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JANUARY 2022 / VOLUME XVI / Issue VI
Health & Fitness
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Real Estate & Industry Edition
How about we go for a walk? January is not only a time of the year for resolutions, but it also happens to be the month many families consider their health and fitness. It could also be a good time for visiting your local physicians for some helpful advice on your fitness needs. By the way, if you haven’t noticed from our cover, fitness is really considered a family matter! Enjoy our Health and Fitness issue!
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A WINDOW INTO WHOLE HEALTH WELLNESS by Alana Owen
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IMMUNE HEALTH by Andrea Byers
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Have a very Happy & Healthy 2022! ~ From The Corridor Magazine
1
From the EDITOR
With the holidays over and the New Year beginning, sometimes we find ourselves with time on our hands. I still enjoy hunting, so maybe Dakota would let me hangout with the teenagers. I don’t think so. What category do you fall into when it comes to New Year resolutions? Are you one of those who writes a list and tries to stick to it, or one who thinks about it for a few days and then forgets about it, or one who thinks it is stupid and impossible and doesn’t even consider it? Whether or not you fall into one of these categories, I do believe that all of us in one way or another want to improve our lives. According to several different studies the list is pretty much the same for most people. Try these on: Improve your health by going on a diet or by giving up smoking. Or some are determined to spend more time with their family. Still others want to do more for those less fortunate and also make time to do those things they most enjoy. And the younger we are, the longer the list seems
by JOE GOOCH
to be. Perhaps this is because as we grow older, we remember the many times we have failed at the long list of changes we wanted to make in our lives. The list grows shorter every year for me. One popular New Year’s resolution is to read more. Whether your New Year’s resolution includes losing weight, reading books, helping others, or spending more time with your family, I hope you find 2022 a better year for your families along the corridor! My late wife Judy would say, “ Go discover who we are, what we are, where we are, and the wonderful lifestyle we enjoy as citizens of the great state of Oklahoma!
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 5
A WINDOW INTO
Slow Down
Whole Health Wellness by ALANA OWEN
The holidays and new year have us all thinking about how to improve our health, finances, relationships, and bodies. However, one of the most overlooked components of health and happiness is our mental health and other aspects of wellness outside of traditional medical practices. Other cultures have long explored the many facets of overall health. The idea that there are many aspects of health is catching on in the United States, and some doctors’ offices have placed case managers at their locations to facilitate the growing trend. With this approach, patients can explore all their wellness needs, often as a free additional service. Of course, modern medicine will always be front and center in our country when it comes to staying healthy, but experts also recognize that it is hard to focus on staying healthy without meeting other basic needs. One of the big health advancements that came to Oklahoma in 2021 was the Medicaid expansion program. Medicaid expansion was passed in 2020 and went into effect July 1, 2021. Estimates indicate that over 200,000 individuals and families have become insured since implementation. As a case manager in the Lincoln County community, I facilitated over one hundred applications making it possible for numerous members of our community to receive the state and federally sponsored medical, dental, and pharmacy coverage. Many people were completely overjoyed when they were informed that their coverage under Medicaid was approved. Others had gone for such a long time without proper care that they seemed to have little reaction to
6 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE /JANUARY 2022
learning of coverage approval. These individuals were primarily in need of some immediate temporary medical assistance or procedures, which landed them in front of me. The latter group saw opportunities to improve their health and initiate preventative care measures for the first time in years. During the latter part of 2021 I found myself experiencing some medical issues that required me to step away from some of my work assignments. Prior to making that decision, I found myself in a funk with the need to make some important life changes. I went to work for my friend part time which has had a positive impact on my physical and mental wellness. Tough life decisions and reestablishing priorities, we are all there at various points in our lives. Wellness requires being sound in body, mind, and spirit. Best practices now include the understanding that you cannot separate the mind and body when treating illness, as one always affects the other. DIMENSIONS OF WELLNESS 1) Emotional – Coping effectively with life and creating satisfying relationships. 2) Financial – Satisfaction with current and future financial situations. 3) Social – Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system. 4) Spiritual – Expanding our sense of purpose and meaning in life. 5) Physical – Recognizing the need for physical activity, diet, sleep, and nutrition. 6) Intellectual – Recognizing creative abilities and finding ways to expand knowledge and skills. 7) Environmental – Good health by occupying pleas-
“
something that used to be fun but in recent years had become a burden came with unexpected joy and happiness. Reflecting on this activity, I found it brought me peace through acts of kindness to others (giving), taking time for quiet reflection, engaging in a meaningful hobby, making time for relaxation, practicing patience, and ultimately leading to spending time with people I enjoy. Imagine how something so simple can become an aspect of enhancing spiritual wellness. Whatever resolutions or determination you develop in 2022, consider exploring one of the nontraditional aspects of wellness, possibly by stepping away from what has become routine and exploring something new or forgotten. Even if momentary, one change can add up to big dividends for your overall health. A good first step is asking yourself what your personal definition of wellness is. Write it down. You might just find a simple, obtainable New Year’s resolution that brings peace and wellness in 2022.
