing on Broadway Street every week starting Thanksgiving week on November 22 until the week of Christmas, starting December 20.
Once you find him, take a selfie with him and private message it to the Cushing Chamber Facebook page, or stop by and show it to Chamber staff, 1301 E. Main St. Your name will be entered into a drawing for the week you find him, and on each Friday we will do a Facebook Live drawing where a lucky winner will receive a fantastic present!
CHRISTMAS PARADE / A WHOVILLE CHRISTMAS DOWNTOWN CUSHING’S Broadway District / DECEMBER 11, 2021 @ 6:00PM
Applications for entries are being taken now; stop by the Cushing Chamber today to get your application or go to our website: cushingchamberofcommerce.org. Click the events calendar tab and register an entry through the Christmas Parade Event page
Visit Us on Facebook Cushing Chamber of Commerce
12 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
Wishing You Nothing But
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for the Holidays 14 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
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THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 15
16 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
P O R T I O N O F H I G H W AY D E D I C AT E D i n M E M O R Y o f C U S H I N G N E W S M A N
TERRY HOGGETT
November 11, 2021 / Cushing American Legion Post 108
The entire Hoggett family posed for a photo with Rep. John Talley
Post 108 Chaplain Steve Ferchau gave the opening prayer.
Dawson Claxton, right, sang The National Anthem
Mr. Willliam Cubbage, Cushing businessman, visits William Cubbage, shown left, and Farrel Kleckner, with Rep. John Talley. right, event organizer.
Farrel Kleckner, event organizer, presented final remarks
Terry Hoggett’s son, Rod
Mrs. Emily Moore sang I’m Proud to be an American
Terry Hoggett’s wife and son, Mick.
Mrs. Ellsworth presents a certificate to veteran Terry Hoggett’s family commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War.
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 17
PA S TO R PA U L’ S PA S S A G E S by Pastor Paul Ragle
CHRISTMAS ON THE RANGE A Christmas Cowboy song I could sing...
I enjoy holiday music, both sacred and secular. Christmas caroling has long been an annual tradition in my world. As a kid I loved bundling up and going around our neighborhood with my brothers and sisters singing our favorite Christmas Carols; we were often invited into people’s homes for hot chocolate and cookies. I’ve organized many a youth group caroling party, taking young people around to the homes of our church widows and shut-ins to share our Christmas cheer. This year our congregation is having a Live-Nativity-Caroling Party on the church’s front lawn; we’re inviting people to stop in to sing carols with us, to enjoy Christmas goodies, and to take a turn filling a role in the live nativity scene. My love for Christmas music grew and blossomed when I sang with a Madrigal group which hosted a Boar’s Head Festival at the college. We entertained guests with Baroque and Madrigal Christmas music. I loved raising a mug of hot wassail in celebration of the Christmas feast. After I became a pastor, I began to be invited to share programs of Christmas music with various groups utilizing my guitar and recorders. That’s how I started learning secular Christmas songs, i.e., Home for the Holidays, White Christmas, Let it snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!, Rudolf the Red-nosed Reindeer, etc. I love helping folks sing along on these fun songs! I’m not much of a cowboy, but having lived many years in Texas and Oklahoma, I was elated to find a Christmas Cowboy
18 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
song I could sing. I came across a cowboy Christmas song in a collection of Christmas music. The song was written by Charlie Tobias, Nat Simon and Roy Newell and published in 1940 by the Alfred Publishing Company, Inc. The Song is called When It’s Christmas on the Range. (not the Bob Wills song by the same title.) The cowboy sings, “When it’s Christmas on the range And the purple sage is white, Go home, cowboy, go home.” He declares he bought his horse a saddle, brother Joe a hat, his Ma a gingham dress, his sister a locket. He’s got no money left in his pocket, but he’s riding home a happy cowboy. The Song closes in a flourish of romance: “There’s a girl down at the grange And I’m bringing her my heart When it’s Christmas on the range.” Nope, I’m not much of a cowboy, but this Christmas song, helps me play the part. But I think his girl at the grange might like a real gift! As we celebrate the holidays, let’s remember that there are folks who are facing this festive season without special loved ones. Let’s look around our neighborhoods to see who are might be having a “Blue Christmas.” Perhaps we can share some of our holiday spirit with someone who’s feeling especially lonely during this season. n
