The Handshake

He sat behind the table, all his guns laid in a row. I spotted him across the room, at our yearly town gun show.

The sign clamped to his table read, “Gunsmith and his ware.” The gunsmith looked the human version of a grizzly bear.

He turned my way, gave me a nod, then stood up from his chair. I said, “You gotta 12-gauge at a price that might be fair?”

His dark black beard and giant frame were daunting at first sight. He picked me out a shotgun. Looked to brighten up my night.

The grizzled man gazed at me, then handed me the gun. He said, “You’ll like this shotgun. Take a closer look for fun.”

The shotgun was a beauty, just what I was looking for. The gunsmith said, “Don’t need to look for shotguns anymore.”

A Remington 870 with a shorter barrel to boot. With the butt snugged to my shoulder, then I asked, “How does it shoot?”

Take, for example, this LAVA RIDGE WIND GENERATION PROJECT. My first question is, who makes the behemoths. What country gets the funds for the production? It has been proven that more energy is used to create these monsters than they ever produce before they wear out. This creates an energy deficit, not to mention all the damage done by the noise and the dehydration of the earth that supports these things. The level the earth must be disturbed to anchor one of these leviathans is an unknown. Do we know how it will affect our weather patterns?

Mother Earth is a living being and this is like stabbing a gigantic sword into the heart of Gaia. You want to talk about messing with the frequency of the planet. This will do it. So I ask, who wins in this situation? There is definitely not a positive overall energy flow from these brutes; and besides, they are ugly.

Follow the money. Are tax dollars being used for this project or does our energy bill go up to support such an endeavor? Do we get more jobs? Who wins? It’s like all the dead electric cars whose batteries have died and can’t be recycled. A new battery costs more than the car is worth, and so they are just trashed. Has common sense died amongst humanity or have we let ourselves be programmed by the media? Don’t just examine the end product! Check out the whole picture of what is required energetically to complete a creation.

Look for your own truth and take a stand for life, for earth, for joy. Give up on all the doom and gloom projected at us daily. Where your focus goes, energy flows. Think, “I love the earth. I cherish the earth. I love the animals, plants, rocks, waters, trees, humanity and all life force. Why should we sacrifice our beauty and environment so that California can use the power? Let California provide for themselves, use their land. We are not an experiment. We are not guinea pigs to be practiced on and Idaho is not for sale.

He offered me a smile, and then he pinched another chew. He said, “There ain’t none better. This old gun is meant for you.”

I slightly uttered, “What’s the price?” He asked a worthy fare. But my wallet fell a little short. I’d spent the cash elsewhere.

I feared someone would snatch the shotgun if I stepped away. So I asked how much he’d need to hold while getting cash to pay.

He reached, then opened up a hand. His grip as hard as lead. “A handshake’s all I need today.” And he meant just what he said.

His eyes dang near stared through me with a keen but gentle look. Pure honesty conveyed to me. A handshake’s all it took.

I found the nearest ATM and pulled out all my cash. Then hurried back so doggone fast! A record ten-yard dash!

His shotgun now belonged to me. The gunsmith held his word. Another handshake clinched the deal. A marvel had occurred.

‘Cuz I’d found someone who wasn’t always out for number one. His handshake was his moral creed. An act that’s all but done.

Now, when I shake another’s hand, I’ll look him in the eye. And hope he’ll know that talk ain’t cheap. A handshake shouldn’t lie.

Angell

Bryce Angell - The outdoors has always been a large part of my life. My father was an outfitter and guide for 35 years and I was there to shoe and care for the horses and help him do the cooking. We took many great trips into the Yellowstone area. Even now that I’m older, we still ride into the Tetons, Yellowstone and surrounding areas. My poems are mostly of personal experience. I am now retired and enjoying life to the fullest. I plan to do more riding and writing.

by MIKE MCKENNA

The goal of the Cadence Theatre summer camp coming to Hailey in July is pretty simple. As Anna Senechal Johnson, the company’s artistic and managing director, explained, “We want to team up with local kids to create something fun that we can share with the whole community.”

Anna is a former local community member herself. She’s bringing the Virginia-based nonprofit theatre company to Idaho because she feels the Wood River Valley is an ideal place to be creative and someplace that has long been supportive of the arts.

“It’s such an inspiring place to create and to be artistic and to share stories,” she said. “Being in the middle of nature helps me and many others feel creative. That’s why so many people come here, to get away from the chaos of city life and be creative.”

Anna first came to the Wood River Valley in the mid-’90s to serve as stage director for Company of Fools. She would then spend 13 years guiding local theatre, including helping found the St. Thomas Playhouse.

“I completely fell in love with the people and community and the natural surroundings,” said Anna, whose daughter was born locally. “When we moved, half of my heart was left here.”

Anna and her family have returned regularly and she is excited to be teaming up with locals like Hillary Neely and Footlight Dance Centre, director and actor Andrew Alburger, musical director John Mauldin, and set designer Joe Lavigne, to bring Cadence Theatre’s camp to town this summer.

Jammin’ in July is a two-week summer camp for students from second through eighth grade. The camp runs from July 10–21 and offers funfilled activities in acting, singing, dancing and art, culminating in final performances of “Shrek: The Musical JR.” This marks the initial phase of a plan to bring a two-week residency program for playwrights and screenwriters to the Valley. The program is part of the Pipeline New Works Fellowship Program.

Kids of all abilities and experience are welcome and everyone will be in the cast. The camp will take place at Hailey Elementary School and the Footlight Dance Centre studio, with the final musicals taking place at the Community Campus.

“There are so many benefits for kids—self-esteem, life skills, communication skills,” Anna explained. “It’s a structured and meaningful experience and something they will always remember.”

Ending the camp with a public performance also adds the positive impacts the camp offers.

“Producing a musical really helps young people create community,” Anna said. “It’s such a special community and the heartbeat of it is the kids. That’s why this is a dream come true.”

As the call for campers and cast members goes out, it was King Artie from the Shrek films who said it best: “If there’s something you really want, or someone you really want to be, then the only person standing in your way is you.”

Find out more or get the Early Bird Enrollment Special for Cadence Theatre’s Jammin’ in July in Hailey by going to CadenceTheatre.org, email info@cadencetheatre.org or call (804) 233–4894.