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ant, stimulating environments that support well-being. An additional aspect of wellness often discussed and explored is occupational. This would include the personal satisfaction and enrichment we gain from work. The spiritual side of ourselves is the most neglected dimension of health in our society. Taking care of our spirit increases resilience and a sense of peace and purpose even when life deals us a severe blow. I often find I am unable to maintain balance in life when my spiritual side is tilted, perhaps because it was the last thing that had allowed me to persevere. During the holidays, I found myself with the time to bake for friends and neighbors. It became more than just an item to check off the to-do list. I drug out an old mixer I found two years ago at an estate sale and placed on the countertop. I smiled and reminisced while mixing ingredients and watching that old mixer go around and around. It brought me back to my childhood days baking with my grandmother in her kitchen. The simplicity in allowing myself to enjoy
Whatever resolutions or determination you develop in 2022, consider exploring one of the nontraditional aspects of wellness, possibly by stepping away from what has become routine and exploring something new or forgotten.
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THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 9
HEALTH TIPS 2022 THIS MONTH...
IMMUNE HEALTH
by ANDREA BYERS
Adopting good strategies for a healthy lifestyle can aide your immune function and make the New Year go by without a hitch. uring the cold winter months is seems that many people are acquiring a virus or a “sniffle” just about the time family and friends are ready to gather around together to enjoy the holiday’s and kick off the New Year. As we enter the winter months there are some key things we can do to boost our immune systems. To bolster immunity we have to maintain a healthy balance in our lives through adopting not only life style changes but enhancing our diets and vitamin/herbal preparations.
LIFE STYLE CHANGES
• Refrain from smoking • Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in saturated fats • Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meat thoroughly • Get adequate sleep: 6-8 hours a night • Exercise regularly and give it diversity. Don’t exercise the same body part or the same way every day, mix it up and have fun. • Maintain a healthy weight • Control your blood pressure • If you drink alcohol; drink in moderation
Herbs and other supplements that aide in immune function Some of the products that have gained attention from research in the
10 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022
past decade are: Garlic: Garlic may have some infection-fighting capabilities. In laboratory tests, researchers have seen garlic work against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Although this is promising, there haven’t been enough well designed studies conducted to know whether this translates into human benefits. Ginseng: It’s not clear how ginseng plant works but claims on behalf of Asian ginseng are many including its ability to stimulate immune function. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) considers there have been insufficient large studies of a high enough quality to support the claims. NCCAM is currently supporting research to understand Asian ginseng. Vitamin A: This vitamin can be found in cod liver oil, sweet potato,
broccoli leaf and florets, butter, kale, spinach, pumpkin, collard greens, Cheddar cheese, cantaloupe melon, egg, apricot, papaya, mango, pea, milk, tomato, and seaweed. Vitamin A plays a role in healthy vision, gene transcription, immune function, embryonic development, bone metabolism, skin and cellular health, and antioxidant promotion. Vitamin B Complex: Vitamin B deficiency is a legitimate concern for vegans because it is not available in plant products. Many energy drinks claim that the Vitamin B will “unlock the energy in the foods consumed by the purchaser”. Most Americans acquire the necessary amounts of vitamin B in their diets. Athletes and the elderly may need to supplement their Vitamin B12 and other B vitamins due to problems with absorption and increased need for energy production. Diabetic’s type 1
and 2 may increase thiamine clearance associated with diabetes. Folic Acid is also important for developing embryo’s and women planning to become pregnant. Vitamin B is water soluble and it aides in cellular metabolism. Selenium: Selenium plays an important role in reproduction, thyroid hormone metabolism, DNA synthesis, and protection form oxidative damage and infection. It is present in many foods and added to others and is available as a dietary supplement. Selected foods sources that have selenium in them are Brazil nuts, yellow fin tuna, sardines, ham, shrimp, enriched macaroni, beef steak, turkey, beef liver, white meat chicken, cottage cheese, long grain brown rice, eggs, puffed wheat, whole wheat bread, spinach, oatmeal, lentils, cashew nuts, corn flakes, green peas, bananas, potatoes, peaches, and carrots. Zinc: Zinc is present in oysters, red meat, poultry, seafood such as crab and lobster, fortified breakfast cereal, beans, nuts, whole grains, and dairy products. Zinc is found in cells throughout the body. Zinc aides the immune system in fighting off invading bacteria and viruses. The body also needs zinc to make proteins and DNA. During pregnancy, infancy, and childhood, the body needs zinc to grow and develop properly. Zinc has also been shown
to help wounds heal and aides in proper senses of taste and smell. Astragalus root: This herb is used in traditional Chinese medicine. The National Institutes of Health states: “The evidence for using astragalus for health condition is limited. High-quality clinical trials are generally lacking. There is some preliminary evidence to suggest that astragalus, either alone or in combination with other herbs, may have potential benefits for the immune system, heart, and liver and as an adjunctive therapy for cancer. Red Algae: Red Algae are high in vitamins and proteins and are consumed in great numbers in Japan. Red Marine Algae boosts the body’s immune response to viruses such as herpes zoster virus (herpes, shingles, cold sores, chronic fatigue, and Epstein Barr syndromes) and influenza. Maitake Mushroom and D-Fraction (Grifola frondosa): Research indicates it has antitumor and antihypertensive properties. Maitake mushrooms have Beta Glucans which are a polysaccharide molecule bound to protein. Other foods that have Beta Glucans are oats, yeast, and other medicinal mushrooms. These components help to enhance the body’s first defense against infection and viruses. It is most notably used recently with patients with Cancer going through chemotherapy.
