THE
Priceless
Please Take One!
DECEMBER 2018 / VOLUME XIII / Issue V
Merry Christmas!
~ Tulsa to Oklahoma City and everywhere in between ~
SMPC_DEC2018.pdf
1
11/16/18
11:09 AM
When your holidays aren’t as you expected,
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LOOKING FORWARD
Not just a magazine...a part of your life!
Next Month:
Ah Ha! we caught you girls decorating the stalls for the horses. Left to right Baylee
JANUARY: Health & Fitness FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
ON THE COVER... Pinson, Brook Banks, and Graham Pinson are as happy and jolly as the horses
Bridal Edition Home Improvement Sports
at J-6 horse ranch. Located just south of Bristow the farm hosts numerous race
Real Estate / Industry Travel
horses owned by Mike and Marsha Jones COVER PHOTO: CRYSTL’S PHOTOGRAPHY
Patriotic Edition Back To School Fall Festivals Dining Guide Thanksgiving Edition Christmas Edition
Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas! Wishing the Corridor Community a very
The Corridor Magazine is published by The Corridor, LLC www.corridor-magazine.com
OUR ADVISORY TEAM: PUBLISHER:
Joe Gooch (405) 823-7561 joe@corridor-magazine.com GRAPHIC DESIGNERS:
Cheryl Payne
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Merry Christmas!
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EDITORIAL ADVISORY:
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©2018. 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.
Chandler Therapy & Living Center
601 W. 1st • Chandler OK • 405-258-1131 “Caring for Your Loved Ones Like Our Own Since 1964” ~ Long time, dedicated employees serving our community ~
THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 3
Merry Christmas
from The
Corridor Staff
Joe Gooch • Cheryl Payne • Jeree Milligan Rick Reiley • Diane Brown • Pastor Paul Ragle Missy Husted • Crystl Percell Edgar Spencer • LaRay Blancarte Stephen Hamilton • Baylee Blancarte Michelle Brown • Karson Brown • Maci Brown Robbie McCommas • Brian & Laurie Gooch Dakota Gooch
CHRISTMAS EDITION
5
EDITORIAL
by Joe Gooch
6
THE CHOSEN HOUSE
by Robbie McCommas
10
CROSSROADS RANCH – OLD WEST STYLE
by Michelle Brown
16
KIDS ON THE CORRIDOR
by Jeree Milligan
22
DECEMBER – A JOY TO THE WORLD
by Michelle Brown
26
PASTOR PAUL’S PASSAGES
by Paul Ragle
34
NOTES ON THE CORRIDOR
by Rick Reiley
40
DELILAH’S DILEMMAS
by Diane Brown
48
THE WOOLY DOG AND THE CHINA DOLL
by the late Fleeca Clifton Dunaway
52
RECIPES
by Jeree Milligan
Jesus isn’t just the reason for the season. He’s the reason for every day of our life.
Chandler Memorial Works
Merry Christmas from Our Family to Yours Philip & Kim Beloncik 312 S. Cleveland Ave. / Chandler, OK
Phone/Fax 405.258.0305
Artwork by Mongo Allen
ARTWORK by MONGO ALLEN
4 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
www.chandlermemorial.com
From the EDITOR I have entitled 2018 “The year of the Girls.” JANUARY started with a beautiful little girl from rural Agra who was given the title of Miss Rodeo Oklahoma Teen. The article explained all her duties and accomplishments. It was an honor introducing Maci Brown to my readers.Then always, FEBRUARY features beautiful brides, with newlyweds Tyler and Catherine Farley. For MARCH’S cover, there was no photo of a girl...just a beautifully remodelled bathroom by the most creative female I know, The Corridor photographer, Crystl Percell. APRIL featured Chantae Embry from Prague, the most sought-after female athlete in Oklahoma. On the cover of our AUGUST Back to School issue. pictured were five adorable cheerleaders (Stevie Dennis, Lindsey Myers, Amberlee Hart, Nikia Sears, and Jayden Moore) from Yale. OCTOBER’S Dinning Guide featured Hadlee Hilbert getting plastered with flour by younger brother Kanon. For NOVEMBER, Jaylee and Gracie Danker were featured with their trophy mule deer. They were also highlighted on the national TV show, BuckVentures.And last, but certainly not least, our DECEMBER cover shows Bristow’s adorable Graham Pinson, Baylee Pinson and
by JOE GOOCH
Brook Banks pictured preparing for a very Merry Christmas! I will be 70 years old the 30th of this month, with these remaining goals: #1 To live my life for my Lord and Savior. #2 To serve and help my fellow man. #3 To just tell ONE more story! What a wonderful world, and what a wonderful life! Literally, while I’m sitting here writing, there was a knock on my front door. My neighbor and his grandson said, “Happy Thanksgiving!” and handed us three platters of turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pie. There’s just no place in the world so great to live as on The Corridor in Oklahoma! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Maybe, I should give the boys equal billing for 2019...
THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 5
The Chosen House
Breaking Free and Restarting Lives
by ROBBIE McCOMMAS PHOTOS: PROVIDED
Established in 2007, The Chosen House is a safe place for women in need. It is a hand up for females to get on their feet after a divorce, addiction or incarceration. In the beginning, two sisters surrendered their lives for a path God put them on. Chandler residents, Mari Battle and Kimberly Battle, are two of eight children born to Nicholas and Barbara Battle. In 1993, the ladies were enjoying life, pursuing careers, obtaining college degrees and making plans for their own futures when tragedy struck and changed their course. “Our sister, Renee, who had a good job at the courthouse, began making bad decisions,” Mari explained. “Consequently, she went to jail for a few days and lost her job. Our supportive, loving parents embraced her and welcomed her home to help her. She got back on track and was fixing her issues when she suddenly died from a rare heart disease called long QT Syndrome, at 25.” Renee left behind a year old son, Roderick, who was raised by the Battle family. At the age of 15, he too, passed from the same disease. “After this shock, God put it on my heart to help women,” Mari stated. “I started a jail ministry at the Lincoln County Jail. Later, Kimberly joined me, together we mentored women in Chandler and at Mabel Bassett Correctional Facility in McLoud.” One day Mari encountered one of the women just released from jail on the street, barefoot, with no place to go. Mari helped the woman and the first glimpse of The Chosen House was formed. They obtained a rented building to distribute essential needs. Next, Mari and Kimberly reached out to a women’s facility in California called Samaritan Women. They took leave from their jobs and interned four days in Fresno to learn how to set up a facility in Chandler. From there, a home was rented to house women, with help from Larry and Trish Lenora. Later, in 2012, a house was donated by Ben and Bonnie Walkingstick. To date, 140 women have sought aid through The Chosen House. From all over Oklahoma, women have found peace, hope for the future and love when they walk into the warm home. Yes, rules apply. Only women focused on changing are accepted. The women must seek employment and 6 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
work. From there, they pay incarceration fines, outstanding debts and save money to start a new life. All this is done day-by-day and step-by-step with the help of Mari and Kimberly. The resident’s mornings start with coffee and a Bible study with Mari. Then off to work they go. Meanwhile, Kim sets them on a financial budget and gives them a weekly allowance. The nine-month program prepares cooperating women for success to obtain housing, and reunite with their children or families. Classes are held for AA, counseling, parenting, nutrition, behavior, and Bible study. The Chosen House takes each individual with care and love and mentors a bountiful future. Partnering with churches, businesses and individuals, the non-profit, 501c3 program could not function without aid. The Battle women have given 11 years of their time for free. While Kimberly works outside the organization as a counselor, Mari serves as a Behavioral Health Case Manager. The Chosen House Board of Directors meets monthly. Members include: Pastor Lorenzo Jacobs, Lettie Green, Jan Vassar, Trish Lenora and Larry Lenora. Phase II of The Chosen House is a new home for women to rent after completing and graduating from the course. Housing for some women is hard to obtain
because high rent or felony charges in their past narrows the options. The first of four, the new house will be home to a qualified resident that will move her two children in with her.
How can others help?
Individuals may contact Kimberly at (405) 641-3437. Address: P.O. Box 25, Chandler, OK, 74834. Like and follow their Facebook page. Donations of money, household and personal items, towels, bedding and pillows are appreciated. Individuals may volunteer to help with transportation for the women or be involved sharing their own talents. The Central Church of Christ sponsored a Color Run two years in a row and donated the proceeds, a total of approximately $10,000; $5,000 for the current ‘new home’ construction. Other businesses and individuals have contributed. The cost of the one-bedroom house is $57,000. According to Kim, another $12,000 is needed to complete the cost of the first house.
Lives are being changed!
Current resident Cassondra Maul, who has been there
Graduation is held in the Lincoln County Courthouse for the women who have completed the course
seven months, works at Walmart and for the first time that she can recall, has secured Christmas gifts for her two kids with her own money! “I paid the babysitter today and was thrilled to be able to do it!” she exclaimed. In addition, Cassondra has purchased her first car. Another woman, who completed the program, is at a point in life to give back and is donating Christmas gifts to the women who now live there. Yet another who recently completed the course, worked to raise airfare to go to Alaska to live with her daughter. Other stories include stable work ethics, independence and addiction free, productive lives. While success stories are fuel for the future, women that return to their old lifestyles leave The Chosen House with a seed planted, according to the Battle sisters. Mari and Kimberly teach the women about God and family and help them find their purpose. They surrendered their lives in a leap of faith when The Chosen House was created and they ask the women to do likewise. “A foundation was put in us with family,” Mari explained. “These women are missing it, we try to help with that. The final straw is God. The key is connecting with God. That’s just life. You really aren’t living without God.”
On the way to church!
