Make A New Plan Stan And Get Yourself Free

 June 23, 2025

   If you haven't noticed by now, I often peg my life to song lyrics. Or, perhaps a more accurate conclusion is "I can't get these damn lyrics out of my head!"

   We got in late last night from a whirlwind trip to Washington State for this guy:

Birthday Boy turns 12

(technically his B-Day is Tuesday)

   See that old guy in the farmer's cap. He is having a bit of an existential crisis. His daughter, at far right, gifted him two books that are messing with the old boy's head, but in a good way.

   Deena C. gifted me: "From Strength to Strength: Finding success, happiness and deep purpose in the second half of life," by Arthur C. Brooks. The other book is "Meditations for Morons," I mean "Mortals, Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts," by Oliver Burkeman. Both of them hit me where I live which is on the wrong side of 75. Although I am happy to report that both coming and going—in two airports!—the TSA agents barked at me, "You must remove your jacket and your shoes unless you are 73 or older!" And I just smiled and walked around my fellow baby travelers to retrieve my belt, keys, laptop, phone and my remaining dignity.

   Meanwhile, this same daughter took us to a brand new Barnes & Noble in Issaquah and it was full of customers—old and young—who apparently actually want to read books and magazines on printed paper! They also had two very large sections for magazines and here is the section I was the most interested in. Can you spot the title I wanted to find?

Issaquah Barnes & Noble Newsstand

     I wish I could say the True Wests are where they are in the above photo, but they were not. I finally found them in the back row above the position where I put them and then only because I managed to spot the "T" peeking out from behind.

   Ouch!

   If I could have my way, all the newsstand displays in the world would look like this:

Sharlot Hall Museum Gift Store Display

   So, my notes culled from the two books are these:

Notes for Stan's New Plan

(Yes, that is a photo of me holding the daughter who bought me the books, taken back in the summer of 1980)

"Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free. . ."

—Paul Simon, "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" 1975

In The Middle of Nowhere I Found Myself

 June 21, 2025

   It has been raining here non-stop for the past several hours. We are obviously not in Arizona. To a desert rat it is a very soothing sound, a luxury for a parched mind.

Striped Blanket On A Mexican Caballero

   Yes, we are at our daughter's family house in Issaquah. Love that In-din name. And, to the locals this is incessant moisture and a bit of a drag, but to us it's a joy and a respite from the blast furnace of home. And, sometimes you have to go away so you can replenish your love of your home. And, full disclosure, my daughter feels the same way when she comes to visit us.

   We came all this way to celebrate the birth of a true Westerner—a lad actually named Weston—who is a "Man of the West," as his mother puts it.

The Birthday Boy 12 years ago

when he was already a Jedi Master

"When it rains, it pours."

—Old Vaquero Saying

The Perfect Hike

 June 20, 2025

  We're in Issaquah, Washington for a couple days and a certain grandson's 12th birthday party. Yesterday we ended up in Des Moines outside of Seattle for a day on the beach and a non hike (see sign in back).

Non-hiking hikers.

"When in Rome do what the Romans do."

—Old Roman Saying

One Big Doc Just For You

 June 18, 2025

   Sharlot Hall Museum is mounting a big Doc Holliday Art Show in August and they asked me for several of my best Doc pieces, including this seriograph of the Doc which will be featured prominently in the show. It belongs to Theresa Broniarczyk who ran Tri Star Printing back in the day and she is downsizing and asked me if I knew anyone who might want it.

   So, here is an offer I am making just to you:

"The Doctor Will See You Now"

Seriograph, framed and numbered (1/150)

frame size is 37.5" X 48"

   It is offered here for $1,500 and you will be able to take it home after the show comes down at the end of September. Email me if you want it. First come, etc.

Daily Reworked Whip Out:

"Mestizo Girl 2"

And, here's another reworking. . .

Daily Revised Whip Out:

"The Kid Returns 4"

High praise to True West for having the courage to publish the "Behind Primeval Mountain Meadows" story. Kudos to Paul Hutton's masterful exposition of this sordid piece of history. As a teach of northwest history, I deeply appreciate True West's continuing commitment to presenting factual history, the good, the bad and the ugly.

—Herb Flick, Clackamas, Oregon

"If we don't support each other, who will."

—Old Editor Saying

True Confessions of A Trophy Husband

 June 17, 2025

   You can imagine my surprise when I opened the Amazon box 24 hours after the expiration of Father's Day to discover a T-shirt with an empowering two word message.

A Belated Father's Day Gift

   At that moment, all of the symptoms flooded back to me. It was so obvious, how did I not recognize the warning signs?

• She often introduces me as "arm candy."

• Not once in 47 years of marriage did she ever say, "I wish you were better looking."

• I heard her once brag that I sometimes take out the trash without her having to ask me to do it!

• She never made me wear a Brad Pitt mask during sex. Okay, maybe that one time.

   Believe me, there's other telltale signs, but I don't have time to make them up.

"Married people live longer because they can't afford to die."

—Old Vaquero Saying

Gator Sighting In Thailand and Amber Ridge Riders Reprise

 June 16, 2025

   My son just did the gator in Thailand proving for the umpteenth time, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but, on the other hand, it can roll pretty far from home after it hits the ground.

Daily Whip Out: "Like Father, Like Son"

   Still noodling amber ridge riders. . .

Daily Whip Out:

"Amber Ridge Riders Work Up #43"

   And, all of this gives me inspiration to return to another story. . .

Daily Whip Out: "Olive's Regret"

   I still have high hopes for a certain story about miscegenation, which my history pard, Greg Scott, claims is the basis for many classic stories, including "The Searchers," "Last of The Mohicans," "The Illiad," and one that I still need to finish, which would involve this person. . .

"Of course, many truths lay quietly, like sleeping cats, waiting for the hour of their telling."

—Sharlot Hall

 

And One Bonus Quote for Your Eyes Only:

"When we bought True West magazine I have to tell you I slept like a baby. That is, I woke up every two hours and cried."

—BBB

Happy Father's Day to Allen P. Bell

 June 15, 2025

   I've been thinking a lot today about the guy who gave me my bullheadedness which has saved me and served me, many times. That would be this great Norsky farm boy.

Allen P. Bell with me and Blackie, the stray dog he took in at the Whiting Brothers Gas Station he ran at McConnico, below Perfume Pass in Mohave County.

   And yes, he is the guy I acknowledge as the real "66 Kid" in the memoir by the same name.

Al Bell goofing in front of his Mobiloil Station

at Peach Springs, Arizona, 1946

   I also dedicated my "Bad Men: Outlaws & Gunfighters of the Wild West," to him as well with this dedication: "Dedicated to my father, Allen P. Bell. A good man by any measure."

"The father washes onto the son. He lives inside you as an aspiration, a disappointment, or a fear. Afraid you will never be like him or afraid you will be; he is there in the bones of your emotions. In the voices in your head. In your expectations of yourself. In the shadows of your weakness and strength. No matter how good the relationship, there is a tension between father and son."

—Boyd Varty, The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life