august serendipity

“When did the endless month of August become not even a month at all but a jumping-off place for the next season to come”? (Quote from Rick Bragg in his article, “Endless Summer”, for which I credit the inspiration of this post)

I can remember the entire summer flying by and trying to squeeze the last drop out of every day. June and July were just teasers we referred to as “summer break” between the mundane school years. Family trips to the beach and the lake, working the sweltering afternoons in cotton and hay fields, spending the sweet summer nights running around the complex between baseball games, chasing down the Yum Yum Shack for a quenching snow cone that melted immediately when it hit your tongue, mud riding in the Mule Hole Ditch, and burning every other ounce of energy in swimming pools or racing bikes. And then August hit. It was always a shock when it finally arrived because I couldn’t grasp where the previous two months and majority of my break had gone. But somehow, August seemed to drag out longer than any time I had ever experienced. I always assumed it was the scorching heat that made the days seem to stick, like everything else does this time of year.

I believe that summer romances, at least the good ones, always take place in the better parts of August. Could be the heat getting to everyone’s head, or maybe it’s be something magical that no one can explain. It’s the time when the newness of summer has completely faded into a sense of effortlessness and simply being, and the inexperience of childhood lapses into a ripened understanding. Those pristine spells of swinging sunburned legs off the edge of an old wooden bridge, relishing in the Mississippi mud as it slides between your toes, and watching the sweat beads drip simultaneously from your glass and your chest, become soft recollections of serendipity. Ceiling fans stir the notion that time is still, and yet pesky flies remind us again and again that nothing is. Exhaustion brings a lull that resonates with everything but the crickets at dusk. And for a moment, everything is right.

“There was a time when August stretched out forever, the end of it somewhere beyond the horizon of childhood’s favorite season.”- Rick Bragg

Take a moment and forget about the football season countdown, the taunting Halloween decorations already strategically placed on store shelves, and school schedules ahead- and recognize the month of August the way God intended us to: Southern, sticky, and timeless.

Love always,

Addie

“Summer romances end for all kinds of reasons. But when all is said and done, they have one thing in common: They are shooting stars-a spectacular moment of light in the heavens, a fleeting glimpse of eternity. And in a flash, they’re gone.” –Nicholas Sparks

“The children start school now in August. They say it has to do with air conditioning, but I know sadism when I see it. I think a bunch of people who were not allowed to stomp in a mud hole when they were young….decided to make sure that no child would ever have the necessary time to contemplate a grand mud hole ever again…People ask all the time, what’s wrong with kids today?…I think they do not know how sweet it is to feel the mud mush between their toes.” –Rick Bragg

Sikestonians and the Rodeo

I have reached a point in my life where I live on my own and have to make time to go home. Alex is also in my same situation and we take turns visiting each other’s families. This creates quite the dilemma during holidays when we want to spend Christmas with each other as well as our families that just so happen to live 500 miles apart. But the one holiday that is never debated on where it will be spent is the one that falls in the beginning of August every year- Rodeo.

There are always questions that you never have to ask because you should know the answer. The people that ask these rhetorical questions are typically teachers or sarcastics (yep, made that word up but I like it here). Anyone else that is seriously presenting one of these questions should probably just be answered with one of the most popular rhetorical questions of all: “why are you so stupid.” When it comes to Sikestonians, there is a list of these questions that need not be asked. Here are a few of my favorites (I’ll even include the answers for my non-Sikestonian readers):

1. Are you going to join Red Peppers? The answer is always, yes. Duh. Not only am I joining, but I’ll be a legacy. Potentially a double or triple legacy. And now I’ll just assume that you are from out of town or a transfer student. You’re welcome for filling you in so you can be sure to join now as well. See you at the Tea.
2. Do you want to go eat at Lambert’s? No. Absolutely not- unless I’m hosting out-of-town visitors that have never been or some big celebratory occasion that does not fall during holidays, summer, rodeo, or any other major tourism time. Even then, I’ll probably have to think about it…
3. Should I wear shoes to run an errand? No. Every gas station and liquor store, as well as the donut/ice cream shop and the dry cleaners have a drive-thru. No need to get out of the car and into civilization for anything. Period.
4. Are you going to Rodeo? Simply put, this is my favorite question and I refuse to answer because any true Sikestonian will be talking, preparing, shopping, and pregaming for the annual festivity long before the performance comes to town- leaving no room for questioning or misunderstanding.

Needless to say, my 23^rd year at rodeo was just as fabulous as the previous 22. This year was the 61^st anniversary for the Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and the 20^th anniversary of my dad’s year as chairman of the rodeo. After being raised on the rodeo grounds, it gets in your blood- and you can’t help but smile through the mud on your freshly shined boots, and the push-your-way-through-drunken-debaucheries just to get a hot dog, and fighting back screams when the rope folds perfectly around that left horn. There’s just somethin bout that damned ole rodeo.

Last year was Alex’s first rodeo experience and though he had a good time, I think he was a little shocked. But this year, he was a true sophomore in knowing exactly what he was getting into and being prepared for a great time. As the reunion commenced, he jumped right in like a local. After the first night we agreed that we should save all our vacation days next year to be there the entire week….but after the third night, it was clear that rodeo is a fleeting event once a year for a very good reason. And I think we’re perfectly fine with only staying for a few days instead.

My dad once said that Spence and I were unlucky to have been raised by a father who doesn’t get into sports like baseball and football, instead hauling us into the rodeo lifestyle. I never saw it as unlucky by any measure. It’s a blessing that I’m proud of- and that’s why rodeo will always be my favorite holiday that will never be disputed.

Until next year, LONG LIVE COWBOYS.

Oh and in case you missed the clown being damned for making fun of Obama during the Missouri State Fair rodeo performance, you probably don’t have to ask a Sikestonian how they feel about that either. Take a joke and stop crying “racism” at every little poke. Comedians have used political figures and celebrities for their sketches for years because they are people that we all recognize. Wouldn’t be nearly as funny if the clown had impersonated his uncle because not many people could relate to a stranger. When people make fun of George W. Bush and Lindsay Lohan, it’s not because they’re white; it’s because it’s funny. Get the chip off your shoulder…oh, and welcome to America- we support free speech here…most of the time.

Just because I don’t want to end on a bad note, I’ll leave you with this link to a blog that will surely lift your spirits and restore your faith in humanity…probably not without a few good tears: http://thoughtcatalog.com/2013/19-displays-of-love-affection-inspiration-thatll-make-you-cry/

Love always,

Addie

“Everyone knows the Sikeston rodeo is like a fashion show. And you’d better show up.” -Momma