Elko Survivors
Bloggers, after much coffee and little sleep
Elko, Nevada
photo by Meg Glaser (who risked her life to take it!)
We have made it safely home from Elko. Our only casualty was my 85-year-old father, who received a black eye and ten stitches. Choose one: 1) He was defending a lady’s honor at the Star Hotel; 2) The “lady” in question decked him with a beer bottle at the Pioneer; or 3) He tripped. If I learned one thing in Paul Zarzyski’s poetry workshop, it was not to let the truth get in the way of a good story. So please vote for your favorite version of the “truth” in the Comments section. While we were waiting in the treatment area of Emergency Room for the aforementioned ten stitches, two policemen entered. They (fortunately) walked right by us and approached the lady on the other side of the curtain. “Excuse us, ma’am. We are going to put these handcuffs on you. Do you have any weapons? We’ll search you now.” Never a dull moment in Elko!
We had a great week of listening to poetry, music, and visiting with old and new friends. Someone mentioned that Glamour magazine had listed the Gathering as one of the top ten places for single ladies to meet eligible men. I think the Folklife Center is missing out on a real promotion opportunity here.
Pat was part of a panel that discussed eating closer to home. He detailed how he and some other sheep producers had formed the Mountain States Lamb Cooperative, and partnered with B. Rosen and Sons, the largest lamb and veal distributor on the East Coast. Many of the co-op’s Western lambs now go into the natural market, on a nationwide basis. It has allowed Western producers to market their home-grown product on a large scale.
Sharon read (OK—I have trouble with memorization!) poetry at Friday night’s sheepherder session, but was upstaged by an amazing Irish immigrant, Mick Lachy. Folks said it was one of funnest sessions ever. I also read my poem “Atlantic Rim: The Seekers’ Trail” at the session presenting the book “Home Land: Ranching and a West that Works” edited by Laura Pritchett, Richard Knight, and Jeff Lee. My presentation on energy development in the Rocky Mountain West was received with interest.
We bloggers also did a session about this blog site, but I think we were competing with “Hooves of the Horses.” Go figure.
We were lucky to attend the premier of Stephanie Davis’s “Trail’s End Ranch Radio Show,” with Fred, the sound effects guy from “Prairie Home Companion.” It was the funniest show I’ve ever seen. Be sure to check in with “Cowboy Up Dating Service” or CUD. I guess it’s for the folks who miss out on the Gathering as a place to meet a sweetie.
Wild rag lesson
Red Lion, Elko
photo by Sharon O'Toole