AHCC (Alpha Glucans): Originally developed in the 1980’s to regulate high blood pressure but it also has many beneficial aspects for immune function. AHCC shows promise in improving slow wound healing, stomach ulcers, gum disease, fatigue syndrome, parasites, multiple sclerosis, and other autoimmune disorders. Several books in Japan outline the benefits of AHCC but two books in particular I have an interest in are: Testimony of 11 Cancer Doctors: Why Is AHCC Effective? Gendai Shorin, Tokyo 1999; The Cancer Immunity Screening, K. Uno, Metamor shuppan, Tokyo 2000. Noni Fruit: Noni stimulates the immune system, regulating cell function and cellular regeneration of damaged cells. Noni works on a basic and cellular level and is useful in a variety of conditions: high blood pressure, works with melatonin and serotonin to help regulate sleep, temperature and mood; Increases body energy, acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-histamine agent, and has antibacterial properties that can aide in heart health and digestion.
Exercise Ideas: Yoga, walking, playing in the park, swimming or water activities, light weight lifting, cardio-activities such as Zumba, aerobics, running, cycling etc. are all good ways to integrate variety into your exercise program. If physical activity is difficult due to disease or injury or you are just “getting back into it”, begin slow, listen to your body and find someone to encourage and possibly participate C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 3 0 > > >
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CHRIS JONES and The Flycatchers I recently discovered the music of Chris Jones and the Flycatchers of Norman, Ok. Chris is an Oklahoma grown talent who’s been writing and making music for years. I saw a video on Youtube of his song, ‘Desperado’ (not the Eagles song). I was sold on the song and mentioned it to singer/songwriter Gaikob Lee who I saw walking in Cushing one day last week. His eyes lit up and he told he would be opening act for Chris and band in El Reno at the end of the week. He mentioned the band’s recent (2021) release, Flowers and Weeds and I put it on repeat. Gaikob put me in touch with Jones and we visited. Flowers and Weeds (2021) and Letters due in 2022. Songs for Red fits nicely in the catalog of red dirt Americana, a la, Turnpike Troubadours, Jason Boland and the Stragglers and others. Songs of love, loss, drink, good times, repentance and whim with a steady thread of hope underlying it all. Here’s the chorus to the song, “Skin”, from Songs for Red... “I’m alright, I’ve just been dealing with uncertainty -Tried to pin me to the wallAin’t a crime to be uneasy in uncertainty at all” In these times I often wonder what I’m certain of myself and Jones’ conclusion that it’s no crime to be uneasy is certainly welcome to my ears. The autobiographical song “College Dropout”, also on this collection, is about a kid who leaves college to figure out things for himself. “Doubt is a merciless thief,” he sings. Maybe he did, indeed, figure something out! Flowers and Weeds, released in 2021 is a decidedly abrupt lane change. And I find it a welcome one. It’s as though somehow this music comes from starry
16 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022
nights and walks in the tall, deep woods. Electronic synthesizer sounds, layered background vocals. Mellowing of the harsh edges of youth into a sweetened, well placed maturity. There’s growth here. And it blossoms. In his own words Chris Jones is “just a kid from Dewey, Oklahoma with a dream of making records that help people understand they are not alone.” I asked: RR: Did your family background play a part in music
development? CJ: Absolutely. I have a large amount of family on both sides that are very musical…
had a complete idea for what I wanted to do, I brought the ideas to Isaac and we went to work on what I considered “a glorified art project”....
RR: Tell me about your journey in music. How did you come to be where you are at this point in time? CJ: My dad is a great guitar player. I think that was a little intimidating so I decided on playing drums. I remember he traded labor for a drum kit and I worked hard until I graduated high school to get good. I had no sense of direction when I was 18 and so I sold off my drums and went to college. My dad gave me a guitar and instead of going to class I fell in love with writing songs. I spent the next six years working on my writing and sneaking into open mics. When I was 24, I felt confident enough in my ability and started a band with a friend. I think that lasted about two years and then I started The Flycatchers. Ten years into this songwriting journey now and glad to be here.
