Swinging away, it’s September!

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September 28, 2009

Anonymous The Democrat Mon Sep 28, 2009, 08:46 AM CDT

Now that the much-needed rain has subsided and the yard work is done for yet another week, there is no better time than now to reward yourself by viewing some fabulous television.

Before getting to that, I prepared myself by watching two of the best golf movies made, “The Legend of Baggar Vance,” directed by Robert Redford and “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” starring Shia LaBeouf.

The first is a fictional match between a Savannah, Ga., amateur golf standout, and golfing greats Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen.

The latter is based on the true story of Francis Quimet’s stirring victory, as an amateur, in the 1913 U. S Open beating noted professionals, Harry Vardon and Ted Ray from England.

Now, on to the “cablewaves.” I peeked in on “The Cosby Show 25 Year Marathon” this past week. It began Sept. 20, 1984, and what joy it has been to watch over these many years. Its messages certainly do stand the test of time.

Beginning Sunday, Sept. 27 is the newest Ken Burns special, this time featuring America’s national parks. There is certainly something of interest for everyone in each of Mr. Burn’s works, and if you are a photographer, you will surely marvel at Burn’s use of still photos that almost come to life, juxtaposed against a backdrop of jaw-dropping film footage.

We visited two national monuments some years ago, Mt. Rushmore and Devil’s Tower.

What comes to mind about the Rushmore site was walking through the entrance gates and suddenly looking up and there were those faces against a brilliantly blue sky. If they could have only talked.

And who can forget the moment when actor Richard Dreyfuss realizes that Devil’s Tower is real after all. The lengthy drive to its base was almost like being an extra in his “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” film.

In the July 2009 issue of National Geographic an article seems to fit this particular weekend as the great State Fair of Oklahoma winds down for yet another year. Its author is Garrison Keillor and he regales us with “The Ten Chief Joys of the State Fair.”

Just to wet your whistle: “The state fair is a ritual carnival marking the end of summer and gardens and apple orchards and the start of school and higher algebra and the imposition of strict rules and what we in the north call the Long Dark Time. Like gardening, the fair doesn’t change that much.”

Then, his take on fair attendance: “To mingle, merge, mill, jostle gently, and flock together with throngs, swarms, mobs and multitudes of persons slight or hefty, punky or preppy, young or ancient, wandering through the hubbub and amplified razzmatazz and raw neon and clouds of wiener steam in search of some elusive thing, nobody is sure exactly what.”

Could not have said it any better myself. And speaking of celebrations, Broadway dancer Tommy Tune is celebrating his 50th year in show business, too!

Fall is now official, in our town.

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