Dog Days of August

It may be the “Dog Days” of August but I think dogs might be enjoying August this year. Timely rains and cooler than normal temperatures have made Oklahoma a more comfortable and greener place this year. I was driving to Tulsa last week and was amazed at the thickness of the grass in the pastures and the heaviness of the trees. It was a beautiful picture but one has to wonder what happens this coming winter when the frosts kill this abundant grass and undergrowth and it all gets afire. For sure we’ll all have to be more careful with cigarettes and fire in general.

One thing I’ve had to drive more for this summer has been Allen softball. This great sport has really caught on in recent years and I’ve been surprised by its popularity. New ball diamonds have sprouted up across America and of course, one south of Allen on SH-48. Our new softball field has really received a lot of attention from Allen Schools and its softball patrons. It’s a beautiful field. And the team? Well, if you enjoy watching some pretty high school girls play softball like it should be played, wait no longer. It’s a here and now sport.

Our ladies made the trip to Tupelo to hook up in their big annual tournament and they pretty well cleaned house in Tupelo. Following Friday nights big games, a rain storm arrived and flooded the fields, so the games had to be moved to Tushka. Our first game the next day was with the powerful team from Tushka itself. Allen beat this powerful team and then pounded Rattan leaving only Stonewall and Allen in the Tourney. The fans from Stonewall and Allen forgot all about the heat up in the mid-90’s and our ladies dismembered the ranked Longhorns with a score nearly as excessive as the heat. The teams in the tournament were all ranked in the top 10 rated softball teams in Oklahoma.

Lots of games left. The season is yet young. And while the crowds have been good, you too should come out and support these kids. They really appreciate it.

School actually started last week. The Baptist Church hosted the returning teachers and employees last Wednesday to a great meal at high-noon. I tried to get a count and I think there were more than 65 present. The church is honored to host this fun event every year and it’s always good to get acquainted with our new teachers as well as our veteran teachers. It’s still important for you as parents to cooperate with these professional teachers in molding and teaching these important people -- our kids and grandkids. And my thanks go out to our teachers for what they do. No comment on Bro. Chad’s jokes.

I am sometimes asked why I haven’t written more about my beloved “Cemetery Class.” Well, this past Sunday we had 12 of these old boys attending. Our recent lessons have been taken from Samuel and concern a guy named King David. This interesting Bible character drew quite a bit of attention from the class-members. The King did a lot of things we didn’t approve of, yet it was revealed that he was a “man after God’s own heart.” It was an interesting concept that received many comments and after next Sunday we will move on to a book called Galatians over in the New Testament. Sadly, Donny Johnson has held back on jokes lately so I don’t have any of them to share with you either.

The building site at our new gym looks good. School supporters are excited about having a new state of the art gym and also some new classrooms for our little ones. Remember, there are more kids up there than there used to be so that means more of them for us to watch out for as we drive. Be careful and follow the laws about passing school buses.

Have a good weekend and be sure and take your kiddos to church this Sunday. Our churches in Allen are glad to be part of yours and their lives too.

Wayne Bullard, DPh

waynebullard@sbcglobal.net