RR: Can you list your recordings to date? CJ: My first recording ever released is actually a song called Oklahoma Girl by Honey Blue. (Editor’s note: I Googled it. I liked it!) Songs For Red 2019 Flowers & Weeds 2021 Letters 2022 (Yes, that’s the next record)!
RR: What instruments do you play? CJ: Mainly guitar these days. RR: Who were your earliest musical inspirations/ influences? CJ: I’ve always loved the Eagles. Mainly the Glen Frey tunes. I remember stumbling across a box of tapes that belonged to my dad and found Alabama….. I think I was eight when my dad gave me the Foo Fighters There’s Nothing Left To Lose CD. …it’s still one of my favorite albums. RR: Any Oklahomans in the mix? CJ: We have several Okies in The Flycatchers. I used to shake my head and wonder how we ended up with so much talent but now I realize it’s pointless to question it. I’m just grateful. We have Isaac Stalling and Alex Coleman (formerly with Horse Thief) on guitars now. Ken Pomeroy sings and plays some of her songs in the set. I’ll never take that addition for granted. Ethan Neel on drums and Mike Rose (formerly with Parker Millsap) on bass. Truly a special group of people to have in my corner. It’s become a family band. He went on to mention his last nine years of working as a journeyman lineman while building the band. He credits this work that requires a special grit, as he calls it, for teaching him the disciplines which also came in handy in making these records. RR: Which brings me to your latest work, Flowers and Weeds. A completely different approach, musically. It seems to be a more ethereal approach to music. How did this come about? CJ: We’ve been working on a record for the last year now and when we had finished the actual recording process, I felt really inspired to keep creating. I went to Colorado and spent some time in the mountains and started writing some melodies that felt visual. When I
RR: Do you have a favorite musical memory, career highlight so far? CJ: ….We did an acoustic trio set (Chris, Ken, Isaac) at Tulsa’s Cains Ballroom with Kyle Nix and RC & the Ambers. It was really special. The energy was wild and people actually listened to us. The latest full band show at Tower Theater with Kaitlin Butts was probably the best show we’ve played by far and I’ll never forget the overwhelming gratitude that poured over me. RR: Anything you’d care to add? CJ: This may be the most important thing I’d like to add. I’ve had many people tell me I might be branching out a little far or need to be more consistent with my sound…. I’m not worried about that in the slightest and never have been…. I’ve had one goal since starting this band and that was to write songs and make records that are honest without compromise. I think our fans understand that about us. As for me, I enjoy it all, the Red Dirt country rock, the heartache, the continuous search for something better, the celebration of it when it’s found. That thread remains wholly intact even with the more subtly nuanced dreamlike quality of his recent work. Chris Jones and the Flycatchers- catch ‘em if you can! For more information follow Chris Jones and the Flycatchers on Facebook. Listen to the music on most streaming apps.
S U P P O R T
LIVE MUSIC
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE /JANUARY 2022 17
18 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 19
PA S TO R PA U L’ S PA S S A G E S by Pastor Paul Ragle
I’M PROUD OF MY DAUGHTER One year ago after our family moved to Enid, Israel set a fitness goal of logging 1500 miles in 2021. It came down to the wire but she made it! I’m proud of my 34 year-old daughter. She’s made herself over. She escaped an abusive marriage, returned to college and graduated, and she has lost 120 pounds. I used to be the one in the family who was up and out early to do my road work, walking and jogging 3 miles most mornings. She has cut most fats from her diet and seldom eats sweets. Now, it’s Izzy who’s setting the family fitness pace. One year ago after our family moved to Enid, Israel set a fitness goal of logging 1500 miles in 2021. It came down to the wire but she made it! On her fitness app she recorded 1500 miles through the walking tracks and neighborhoods of Enid. I am amazed at her dedication. She also rides her bicycle, even pulling her son Teddy in the bike trailer. While the family enjoys watching television in the evenings, Izzy is usually to be found behind the sofa exercising with dumbbells, doing situps or leg lifts. She is setting a great example for her children and for her students at school. Congratulations, Izzy! You never were lazy; you were always beautiful; you always worked hard at your job, in your home and in your educational pursuits, but you have transformed! You are a beautiful butterfly who has emerged from the cocoon, and now you are being
20 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022
awarded with an abundance of energy, stamina, and the ability to do and try many new things. I’m looking forward to watching the next chapter of your life. In this new year, I will turn 66 years of age. Inspired by my daughter’s example, I’m aware (sometimes painfully) that I need to take better care of my body as I grow older. I’m active. I play golf. I volunteer in a food pantry. I am still serving as a camp counselor and a camp director for our church camp. I still like to head to the mountains for fishing and hiking. However, if I want to continue enjoying these activities in the years to come, I have to become even more intentional about fitness. I will not be setting a goal of logging 1500 miles of roadwork this year. I may even have to give up participating in the “Run-Like-a-Boss” mud run at church camp. I have a love/hate relationship with walking; I have to motivate myself to get out and walk. (However, I do better when I take one of our dogs along with me.) Perhaps I will set a goal of walking 15 miles per week. That would be 780 miles in 2021! My biggest challenge towards fitness is living in a city with three Braum’s Ice Cream stores within five miles of home! It’s way too easy to go out for an ice cream cone! Perhaps if I walk there? Hmmmm. n
