Day 4221: A Hug and the Hermit.

 

 

"Memories": junk mail collage

 

  

Want music?

 

    

Click : Charlie Puth, Attention.

 

  

 

 

2GN2S

Precious: Little Boy Stops Halfway To Second Base To Give His Friend A Hug

Many children are born competitive, but this kid seems to have a different set of priorities. At his baseball game, he had to stop to give his friend a quick hug at second base.

The official wasn’t totally sure what was going on, which only adds to the hilarity of this baseball hug.

He gave the kid a “safe,” but then realized he hadn’t hit the base. The kid delivered his hug and ran back to second base, and finally, the official could signal him truly safe.

This is the kind of clip that Mom is going to play at his wedding one day! Video, here.

Since a lot of you seem to like the family stories ...

 

 My Grandpa owned a farm in Indiana.

As long as I can remember, I heard stories about 

the hermit who had lived in Grandpa's woods.

It came up on the recent Indiana visit & I was enthralled, again. I remember my Mom mentioning being in his log cabin once. Her memory was of the thick layers of newspaper on the walls. I would be "all ears" whenever the subject came up. So in case you might share my interest, I'll share a bit.

 

"Boone County Hermit": old photograph, collage, color, and digital.

 

A legend of years past, the Boone County Hermit.

Warren Massey & his dog, 1922  (1867-1944)

As a child, it always fascinated me how a grown man could decide to live alone in the woods, it still does.

Born in a log cabin in 1867, outside of the town Lebanon, he was the son of Elizabeth & Hiram Massey.Known as "Hi", the father, a laborer, was said to have ..."looked too much on the wine when it is red." Warren also shared his father's attraction.

On a cold 1892 night, Warren & a friend hiked into Lebanon. Making the rounds of the town's saloons, 

the severely drunken pair then tried to walk home.

Freezing wind exposure caused both men to develop pneumonia. Warren's friend died, and after a risky, prolonged illness, Warren survived to vow, that "never again would he go near a place where liquor was sold."

Warren's cabin, 1940 Taken by Aunt Martha

He kept that vow for over 50 years. Given permission,  he lived in a 14 x 16' cabin in the 20 acre woods of my Grandpa's farm. Referencing a 25c, June 1975 copy of Boone magazine ... 

in an article by Ralph W. Stark, it is said that 

"Warren could neither read or write. He was said to have an innate intelligence, skills at cards, music & marksmanship."

Warren Massey, 1940 by Aunt Martha

 I usually think of a hermit as a loner, or anti-social. 

Evidently Warren was well liked. He lived simply.

His wants were few, his expenses minimal. He helped local farmers with their crops, had a garden, 

chickens, trapped & sold furs. He did odd jobs & traded goods. He bought groceries from the "huckster" who traveled the Ratsburg Road with staples, coffee, sugar, salt etc. for farms.

Warren Massey & dog, age 73, October 1940. in his cabin.

Late one evening, in 1942, in failing health, 

two friends drove Warren through Lebanon

to move in & live with a sister in Rockville , 

taking along his dog, fiddle & a few trinkets.

He insisted on night time & he ducked down 

so as not to see the town as they passed through.

He wasn't anti-social, he was anti-saloon. He died at age 77 in 1944. The aged cabin, weakened & in bad repair was burned.

 

Six degrees separation to a hermit?

 

 

 

 

  

 

A 4+ minute video, Caterpllars in pairs, here

 

  

Just because ...

 

 

Brassica rapa

Sunday's Smiles ...