Slim Randles' Home Country
More Than One Way to Pump Up Local Business
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[February 16, 2008]
Delbert McLain popped in at the Mule Barn the other day
for coffee. He's our local chamber of commerce. Delbert's job, so we
gather, is to invite huge industries to set up here, give all of us
jobs and turn the place into someplace we won't really like. |
Fortunately, he's not very good at it, but we admire his trying so
hard.He and the guys at the funeral parlor are just about the
only people who wear neckties in the valley. They buy them in the
city.
"You look... celebratory," Herb said.
"Thank you, Herbert," Delbert said. "It's this new idea I have.
You know how that town in Pennsylvania has that Groundhog Day, where
they pull some big rat out of a hole to see if he sees his shadow?"
We did.
"Well, I don't know why we can't do it here."
"No groundhogs here."
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"Prairie dogs."
Steve was looking pensive, which is hard on an old cowboy.
"Del, you really think a prairie dog cares if he can see his own
shadow?"
"Why does a prairie dog stick his head out of a hole?" Del said.
"To look for snakes. I figure we can call him Pete the Prairie Dog
and have National Prairie Dog Day, and each February we can goose ol'
Pete with a cattle prod or something to make him jump out of his
hole and look for snakes."
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"And if he doesn't see one?" said Doc.
"Well, then we'll have good fishing this coming summer."
We looked confused.
"See," Delbert said, "we can promote our local fishing and our
local prairie dogs at the same time."
Herb looked up. "Del, we don't get snakes out around here until
May, so ol' Pete is never gonna see one."
"Ta-DA!" Delbert said, spreading his arms in triumph. "Which
means... what?"
"That there's always going to be good fishing here in the
summer?" Doc said.
"Your honor, I rest my case!"
Steve raised his cup. "Here's to Pete the Prairie Dog!"
[Text from file received from Slim Randles]
Brought to you by "Sun Dog Days," at
www.slimrandles.com, soon to be a minor motion picture.
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