I love this time of the year!

Autumn arrived last week. The autumnal equinox occurred and once again we’re entering into the best time of the year to live in Neosho. I’ve got my favorite trees staked out. So far no changes on the Maples in front of the First Christian Church where members of the congregation are doing what
they do each fall, churning out impressive numbers of apple pies.

Fall sports are in full swing. It’s warm enough to enjoy the start of the game in shirt-sleeves and just perfectly suited to carrying along a light jacket.

Craft shows and festivals are in every surrounding community. The best thing about craft shows, in my opinion, is that they always have kettle corn. I’m not crafty nor do I have any more room in my house for more stuff, but I love going and looking, admiring the ability of others to create something beautiful, useful or both.

Wisely or in another serious act of self-loathing I have once again embarked on a serious round of dieting. What was I thinking? It’s the wrong time of the year to start that! I’m all about the pumpkin shakes, the pumpkin pie and more importantly the pumpkin donuts at the Donut House. It’s obviously a culinary oversight that pumpkin flavor isn’t enjoyed year-round, after all bacon is trendy and found in everything from desserts to drinks. Pumpkin is just as worthy. So I consider it self-preservation that I’m committed to saying no to all things pumpkin along with the funnel cakes and caramel apples.

I asked my photographer friend Julie and she agrees that the outside light looks better in September. The grass and trees sparkle. The blue of the sky is bluer. Vibrancy outside now hints at the changing leaf colors around the corner.A lot of folks like to live in climates where it’s perpetually spring or early summer. Not me. I’ll take the gamble of a snow-filled winter and a scorching summer for the brief autumn splendor that’s found here at home.

Nourishment!

We have a column routine at our house.  As soon as Big Al gets a chance to read the Wednesday paper, he’ll say something along the lines of “Good column Oprah.” (Oprah being the name Sister has called me for the last 18 years.)

A couple of weeks ago we had a deviation from our established column affirmation.  The Big Guy finished the paper, folded it in his lap and stated “Well, that was a good column, except you left something out.”

My stomach did a flip.  What word did I omit? What glaring proof-reading error was there to somehow correct?  Wide-eyed, I leaned forward and shrugged urging him to spit it out.

“You didn’t give Coach Stuart credit for the ‘Great day to be a Wildcat!’ saying,” he said.

“That’s ridiculous,” I shot back.  “Everybody knows that’s a Coach Stuartism!”

Alan went on to remind me how many new people we had in the community and how I had even written about the influx.  Surely not everyone who might happen across the column would know to give credit where it was due.

The twins had been listening to the exchange and were soon right in the middle of the conversation sharing their most treasured Coach Stuart sayings.  Coach Stuart is often quoted, never boring and envied by many for his enthusiasm and super-human metabolism.

“The math gods are crying” or conversely “the math gods are smiling” are two sayings Coach Stuart has shared with class after class of Neosho High School students.  Sticking with the numeric theme, reminding the class that “One is the loneliest number” has also stuck with Sister and the twins.

Food seems to be high on the Coach Stuart hit-parade.  Whenever it’s time for lunch he has been known to flash the peace sign and sing out “Nourishment!”  Every student who has ever crossed his path knows that Coach regards Dr. Pepper as the “nectar of life.”

The hardest part about trying to write a column regarding Coach Stuart is writing the words without conveying the delivery.  He always marries his sayings with his voice and smile.  They are a constant triptych of attention grabbing information.  I’m confident we could solve the problem of boredom within the confines of any subject matter if we had Coach Stuart offering the lecture.

On a purely personal note, Coach Stuart and I have shared a college rivalry for many years.  Both being graduates of the former “Big 8” schools; we enjoy good natured ribbing and trash talk anytime Kansas State meets up against Oklahoma State on the football field or basketball court.

I’m sure if you asked Coach Stuart he would tell you that every day is a great day to be a Wildcat!  He would say it with a smile and mean it.  Maybe there’s an idea there for the next Welcome to Neosho billboard!

Grotto Fine Arts Gallery

I’m an unabashed lover of Neosho.  I adore it when there are lots of things going on; folks running around the square, restaurant parking lots full, and the ball fields filled with kids. 

Maybe it’s partly the excitement of another school year.  I’ve always enjoyed fall. When younger, I looked forward to the beginning of a new schedule of classes and seeing friends again every day.  Although I enjoy the laid-back pace of summer, this year I’m not sad to see it winding down.  Goodbye blistering temperatures. 

The Wildcat Pride event was once again enjoyable and representative of what a good group of student athletes we have here in Neosho.  The faculty and staff of the school, the various business sponsors, the parents and community fans, made it “a great day to be a Wildcat.”  It’s a great sight to drive past the school and see the stands filled and the parking lot brimming with tents and crowds of people.

As a side note: I also love to drive past the high school campus during speech and debate competitions as well as theatre or musical performances and note the large crowds and groups of excited students.

Another recent Neosho “event” I hope you were able to participate in was the Grotto Fine Arts Gallery’s Finest Potters and Top Musicians Open House this past Saturday.  Big Al and I thought we would just pop in for a few minutes to take a quick look around.  Two hours later we’re enjoying the live music and visiting with friends when we  remember we have other obligations and to work hard to tear ourselves away.

April Davis and the many artists that have filled the Grotto are truly captivating.  You just can’t rush through the rooms.  Numerous local artists are represented, and if I wasn’t deathly frightened of leaving someone off I would try to start naming names.  Trust me on this one; make the time to visit the Grotto and view the art.  You’re going to fall in love with some work, or maybe several pieces.

What I strongly noticed during the Grotto’s event was how many folks were there that are not from Neosho.  Chatting with several they mentioned how much they loved the space, really enjoyed visiting Neosho and were planning on staying in town for dinner.  As far as we could tell, there were a lot of people in attendance just like the Big Guy and myself.  They were individuals with a full-plate of weekend responsibilities, rushing in to support the Gallery, then being awestruck once they got inside; striking up conversations, munching on insanely good snacks and generally reclaiming their weekend.

As a community, we’ve got so much to offer.  Every day is a great day to be a Wildcat on the field or in the gallery.