The OFs and what they stand for
It is June and on the 6th of the month in 2017, one wouldn’t know it, because it has been cold. So cold that the Old Men of the Mountain appreciated the comfort of Kim’s West Wind Diner in Preston Hollow.
With all the rain and miserable weather so far, the OMOTM expected to see the creek directly in back of the diner really high, but it wasn’t. It was not as high as the last time the OFs (Old Friends) were at Kim’s when a couple of ducks were riding the current down the creek at a pretty good clip.
The OFs (Old Fuddy-duddies) had a conversation that was part history lesson and part directions on local geography. Some of the OFs (Old Fogies) have lived in the Hilltowns for many, many years and, as farmers, seemed to not stray very far from their Hilltowns.
As the conversation proceeded with the history of Preston Hollow, especially the stone store which is no longer there, the OFs (Old Farmers) began to mention landmarks which are still here. Some of the OFs (Old Folks) had no idea where these landmarks were, however, as mentioned above, these OFs have been in the area most of their lives and lived no more than 20 to 25 miles away. This is a recurring theme of the OMOTM and at the ages of most of the OFs is understandable. The OFs did not stray far from the farm.
New fun and old fun
The OFs talked about visiting shut-ins and other OFs who are in nursing homes. This is one advantage of participating in a social group of some sort. The OFs thought it does not have to be a big group — a small group from a church would suffice.
First though, the OFs said, you have to be associated with a group, like the OFs, a church, or the American Legion, Kiwanis, Elks, or their auxiliaries. The OFs mentioned weekly visits and playing cards or some type of board game with these shut-ins. This seems to be a recurring theme with the OMOTM; with the ages of most, it is understandable. Redundant, as the OFs are.
The OFs talked about the old time swimming holes in Fox, Schoharie, and Catskill creeks. The OFs could not remember if all of them were still there. Some of the OFs knew for sure some of these old swimming holes were gone. Three of the swimming holes on Fox creek have all been graded; now they are so shallow they are nothing but wading pools.
The OFs remembered jumping off the bridge that crosses Fox Creek at Drebitko Road, which goes to the Gas-Up. The OFs who took advantage of these swimming holes were mostly farmers and would find their way to the hole on a hot summer’s day covered with hay chaff and sweat. Those were good times, when farm kids worked hard and had simple fun. Most were poor and didn’t know it because everyone was in the same boat.
Wheeling and dealing
At the table this morning was the age-old system of bartering in full swing. Some was not bartering, but out-and-out selling this and that, to other OFs (and, of course, Old Farts) who wanted this and that.
This is downright dickering and it appears that friendships have nothing to do with these deals. This was strictly: “you have what I want and I will pay so much.”
On the other end was: “I have what you want and I will get all I can.”
Then there was the bartering going on and that was fun to watch also. This is the typical: “I have something you want and you have something I want.”
Then the, “let’s see if we can work the swap out fairly” begins. Sometimes the swap may be two for one, or at times this swapping will get down to haircuts. When this takes place these haircuts do not look bad.
B29 surprise
In the report of last week, this scribe reported on OFs in the military and some of their remembrances. This conversation, though not on-going, does come up quite frequently. We have also covered the OFs who have gone to Washington on the honor flights with a sponsor, and how impressed the OFs are with this trip.
This week we again report on one OF (Old Fellow) who was in the military and in the Air Force, and this is so current it happened a few days before this morning’s breakfast. This OF’s daughter and granddaughter spirited the OF away to Reading, Pennsylvania without telling anyone else in the family. This scribe conjectures it was because, if others knew, it would somehow be leaked and the surprise would not be a surprise.
The daughter and granddaughter had procured tickets for the OF to ride on FiFi, a famous restored B29 bomber. In the Air Force, this OF maintained the B29 bombers. The surprise worked and the OF had the opportunity to occupy the navigator’s seat and fly in this famous airplane. The OF who was the beneficiary of all this attention happens to be 90 and he is the oldest member of the Old Men of the Mountain. It is hard to surprise someone who has been around 90 years, but this OF was really surprised and excited.
The Old Men of the Mountain who arrived at Kim’s West Wind Diner in Preston Hollow and were happy to find it still there after driving through the fog and the rain, were; Bob Snyder, Karl Remmers, Roger Chapman, John Rossmann, George Washburn, Bill Lichliter, Robie Osterman, Harold Guest, Pete Whitbeck, Wayne Gaul, Ron Brown, Don Wood, Sonny Mercer, Ray Kennedy, Lou Schenck, Art Frament, Mace Porter, Gerry Irwin, Herb Bahrmann, Warren Willsey, Russ Pokorny, Ted Willsey and Bob Lassome with their good and dutiful chauffeur Denise Eardley, Gerry Chartier, Mike Willsey, Jess Vadney, Elwood Vanderbilt, Harold Grippen, and me.