Regular Bible studies each morning is the backbone of The Chosen House ministry. THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 7
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GINGERTALES
by MICHELLE BROWN
CROSSROADS RANCH OLD WEST STYLE
Dove and Mike Schmidt, owners, enjoy times together at Crossroads Ranch Did you know that just outside Depew, OK is an old cowboy style ranch for kids? Yes, right here in the backyard of The Corridor, three miles off of Route 66, is a spread called Crossroads Ranch. I will vouch that this place is more than magical when it comes to mentoring and ministering to children. My teenagers have been a part of Crossroads Ranch for several years now, and it truly changed their lives. Dove Schmidt, alongside her husband, Mike Schmidt, operate the ranch that has mentored some 4,000 children over the years since its beginning in 2007. Ministering to and bringing children to the Lord is Dove’s passion. Not only is this strong, beautiful woman an evangelical minister, Dove is an accomplished author, cowboy poet, advocate for prison ministries and a former Ms. Senior Oklahoma 2016. Make no bones about it, Ms. Dove (as she is known to the cowboy and cowgirl campers) is truly on fire for the Lord and shares this flame with all those with whom she connects! Kids of all backgrounds are welcomed at Crossroads. Coming from nearby and out of state, most have no knowledge of horses or ranch life. Others have grown up in ranch life and fit right in. Some, like my kids, have continued on year after year and have come to have a leadership role at the ranch to help minister to the children. Dove is a firm believer in the older ones assisting, “Leadership is vital to children. It helps shape the younger ones for becoming all the Lord has 10 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
by MICHELLE BROWN / PHOTOS: PROVIDED planned for them to be. I feel blessed to have such young people helping the other children here on the Ranch”. Dove’s childhood history is significant to Crossroads Ranch and how it got its start. As a child, Ms. Dove was no stranger to needing firm leadership to shape her in a positive manner. During Dove’s younger years, her father was an alcoholic. Not only did alcoholism dominate her father’s life, but gambling was also an issue. One day her dad bet the family car in a poker game. He lost. Dove’s mother worked hard to keep the family together but with the loss of the family car and other financial strains, her mother was unable to sustain the family alone and Dove’s parents divorced. An uncle, M.J. “Mont” Justeson, was a cattle rancher in Northern California. Uncle Mont saw the need to keep young Dove’s mind occupied and gave her one of the ranch geldings. As a 10 year old, Dove spent every minute she could with her horse, Amigo. As Dove grew, her love for horses never waned. Later, Dove married a rancher. Married life took her to “cowboy country” where she worked on ranches in Eastern Oregon and Montana. While there, Dove cooked for a cowboy crew, trained colts and learned hands on true ranch life that would later be the background for Crossroads Ranch. Dove believes, “It was my horses that kept me sane in those early days of family turmoil.” As she matured, her heart’s desire was to help others, especially kids. By using horses as a
focal point and a tool for ministry, Dove vowed to help children find their right path. Thus, in the summer of 2007, the first “Cowboy Camp” was held at Crossroads Ranch and the rest is old west style history! The campers come for nearly a week and live in an actual bunkhouse! After they arrive, each child adopts a horse for the week that best fits them. The cowboy or cowgirl learns how to catch and groom their horse properly, then saddle and ride. As a real treat, they harness the Ranch’s draft horse, Big John, and learn to drive him. His size and heart is as big as Dove’s for the children! The menu consists of cowboy food the cowhands cook on an outdoor fire. They learn to rope and even learn to fish with a handmade cane pole. As parents arrive on the last day of camp, the cowhands show off what they have learned. Every camper receives an award and one cowboy or cowgirl is picked as the “Silver Spur” Award, and the winner receives a real pair of spurs! The Silver Spur award is given to the camper that has shown the most excellent spirit, best attitude and is a hard worker. Silver Spur is also the first level of leadership at Crossroads Ranch. Levels of leadership also include Golden Spur, Platinum Spur and Diamond Spur and can only be attained by diligence and hard work. Devotions, much prayer and walks to “Prayer Corner” are a daily activities. Campers attend daily meetings discussing heart issues. Much encouragement is given for the kids to “rope their dreams, dally around your saddle horn and hang on!” Those times of prayer and cowboy gatherings are times when Dove feels most successful and able to touch each child’s heart. She said, “I just tell the kids there is nothing that can stop them from doing what is in their heart to do… there are no limits to dreaming and being who you want to be!” Crossroads is home to 25 horses and also a draft team, donkey, miniature mule and horse. And, of course, dogs, cats, chickens and guineas. Wow, a lot to feed! It is not uncommon to find the mini horse on the porch joining a ranch meeting! The Ranch has now grown to include an old west style township complete with a tack and livery barn, general store, bathhouse, and office! Dove and Mike will attest that although ranch life is hard work, it is very satisfying. And the young leadership will second that statement, as they spend time working and planning for the ranch even when camps are not in session. Friendships made during cowboy camp are like no other.
Love shared between the kids and between each child and their chosen horse is incredible. Many children accept the Lord, and like my children, some are baptized in a water trough! Ultimately, the goal of Crossroads Ranch is to build confident children. The Ranch teaches children to walk away from bad influences, dream big and never quit. Each cowhand walks away feeling confident and learns to “rope their dreams and dally off!” Upcoming camps: Christmas December 26-28, 2018, January 2-4, 2019, Spring Break March 18-22, 2019, Women’s Retreat February 15-17, 2019, Women’s Divorce Recovery April 12-14, 2019, and Men’s Retreat May 3-5, 2019. Summer camps begin May 27-August, 2019. www.crossroadsbarnandbreakfast.com, dove.morgan@yahoo.com, Crossroads Ranch Ministries is a 501-c 3 non-profit organization. n
Campers enjoy a time of prayer before resuming their daily activities.
Each camper selects his or her horse for the time they are at Crossroads.
A camper learns to drive Big John, the ranch’s Draft Horse.
Pictured are this years’ Platinum Saddle Winners
Aunesty is baptized at Cross- Campers Old West style roads Ranch. THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 11
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THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 15
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THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 17
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May the Peace of God Be Yours Through This Season Celebrate the Birth of Jesus!
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HUNTING... IS BETTER WITH A BUDDY! our apologies! In the “Hunting is Better with a Buddy” feature in our November issue, we inadvertently used the incorrect copy to go with Jared Harrison’s photo of his son, Tyler. Here is the corrected version of Jared’s words about Tyler’s hunting skill! Our apologies to Jared and Tyler!
