Civil War Bummer’s youth was based on the tales, folklore and the oral history of one side of his family. Journals and diaries of the early days exist and relate mundane daily chores, marriages, politics, and death. The paternal side settled in what is now eastern Tennessee around 1790. Some of these folks moved to Missouri, others became comfortably wealthy in Sevier County. Where ever they called home, god, family, politics and patriotism were foremost in their thoughts. None of my father’s relations owned slaves, they did not believe in encumbering another human being, doing work, that should be done by themselves. Father said, “It just was not our way.”
Bummer eventually learned that the kin on the maternal branch of the family, settled in the 1700’s in Maryland, journeyed to Alabama and Mississippi. They may have owned slaves or maybe not. They fought for the Confederacy and lost all of their holdings and many of the men died during the Civil War and eventually migrated to the Indian Territory, by way of Texas. In the Territory the men married native women, for companionship or in order to receive Indian Land Allotments. Brothers, cousins and other blood relatives moved to the territory and married women with adjoining property. This matrimonial alliance led to large land holdings. The native American blood ran deep in Bummer’s mother’s family. But having Indian blood was not a heritage that one celebrated then, later or in the distant future. Many kin were shunned, could not attend any schools other than reservation Indian Institutions, churches were segregated and some could not vote or serve on juries. When this “old guy’s” mother moved to California, she was more than just an Okie immigrant, she and her brothers dare not speak of Indian ancestry.
So the stage is set for Bummer’s genesis into the world of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Family life for this young whelp was regulated by both working parents in a middle class neighborhood. Attending more Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s than any other celebration, events at the Jewish Community Center and entertaining at the Hebrew Home for the Aged were a mainstay in the formative years. The area of town was predominately Jewish, Catholic and me, the locals felt sorry for this heathen. Their was only one African-American youngster locally and his father was a professor at the college. Race relations or religious or political affiliations weren’t discussed openly and never with the children. We were just kids having fun, with not a care in the world. Of course Bummer’s parents never shared anything about Oklahoma or Indian ancestry. Dad spoke of farm, family, church and kin in Tennessee and Missouri, but mom never related anything regarding Oklahoma, other than “the times were tough.” Mom’s father, made bows and arrows, sling shots, taught us how to shoot and tooled us hand-made knives from old files. His penmanship was exquisite and his leather-work was incredible. Once when we were “working” in the basement, he told this young boy, that he had learned these talents at the reservation school in the Territory. What a thrill, to learn something, that no one had ever shared before. In addition, grandfather always kept a bottle of “medicine” hidden beneath the stairs, for his World War I wounds, he would share sparingly, with the young Bummer.
Where is this tale headed? All this memory of childhood has simmered over the last few days with the mass murder of the educators and children in Connecticut. What a mind blower! Then to top it all off, some of the folks on my favorite blogs seem to be living on a different planet, a world that has only been read about and seen in the media. It’s like history has passed them by, somehow they didn’t get the word. Bummer wonders if their parents or grandparents didn’t change with the rest of the country. It can’t be inbred, it has to be based in community and environment. Children are not born with this mindset, it has to be learned. The big question is; Where does it stop? Is it just a war of words? Do these folks just turn to dust, after passing their poison to their progeny? Probably, this “old student” won’t be around for the resolve of this continuing nightmare, but Bummer can always hope and pray. Don’t know if this cleansing did any good for you, but it did for the “old guy” and it’s just beginning.
Bummer
Bummer, I notice you’ve colorized your picture here. As to your point, I grew up in a family that had guns but were not gun nuts. My father used to hunt rabbits with his father and brother but neither he nor my brothers and I ever talked about going hunting. The guns were like keepsakes of my father’s childhood. I think a gun is like any other inanimate object: it is only good or bad based on the person controlling it. I owned a BB gun as a boy; I’ve shot pistols, rifles and shotguns but I have no great love for any of them. I think we’ve grown away from a hunting culture; what we need to do now is recover a respect for the damage they can do.That’s not much of a solution but I don’t see much sign it’s happening right now. Maybe the killing of a classroom full of 6-year-olds will do something but I doubt it.
Louis
Sorry for the delay in responding, have made two trips to the airport for family. Since the post regarded Bummer, you got a photo of the original. We were not gun nuts either, we hunted on occasion and always ate what we shot. All of Bummer’s children know and respect the use of firearms and am very pleased that they have matured, having that experience.The culture has changed, the sickos are still out there and this “old guy” is really glad he lives where he does.If you read my comment on Crossroads and Dead Confederates, you will understand exactly how important my family and their well being is to this “old bummer.” This tragedy is hard to fathom, Bummer would not be surprised if Gun Laws face a real challenge in the not to distant future. Always enjoy your comments.
Bummer