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THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 27
Delilah’s DILEMMAS by
DIANE BROWN
The two temporary ranch hands, Daniel and Damon arrived just before 8:00 the next morning and sat at the kitchen table with Delilah while Joel washed the breakfast dishes. They had been hired to help on the ranch by Eli a few weeks earlier when Eli and Dooby had ventured off to Washington D. C. Daniel was a tall, well-toned, late-twentyish man with shoulder length chestnut hair and almond shaped, hazel eyes that could zap you like a laser beam. He was a hard worker with an extensive knowledge of ranch life. And he took his “job” of looking after the ranch and Delilah in Eli’s absence, very seriously. Damon was Karon’s cousin’s teenage son. He had black, short cropped hair and dark expressive eyes that sparkled with humorous mischief. He was a hard worker, too, but was far less serious than Daniel. “The stalls in the stable need to be mucked,” Delilah said, reading off her list. “I’ll do that,” Joel offered, never turning down an opportunity to tend to the horses. “Good. You can groom all the horses, too,” Delilah said with a smile. They didn’t really need grooming but Delilah knew it would make Joel happy and keep him busy. And should something else come up that needed attention, she could re-direct him. “The vegetable garden and flower beds need weeding,” Delilah said. “I’ll do that,” Damon said. “You want the vegetable garden hoed?” “Yes,” Delilah said. She paused and looked at Daniel. She chewed on the inside of her bottom lip.
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DELILAH’S PLACE “What?” Daniel inquired. “I’m thinkin’ we probably need to go ahead and mow the lawn and weed eat,” Delilah said. “I know the grass isn’t that tall, but I’d like to get ahead of it. I think it’s supposed to rain at the end of the week. You know what? I’ve changed my mind. We’ll do the lawn Wednesday.” Delilah crossed the lawn off her list. “When are Eli and Dooby going to be back?” Daniel asked. “Wednesday,” Delilah said, turning her head quickly. She had learned not look too long into Daniels’ eyes. They were just so mesmerizing; so beautiful. Delilah had a feeling Daniel was well aware of the power his eyes had of people. She shook her head. “Is there any fence that needs mending?” Delilah asked. “No. Buford and I fixed all the compromised fence two weeks ago,” Daniel said. Delilah’s cell phone rang. She pulled it from her back jean’s pocket. She didn’t recognize the number. “Where’s the 567 prefix?” she asked the room. “Prague, I think,” Daniel said. “I don’t know anyone in Prague,” Delilah said. She answered the phone. A man claiming to be from the John Deere dealership in Prague was at her gate at the road with a delivery, and he wanted the gate code. “I’ll send someone down,” Delilah said. When she explained the call and asked Daniel to go to the gate, he laughed. “Speak of the devil,” he said as he rose from the table and started for the back door. “Buford said he was going to order us, you a Gator for the ranch.” “Oh, Daddy,” Delilah growled under her breath. And sure enough, when the delivery truck made it to the garage, a John Deere Gator XUV835E was unloaded, fully
equipped with a full tank of gas, ready for operation. The boys, Damon and Joel, were itching to get behind the wheel of the new toy and take her for a test spin. Daniel was just as excited, just not showing it. “Do you know how to operate this thing?” Delilah asked Daniel. “I do,” he said, grinning. “I actually recommended this model.” Delilah shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. Okay, y’all have thirty minutes to play with your new toy, and then get to work,” Delilah said half-smiling. “Don’t you want . . .” Daniel began. “Later. Maybe.” Delilah cut across. “I’ll be in the house.” Delilah started toward the house, but stopped after a few steps and turned around. “Y’all be careful, okay? I don’t want to take a trip to the emergency room today,” she hollered. All three guys just waved her on without a word or glimpse. When Delilah got to the house, she called Buford and scolded him for spending that kind of money on her. He pointed out that his purchase was not specifically for her but for the ranch. He went on to speculate that the boys would get more enjoyment out of it than she would. An argument she could scarcely counter. She was relieved to discover that her mother, Hannah, was shopping, which
meant she could skip the usual confrontational encounter. “Just as well,” Buford said. “She doesn’t know I spent that money. And if it’s all the same to you, I’d just as soon keep it that way.” “Your secret’s safe with me, Daddy,” Delilah said with a chuckle. There had been at least a dozen other secrets exactly like this one she had kept over the years, more than half of which, Hannah had discovered. But not from Delilah. Though Delilah would get her fair share of admonishment for not telling on her father. Once she was off the phone, Delilah started a load of laundry. She grabbed the dusting cloth and lemon oil, and headed for the living room to polish the furniture. “You didn’t tell me what you wanted me to do,” Daniel said from the living room door. Delilah jumped and screamed. “I didn’t hear you come in,” she said. “Obviously,” Daniel said with a grin. “Next time I’ll make some racket.” “Yes, please do,” Delilah said, still catching her breath. “Where’s your list?” Daniel asked. “My list?” Delilah said. “Your list of chores,” Daniel said. “Kitchen table,” Delilah said. Delilah followed Daniel to the kitchen. He picked up the list, studied it a bit, then sat it back down on the table.
