SO LUCKY TO BE AMERICAN

SO LUCKY TO BE AMERICAN

by: Baxter Black
DVM

I am writing this column on my veranda. The heat of the day is dissipating. Shadows are growing longer in the canyon to the south. The bottoms of the clouds are turning pink and the mountains to the east of the valley are glowing purple. Cindy is bustling in the kitchen. I think I smell Teriyaki sauce. My 12-year old is being mauled by 5 little cow dog puppies. The horses are fed. The cows are fat. The quail are chuckling and dusk is waiting in the wings.
As I take a sip of my icy beverage and relax I remind myself of my New Year's resolution; to stop once a day and remind myself that this is as good as it gets. But as that thought sinks in, I become fully aware of how many have given so much so I could be right here. “Right here” for me is to be an American.

Lucky enough to be born in a country where I am free to worship God, free to better myself as best I'm able. Lucky enough to born in a time when the knowledge of human kind is expanding exponentially, in medicine, physics, transportation, chemistry, extending and improving all our lives.

Lucky to be born while prejudices are fading, poverty is constantly having to be redefined, and America's light continues to shine as a ray of hope for the less fortunate worldwide. But the reality of the debt I owe comes home to roost every day in the papers when I read the names of those soldiers killed in the war on terror.

Every one of them is directly responsible for the freedom I enjoy. They are each one part of a long line of Americans from all walks of life; soldiers, civilians, policemen, firemen, CIA, research scientists, inventors, ministers, teachers, legislators and parents who have sacrificed, toiled, sweated and believed in what America stands for and put their money where their mouth is. Whether it's carrying a gun, a stethoscope or flowers to the nursing home.

I owe George Washington, Bill Gates, Grandpa Tommy, Lewis & Clark, Cochise, Federico Peña, Thomas Edison, Uncle Paul, Madeline Albright, Donald Rumsfeld and Pastor Blair.

Two hundred and twenty-some odd years ago a group of citizens as different as Jefferson and Adams or Bush and Gore, conspired to declare our independence and invent a country.

They did just that, like none other on Earth. And that I got so lucky to be blessed to be born here is a miracle I do not take for granted.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

Emma Kincade's auction tomorrow....

Some of you may remember the lady who helped Grandpa Shaklee when he managed Vincent Chevolet in Stillwater??? Anyway, her name was Emma Kincade in those days.. then she married Petty. They lived south on Western Street about a half mile south of 28th street on West side. They had horses, etc. Andy Kincade is their son. Perrin died some years back and Jake took feed to her for several years, till we quit.

Here is a link to the auction she is having tomorrow afternoon... saw the coach and thought of Phil and his horse Dan....

just wanted you to know.. a bit of history is in the making mode. End of an era...

This weekend...

Don't have a lot planned... have to go to Sooner Lake and east a bit on highway 15 to take pics of the auction there this morning. Then, work them this afternoon. I think we might keep Andrew and Madison tonight for Paul and Heather. They have baseball practice this evening.... and then tomorrow..


was wondering if anyone would want to meet us in OKC at either the Zoo or the Cowboy Hall of Fame at 9am, go through it, and then to the County Line for lunch and then home.... not a long deal, but something different... guess we could change that to the Kirkpatrick Planterium too if that was a better choice. Jake and Ann want to go to the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa sometime too ... so might have to plan that another time.. ahah..

If you are up to tomorrow and want to .. thats cool, and if not.. that's ok too... we could all use a day of rest....

oh .. i guess we could also meet at Jon and Randi's too....???? hahaha.... surprise them???? hehehehe.......

later all.. have a great day...

From Uncle Ivan... how cool

Stop telling God how big your storm is.
Instead tell your storm how big your GOD is!
In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia. Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination. Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible..

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dreams to come true. She took her son's hand and asked, "Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?" Mommy, "I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up." Mom smiled back and said, "Let's see if we can make your wish come true."

Later that day she went to her local fire department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix. She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her six-year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine. Fireman Bob said, "Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on ll the fire calls, the whole nine yards! And if you'll give us! his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat-not a toy one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots. They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast."

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his fire uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck. Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven. There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls. He rode in the different fire engines, the paramedic's van, and even the fire chief's car. He was also videotaped for the local news program. Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital. Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, "We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor? When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire? It's just the fire department coming to see one of its finest members one more time.

And will you open the window to his room? About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window 16 firefighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room.

With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they loved him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, "Chief, am I really a fireman now?"

"Billy, you are, and the Head Chief, Jesus, is holding your hand," the chief said. With those words, Billy smiled and said, "I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.." He closed his eyes one last time.

Paul and Heather's Softball Schedule for this summer....  

Austyn stopped by after all the excitement and brought us his team baseball photo and his trading card... how cool!! This will be worth a whole lot someday...!!! 

