Bo and the Bad Wreck

Bo and the Bad Wreck

Bo Beasley and Uncle Jessie applied for a truck-driving job over to the Dismal Swamp Moving and Storage Co. Since both of them had been driving mules, tractors and Model T's since before they could see over a steering wheel, they figured they would be a shoo in for that job. The Moving Co sat over on highway 301, just south of Micro and usually had 4 or 5 of them big ole International Furniture Trucks they had back in '48, a settin on the side. In the summer they would have a big block of ice setting just inside the open door and a fan would drag a little cool air over the ice to help the girls in the office. It didn't really help a lot. In the summers we could usually fry an egg on the sidewalks or on the hood of a car. I've done it several times. Strips of flypaper would be hanging from the ceiling and coated with hundreds of flys. About the only thing you would see moving outside the building, would be this old hound dog that would get up and move over to the shade every time the sun would catch up with him. Other than that, you would probably see a stump move before anything else did.

When the owner and president of the Dismal Swamp Moving and Storage Company called Bo into his office for the interview, Bo kinda straightened up his bib overalls and sashayed into the office and plunked down in a cane seat ladder backed chair and tried to look right pert. Mr. Abdollar looked him over and then started questioning Bo about his driving skills. Bo was doing purty good and finally Mr. Abdollar says to him. "Bo, lets say you are driving one of my trucks. Jessie is sitting on the seat beside you sound asleep and you crest a hill. When you get over the top and are coming down at full speed you see a school bus stopped in the middle of the road. You don't have time to stop. You either hit the school bus or you drive into the trees on the side of the road. What would you do"?

Bo thought for a minute or so and then replied. "Why I would reach over and wake Jessie up". "Well, asks Mr. Abdollar. What in the world would you wake Jessie up for? He can't do nothing to help you”.  “I know” answered Bo.  “But you see, Jessie ain't never seen no bad truck wreck before”.

- Bob Gurkin

Beef Vegetable Soup

Beef Vegetable Soup

This is a good way to get rid of leftover roast.

• 2 lbs. beef ribs, or use leftover roast
• 1 cup sliced carrots
• ½ cup macaroni, or spaghetti broken into small pieces
• 1 cup diced celery
• 1 cup potatoes, cut in 1-inch pieces
• 1 package (10 oz.) frozen lima beans and corn (i.e., succotash)
• 2 cups shredded cabbage
• 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
• 2 cans (16 oz. ea.) tomatoes, chopped, with juice

Put the beef in a large pot, covered with water, and simmer for 1-½ hours until tender. Remove from the pot and let cool, and then chop up the meat. Skim the fat off the cooking liquid. Strain the liquid and pour it back into the pot, adding water, if needed, to make 1-½ quarts of stock. Put the chopped meat, macaroni, and vegetables into the strained stock. Mix in seasoned salt. Let come to a boil, and then turn the heat to low and cook for about 1 hour. Makes 3 quarts.

Bob's Meatloaf

Bob's Meatloaf

About as easy as it gets with this meatloaf recipe.

• 2 lbs ground beef
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 eggs, beaten
• ½ cup ketchup
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon salt

Mix all the ingredients together; place the mixture in a loaf pan or shape into a loaf and place in a baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until firm when pressed in the center. 

Serves 8.