JARED HARRISON
905 MANVEL AVENUE - CHANDLER, OK 405-258-0905 - MANVELAVECOFFEE.COM OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY
Jared Harrison brags on his son Tyler. “He has been following me to the woods since he was five years old. He loves the outdoors and especially deer hunting. After taking several deer with his rifle, he was excited about the new challenge of trying his luck with archery gear. We had several early season bucks on the trail camera coming to a small food plot I planted. The first time we had a chance to get in the tree this nice buck came out and Tyler made a perfect short at fifteen yards. The buck made it only fifty yards before piling up. Needless to say, he was the most excited I’d ever seen him. He’s hooked for life!”
Merry Christmas from
R. JOE REMINGTON
Certified Public Accountant 909 West Main Street Prague, OK 74864 rjoeremington@gmail.com remingtoncpa.com 405-567-0258 20 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
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DECEMBER
D E C E M B E R
A Joy to the World! by MICHELLE BROWN
Deliver. During the month of December, we celebrate the birth of all births….the birth of Jesus. He entered this world no different than the rest of us, small and vulnerable. Yet this infant came to deliver us, all mankind, from the sin of the world. His purpose was to surrender himself for you, for me, for all. Quite a powerful word, deliver. Eve. The night preceding such an extraordinary event, Christmas Eve. As I think back, Christmas Eve is a quiet, serene night. A night with barely any wind giving only a calming feeling. This December, gaze out onto the Christmas Eve sky. Enjoy all its silent beauty.
Christ. The King of Kings. The Great I Am. The Messiah. The Prince of Peace. Lord of All Lords. How one word, Christ, can mean so much and change so many lives is remarkable. Evergreen. In botany, an evergreen is a tree that has leaves throughout the year, always green. The evergreen tree continues with its’ vibrant color through December, never wavering, symbolizing eternal life. The evergreen tree does not lose its’ leaves during the cold month of December, nor does Christ’s loose His love for us during the cold months, it is eternal. Mary. What a lovely name. I often listen to the ballad Mary, Did You Know? during the Christmas season. As I listen to the words, “Mary, did you know that your baby boy would one day walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? ...that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you’ve delivered, will soon deliver you. ...that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man? ...that your baby boy would one day rule the nations? When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God?” Bells. The sound of Christmas. Jingle bells are heard daily. As we enter stores, we hear the bell ringers. I love to hear bells ringing during a Christmas parade as bells are hung on horses parading down the street. December’s sound is that of joyful bells. How delightful! Exchange. December is a month of gift exchange. The Wise Men bought gifts to the Baby Jesus. Yet, gifts come wrapped many ways. During December, exchange the gift of a friendly smile, comforting hug, kind words. A gift exchange does not need to be tangible and cost money. Exchange a gift of helping, kindness, cheerfulness or gratitude this December. Remember. December is month of busyness and activities. Schedules can sometimes be without order. Chaos can rule ourselves and families if we are not careful and diligent to remember the reason for Christmas. Remember that December can create stress for some as finances may be low, people may be alone or their health may be suffering. Remember servant hood and hospitality to others is important not only in December but for our daily walk.
Grab the kids and grandkids and spend an evening in a Corridor town looking at the Christmas lights. Stop for a cup of hot chocolate along the way. I invite you to travel The Corridor and enjoy December and all its joy! 22
THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
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 a new Cushing Chamber Member Business every week starting Thanksgiving week until the week before Christmas. 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 prize!
CHRISTMAS PARADE / DECEMBER 15 @ 6PM DOWNTOWN CUSHING, Broadway St. / THEME: A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE ON BROADWAY STREET Applications for entries are being taken now; stop by the Cushing Chamber today to get your application!
Visit Us on Facebook Cushing Chamber of Commerce
THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 23
Are You Dreaming of a
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1/2 OFF WHITENING during the Month of December
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(918) 225-1356
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THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
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PA S TO R PA U L’ S PA S S A G E S
by Pastor Paul Ragle
Jesus our brother kind and good was humbly born in a stable rude. The friendly beasts around him stood. Jesus our brother kind and good. It seems like Christmas carols have been around forever. But actually, many of the Christmas carols we sing in English have lyrics which were only written in the last 200 years. The oldest known “Christmas” hymns celebrating the incarnation of Christ date back to 4th century A.D. These were written in Latin and were not sung in Church worship. The term “carol” originated in France and described a circle dance in which the dancers danced and sung to the music. Again, for centuries, although Christmas carols were religious and celebrated the birth of Jesus, they were not sung in church services, but in streets, homes and village squares. One of the oldest known Christmas carols, a simple song about the animals describing the gift they brought to the Christ Child in Bethlehem, was first sung in 13th
century France. An English version soon became popular as well. I learned The Friendly Beasts when I sang madrigals in college. Wearing tights and doublet, I performed the carol at Madrigal Dinners at Hiram College. The Friendly Beasts has been a part of my repertoire ever since. I’ve sung it as a lullaby to my babies and as a prayer song at Christmas Eve nativities. In The Friendly Beasts, the donkey, the cow, the sheep, the dove, and the camel each witness to the gifts they brought to the holy child. The donkey carried Jesus’ mother to Bethlehem, the cow shared the manger for the babe’s bed, the lamb gave his wool for a blanket warm, and the camel brought a gift in the wise man’s pack. But my favorite verse is sung by the dove:
I, said the dove from the rafters high, we cued him to sleep that he should not cry We cooed him to sleep, my mate and I - I, said the dove from the rafters high.n 26 THE CORRIDOR DECEMBER 2018
Wishing You the Fullest of Blessings This Christmas Season!
