High points from El Camino Real

Folks along El Camino Real are still listening to the rumble of debris trucks going up and down the highway with loads of trees and brush from the Saturday, April 13 tornadoes.
The number of blue tarps around town is going down as new roofs are getting put on many of the houses.
Things are getting better but we still have a ways to go.

I’ve got a ways to go this week, too, if I plan to get you your six bits’ worth of news, so I better get after it.
The Texas High School Rodeo Association held their State Championship in Abilene this past week and we’ve got something to brag about here in East Texas.
Kolt Dement of Rusk is our new Bareback Bronc State Champion.
He broke his hand pretty bad a year or so ago and had to come back from that and he still won it.

That is determination.
Reagan Davis of Alto is our new Pole Bending State Champion and she also won All Around Cowgirl.

I think she could have won most beautiful too, but they didn’t have a contest for that.
THSRA is divided into ten regions and Region 5 which encompasses our area of East Texas scored the most points to win the State Championship overall.
You always think of cowboys and cowgirls riding the plains of West Texas, but this proves that our kids from the Piney Woods can hold their own with the best of them.
A big congratulations goes out to Kolt and Reagan for making us proud once again.

They will be traveling to Wyoming in a few weeks to compete in the National High School Rodeo.
Two great young people.
Father’s Day in Alto didn’t seem to be as confusing as usual, ever since somebody came up with the idea of drawing names for who they would give a gift to.
With Father’s Day, Juneteenth and too many family reunions to count going on around town, hickory and pecan wood smoke was belching out of barbecue pits filling the air with the smell of good cooking on every corner.
Nobody is having any problem finding wood to cook with in Alto ever since the tornadoes hit.
A good barbecue pit is worth its weight in gold and a fellow that is known for cooking good barbecue stands just a little taller than other folks when the pit is fired up.
Father’s Day should not only be a day for children to honor their fathers, but it should also be a time when fathers think about what an awesome responsibility the title of “Daddy” holds. When the title is bestowed upon you no matter how old or how young you are it still bears the same responsibility.
If you bring a life into this world it is up to you to do your part in nurturing and teaching that child so they can grow into a productive and well adjusted adult.
Having one of my boys hop into bed in the middle of the night because they were scared or to have one come sit in my chair beside me and watch TV, even though there are plenty of other places to sit, gave me a feeling that was indescribable to anyone except a parent.
My boys aren’t little anymore, but I cherish all those memories of their childhood.
No matter how busy you are with your life or your work you better take time to enjoy your kids, because before you know it they will be grown and those missed hugs and kisses can never be retrieved.

I hope all you fathers had a great Father’s Day on Sunday. I certainly had a nice one.
Being a father is the most important job a man can have. It’s a job you worry about doing right all day and then you carry it to bed at night.
It is a job that takes over your life and yet you know you will never get a promotion no matter how hard you work at it until you become a grandfather. Your job performance will not be measured until your children are grown and you see the values and ethics you worked hard to instill in them come alive.

I guess I’ve said enough for this issue. With so many folks out of town on vacation, I’m probably going to have trouble coming up with news every week.
If something worth telling is happening in your life, then be sure and give me a call.
I’ll see ya next week!
And remember, Opportunities, like eggs, come one at a time!