Posted by
mike casper on Wednesday, July 05, 2006 8:20:43 PM
One of the things a small town farm kid could always depend on was that Roy Rogers, Gene Autry and Hopalong Cassidy were quick with their six shooters. Saturday 12 cent double features meant reinforcement of all that was good in America. The good guys always won, the popcorn was never stale and Ju Ju's never pulled your fillings out. When we thought of growing up we didn't spend much time dreaming about stinky cow barns and running the old Alice Chalmers up and down the endless rows of corn. Instead we saw ourselves a horseback, riding those"happy trails." Maybe even saw a girl or two that needed saving from outlaws. Too soon those warm and safe days of youth gave way to all the craziness of trying to make sense out of a changing world...Not too long ago a new quick shooting hombre came riding up and man was he fast. Sixgun smoke gave way to that from $50 Macanudos and while he probably wouldn't look too comfortable on a fast horse he sounded great through a golden mike. For the better part of several decades Rush has ridden with me and all my old pards up and down the dusty trails and at times we've laughed so hard we couldn't see the path for tears. Rush has always been a lightning rod. He's attracted all the bile a liberal establishment could spew on a winner who didn't need them for anything but giggles. At times it's gotten worse and here lately the outlaws are running their ponies full tilt at Rush's homeplace in Florida. Roy and Hoppy always finished off the bad guys in the last reel. Rush has yet to film that last reel but when he does, man watch out! Me and my pards will be there, will you?