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E TTA PALM
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DA N A C R A ME
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UI NT
IN CAV
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Notes
ALONG THE CORRIDOR
by RICK REILEY
NELLIE MARIE CLAY: The Long Road Home A year ot so ago I began hearing the name Nellie Marie Clay in musician’s circles. I’d never heard of her before and the name kept cropping up. Sometimes in reverent, hushed, excited tones as though she was a legend in the making. Or a legend come to life. So I began to explore. I found a few online videos that drew me into the fold. Her music, to me, feels as though she has a direct connection to the 1830s Irish folk tradition of storytelling and bloodletting all in one motion. Not actual spilling of blood mind you, just a brutal honesty that I often see as refreshing. She plays six string guitar and tenor banjo. Her voice has a dark, earthy yet ethereal quality about it that lends itself to the occasonal guttural howl to emphasize what words can not say. Burning Fires by Nellie Clay ‘And I didn’t pull the trigger Though I held it all night long Pointed at the darkness Where did I go wrong….’ I recenty listened to an inerview with her on an iTunes ‘Independent’s Day’ podcast hosted by Joe Armstrong where she explained her journey into the world of music. I also heard her on our local KUSH Radio when she explained that when she was a child a church music leader once told her never to sing in public. The teacher told her, she reports: “Not even God wants to hear you sing!” And she took it to heart. Thankfully, albeit twenty years after the fact, she finally tossed that poor, misguided 34 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
teacher’s advice aside. She has an achingly lovely, distinctive voice, she has stories to tell and she’s been doing just that for a few years now. Her upcoming CD is titled ‘We Got Songs to Sing’, prior to that there was the Nashville produced ‘Never Did What I Shoulda Done’, a fine mix of acoustic based songs. Nellie dropped into our house on a recent Tuesday NIght Music Club episode in Cushing and we were delighted to make her acquaintance and to hear her music up close and personal. I asked if music had been a big part of her childhood. “Sadly, music was not really part of my growing up ex-
cept what I might’ve caught on the radio here and there,” she answered. And then she told me a lot more in this narrative……. “I was born in Comanche, Oklahoma and sadly music was not really part of my growing up except what I might’ve caught on the radio here and there. “My formal education is entirely comprised of the visual arts and art history. I took summer semesters at The Art Institute of Chicago and studied painting at The University of Minnesota. I then taught drawing and painting to adults through Minneapolis Community Education and was a paintings conservator for The Museum of Russian Art there. “I moved to rural Alaska for a decade where I started singing and playing around campfires because mountain folks had no TV, radio or cell phones, so we made music. I hosted open mics and did random odd things for dough here and there but lived in frugality, often in small shacks without utilities. I travelled around AK playing bars and festivals etc. “I met Tim Easton around a campfire at Salmon Fest and we became friends. He eventually encouraged me to move to Nashville with my new album and he helped me out introducing me to players and got me some gigs. We played the Blue Bird with Margo Price one night and that will always be a radical memory.’’ (Editor’s note: Tim Easton is an Ohio born Nashville based singer/songwriter with twenty years of touring experience and many albums to his credit. Salmon Fest is advertised as a three say Fish, Love and Music Festival that takes place in August in Alaska on the Kenai Peninsula. A pretty big deal in tha part of the country! And the Blue Bird Cafe is a legendary Nashville institution where dozens of songwriters and stars have been ‘discovered’. It serves as a backdrop on the ABC, televison show, ‘Nashville’) Through Easton, Nellie also began attending the annual Folk Alliance International Music Conference where she made further professional musical contacts and friendships as well as a management and booking agency. Every musician I talk to about the Nashville experience has similar stories yet all uniquely different. Nellie says, “Nashville was definitely a learning experience. Coming from Alaska I was entirely naive to
the business end of things. I was surprised to learn that though most press accolades etc., though often deserved, had to be bought and paid for. “I’ll say I witnessed next level professionalism there. There’s some great people there. I’ll just say one more thing, not about Nashville, but the music business- when over and over you watch truly incredible people……….do all the right things for years and years…….it’s so sad that such brilliant, hardworking singer songwriters can hardly keep a roof over their heads……” The making of art seems to come more naturally than actually turning that art into money. But the road goes on and on and there are many stories that remain to be lived and told. A few years ago Nellie ended up in Oklahoma again when she was invited to perform her song, ‘Oklahoma’, at the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa as well as the Woody Festival in Okemah. She returned often to perform there as well as at Oklahoma City’s Blue Door. Finally after her Nashville stint and a brief stop in Austin, it occurred to her that home in Oklahoma was where she belonged. And so here she is. “My future plans are……. buying rural land in Okfuskee County. I’m gonna build a cabin, get some chickens and live quietly. I plan on painting more and eventually ride off into the sunset. “In the meantime musically, I’m excited and honored to be opening for Eliza Gylkison in January at Cimarron Breeze Concert Series at the Church in Perkins, OK. I’ve got a March tour planned for the northern Midwest and am working on some other things. “I’ve got this brand new record, “We Got Songs To Sing” and I reckon I’ll “release” it soon and throw it up on iTunes where my previous records can be found.” You can find out more about this ‘truth teller in ¾ time’ at her website: nellieclaymusic.com You can also find her on Facebook. Check out her music on iTunes. n THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 35