Merry Christmas to All! LORETTA PALMER
MELISSA BUTCHER
TYLER PENROD
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D’s
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20 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
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918-225-1713 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 21
PHOTO PROVIDED
Feed My Starving Children A
N O N - P R O F IT
OR GA NIZATION
by DUSTIN WILLIAMS I got involved with a wonderful organization called Feed My Starving Children when my wife signed me up to volunteer along with other students and faculty at her school four years ago. This non-profit, with the help of volunteers from Cushing and surrounding towns, does a mobile packing event each year in Cushing. The event has packaged approximately enough food to provide one hundred thousand meals for hungry and starving children in third world countries each year since this project was started in Cushing in 2015. A gentleman named Jerry Fore, who moved to Cushing to work for Blue Knight, had volunteered at FMSC’s headquarters in Minnesota, and he had a real passion for the organization. I suspect that he was inspired by the same things that I like so much about the organization. The first and most obvious thing is that they are
22 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE /DECEMBER 2021
The first and most obvious thing is that they are helping to feed children who might not even live to adulthood without their aide.
helping to feed children who might not even live to adulthood without their aide. I am also very impressed with their financial accountability. Eighty-six percent of all money donated to the non-profit goes directly to the meals provided, and 99.8% of the meals have arrived at their intended destination safely. I’m sure this and other factors are what made Jerry want to be instrumental in getting the first mobile packing event organized. Once an event is planned, the organization brings all the equipment needed to prepare, vacuum seal, palletize, and ship the food that the volunteers prepare at the event. When I first started volunteering for these mobile packing events, I thought that the organization provided the food and transportation, and people from Cushing and surrounding communities provided the labor to prepare and package the food. After being heavily involved in the labor side at the last three packing events, I was asked to join the committee that plans and prepares for the event. I learned that the committee was responsible for raising approximately $25,000 to cover the costs of the food, shipping, paid staff running the event, etc. Before I was on the committee, there was a gentleman who worked for a bank that had connections with large oil companies, big businesses, etc. Those donations usually added up to about $20,000 and the rest was raised locally. This year we have raised around $6,500 through a turkey noodle dinner at Free Will Baptist Church, a corn-
hole tournament, private donations, and a quarter drive with our school district, businesses, and churches which means that we are ahead on our local portion of the donations; however, the banker that was so instrumental in the large portion of the donations has now stepped away from this non-profit and is using his talents and connections to bless others that need help. As a result, we are now struggling to raise the funds needed to continue this wonderful event that has blessed so many. I am writing this article in the hopes that someone with a connection to a large corporation can contact someone who might be interested in making a donation. I am also hoping that it makes a grassroots effort to raise the funds needed through lots of small donations. You can also join our Facebook group (Feed My Starving Children - Cushing MobilePack) to learn when you could volunteer, donate, enjoy fund raising activities, etc. We would love to see you at our benefit tournaments, donation lunches, etc. If you would like to make a donation, you can bring checks to Cushing Free Will Baptist Church, Cushing Hope Church, or Mills Construction made Payable to FMSC with January 22, 2022 Event 2201-058 in the memo field. Donations can also be made at give. fmsc.org/cushing. The next mobile pack is scheduled for January 22, 2022, but we need to get the remaining funds raised to make this happen. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated! Blessings!!
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 23
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Be sure to “LIKE” us on Facebook / www.facebook.com/Caldwellair 24 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
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KB Photography
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Merry Christmas!
