Through An 'Old Timer's' Eyes
By Howard 'Mac' McDonald

Opening day of trout season saw a lot of fishermen in the area. You know old fishermen never die, they just smell that way.

I like to fish and right now I am fishing for write-in votes for President. You never know.

Old-timers reminisce a lot and today was one of those days for me. I was thinking about my childhood back in the 1930s. Times were hard and money was short, just like today.

History seems to be repeating itself but, unlike the 1930s, we don't have anyone to rescue the country. Big business runs our nation and they have us where they want us.

The Democrats have run the Republicans right out of the news with this presidential race. Even though some people say gender and race don't make any difference, there is always that undercurrent.

I have recently been accused of being too liberal. If wanting to end the war, bring our troops home and stop wasting $300 billion a week is being liberal, then I am guilty.

Then again, I don't like welfare. I think if people who work have to take a urine test, then the ones on welfare should, too. They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease and the freeloaders must really squeak because they get the money. Those who are unable to work should receive help, but not the able-bodied. Welfare is one liberal program I don't support.

Being accused of being a liberal made me curious, so I looked up the word in the dictionary. There were several definitions, but the one I think fits me is: "Of or befitting a man of free birth in a generous and open-handed way."

I also looked up conservative and found several definitions of that, too. After suffering through eight years of the conservative way in our government today, I know I don't want to be one. My personal definition of a conservative is a person who wants to conserve his money and spend yours.

There is a congresswoman from Florida who has complained about the naming of hurricanes. She said they should be using more African American names and, if they had, more people would have left New Orleans. What are people going to gripe about next?

The Salt Run Fishing Derby was a big success. Harry Mansfield and I cooked more than 120 hamburgers and about the same amount of hot dogs. Sonny Abriatis and Doc Joe Blackburn worked the serving window.

Everything was free to the kids. Adults were asked for a donation. The money went to the Scouts. Pop, hot coffee and hot chocolate were also provided. The food, drinks and fish were all donated by a local gentleman who does not want his name used.

Emporium Water Company crew did the pre-cleaning and setup. Weather was a little windy, but we got through the day without rain. I know the kids had a good time. There was one young girl who may have had a bellyache later that night, as she ate five hamburgers, four hot dogs and drank several cans of pop. I'll bet when she grows up she will be an expensive date.