It’s next to impossible for a writer to not bring the current pandemic into his or her writing now’a days, and Slim Randles is right there with the rest of us. It’s been fun seeing the pandemic through the eyes of the guys at the Mule Barn Truck stop, especially from good ol’ Windy.
Before I turn the blog over to Slim & the guys, I want to take a second to mention a terrific contest where you could win mystery and suspense novels. Then check out all the .99 deals, including my police-procedural, OPEN SEASON. Lots of great economical reading to finish out the summer.
Now, here’s Slim. Grab a cookie and enjoy…
“Ain’t the same, is it?” asked Windy. He sipped some more coffee.
“Know what you mean,” said Doc. “Doesn’t seem right, somehow.”
“Guess we got to, howsomever.”
“Afraid so.” Doc sipped some coffee too. “But you know, there isn’t a Fourth of July parade that’s worth your life.”
To be honest, the elder folks in our community prolonged the Fourth of July plans until the last minute. I think it’s a sign of our great trust in science, scientists, and our doctors that made us wait so long before shelving the parade this year.
But if you look at it from another angle, it actually brings some more depth to our celebration of our nation’s birthday. At least, that’s Doc’s thinking on it.
This virus, he thought, changed the way all of us live … at least for now. We’ve had to add words and phrases to our vocabulary. Like “social distancing.” That phrase is almost a joke, as there isn’t much social going on if you’re distancing.
“Whaddya think, Doc?” Windy said. “Will it still be the Fourth of July?”
“Sure thing, Windy,” Doc said. “After all, this stupid virus has put everyone in the country … maybe even in the world … in the same boat. It’s like each of us has an oar and needs to help get us down the river. And before very long you and I won’t have to have this conversation over the phone.”
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Check out all of Slim’s award-winning books at his Goodreads Page and in better bookstores and bunkhouses throughout the free world.
All of the posts here are from his syndicated column, Home Country that is read in hundreds of newspapers across the country. I am always happy to have him share his wit and wisdom here.
Slim Randles is a veteran newspaperman, hunting guide, cowboy and dog musher. He was a feature writer and columnist for The Anchorage Daily News for 10 years and guided hunters in the Alaska Range and the Talkeetna Mountains. A resident of New Mexico now for more than 30 years, Randles is the prize-winning author of over a dozen books. He’s also the host of two podcasts and a television program.
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