Thank you new, repeat, and loyal customers and clients. What a privilege it was to work with you this year. We hope we can help you or someone you know in the future. Blessings for a most joyous and peaceful holiday season! Our sincere wishes for Health & Happiness to you and your families. LLC
Tommye Waltman & Associates
918-225-KEYS (5397)
1116 E 2ND CUSHING OK THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 31
NOTES ALONG THE
Corridor
by RICK REILEY
CHRISTMAS...Past and Present My first Christmases in Payne county over 70 years ago were memorable to me because everything was new to me then. The potato cellar where I used to play, the apple trees I used to climb, my first old dog, Cookie, playing in the creek behind our house, the neighborhood kids I roamed the countryside with. That was my immediate world,
close at hand. Then I began to pay closer attention to television and radio which brought the outside world into our Payne county home and let me have an insight into the world beyond our walls. Which was often strange to me. Still is at times! News from across the country and across the world. News of languages, wars, hunger and strange customs I could not comprehend. News of outer space and the Cuban Revolution, the hula hoop, the Nixon-Kennedy presidential race, skateboards and that Sheb Wooley “Flyin’ Purple Eater” song coming through the airwaves kept my young brain working overtime trying to piece it all together. But come Christmas, it was a time to put the everyday perplexities on hold and concentrate on the growing wonder of the season. Would there be a white Christ-
32 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
mas? Would I get a pony? Would Santa eat his cookies and milk I left for him in the kitchen? Of course some of the most endearing but faded Christmas memories hinged on our annual Christmas plays and musicals at my old grade school, Hillside, now long gone. Those plays and musicals were followed up by a visit from Santa in the gymnasium in front of a big old cedar Christmas tree. Santa was there to hand out gifts for us all. Sweet memories. These memories are happily wedded to my earliest Christmas musical memories beginning with songs like “Silent Night”, “Oh Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Jingle Bells”, “O Come All Ye Faithful”, “Here Comes Santa Claus”, “SIlver Bells”, “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, “The Christmas Song” (“Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire”), co-written by Mel Torme, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and of course Gene Autry’s “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. These old standards are always augmented by new crops of Christmas tunes and some of them stand the test of time. Some simply fade away. My first memory of a ‘new’ Christmas song was “Little Sandy Sleighfoot” by Jimmy Dean. It was recorded in 1957. It didn’t age well and was promptly forgotten. Unlike “Blue Christmas” by Elvis Presley which was recorded the very same year. Tough competition!
A little later (1967) Roger Miller, another fellow we Okies claim, wrote a lovely Christmas song, “Old Toy Trains”. And in the mid 60’s Tom Paxton, a former Bristow resident and high school grad wrote “The Marvellous Toy” made famous by Peter, Paul and Mary. All of the Christmas specials, with Perry Como, Sing Along with Mitch (Miller), Andy Williams, Garry Moore all provided much musical sustenance during those early holiday seasons. Those old Christmas standards were the glue that held those shows together. Then later on came songs like “Grandma Got Run Over by A Reindeer” by Elmo and Patsy. Love it or hate it there it is. A real groaner! In 1995 Tulsa native and country music star Joe Diffee recorded , “Mr. Christmas”, a Christmas album containing many old standards and the single, “Leroy the Redneck Reindeer”, co-written by Diffee, which was popular for a while. It was