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Delilah’s DILEMMAS
Delilah sat in her pickup on the side of Parkland Road. She had swerved to miss a deer and careened into the ditch. And now the pickup wouldn’t start. Her attempts to reach Gus and Dooby by cell phone were unsuccessful. As she considered her options in the quiet stillness, there was a tremendously jarring bang from the driver’s side of the pickup that shook the entire vehicle. Believing she had been struck by another vehicle, she shrieked and turned, only to find Mr. Creepy starring at her through the driver’s side window. When the youngish man had shown up on Delilah’s doorstep the night before, claiming his car had broken down, he was wearing nothing more than a hoody to protect him from the below freezing temperatures. It appeared he had acquired a coat overnight. Delilah couldn’t imagine where he had come from. She looked left and right, across the road, to locate the nearest house. There was a dwelling about a quarter of a mile ahead, and another one two blocks behind her. She quickly glanced in her rearview mirror and saw a banged up, beaten up, 1996 Ford Taurus parked behind her. “Well, it would seem he not only found a coat, but he got his car running, too,” Delilah whispered to herself. “Need some help?” Mr. Creepy called out, as he reached for the door handle. “No!” Delilah exclaimed. Before she could push the button to lock the doors, Mr. Creep had tried opening the door. But it was already locked. After the initial surge of pure, overwhelming terror, Delilah tip-toed right over to the angry side. He had done the same thing at the ranch; tried to open the door. What the devil was wrong with this guy? In what universe was it acceptable to enter someone’s private space without an invitation? “Hey! Step away from the vehicle!” Delilah demanded. Mr. Creepy looked from Delilah to the dash of the pickup, and then back to Delilah. “It’ll probably start if you put it in park,” he said in a low voice. Delilah glanced at the dash. She had been so rattled when she ran off the road that she had forgotten to put it in park. That’s why the door was still locked: the pickup was still in gear. She looked back at Mr. 40 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
by
DIANE BROWN
Creepy. A wicked grin had inched across his face and she could swear there was murder in his eyes. So now the question was, what would happen if she put it in park? Would the doors stay locked or not? After receiving a call from one of his contacts at the bureau, Dooby hastened to call Eli, who answered his disposable cell phone on the third ring. “They couldn’t find anything on Henry,” Dooby said. “He’s clean as a whistle.” “What do you think?” Eli asked. “Does he know what Abigail’s doing?” “My guess is no,” Dooby said. “Honestly, I think she’s just using him for cover. And what a great cover he makes; a fine, upstanding, older gentleman with loads of cash.” “Cover or not, I’m going to see that she gets put away for a long time,” Eli said. “Gotta catch her first,” Dooby said. “I’m going to give you the name and number of my contact at the bureau. Once we know what we’re dealing with, we’ll k now whic h agenc y will need to intercept.” “Fire away,” Eli said. And he began writing down the information. “How are you going to recover a chip?” Dooby asked. “I have an idea,” Eli said with smile. Delilah motored up the drive of the Royal Flush Ranch, and by the time she parked and exited the pickup, Dooby was just behind her. “Where have you been?” Dooby asked with playful curiosity. Went to Chandler,” Delilah replied. “I met
with Charlie. Looked through some mug shots.” “You’re not going on about that again, are you?” Dooby teased. “As a matter of fact, I am,” Delilah countered. “And it just so happens that I found a man that looks very much like Mr. Creepy, who incidentally practically accosted me on the side of the road when I was on my way home.” Dooby’s expression turned serious. “What are you talking about?” he asked. Delilah recapped her encounter as they made their way to the house. “And just when I thought I was going to wind up as a missing person on the evening news, a car came along and distracted him,” she concluded. “So, I put the pickup in park, started it, and locked the doors, all in one, swift move.” “Why didn’t you call me?” Dooby scolded, as he opened the back door. “I did,” Delilah said. “It went to voice mail. Then I tried calling Gus, but he didn’t answer either.” “ Hmm,” Dooby pondered, extracting his cell phone from his pocket and checking for missed calls. “Yeah, there it is. Sorry I missed it. I was on the phone with . . .” He stopped, mid-sentence. He wasn’t quite ready to tell Delilah he’d been in contact with Eli. “Well, it doesn’t matter,” he added. “What did Charlie say?” “Not much,” Delilah said, as she lit the fire under the kettle. “Actually, he had a rather peculiar reaction. Like he’d been spooked, or something. I don’t know. He wouldn’t tell me anything. At least until he gets finger prints. Which reminds me. He’s sending a
