Frs. and Podnuhs:

A recent conversation with John and Judy Longcamp reminded me of  children 
who in a more innocent time, spent Saturday afternoons at the movies  
watching B grade horse operas instead of MTV.  Those “oaters” were great.  
Who can forget the words and the music?

For your entertainment this evening . . . .Duel in the Sun revisited.

For background music John and Judy and the “Sons of the Pioneers” will hum 
the tune to "Streets of Laredo."

Now envision the following horse opera scene.

John Wayne in “True Grit” mode is moving slowly down Main Street, dust 
swirling as he drags his heels, and chaps flapping in the wind.

He comes face to face with Lee Marvin.  The two begin singing (YOU think 
they can’t sing? Paint Your Wagon proved it isn’t necessary for cowboys to 
carry a tune; so did Gene Autry). Anyway, back to our story.  They face each 
other on Main Street and burst into song to the tune of Streets of Laredo.

Lee:   “I can tell by your outfit that you are a cowboy.”

John   “I can tell by your outfit that you’re a cowboy too.”

Together:  “We can tell by our outfits that we are both cowboys.”

Audience facing one another:  “If you get an outfit you can be a cowboy 
too.”

That scene and the lyrics reminded me of ecumenical gatherings of the 
Bishops such as the recent one in St. Louis of the Continuum, and of the 
various Orthodox and Catholic bodies.  Sing it boys. . . .

Bishops Together:  “We can tell by our outfits that we are all bishops.”
Audience facing one another:  “If you get an outfit you can be a bishop 
too.”

And with that, I mosey off into the sunset singing “Back in the saddle 
again. . . .”

Happy trails to y’all.

Screen fades to black, voices yodel the peace then

"Who was that mitred man?"

Charles







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