one of my favorite ‘new’ , fun holiday songs at the time, as was the album. We lost Joe Diffee last year due to complications from Covid 19. He was 61. More recently, in 2019, the Oklahoma City duo, The Imaginaries recorded “Hometown Christmas”, a lovely Christmas album and it’s still fresh to my ears. (Google: The Imaginaries Hometown Christmas) Broadway star, Kristin Chenoweth, Oklahoma’s own, just released a new Christmas album, “Happiness is Christmas” . (Google: Kristin Chenoweth Happiness is Christmas) Then there’s “Oklahoma Christmas” from Oklahoma’s Blake Shelton featuring another Okie, Reba McEntire which was released several years ago. (Google: Blake Shelton Oklahoma Christmas) Broken Arrow rocker J.D. McPherson has been known to get in on the Christmas spirit releasing a Christmas album, “Socks” in 2018. It contains 11 original songs written by McPherson and friends. (Google: J.D. McPherson Socks) Tulsa pop group, Hanson, has 2 Christmas albums to their credit. (Google: Hanson Christmas) From the Daily Oklahoman’s Brandy McConnell I heard about the 2019 release, “A Blackwatch Christmas Vol. 9: Christmas in Color”, from Norman’s Blackwatch Studios featuring original recordings by Oklahoma musicians including LCG & the X, Twiggs, Colourmusic,
Husbands and Samantha Crain. (Google: Oklahoma Blackwatch Christmas) So there seems to be some Okie flavored Christmas music out there for everyone, and I mean everyone, to augment the tried and true standards that have set the Christmas tone for so long. And to round out these Okie suggestions I’m taking the liberty of widening the focus to include a musician from Missouri and one from Illinois. I discovered the pedal harpist, Maria Duhova Trevor’s 2019 instrumental recording of standards, titled simply, “Christmas Harp” and enjoyed it a great deal. It was something different and I thought you might enjoy it too. (Google: Maria Duhova Trevor Christmas Harp) And my friend, Paul Adams, from Peoria, Illinois recorded an ambient, all instrumental tribute to the season a few years ago simply titled, “This Christmas- a Holiday Journey for Guitar”. It features many old standards and is perfect for quiet snowy nights, or peaceful mornings. It sets what I consider to be the perfect mood for contemplating or meditating on the peace and quiet wonder of Christmas. (Google: Paul Adams This Christmas) And so there it is, my dated childhood memories intertwined with Christmas and Christmas music from here and beyond The Corridor. By tapping into my Christmas memories I hope I’ve encouraged you to recall yours as well, especially those pleasant, sleeping ones you may have thought were forgotten.n
SUPPORT LIVE CHRISTMAS MUSIC ALONG THE CORRIDOR DURING THE HOLIDAYS! THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 33
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Merry Christmas and a HAPPY NEW YEAR From all the advertisers and all the staff of THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE Joe Gooch / Cheryl Payne / Crystl Percell / Jeree Milligan / Rick Reiley Diane Brown / Paul Ragle / Michelle Brown / Missy Husted / Robbie McCommas Kayla Dees / Allison Eldredge / Alana Owen / Latresha A. Evans / Steve Hamilton Edgar Spencer / Karson Brown / Maci Brown / LaRay Blancarte / Koni Bingaman / Dakota Gooch
From all the Corridor Staff we would like to wish you Happy Holidays. HWY 48
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BEDTIME
ST OR I E S by Joe Gooch - artwork by sharon flatt EDITOR’S NOTE... Recently my thirty-seven year old daughter called me from Florida to tell me how much she enjoyed reading my stories in “The Corridor”. I know, I know, its my daughter. Her request was simple, “Dad, it would be
really neat if you would write some of the bedtime stories you told us kids when we were young. I could read them to my sons Sam and Stroud, allowing them to know their grandfather better.” I thought, what a great idea!
