On the Horizon: A Brave Woman–Clara Luper

Her’s is not a household name like that of Rosa Parks and she did not garner the kind of national attention Martin Luther King did. But Oklahoma’s Clara Luper was a pioneering woman in the civil rights movement. Leading one of the first sit-ins at a drugstore in Oklahoma City, Mrs. Luper is credited for forcing local eateries to de-segregate all across Oklahoma, and eventually the nation.

Throughout her life, she worked for equal rights until her death this month at age eighty-eight. In today’s video blog we revisit an interview we did with her in 2005 as part of a black history exhibit at the Oklahoma History Center.

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A Brave Woman–Clara Luper from Alisa Hines on Vimeo.

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The Pizza Song

The Bings may be somewhat described as Puritans, but never with a Puritanical attitude, mind you. That is true for major life choices, and for the seemingly simple things as well. Every day things, like choices in music. We mostly listen to Christian music, but enjoy a classic 80’s rock tune every now and then. One of our favorites is affectionately referred to by the family as “the pizza song,” for said pure reasons:

We love simple things, like pizza, and we love us some Hideaway.

First off, a bit of historical context is in order. Little Frau and I met one another in the hinterlands south of the Red River, and our second date was in one of those classic double-decker Pizza Huts that were all the rage back in the day. And, for such a tiny young lady, she could down half a large pepperoni and multiple glasses of Dr. Pepper with the best of them. As a college student, she could eat that way, oh, every night.

Hold on, for the story changes from here. Fast forward to the era of the 2000’s, and 4 out of the 5 Bings have turned out to be exclusive Gluten-free (GF) diners out of medical necessity. Said diagnosis and lifestyle was was not deemed necessary until the love of pizza by all Bings was deep and strong. And in Oklahoma, this pizza yearning has been like being thirsty in the middle of the ocean. Water everywhere, but none that won’t kill you if consumed.

It has been quite a Journey. You see, More cosmopolitan or “urbane” locales like Colorado, Kansas City, or even the hinterlands surrounding Austin, Texas have been blessed with multiple GF pizza options for quite some time. But, not Oklahoma. Not till now. Continue reading The Pizza Song

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Meanwhile, Back at The Ranch: Mother Nature Delivers What I NEEDle

We are accustomed to doing without some conveniences out here in the country.   Oh, we have running water, but in the past when I’ve needed capers or a specific garden tool, we were miles away from getting what we needed when we needed it.  When we finally finished the bank project (A RE-purposeful Life), I wanted to make sure my new plants got the water they needed, and my husband suggested pine mulch to keep the ground moist.  Of course, there is not a nursery that sells pine mulch for miles, but I knew exactly where I could get it locally.

trees
Lots of trees waiting to make their yearly delivery of leaves and needles in the fall.

Our road is lined with a variety of trees.  Leaves, pine cones, and pine needles cover both sides of our street every spring, and I hesitantly rake them up while fearing what animal I might disrupt from its rest. This time I gathered a rake and the wheel barrow and headed up the road to gather a couple of loads of pine needles without fear.  I was on a mission.  Unfortunately, I underestimated the number of loads I would need for my project, Continue reading Meanwhile, Back at The Ranch: Mother Nature Delivers What I NEEDle

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When Divorce Turns Prince Charming into Attila the Hun

When I was a 23 year old college student planning my first wedding, I knew exactly what my bridesmaids would wear, the color of the flowers, where we would spend our honeymoon, where we would live after the wedding, and what our dishes would look like. What I did not plan is that we would be divorced eight years later.

Several years were spent building a “we” life, enjoying time with our couple friends, merging bank accounts, buying a home, and eventually beginning a family. When it became apparent that we were not right for each other, there was nothing left to do but to deconstruct that life and go back to a “me” life. It’s a delicate surgical process that doesn’t come with anesthesia.

This deconstruction process was by far, the lowest point in my life. The “we” that we had carefully built was ripped into “yours” and “mine.” Friends who I thought would always be in my life, chose sides and many walked away from our friendship. Thankfully, I had maintained good relationships with my closest girlfriends and they became my rocks (Thanks Marcy, Carla, Alison, and Amy). Divorce is definitely a time when you find out who your true friends are. Bank accounts were separated. The home we had so carefully decorated and landscaped was sold. A joint custody arrangement was reached for our 2 year old. My ex took the stuff that he had entered the relationship with, I took mine, and we evenly divided the rest. I have never felt more lonely, sad, scared, confused, or hurt than I did as we dismantled the dreams we had started together. Continue reading When Divorce Turns Prince Charming into Attila the Hun

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Simple Sabbath – “Drink Up!”

Ever had a feelin' called the blues?

DRINK UP!

An Overflowing Cup

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” Psalm 23:5

Many of David’s Psalms speak of anguish and heartache. He seems a bit whiney to me at times. Have you ever felt this way? I certainly have—and so did Guy Mitchell. His most famous song was “Singin’ the Blues,” the song of a really sad man. The blues left him with nothing to do but cry y y y y y. Throughout the Psalms we can see David singin’ the blues. He expresses sadness and anguish. At times he sounds like a man who feels all alone; he is filled with hopelessness and despair. David is a man who is all dried up, and at times feels he will be alone the rest of his days.  It is against this backdrop of the blues that Psalm 23 seeps from his soul. Continue reading Simple Sabbath – “Drink Up!”

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Showcasing Red Dirt culture ~ authored and managed by contributors with connections to the great state of Oklahoma.