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“I’ll clean out the cellar and the garage,” Daniel said. “And it’s not on the list, but the oil needs changing in the mowers. Do you have extra oil and filters?” Not sure,” Delilah said. “If we do, the filters would be in one of the drawers in the garage, and the oil would be in one of the cabinets.” Daniel nodded. He stood silent and pensive with his hand on the knob of the back door. “You okay?” Delilah asked. “What’s your take on this Lizzy person?” Daniel asked. Delilah sighed heavily. “He was not supposed to tell anyone about her just yet,” she said. “You think she’s not really his daughter?” Daniel said. “Honestly, I don’t know,” Delilah said. She motioned toward the banquette for Daniel to take a seat. “I mean, she sure looks like him,” Delilah said as she took a seat across from the young man. “And the age would be right. But her timing is a little suspicious.” “You mean because of the whole Mrs. Ripley thing,” Daniel stated. Delilah gasped. Then her expression went from shock to anger. “That little twirp!” she exclaimed. “He definitely was not supposed to share that with you, and it’s Mrs. Wrigley.” “Oh, Joel didn’t tell me about the Wrigley thing,” Daniel offered. “Eli did, when he hired me. I can see why you’d be concerned. What does Eli think?”
“No idea,” Delilah said. “He just found out about it last night, and we didn’t spend much time talking about it.” “She’s supposed to come to dinner tonight, isn’t she?” Daniel said, rising from the table, and stepping toward the kitchen sink. “Yes,” Delilah said slowly. Daniel poured himself a glass of water and drank it down in one. “I’m not the kind to invite myself to supper,” he said. “But I think I probably need to be here this evening.” Delilah smiled and cocked her head to the side. “Are you saying this because you believe she might be dangerous, or because Joel happened to mention how cute she is?” she asked. Daniel clutched his hand over his heart. “My good woman!” he exclaimed with feigned indignation. “You cut me to the core!” Delilah busted out in laughter. “Right,” she cackled. “Alright, alright,” Delilah said. “Supper’s at 6:00 but she’s supposed to be here around 4:00. So, I suggest y’all get your work done so you can get cleaned up in time to meet her when she gets here. Unless you want Joel to be her sole tour guide.” “No way,” Daniel said. “And when I say ‘y’all’,” Delilah added. “I mean Damon, too.” “But he’s just a kid,” Daniel argued. “So is Lizzy!” Delilah exclaimed. “At least that’s the impression she gives.” By 2:30 the chores had been satisfactorily completed
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and Daniel and Damon had departed to their own abodes to “freshen up” a bit, while Joel spent an inordinate amount of time grooming in the bathroom at the ranch. At 4:00 the boys were anxiously gathered in the kitchen, and the crushing fog of mixed colognes was making Delilah’s eyes water. She sent them outside to wait for Lizzy. When the young lady pulled up the drive, you’d have thought British Royalty had arrived. Simply put, Damon and Joel were fools; tripping over themselves, and giggling like grade-school girls about absolutely nothing, While Daniel was more composed, he was still not himself. They made it through a tour of the ranch. They made it through dinner. They made it through one game of Mexican Train Dominoes. The whole time Joel was silently but not so covertly trying to get Delilah to invite Lizzy to stay on the ranch. But Delilah would not capitulate. “I think you were right,” Daniel said under his breath, as he and Delilah stood at the back door waving at Lizzy who had been accompanied to her car by Pete and Repeat. “About?” Delilah queried. “She’s young,” Daniel said. “Too young. Or she’s an excellent actress.” He put his arm around Delilah’s shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “Definitely not for me,” he said. And zap! Those smoldering eyes. Two seconds, three seconds, four. “Well, I need to be heading out, too,” he said as he
dropped his arm and stepped through the door. He stopped and spun around. “Unless you think I should stay.” His salacious expression had turned to mischievousness. “Go!” Delilah said with a reproving glare.n
WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? Was Daniel just being playful? Or is he interested in Delilah?
JUST WHAT DELILAH NEEDS Another dilemma. As always, this saga will continue in the February installment of
DELILAH’S DILEMMAS in The Corridor Magazine!