The Country Elves from ‘Happy Valley’ BEDTIME STORY #5
Once upon a time many, many years ago Santa recruited five little ambitious but ornery elves. These wanna-a-be elves were far from city boys. They were from an area of Oklahoma known as “Happy Valley” which at one time even had a little country school called “Happy Valley”. Happy Valley is located South and East of Cushing, OK. Santa was in need of helpers each qualified to handle certain tasks at the North Pole. Santa needed a kind and well-disciplined elf to be the administrator of the naughty and nice list, someone who knew right from wrong and was always well behaved. After recruiting this elf, Santa said “I will call you Alabaster”. Another need of Santa’s was someone to invent a new toy making machine, an elf that would be mechanically inclined, good with his hands and filled with magic. Santa said “I will name him Bushy”. An elf was needed to be the guardian of Christmas. He had to be secretive about the village, the delivery of toys, and the duties of all the other elves. This recruit was given the name Pepper and asked to lead the elves. Shinny was the first recruit and had become a very close friend to Santa. He was everyone’s friend 70 42 THE THE CORRIDOR CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
and older than the other elves. Along with Santa Shinny was the cofounder of the village in Lapland. Everyone loved Wunorse Openslae. Wunorse was the designer of Father Christmas’s sleigh and responsible for its maintenance. He also looked after the reindeers and it is believed that his reindeers reached speeds faster than Christmas tree lights. While living in “Happy Valley” and before becoming elves in Lapland their real names were: Alabaster…..Hershel Gosnell Bushy……...Willy Wilson Pepper……..Joe Gooch Shinny……..Bobby Bohannon Wunorse…..Larry English
All of the elves were good workers for Santa and good little country boys or Santa would never have recruited them. However like most sixteen and seventeen year old boys they were mischievous and ornery as could be. The eldest Shinny, Pepper, and Wunorse were energetic and had to be doing something every night. A common practice for the elves was to drive to a neighboring town of Cushing, Chandler, or Stroud and drag main. They had not been introduced to sleighs, so they would drag main in Shinny’s ‘59 Chevy, painted candy apple red. On occasions they would cruise in Pepper’s ‘64 GMC pickup that was Christmas green. The boys were true believers of Christmas and always hoped to find one of Santa’s elves named Sugarplum Mary. She was also known as Mary Christmas, and was one of Mrs. Claus’s assistants. She diligently helped Mrs. Claus in the kitchen and was known for her sweet treats. On one cold Saturday night in January while the ground was covered with snow Shinny, Pepper, and Wunorse ran into Sugarplum Mary. She and several other elves were riding in a beautiful red sleigh. The boys were so impressed with the elves’ sleigh they felt they had to have one. It was even more impressive than the baby moon hubcaps they had on their vehicles. With the poof of magic Sugarplum Mary and all the elves disappeared, leaving the country boys to only marvel. A few weeks later “Happy Valley” was blessed with another bountiful snow fall. The boys were eager to take a sleigh ride but knew they could not skip school. By the time school was out their local Oklahoma Tire and Supply was completely sold out of sleighs. Shinny and Pepper immediately looked to Wunorse and said, “Can you design us a sleigh”? Wunorse replied,” I’m sure I can but I will need the mechanics and magic of Bushy”. Confident that Bushy and Wunorse could devise a sleigh, they took off. They had to pass Alabaster’s house on the road to Bushy’s house, so they stopped and asked him to come along for the fun. With the foursome packed tightly into the cab of Pepper’s Christmas green pickup, they pulled into Bushy’s yard. Wunorse and Bushy put their heads together and began jumping with joy. “We can do it! We can do it!” the two elves said. Along with wrenches and other magic tools they pulled the hood off a 1942 wrecked Pontiac, attached a forty foot log chain to the pickup and the elves were off. All five of the elves had a delightful evening riding in the car hood sleigh until Shinny and Wunorse
said, “Let’s give them a real ride.” They decided to speed up to thirty miles per hour. Along the country roads were many large over-hanging oak trees covering the roads, prohibiting a snow cover. When the car hood sleigh hit the bare dirt, the chain snapped throwing Pepper, Bushy, and Alabaster into the bar ditch. The elves were shaken but OK except for Bushy’s jaw. When he tried to talk his jaw would pop.
Fifty years later all elves miss Bushy very much; he has recently gone to be in elf heaven. The others have retired drawing a retirement from Santa. Shinny and Alabaster live in Cushing, while Wunorse resides in Oklahoma City. Pepper now lives in Stroud and publishes a magazines known as “The Corridor” and writes stories like this to share with you!
GOODNIGHT, KIDS!
IT’S TIME TO GO TO SLEEP!