deputy out to collect them.” Delilah joined Dooby at the kitchen banquette. “Today?” Dooby asked. “Of course,” Delilah said. “We don’t want to take a chance of losing or contaminating them. We’ll find out if Mr. Creepy’s in the system.” “Delilah, is it possible you’re overreacting?” Dooby suggested gingerly. Delilah glared at Dooby. “It’s possible,” she said. “But, might it also be possible that he knows more about the contents of this house and its occupants than your average indigent?” “I guess,” Dooby said with furrowed brows. “At the risk of exercising paranoia to the extreme, I fear he may . . . somehow, have a connection with Herbert.” Dooby’s eyes widened with surprise. “I know it sounds crazy, Dooby,” she pleaded. She sighed. “Whether he has a connection to Herbert or not, the man is a threat. And if you’d seen the look in his eyes, I wouldn’t need to make such an effort to convince you.” “Alright, alright. I’m convinced,” Dooby said. “I’ll tell Karon that I’ll be staying out here at nights.” “You’ll do no such thing!” Delilah exclaimed. “Good heavens. I just don’t want you to dismiss my concerns as female hysteria.” Dooby gave her a thumbs up, and headed to the stable. Within an hour, the deputy was pulling finger prints off the handle of the front door. When he finished, he assured Delilah that Charlie would let her know the results when they had them. That night was uneventful. Delilah had no expectation of hearing
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from Eli and so she wasn’t disappointed when he didn’t call. Dooby had gone back to Cushing to tend to Karon. The following morning as Delilah was cleaning up the breakfast dishes, Charlie came in the back door, sashayed over to the coff ee pot , p u l l e d a c u p f ro m t h e cu p b o a rd a n d f ille d it with s t eamin g brew. Delilah had never seen Charlie in plain clothes before, and for a split second she wondered who the stranger was who had entered her house like an old friend. “This is a surprise,” she said. “I didn’t expect you to come out on a Saturday.” Charlie shrugged and joined Delilah at the kitchen banquette. After a few moments of silence, Delilah finally spoke. “Well?” she urged. “Not his prints,” Charlie said. “That’s disappointing,” Delilah whined. “Not really,” Charlie said. “The guy in the mugshot was presumably killed in a house fire about three years ago, after a violent confrontation with police.” “How awful!” Delilah cried. “That’s not all,” Charlie continued. “It was rumored that the man who died in the fire was NOT Harrison Mooreland. Rumors that couldn’t be completely substantiated. So, naturally when you identified Harrison as your stranger, it caused some concern.” “Okay,” Delilah said slowly, trying to work out the implications. “But if my stranger wasn’t Harrison, who is he? They look so much alike.” “ Could be his younger brother,” Charlie offered.
There was more silence while Charlie sipped his coffee. “Are you going to do something about it?” Delilah asked. “Nope,” Charlie said. “Can’t. All he’s done at this point is scare you.” Delilah nodded vigorously. “Right,” she said. “I see. He has to kill me before you can do anything. I get it.” Charlie chuckled. “We’ll talk to him, okay?” Charlie rose from the table and strolled to the sink where he emptied his cup and rinsed it out. “Sure,” Delilah said. “Just don’t blame me if I take matters into my own hands.” “As long as you don’t use a gun,” Charlie said, as he went out the back door. “Funny!” Delilah shouted after him. Delilah had never learned to use a gun. Actually, that’s not entirely correct. One time, Gus and Dooby attempted to instruct Delilah with a bit of target practice. She shot everything but the target. There were holes in the side of the barn, shredded tree trunks, a dead turkey vulture that had been soaring about a thousand feet in the air, and last but certainly not least, the pinky toe on Gus’s left foot. As she watched Charlie drive away, Delilah vowed not to let such trivial nonsense deter her from protecting herself. She marched to the living room and carefully procured the 9mm Ruger from the gun case. She loaded it and made sure the safety was engaged. “I’m not a total idiot when it comes to firearms,” she said to herself.
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Nothing of consequence happened that night, though Delilah did make a mental note that the scratching sounds inside the walls had ceased. The traps had obviously worked. She make sure Gus checked them the next day. The next day was like any other Sunday. Delilah checked on Karon; no significant change. She called her parents; no a news there. She watched a couple movies and played a couple hands of Gin Rummy with Joel. That night, Delilah went to bed earlier than normal, taking the Ruger with her and placing it on the table next to her bed. Around 10:00, she heard Joel trekking up the stairs, and shortly thereafter, she fell fast asleep. Sometime after midnight she was awakened by an unfamiliar noise coming from downstairs. She bolted from bed, shrugged into her robe, and took the Ruger in hand, all the while listening intently for more sounds. Delilah tiptoed into the hall. “Did you hear that, Delilah?” Joel shouted in a whisper. “Yes!” Delilah whisper-shouted back. There was a thud and a bang. Joel and Delilah stood perfectly still, and looking at each other. Though the house was dark, the high pressure sodium security light outside provided just enough light that the pair could see each other’s form but few details. “Go back in your room, and close the door,” Delilah said. “No way!” Joel objected, lightly stepping toward Delilah. “Joel,” Delilah insisted. “Please, go back in your room and call Gus. Tell him to call the sheriff.” There was the faint sound of footsteps coming from the kitchen downstairs, toward the staircase. Again, Delilah and Joel froze.
X
Then Delilah waved Joel back in his room. The footsteps grew closer. Delilah took the gun in both hands, stepped toward the railing, and aimed over the banister. Step. Step. A dark figure in the hall. Bang. A thud and a crash. n
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year to all! I thank you kindly for being such devoted fans of Delilah. Don’t miss the next installment of Delilah’s Dilemmas in the January issue of The Corridor Magazine. Delilah just may have got her stranger, or someone entirely unexpected.