< < < C O N T I N U E D F R O M “ I M M U N E H E A LT H ” PA G E 1 1
y h t l a e H & y p Hap IN 2022!
in these activities with you. Having an alibi or support system in place to help keep you on track is helpful to staying motivated. Yoga has been found to decrease stress and increase immunity. A recent Norwegian study published in journal PLOF One, examined gene expression in a group of yoga practitioners to see how yoga affects genes that control the activity of immune cells. The scientists took
genetic samples from participants both before and after they did yoga, as well as from a control group of people performing other calming activities, such as walking in nature and listening to music. The results were impressive. The individuals that participated in yoga showed a benefit in 111 genes. Yoga increased the activity of certain genes that influence components of the immune system, such as NK cells (natural killer cells), thereby increasing NK cell activity and other immune functions. The other calming activities in the control group showed benefits and altered 38 genes. Doing a variety of exercise challenges and engages the whole body. It’s important that at whatever level you exercise to add diversity and variety to the program. Changing the activity that you choose for exercise will work your body, mind and spirit. Swimming or water walking is a good activity to incorporate into the exercise regimen. The hydrostatic pressure that is gained through water activities of swimming and water walking assist in decreasing joint pain and can decrease swelling throughout the body. Most importantly, just staying active and challenging the body, mind, and spirit helps in fostering the immune system. With any supplement or exercise program consult your primary care physician before integrating products or techniques into your health wellness plan. n
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 31
My Dentistry Career
CRUSHED by the late MARSHALL PATTON
Growing up in a small town, and working every type of job imaginable, makes a guy think there is nothing he cannot do. During high school, I rode horses, worked in service stations, drove trucks, worked in lumber yards, and pipe yards; just about anything that paid a little money, I could and would do it. My confidence in being up to any task finally hit a snag. I took up the roll of the resident dentist while contesting in rodeos. I do not remember how it started, but my fame spread rapidly. My entire scope of dental care consisted of pulling teeth. Cowboys were far too busy they thought to give much attention to their teeth. When someone had a toothache or broke a tooth while competing the quick answer was to find Marsh and get him to pull the tooth. These emergencies usually happened on weekends when no dental office was open. The routine was about the same all the time. A guy would have an infected tooth, or a tooth got broken off by an animal or some other cowboy who had a different opinion from the victim. Of course, pain killers were not available except maybe one hundred proof whiskey. Someone came to get me and told me that I had a patient waiting for me. So, without ceremony, I took a pair of short-handled pliers and persuaded the sufferer to sit down at about the right height. With someone holding his head, I determined where the bad tooth was, and just clamped down and started pulling and jerking. This is much more of a testimony to the cowboy’s high threshold of pain than it is to my ability as a dentist. Nowadays, doctors are so concerned about bacteria getting to your system that you must take a round of potent pills to ward off such dangers before your heart, brain, or something else gets poisoned. The last time I needed a tooth pulled, my doctor sent me to a specialist. The charge was $800.00. It is a miracle that I did not kill a dozen cowboys. During the mid-1950s I was working the Phoenix rodeo and in addition to the Bulldogging, I was entered
32 THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022
in the Wild Horse Race with Billy Weeks and Bob Ferguson. Bob served in the Marines during WWII. His exploits were legendary, and during his service in the Pacific he saved the life of his platoon leader. The young lieutenant was wounded and captured by the Japanese. Bob pulled off a miracle by dragging his lieutenant through mud, sludge, and Japanese soldiers until they reached relative safety. Bob did not know it at the time, but his Lieutenant came from a very wealthy family. The Lieutenant and his family were eternally grateful to Bob and stood by him later in life even when he was mixed up in more than a few clashes with trouble. Bob was top hand riding bareback horses and bulls. He had wonderful and beautiful blonde wife. She was a racer and a good one. The thing Bob could not do was play poker. Once he had lost all his money and gambled away his wife’s horse. He finally bought the horse back at a premium. However, a little incident left his wife with a bad case of the jitters and she developed a habit of stall walking when Bob became tardy showing up in places he should be. Well, it was well past mid-morning on Sunday and the Phoenix rodeo began at one o’clock sharp. Bob had not shown up all night and his wife and I were getting pretty antsy about Bob’s whereabouts, albeit for different reasons. Every few minutes Billy Weeks and I held a conference and weighed the chances of Bob showing up on time, and should we try to recruit someone else to take his place on our wild horse team. We soon nixed the idea of a recruit . The wild horse race was profitable money-making event but only with a good three-man team. It was not worth getting killed over. We sent out couriers and scouts to try to locate the biggest stakes poker game going at the time. All inquires came up empty. I did not know what to say to Bob’s wife. The several things I thought of all seemed hollow when I ran them through my mind. At 12:30, thirty minutes before the rodeo was to start, Billy Weeks and I decided to wait five more minutes
