The card read "Old Time Tent Revival." I have been humming "Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show" (Neil Diamond) all week. My mind conjured up visions of snake handlers and live chicken sacrifices. Then I saw where it is being put on by the Bible Baptist Church of Alva. Scrap the visions of dancing in the aisles.

Being Baptists, I may find food or drink, but what I really think I will find at 6:30 every evening is five nights (Sept. 25–29) of good gospel singing, and a good time learning about the Lord. It is being held where I used to have a shop, 127 E. Oklahoma Blvd. Pack up the babies, grab the old ladies, and everyone go, 'cause everyone knows, it's Randy Brown’s traveling salvation show.

I made it to the Big Cruise and Car Show. Through mass confusion we didn't get the spot across from the old pool hall. Jack had a spot at the far west end with his convertible, in the shade. We got lots of visitors and lookers, so it wasn't too bad. I didn't walk the show, but I did see several cars I hadn't seen before. Thanks to the sponsors, R.A.C.E. and everyone who made this another great Alva event. There were two cool vehicles that I don't think made it to the car show.

When I was a young lad, a guy named Louie Kraus asked me who should be president, and I said Goldwater, not because I knew anything about politics, but because I thought it was a cool name. Louie told me I better not let my dad hear that, or he would whip me. Goldwater was a Republican, and there were lots of Democrats in the pool hall. Doc (Ray Doctor), the owner, called me Goldwater for the rest of our lives together.

The Kraus family lived in the 600 block of Santa Fe in the '50s, and the family still owns the house. Mike, his grandson and I were visiting on one of his trips back to Oklahoma, and he told me his son was taking the '50 Studebaker pickup to Ponca City to keep. The story goes that Louie traded a Chevy truck to Bob Tatro for the Stude. The truck has passed down from Louie, to son Phillip, then to Mike, and now to his son, Regan, and someday to his son. To make this story even neater, Louie had a '55 Chevy two-door post car that now belongs to Mike's brother, Todd. Both vehicles are in great shape. My friend Mike has double ties to Alva. He is married to one of Neal Arndt's daughters. For newcomers, Neal was a good mechanic and ran a shop for many years.

I am so mad at our government. Quit scaring us with shutdown rumors and do what you will wind up doing anyhow. I wanted to write about them, but Cleo made me promise to not use bad language.

Let's all be safe out there and God bless.