HO! HO! HO! AND MARY (MERRY) CHRISTMAS! THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021 43
THE CORRIDOR 71
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Delilah’s DILEMMAS by
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A stranger had mysteriously appeared at the Royal Flush Ranch. A stranger with long, wavy, strawberry blonde hair, and electric, blue-green, almond shaped eyes. The twenty-one-year-old girl was easily 5’ 9” and had an athletic build. Her name was Lizzy, and she claimed to be Eli’s daughter from an ill-fated relationship he had had in college. Based solely on her looks, it would be difficult for Eli to deny her. But, as luck would have it, Eli was out of town and quite unable to deny or confirm the claim. He and Dooby were in Wyoming and not expected home for a couple days. Joel seemed perfectly willing to accept the new arrival with open arms. Delilah, not so much. It was going to take more than a genetic resemblance to convince Delilah that this person was related to Eli. Joel wanted to invite the young lady to stay with them on the ranch. Delilah sent her on her way with only an invitation to join them for dinner the following day. In no hurry to confront Eli, Delilah waited until he called her that evening, and after idle chatting she broached the subject. “So,” Delilah began. “This is going to sound like a really crazy question, but do you remember Kathy Bukowski?” Crickets. “Eli?” Delilah prompted, fearing that the connection had been lost or that Eli had fainted. “Kathy Bukowski,” Eli stated with little emotion. “Why do you ask?”
46 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
DELILAH’S PLACE “Oh, her daughter showed up at the ranch today,” Delilah said. “Just her daughter?” Eli asked. “Uh huh,” Delilah confirmed. “That’s weird,” Eli said. “Is that weird?” “Not really, given that Kathy’s deceased,” Delilah said. “Oh,” Eli groaned. “That’s too bad. But that makes her visit even stranger.” Delilah took a deep breath and opened her mouth to speak the words. She couldn’t do it. She could not tell Eli that Kathy’s twenty-one-year-old daughter could be his daughter. “Still coming home Tuesday?” Delilah asked. “Well . . . yeah,” Eli replied. There was a brief pause. “Are you okay?” “Of course,” Delilah huffed. “Say tomato soup if you’re in danger,” Eli said. “Oh, my Lord! What are you talking about?” Delilah cried. “You just sound . . . peculiar,” Eli said. “For a minute there I was concerned that maybe . . .” “Maybe what?” Delilah urged. Again, a brief pause. “I don’t want you to be alarmed,” Eli said. “What, Eli?” Delilah demanded. “I know the whole Mrs. Wrigley operation is under control,” Eli continued. “And everyone’s been apprehended,” Delilah interjected. “Right,” Eli said. “As far as we know. But what if they haven’t all been apprehended? You didn’t invite
her to stay at the ranch, did you?” “No, I didn’t,” Delilah said. “Because, like you, I’m still just a smidgen paranoid about who might still be out there embracing a desire to do me, us, harm. She’s staying in town. Stroud. At a hotel. Though Joel thought I was being particularly unkind not inviting her to stay here.” Eli laughed. “She must be cute,” he said. “She’s cute,” Delilah confirmed. “And very Valley Girl.” Eli chuckled again. “You mean like California Valley Girl?” he asked. Delilah called upon her best Valley Girl impersonation. “Like, yeah,” she whined. “Oh, brother,” Eli said. “I take it Kathy moved to California. We didn’t communicate after we broke up.” “Was it a bad break up?” Delilah asked. “I wouldn’t say so,” Eli said. “If I remember correctly, I was a senior and she was a sophomore, I think. Anyway, I suspect she was hoping for a marriage proposal at Christmas, and when that didn’t happen the arguing started. I had plans to travel as a world class geologist. The last thing I wanted was a wife. By Valentine’s Day the relationship was over. Wonder what took her to California?” “According to Lizzy, Kathy’s mother married a man