before we withdrew from the wild horse race. Suddenly, Bob came swinging up through the behind the chutes. He had a rolling, athletic gait, even though his blood alcohol content forbade him from driving on any road in the United States. I was glad to see that he was all right but when I looked over at Bob’s wife,she immediately improved her demeanor, so Bob strolled right on up and gave her a kiss. Once the greetings were over and everything seemed to be getting back in order, Bob told me that he had a killer of a toothache. He wanted me to pull it. Well, only minutes before the rodeo started was no time for dental work. The wild horse race was the final event which was quickly followed by the bareback riding and bull riding. I tried to get him to tough it out until after the rodeo, but he insisted. I pulled a lot teeth, but it never was an easy task. It was nearly always in the most primitive conditions. Many cowboys chewed tobacco or dipped snuff from the time they were young boys which might have contributed to many of them possessing bad teeth at a early age. No matter what caused it, when someone suffered from an infected tooth, he wanted it out of there and would endure any amount of pain to get rid of it. I didn’t solicit the dental trade. The business came to me. Invariably, some guy would get a painful toothache on a Saturday or Sunday when there was no chance of getting a dentist. He wanted the tooth pulled and immediately was not soon enough. When Bob insisted that I pull the tooth immediately, I just said “Let’s get it done.” I needed a pair of short, handled pliers with new grooves in them. Nothing was easy about pulling a tooth in those circumstances. My pliers were among the missing, so someone brought a pair of pliers with extra-long handles on them. The next thing I needed, of was the pick of a good dentist. I did not have a pointed probe to check Bob’s teeth. All his lower teeth were black and decayed. I wanted to be sure to find the right tooth, so I checked them all. I used my hoof-pick. To those of you not acquainted with horses, a hoof-pick is a little hook-like instrument used to clean dirt and manure out of a horse’s feet just before roping or bulldogging. I always carried one of those little picks. I just wiped my hoof-pick off on my pant leg and started touching all of Bob’s teeth. It was evident to all when I hit the bad tooth so I had that part down right. I wanted to make sure I pulled the correct tooth. I warned Bob that this was going to hurt worse than finding out his wife was cheating on him and he just said, “Get ‘er out.” Bob sat in the trunk of my car, lid up, with one man on each side of him grasping his head and holding him down in the trunk. I knew this was going to be a tough one so I took extra special care to get those long pliers as close to the base of that tooth as I could, by pushing the gums back; unfortunately, I clamped down too hard on those long-eared pliers and felt that tooth crunch into a dozen different pieces right in the socket. I hadn’t taken into consideration the extra lever-
age those long handles gave me. I could have watched a school bus get hit by a train and not have gone into shock the way I did when that tooth crumbled. Bob did not scream; he just gave me one big shudder and fell back into the trunk. He wore a white shirt that looked dull compared to his complexion. We helped him lean forward and he spat out a few stray pieces. He garbled some words and I quickly understood that there were some fragments he needed for me to remove. Someone found a pair needle-nose pliers and handed them to me. I looked desperately for anyone to take over the job of plucking some of the tooth pieces but there were no takers. At this point I was the most reluctant dentist on earth. I plucked and pulled out all the bits I could but had to leave some terrible looking jagged pieces in place. Bob worked himself out of the trunk of my car while I was deciding on just what kind of punishment I should inflict upon myself. I told Billy Weeks we could all withdraw him from the bareback riding and the bull riding. He reminded us that we could not win anything by turning our stock out and withdrawing from the events. In fifteen minutes, he was walking straight, and I told Billy he might be all right. Billy told me that I looked pale also and would I be okay? I was fine physically but almost overcome with remorse. Bob did a great job in the wild horse race and we won another first. I pulled the cinch for him in the bareback riding and he seemed okay to me by then. However, he flew out over his horse’s head and hung on to his head and hung on to his grip one extra jump and that horse drilled his head straight into the ground. He was out cold but alive! The bull riding was the last event and I tried again to get him to withdraw. He reminded me again that you cannot win anything by withdrawing. I kept cold towels on him except for the few minutes I was away bulldogging. Bob drew a bad bull (there are no easy ones) but he rode magnificently on him. The next morning, I was leaving for El Reno, Oklahoma, and Bob needed to be back in Oklahoma to tend to some legal matters. His wife was going on to California on some barrel racing business. I told Bob I would take him any place in Oklahoma he wanted to go. He threw all of his clothes, his bull rope, and bareback rigging in my car and then we left and drove all night. Bob brushed off my apologies about the botched dentistry business. I thought he would go to sleep, having not gone to bed the night before. However, he stayed awake and talked to me the whole trip. Since the fiasco of crunching that tooth in Bob’s jaw, I instantly gave up the dentistry. Later, I pulled a few kids’ teeth, ones that were ready to come out anyway, but that was all. A person would have a better chance catching me at a Yoko Ono concert than standing over someone with a pair of pliers in my hand! n
THE CORRIDOR MAGAZINE / JANUARY 2022 33
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