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THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 47
The Wooly Dog and by the late FLEECA CLIFTON DUNAWAY
Ding, Dong! Ding, Dong! The old clock in the hall just outside the nursery chimes the hour. In the hall it is very dark and only a stray moonbeam flits across the dirty dingy face of the old clock; both hands point upward. It is that mystic magic hour of midnight! But just peep around the side of the door into the nursery; the room is lit with a soft glow. At first glance, everything is perfectly still, not a sound or move is to be heard; then, all of a sudden, the eyes of the sleepy doll slowly open, showing sparkling blue orbs. She softly stifles a yawn; then slowly puts one foot out of the cradle onto the floor. With her beautiful, brown curly hair hanging down her back,
48 THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018
she walks in short jerky steps to a corner of the room where she gives a tiny kick to a soft yielding surface. A short woof is heard, and then a small wooly dog bounces into the middle of the room. It is Dodo, a sweet, little wooly dog. “Sh-sh-,” whispers the beautiful doll Dimples, “Sh-we must be very quiet if we are to slip away from the old Jack-in-the-Box. The old grouch,” she continued in an undertone to herself, “if he knew we were going to the party, he wouldn’t let us,” and aloud she urged, “Hurry! Hurry!” “Well, let’s get goin’.” Excited Dodo was jumping and running in circles. Silently… they tip-toed to the open window. Going through magic movements with a silver coin,they float out into the starry night. It was the night before Christmas and new snow lay sparkling on the cold hard ground, turning it into fairyland. The doll and the dog swept across town, over the house-tops, alleys and backyards, finally coming to rest on the sill of another nursery window across town from their own. A peep into the new nursery revealed all kinds of dollsSpanish, French, German, and American toys. It was the gala night of the year for the toys that had been gifts the preceding years. Tomorrow morning all the toys knew they would be replaced with new and more expensive toys than they were; therefore, tonight was to be their night. After tonight the new toys with shining and lovely faces would be among them trying to change everything.The old toys would be given away, thrown away, or left in
the China Doll the darkest corner of the nursery closet. Toys of all descriptions were gathered together, discussing the past year. Some older ones were telling of the year when they had been the most beautiful doll in the shop and how little Mary or Jane had cried for her, and how on Christmas morning she had been placed in the very stocking of little Mary or Jane. Others were laughing, dancing, singing, and a few of the dolls with poor broken noses, or punched out eyes were crying. But as a whole they were all gay and boisterous, each trying to hide the hurt feeling of losing the love of its little mistress or master. In the midst of all the merriment the first cock crowed. It would soon be daylight and Dimples and Dodo must travel to the other side of town. In the grand rush and flurry of the departing dolls, the silver magic coin was knocked from the hand of Dimples, who was holding Dodo’s paw with her other hand. With a clatter the coin lit on a freshly cleaned sidewalk and lay glittering and shining in the moonlight. Slowly, but surely, Dimples and Dodo began to sink. Dodo began whimpering and Dimples to cry. The two had taken a short-cut and had been traveling over the shanties, the poor section of town, but without the magic coin they could not float and already the sky was paling and soon the stars would disappear. With a final burst of energy Dimples and Dodo lit on a dirty greasy window sill and tumbles into a dark sour smelling room. The sun peeped over the ridge. Christmas was here again! A tiny girl with a blue pinched face, and long straggly hair lay sleeping in a dirty smelly bed. Her young mother, with traces of tears on her lined face, lay by her side. She has realized that her only babe was, for the first time in her five years, to be greeted on Christmas morning with the cruel fact that “there is no Santa Claus.” “She must be made to realize that there is nothing, but starvation, cold and sickness in their dark, dreary old world.” so the mother thought and had cried far into the night. The child was the first to awaken, and raising heavy lids from dewy blue eyes fresh from sleep, gazed with wonder around her. The beautiful warm
sun had come into the room, throwing into relief every cheap article in the little greasy hut. Anyone else would have turned away in pity, humiliation and even despair, but not the child who lay smiling under the dirty quilts, thinking how warm and comfortable and lovely the world was. Every item of the smoke-stained room was precious to her. It was her HOME! To her, her mother, aged beyond her years, with coarse, unkept hair and snaggled teeth was the most beautiful person in the world. Edith’s, (the small child’s) gaze fell upon a bundle under the window. “Santa Claus, she knew, had been there,” and laughing for sheer joy she awoke her mother, who clasped her little daughter in loving arms, rained kisses down upon the tiny up-turned face flushed with excitement. “Mother, Mother look!” and Edith was out of bed onto the cold greasy floor, hurrying to the window. Picking up the articles lying there, she gasped-it was Dimples and Dodo. Dimples had knocked the end of her beautiful nose off when she tumbled into the room and Dodo had lost a leg in the mad rush through the sky, but the defects were not noticed by the praying mother and the excited child. “They were left by --- God,” was the mother’s version, and the child thought -- “They are MINE, the most beautiful doll in the world, with real hair and real open and shut eyes, and the woolliest white dog I have ever seen.” Of course, Dimples didn’t like to be carried head downward all day, with her tiny feet flying in the air, nor did she especially like the damp sticky kisses that were pressed against her little doll body, but neither did she envy Dodo who was given a bath every ten minutes in the hand-pan, washed with a strong lye soap. But altogether, both the doll and the dog were happy; here was someone who would love them at least another year. No dark corners for them THIS year. n
The End.
THE CORRIDOR / DECEMBER 2018 49
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