Loose Parts by Dave Blazek for September 16, 2009

I think the retirement plan for the frontier was a dirt nap.

Pretty much!! You worked long hard hours to eek a living off of the land - but this made you stay in shape for many more years than we do now. Also, they were eating very natural foods without chemicals, preservatives, etc. and so had many less diet related health issues. By the time your body was too worn out to drive a plow, your children - whom you raised and taught all by yourself so they shared your values - would take care of you. Today, we’re all too busy working hare to chase pleasure and buy toys so we dump our aged parents into the retirement gulag and run off.

Typo: working hard to chase…

Wow! Really serious comments.

I just thought it was kind of funny, but now I’m beginning to see the real underlying message that was completely over my head. Thanks!

I think he may hear a discouraging word, especially if the skies are not cloudy all day

Question: Do the deer and the antelope play together, or is there one area marked “deer” and one marked “antelope”? How can they tell the difference?

Also, are skies totally cloud-free all day long? Or are they cloudy, but never for the whole day?

grover: I do take exception to the “skies are not cloudy all day”. While I have never actually been “home” on the range, I have been “on” the range many times, and I can speak from personal experience that yes, sometimes the skies ARE cloudy all day, regardless of what Brewster Higley might have said.

jtpozenel: While I hate to bring a discouraging word to these pages, you should be aware this is serious business, NOT a joking matter.

Wow… And all this time I thought it was just a COMIC strip. %-( I guess I have a lot to learn.

I’m guessing the song is about Sunny California with all the going west and all. The nice thing about this era is the average lifespan was 35!