Walker County Press-Page 12
Lifestyle
Sunday Observations by Christy
Country music lost an icon this weekend. Naomi Judd has passed away the day before they were to enter the hall of fame. Two weeks after a fantastic performance on the CMT Awards. As cornerstones of the 90’s Country scene, The Judds were some of the best. Yes, you knew Naomi’s health was poor. But hepatitis that forced them into retirement did not take her. Statement from her kids said they lost her to mental illness. Noth-
ing else. One can assume, but nothing confirmed and I won’t speculate. What I will say is mental Illness is real. The last few weeks has seen three female collegiate athletes succumb to their demons of mental illness. We live in an increasingly negative world. A world of doubt, of hate, of viciousness, and instant gratification. That equates to society taking a big mental hit. We’ve been so busy
arguing about vaccines, viruses, politics, and what we hate, that it seems we have forgotten what we love. Any chance I get to discuss mental health I will jump on it. This is one of those. I urge you, discuss mental health regularly with your kids. From early on. Make discussing what stresses them out as normal as asking if they brush their teeth every day. Because you take them for dental checkups, for doctor visits, to get their eyes checked. We ask how they feel. But we have got to normalize asking and talking about mental health. Then if you find out your child struggles, ACKNOWLEDGING IT is the biggest support you can give them!! Let them know they are not alone. That mental health is just a different part of their body, but that it’s so important to take care of their brain. Feed that brain positive snacks. Tell the brain it’s loved. Be a safe spot for the days the brain isn’t cooperating. Acknowledge
the issue. If your child needed glasses you would never question helping their vision. Treat their brain the same. Do what is necessary to enhance their brain. Happy Sunday peeps, please please never think there shouldn’t be a tomorrow. Or the world is better with-
Thursday May 5 , 2022
out you. In the words of the Judds, When we stand together, it’s our finest hour We can do anything Anything Keep believin’ in the power. We can start today, by loving one another. By caring, helping and lifting one anoth-
er. Don’t you think it’s time to do your part, to help mental illness? Talk about it. Just like you would if someone had the flu, cancer, or diabetes. Normalize it. And through normalization, we begin to help it. And maybe save a few. Or at least….. build a bridge.
WOODS, WATERS, and WILDLIFE
TEXAS LOSES A LEGEND
By John Jefferson
Murry Burnham: 1929-2022. A true Texas Legend, my friend, Murry Burnham, died peacefully on April 20. Descendants of Stephen F. Austin’s “Old 300”, the first Anglo Colony in Mexico’s Tejas, Murry and his brother, Winston, learned the ways of the woods from their father. One skill they mastered was calling predators and wild game. They later formed Burnham Bros. Game Calls and taught a nation how to call critters. As a woodsman, he was beyond compar-
ison. At home in the wilderness, he was as close to being a “white Indian” as anyone I’ve known. He was at one with wildlife. One opening weekend of deer season, he hunted early, but was in church when it started -- In full camo. A new carpet had been installed. The windows were open, and a bird flew in and lit on the Communion rail. The church women nervously feared it would ruin the new carpet. Murry slowly rose, quietly walked to it, peacefully cupped his hands around the timid bird, and released it out a window. The bird seemed to sense no danger. A mutual friend told
me Murry had a pet, wild, Rio Grande turkey that would ride on the front seat beside him as he drove to town in his truck. And he was an accomplished hunter. His photos show an impressive night’s fox hunting, all called within range on Burnham Bros. calls. I’ve worn out several of his mouth calls with limited success -- probably due to operator error -- but I always have at least one with me afield. Murry also hunted wild bulls in the cane breaks along the Rio Grande, an activity not recommended for the faint at heart. Another time, he accepted my invitation
