I'd Rather Roll Than Rattle

Some of Us Can’t Sing

I like music, and I very much enjoy group singing and such. But the truth is I am sadly lacking in natural vocal ability. I once lamented this fact to a friend of the family who has a nice tenor voice.

“It's dreadful! I can't even carry a tune.”

“Oh yes you can,” he graciously replied, but then he followed up with, “You just have heck unloading it!”

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The Preacher's Kids Again

Preachers’ children always get teased and hassled about things they say and things they do. Our pastor friend Joe had two daughters and a son, and they had their fair share of troubles.

On one particular occasion, the two girls were being questioned about an incident. When their dad came to the youngest, he said, “Why didn't you just tell daddy the truth about it?

She answered, “Because I knew you would have a pissy attitude.”

Choice of language became the new topic of discussion!

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The Local Train

Branching off from the Texas and Pacific Railroad line that ran west through Pecos was a little spur line that ran from Pecos to Toyahvale. Its main purpose was to accommodate a large gravel pit about 18 miles south of Pecos. It ran all the way to Toyahvale, where there was an occasional load of cattle or sheep to ship out. The cotton gins along the way also used it from time to time. The PVS – Pecos Valley Southern, which we nicknamed “Pulls Very Slowly,” did not run real frequently, particularly to the most southern part of the route.

It delighted my daddy to come to one of the dirt road railroad crossings, let much of the air out of the tires of his ‘52 Chevy pickup, and then drive down the railroad tracks! He said there was no traffic (it’s not like there was much traffic on the highways in the area) and you could make real good time!