A HERO ROOSTER

WE ARE HAVING TURKEY FOR THANKSGIVING ALTHOUGH I PREFER CHICKEN. THIS MORNING I WASPERUSING READER’S DIGEST AND CAME ACROSS A REALLY SPECIAL STORY IN THE BEST PAL SECTION. ITSEEMS A FITTING STORY FOR THANKSGIVING.AN ERRANT ROOSTER FOUND ITS WAY INTO A SUBURBAN NEIGHBORHOOD IN NEPTUNE, NEW JERSEY.

“OSCAR” AS THE NEIGHBORHOOD CALLED HIM, WOULD VISIT FROM PORCH TO PORCH LOOKING FOR CORN, CEREAL, ANY KIND OF HANDOUT. AND THEN OSCAR WOULD SLEEP FOR THE NIGHT IN THE TREES. ONE YOUNG MAN, RICHARD, BECAME ENAMOURED WITH OSCAR AND OSCAR EASED RICHARD’SPTSD SYMPTOMS RESULTING FROM HIS MILITARY SERVICE. ONE DAY IT BECAME NECESSARY THATRICHARD BE ADMITTED INTO THE HOSPITAL. WHILE HE WASN’T AT HOME THE TOWNSHIP,

UNFORTUNATELY, TOOK OSCAR TO A NEARBY SHELTER. RICHARD WAS DEVASTED AND EVEN MORE SOWHEN THE SHELTER WANTED A HEFTY AMOUNT (NOT VERY NICE) TO RELEASE HIM. MONEY,APPARENTLY, RICHARD DID NOT HAVE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THAT VISIT, THE FAMILY HEARD THE FAMILIAR SOUND OF OSCAR’S PRESENCE. NO ONE CAME FORWARD, BUT A NEIGHBOR APPARENTLY(VERY KINDLY) ARRANGED FOR HIS RELEASE. “EVERY TIME I HEAR OSCAR CROW, I’M GRATEFUL THATRICHARD’S LIFE IS A BIT MORE LIVABLE THANKS TO OSCAR’ COMPANY.”

IF YOU LIKE TO READ, I RECOMMEND TWO HISTORICAL FICTION BOOKS WRITTEN BY THE KENTUCKIAN KIM MICHELE RICHARDSON, ABOUT THE WOMEN’S PACKHORSE LIBRARIAN PROJECT STARTED IN KENTUCKY BY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT IN THE 1930’S; THE BOOK WOMEN OF TROUBLESOME CREEK, AND REVIVED IN THE 1950’S, AS WRITTEN ABOUT IN, THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER. IT WAS A DANGEROUS HEARTFELT ENDEAVOR TO BRING THE WRITTEN WORD AND RELEVANT MAGAZINES AND NEWSPAPERS TO THE BACK WOODS PEOPLES IN THE HILLS OF KENTUCKY. THE WOMEN WHO RODE MULES OR HORSES ON ROUGH TERRAIN IN ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, OFTEN FACED IGNORANCE, PHYSICAL HARM, MISOGYNY, AND RACIAL PREDJUDICE (THE BLUES OF KENTUCKY.)

IN THE SEQUEL, THE BOOK WOMAN’S DAUGHTER, WHICH I READ THIS SUMMER, THERE IS (YOU GUESSED IT?) A HERO ROOSTER !

IF YOU BUNDLE UP IN THE COLD DON’T FORGET YOUR CANINE FAMILY WHO NEEDS PROTECTION TOO.

WE HAVE JUST WHAT THEY NEED.

PLEASE HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING WITH THE ONES MOST DEAR AND REMEMBER THOSE WHO AREAT WAR OR OTHERWISE UNABLE TO BE WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. PRAY FOR THOSE LESSFORTUNATE. IT IS CURRENTLY A STRUGGLE FOR SO MANY JUST TO BUY THIS THANKSGIVING DINNER.

AND PRAY THAT THIS TOPSY-TURVY WORLD RIGHTS ITSELF SOON!