Adios Dryden, Texas Adios Glenn R. Benson

...a little light snow falling!

Out here in West Texas you just never know what the weather will bring next.  Last night we could tell it was getting a little colder so this is what we have to contend with now, which is nice since it makes it easier to keep the perishables refrigerated.  Bagged ice is about 40 miles away and 17 of that is dirt road which is pretty low speed except for one of the hunters, Eddie, who always rents a pick up and thinks he is Mario Andretti when he gets on this road.  I'm sure he wouldn't drive like that if it were his truck.....well maybe.

Snow getting a little heavier!

Of course it takes a little warmer temperature for it to snow good so we weren't complaining too much. Glenn of course kept on about how he didn't sign on to this high powered cooking outfit to have to work under these conditions.  He didn't complain too much because his expensive wine was now refrigerated....by the weather.  I forget the name of the wine, but it came in an expensive container......cardboard.

Jeff Norwiki, Rusty Reed, "Bump" Williams

 At times, inside the kitchen, the temperature is real nice.  That is usually around about the time the meals are being prepared.  Once we get the stove roaring it will keep the area pretty warm.  Although sometimes it takes a lot of wood and burning it most of the day to stay warm.  One time we were at this same camp when the temperature hovered around 18 degrees for about a day and didn't get over 23 for about three days.  That is when we stayed pretty close to the fire.  It is funny though when you are cold for a long time and it warms up just a bit, you feel like a heat wave has come in.  In one of the earlier pictures of Skip reading, I think the temperature was around 30 degrees.  

Just a tad chilly.

But like most places in Texas the weather rarely stays the same for very long.  There was a little time here and there when we got to just cool our heals and have some fun.  On one of the hunting trips Glenn brought a couple of black powder rifles that he had made and gave us some basics of how to load and shoot the old rifles that shot round lead balls.  We were getting along fairly well in putting a shot into a paper dinner plate at about 50 yards.  One thing shooting black powder rifles and biscuit making has in common is this.....Don't be talking when you have biscuits in the oven and don't be talking when you are loading a rifle.  Of course, with biscuits, they will burn because of a lack of  the necessary attention.  With black powder rifles, if you aren't paying attention, you might forget to put the powder in the barrel before you ram the lead ball.  In which case you have a problem.  The lead ball is not very easy to get out of the rifle without the help of the powder.  An screw is attached to the end of the ramrod and shoved in the barrel and into the lead ball.  A person then must screw the ramrod into the ball and with great care pull on the rod and withdraw the rod and hopefully the ball will stay attached and come out of the barrel without any damage. 

Not naming names but the guy on the right screwed up. 

 I don't recall all the names but these were some of the hunters we got to know.  A swell bunch of guys.  The guy on the very left is called "Bump" and the way he got the name is hilarious.  Unfortunately I can't remember it, however. Bump if you are reading this blog, email me and tell me the story and I will tell the story of your name in a later blog. 

The Cell Bush

 This is another hunting camp story.  There was this little grease wood bush about 75 yards from the camp which was the only location within a couple of miles where you could get cell phone service.  We got to where we couldn't always find the correct bush so one of the guys marked the location with surveyors tape so everyone would have cell service.  No, it didn't always work but for the most part is was fairly reliable.

We had cooked for Box R Outfitters for about three years and between the third and fourth year I called my old buddy Glenn to see if he was going to come and help us cook again the next November.  Glenn told me he was having some difficulties and the doctors had found some cancer and they were going to operate very soon.  Glenn didn't get to join us that November and grew increasingly weaker.  He died that next year. Skip and I cooked for the outfit again and we all said a prayer around the "kitchen" and even drank a toast to him.  He will be greatly missed.  I would like to close this post and end this blog topic with a poem I wrote and recited at his funeral. 

Ode to a Friend

It was many years ago when I first met Glenn

It was 1958 or maybe 9 and so our journey began.

Our friendship of twists and turns began that year

For Glenn it was onward and upward and never fear.

Just keep trudging forward and remember what’s of concern

This is sort of what he preached and expected “us”…his kids, to learn.

He was a giant of a man to a little eighth grade fart

It wasn’t ‘til later that I found out how big was his heart.

Way back then we were young and impressed

With everything our elders did and would express.

When the lessons in his classroom were done

It was gospel and never questioned by anyone.

As a student it would not have been for the best

To question his wisdom on things related to life’s test.

One eventually found the knowledge he would impart

Was to the point and never wrong, from the very start.

I followed his path in education through Industrial Arts

Many, many kids who like me were just little farts.

I embarked on teaching his lessons day in and day out

About common sense and things needed ‘round the house.

Take care of your brush and it will take care of you

Was a simple ditty but it could and would carry you through.

Glenn never stopped teaching and telling when you were wrong

It was just his way…you take it, or leave it, then move along.

It was a little stronger than just telling you something was wrong

He would like eat on a part of your anatomy ‘til it was gone.

Humor was a lot of what I remember about my friend, and thus

The times and stories he would relate were usually on us.

But one story that Billy (Foster) told about was on Glenn

‘Bout a mean Mexican bull he had cornered in a sheep pen.

The bull was puzzled and not sure what was going down

When Glenn got off the fence and down on the ground.

They both began pawing and making that snortin' sound

Seeing who was the bravest and  would stand their ground.

Glenn knew he could kill the bull and stop this fun

By pulling his 45 caliber six shooter gun.

Only one little thing wrong that Glenn didn’t know

Was Billy had removed his bullets before the “show.”

There was no danger to Glenn during this hoot

'Cause Billy was on the fence ready to shoot.

After a while Glenn stared the bull down and he left on the run

Glenn still not knowing he had no bullets in his gun.

It wasn’t till later Billy got Glenn to shoot at a can or a stick

So he drew his six shooter, pulled back the hammer and let it go with a click.

All hell broke loose and he called Billy everything…which

If you will think was something like you son of a ……… .

He had a very large heart and a large man he stood

Who would readily give you anything he could.

With his many quirks he was unique in his very own way

Something we knew but still learned more about every day.

As Andy once said he meant many things to many people each in a different way

I think this is why we come together on this special day.

To remember Glenn and the memories we all share

The man meant much to each of us is why we care.

Let us take our hats off and give a salute to our friend

Because his equal will never be among us again.

Wayne Calk

September 25, 2010

Glenn Rex Benson RIP