June 30, 2020
Growing Up In Bandera
By Glenn Clark
The Bandera Prophet
Holding onto old ideas and habits will probably be my downfall. Sure, everyone loves to talk about the old ways and how much they miss them but in reality they appear to be worth nothing more than fond memories. Having great-grandkids now makes me wonder what use they could get out of some of my teachings.
Early in life I learned how to make a shoeshine box and how to use it along with all that polish and boot wax. What good is that now that most everyone wears tennies? The modern boot styles are a far cry from what Stevie Mazurek and I encountered back in the day around the Purple Cow, Silver Dollar and The Cabaret while hawking our shoeshine services without obtaining so much as a peddlers permit. Python? Ostrich? What the heck would I use on those? Black, brown or neutral polish? All useless knowledge to be passed on to the youngsters.
I could instruct them on how to repair a flat on their bicycle tire with only a pair of slip-joint pliers and a small tube repair kit. I doubt the repair kits are even readily available any longer. The Western Auto Store where I bought my tire repair needs disappeared many moons ago here in Bandera. Come to think of it, so have the all gravel streets and dusty trails we traveled which caused our bicycle flat problems. Few modern kids will ever know the trauma we endured due to the goathead burrs from hell which we encountered at every turn. More useless information.
Hand digging postholes and stretching fence wire are other examples of my early life acquired skills. The modern day equipment and techniques have made my knowledge almost obsolete in that department. I would bet my friends Richard and George Kinsey still remember those lessons we learned working for my Granddaddy Clark as we built many miles of fence in this area. More useless info to be passed on to others?
I have to be careful what I pass on to my family's newest members. My granddaughter has laid down the law when it comes to teaching Brody, my first great-grandson, some of the things I was taught at an early age. No pulling Pawpaw's finger!!!
As I go about Growing Up In Bandera these days I try to focus on the Golden Rule when dealing with everyone and not just the young folks. I was good at learning to do things the hard way so I try to lead by example now. Stay true to the person you see in the mirror every morning. Now that's some good useful information!
#236 2020
Early in life I learned how to make a shoeshine box and how to use it along with all that polish and boot wax. What good is that now that most everyone wears tennies? The modern boot styles are a far cry from what Stevie Mazurek and I encountered back in the day around the Purple Cow, Silver Dollar and The Cabaret while hawking our shoeshine services without obtaining so much as a peddlers permit. Python? Ostrich? What the heck would I use on those? Black, brown or neutral polish? All useless knowledge to be passed on to the youngsters.
I could instruct them on how to repair a flat on their bicycle tire with only a pair of slip-joint pliers and a small tube repair kit. I doubt the repair kits are even readily available any longer. The Western Auto Store where I bought my tire repair needs disappeared many moons ago here in Bandera. Come to think of it, so have the all gravel streets and dusty trails we traveled which caused our bicycle flat problems. Few modern kids will ever know the trauma we endured due to the goathead burrs from hell which we encountered at every turn. More useless information.
Hand digging postholes and stretching fence wire are other examples of my early life acquired skills. The modern day equipment and techniques have made my knowledge almost obsolete in that department. I would bet my friends Richard and George Kinsey still remember those lessons we learned working for my Granddaddy Clark as we built many miles of fence in this area. More useless info to be passed on to others?
I have to be careful what I pass on to my family's newest members. My granddaughter has laid down the law when it comes to teaching Brody, my first great-grandson, some of the things I was taught at an early age. No pulling Pawpaw's finger!!!
As I go about Growing Up In Bandera these days I try to focus on the Golden Rule when dealing with everyone and not just the young folks. I was good at learning to do things the hard way so I try to lead by example now. Stay true to the person you see in the mirror every morning. Now that's some good useful information!
#236 2020