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from Los Angeles,” Delilah offered. “The girl’s name is Lizzy?” Eli asked abruptly. “Yes,” Delilah said. “Why?” “Oh, nothin’. Nothin’ important anyway,” Eli said. “Do you need to talk to Dooby about anything? I’m gonna go ahead and get off this phone.” “No. No need to talk to Dooby,” Delilah said. “Love you.” “Yeah, me, too,” Eli said absentmindedly, and the line disconnected. Delilah held the phone out in front of her. “Maybe he was in danger, and I should’ve had him say tomato soup ‘cause that was nine kinds of bizarre,” she said. The following morning at breakfast, Joel began his interrogation. He was disappointed to hear that Delilah had not told Eli that Lizzy was his daughter. “’Cause we don’t know for certain she is!” Delilah argued. But Joel was pleased when Delilah inferred that Eli had, most likely, already deduced as much. She suspected he had begun doing the math in his head just before their call was so awkwardly concluded the night before. Eli hadn’t inquired about Lizzy’s age and Delilah
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had not offered the information. But the fact that the daughter of an ancient flame had suddenly shown up on the Royal Flush Ranch had Eli puzzled. Eli’s deep concentration was not lost on Dooby who sat across from him at the table in The Hungry Bear Restaurant in Cody, Wyoming. They had placed their orders and their cups were full of steaming coffee. “Did you have an argument with Delilah last night?” Dooby asked as he reached for the packets of sugar. “’Cause I have been there and done that. Though next to Karon, Delilah’s a pussy cat when it comes to arguing.” Clinking silver, clanking stoneware, muffled chatter, and the ever so faint sound of sizzling bacon was all Dooby heard. “Eli!” Dooby demanded. “What?” Eli replied, coming back to earth. “Kinda in a daze over there,” Dooby said, stirring the sugar into his cup. “You have an argument with Delilah last night?” “No,” Eli said. “What do you think the odds are that they got all the Mrs. Wrigley players in custody?” The cup that was halfway to Dooby’s mouth
stopped in midair. “Slim,” Dooby said with a scowl, setting his cup of coffee on the table. “Why do you ask?” Eli relayed the conversation he had had with Delilah, practically verbatim. Dooby sat quietly in contemplation as the waitress sat their plates down in front of them. “I’ll be back to top off your coffee in a bit, Hun,” the middle-aged waitress said with a wink at Dooby. And why not? Dooby was walking, talking charisma. Six feet of flawless, caramel skin over perfectly toned muscle. He was one of those few men who could pull off a shaved head. His neatly trimmed mustache and goatee framed a dazzling smile that, in addition to his seductively, dark eyes, made women go weak in the knees. “No hurry,” Dooby said with a flirtatious smile, and he began cutting his fried eggs. “Do you think this Lizzy person is a Mrs. Wrigley plant?” “I think it’s possible,” Eli said, shaking his head and grinning at what he’d just witnessed. “Or,” “Or she could be your daughter?” Dooby offered. “Or, she could be my daughter,” Eli said with a sigh. “My guess is you did some checking last night
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after you talked to Delilah,” Dooby said right before the fork full of eggs reached his mouth. “I did,” Eli confirmed as he peppered the food on his plate. “She’s the right age.” “And the Mrs. Wrigley operation would know that if they had created this character to infiltrate,” Dooby said. “True,” Eli said. “They’d have done their research, too.” The guys spent the next ten minutes devouring their meal. “So, what’s got you perplexed, Brother?” Dooby finally asked after swallowing his last bite and wiping his mouth with his napkin. Eli laughed. “You think I look perplexed?” he asked. Dooby laughed, too. “Let’s just say I have a bit of my mother’s psychic propensity,” he said. “Yeah, Delilah’s warned me about that,” Eli said, nodding. “The thing is there’s something all the research in the world wouldn’t have uncovered. My dad’s nickname for my mother was Lizzy. Kathy was the only one I ever told that to.” “So, on the off chance that this person poses a threat, do we skip our appointment and head back home now?” n
IS LIZZY ELI’S DAUGHTER? Or is she a character created by the infamous Mrs. Wrigley crime consortium?
Is she benevolent or evil? Answers abound in the January installment of Delilah’s Dilemmas in The Corridor Magazine! I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those Delilah fans out there for their continued support of this wacky series. It is such a pleasure bringing Delilah to you each month. Happy Holidays to you all!
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50 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / DECEMBER 2021
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F R O M O U R FA M I LY TO Y O U R S …
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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