Austyn's baseball card back..... 

Welp... we looked at the TV about 6:26pm and there on the TV screen was the two grandsons playing in Austyn's pool on July 4th eve! How cool!!! Even though they could not spell correctly Austyn... I really truly did!!  

Madison and Marvin....

More photos .. this is Marvin and Zoe ... and Madison... too... playing and messing around. Enjoy!

Second 4th of July get together with Mike Shaklee... and Phil's photos of Stillwater...

Here are some photos of the second 4th of July with Mike Shaklee and with Phil's photos of the 4th of July in Stillwater at Boomer Lake. Enjoy..

TONIGHT.... 6PM NEWSCAST ON CHANNEL 9 ...... GARY ENGLAND'S HOTSHOTS WILL BE....

GARY ENGLAND'S HOT SHOTS PHOTO WILL BE AUSTYN LEE AND ANDREW PAUL PLAYING IN THE BACK YARD SWIMMING POOL AT PHIL'S ON JULY 3RD.... AT 6PM!! ONLY BE ON ONCE... SO WATCH.. HAHA... NOT LIKE MOON PHOTOS THAT WERE SHOWED ALL DAY...

ENJOY THE NIGHT.. DAD

Austyn Lee Playing last night with Zoe..

Austyn decided to have his folks drop him by our home on their way to town last night.. so we got to see Austyn.. and watch him play with Zoe... man did they have fun, I am not sure who was the most tired, but I got tired watching them play... haha.... enjoy

Fair Book out

Payne County Free Fair schedule and book was published yesterday and comes with the Stillwater Newspress for Wednesday, July 6th.

Welcome - Our Moffat Family Blog

Here are some pics of Madison Ann at Grandma Moffat's this am. They are really getting along well. I have lots more pics to get online..but got to have some time...haha...

Phil has some neat family pics online.. new ones.. check them out.

And Randi.. what's the deal,huh?????

heather... red dirt needs some spurcing up....updating..haha...

Love to all.. have a great day...

Another great family get together.... or two...

Oh, my what a great weekend... again....

Started out at Phil's with homemade Ice Cream, and super meat smoked by Phil, and garden vegs... and lots of neat things added in... and the grandkids and fireworks.. and lovely flowers.... and baby birds, and boys in the pool, and Great grandma with posion ivy... holding Madison... Heather pooped...

and then again on Monday night, but we added in Mike Shaklee, Ann's bro from Helena.. came down and spent the night with us.
Lots more great food and the kids came over and he got to see almost all the family, and his great niece and great nephews....... and today Mike checked out ebay... and a car auction coming up in Stillwater... Phil took the camera to the fireworks last night in Stillwater... bet we will have some great pics before long...

Out of the hay for a bit, besides the fact it rained two nights in a row.. the John Deere has the radiator out for repair and baler is at John Deere in Stillwater being fixed so we can be ready to go when it dries up...

Enjoy the night.. oh yes.. Jon, Randi, and Kaitlyn.. we missed you both times... maybe later.. huh??? an update there would be nice.. haha...

love all, Dad

Great Grandma Moffat was stung by a hornet about 3pm this afternoon and went to the er this evening.. got med.... but is home really swollen up she said. It bit her on the chest.. and she said it swelled really fast and even was festering up about 6pm...

llllllllaaaaaattttttteeeeeerrrrrrrr........

From Phil...

Phil sent along this link to some cool space photos... really cool! Thanks Phillip, and thanks again for having the family over for fireworks and some GREAT FOOD!!!

New photos up on Philmo's Phamily....

Wanted everyone to know that there are new photos on Philmo's Phamily's blog... cool ones from the zoo.....

Happy 4th of July everyone...

A neat link for the fourth of July...

Link one.. Shoot off fireworks over Lady Liberty!

Speaking of Jon and Randi and Kaitlyn....

They were missed.... and we went to their blog.. and still no update since JUNE 26th... Hey Randi... you are in charge right?????? What's the deal... haha...


and Heather.. JUNE 11TH........ MY GOODNESS.... you guys alive over in Ingalls??? Do you have electricity in Ingalls? I mean come on guys... you get on me.. ...... hahahahahahahah......

Phil even updated his, FINALLY....... Now if we could get JON and HEATHER to update.... if they are still around, maybe they ran off ..... ??? Anyone seen them...... haqhaha...

later.. just had some spare time...

love... DAD

4th of July at Phillips this year.... Thanks for having us...

Here is the link to the Family 4th of July at Phillip, Tammy and Austyn's this 05 year. A great time was had by all.. super food, wonderful time, kids had fun and got along... the little flying insects only bothered me.... fireworks were cool... All in all, an very nice holiday fest. And yes... Jon, Randi, and Kaitlyn were missed bunches......