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| With only two hours
notice I had to prepare for a trip with my friend Jim to the western
part of Tennessee. I was very pleased because BetsyLoo
could join us on the trip. Jim is rather fastidious about his little
Miata so I was quite astonished that he said yes. Once we left the big
highway and turned onto a byroad there were no billboards or fast food
places. It was lovely to see. Reminded me a wee bit of Africa. To see
these glimpses of old America is like finding a coin on the beach. |
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We were guests in the
gracious and spacious home of an American gentleman who had moved to the
neighborhood when he was twelve years old. It was there that he told us
the tale of Beauford Pusser, a very famous sheriff of that county. As I
listened I realized that this was the true gold of the American soul. A
maverick, a pioneer, a true cowboy and as stubborn as a mule. This man
had been shot at numerous times, stabbed, his wife shot and killed and
his family terrorized. He walked tall and would not be intimidated. He
fought against gamblers and moonshiners and could not be bribed. From
what I gather, he was no angel himself but his heart was most certainly
in the right place. Three movies were
made of his life. He is now dead - killed in a car accident after
a night of merrymaking. |
| His daughter still
lives in the area, works unbelievably hard and runs a restaurant.
Apparently, she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She sounds
like quite a character herself - a bit of a chip off the old block
and I intend to meet her on my next visit. |
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