SIUSLAW NEWS ❚ WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2015
9 A
Some people should have to earn the right to use fire
hot!” Mr. Kingsford said, rip-
Ned
ping open a bag of briquettes
Hickson labeled “easy starting.” Over
What follows is a re-enact-
ment of sorts, pieced together
from observations and details
gathered during an incident
over Mother's Day weekend
at a nearby campground.
When you consider that we
once carried embers around in
hollowed out animal skulls
for fear of losing the potential
to make fire, it seems we've
come a long way as a species.
Then, again, I’ve seen
chimps driving motorcycles
— it doesn’t mean they
should be in line at the
DMV...
“You kids stay away from
the grill! It’s gonna get very
his bermuda shorts and a
49ers T-shirt, he wore a red
and white striped apron with
the words “It Ain't Ready
Yet” emblazoned on the front.
A prophecy, really.
After stacking the charcoal
into a pyramid, he grabbed a
quart of lighter fluid and pro-
ceeded to empty half of it
over the briquettes, one hand
patting his pockets. “I need
matches,” he hollered, then
pinched the cigarette from his
lips. “No I don’t — never
mind.”
Crouching, he extended the
red tip toward the vapory
charcoals, holding as much of
his body away from the grill
as possible.
On the steps of the mobile
home, his son and daughter
sat riveted, elbows on their
knees and hands clasped in
anticipation, watching as Dad
summoned the fire god. And
kept summoning.
Then summoned some
more.
“Where’s those matches I
asked for?!” he bellowed, and
rose to his feet. “Mo-therrrr!”
From the living area, a
window slid open, and from
painted fingertips was tossed
a small box of matches.
“Thanks — ”
The window slid shut.
“ — Honey,” finished Mr.
Kingsford. Scratching the
comb-over beneath his “Just
Do It” hat, he examined the
briquettes and decided the
gods needed something more.
Eyes widening, his children
watched as he opened a com-
partment near the rear of the
mobile home and removed a
red, plastic canister.
“But Dad, Mom said…”
He scowled, index finger
pressing his lips. “You want
to eat or not?” he hissed at
the top of his voice, then pro-
ceeded to douse the grill with
gasoline.
Slowly, the children backed
along the mobile home and
away from the epicenter as
Dad slid a sulfur-tipped stick
from the matchbox and
pressed it against the gritty
side panel. He stood, poised
for the sprint, one leg dug
into the ground for traction,
the other angled for speed —
like a relay runner waiting for
the baton. Trembling slightly,
Mr. Kingsford smiled reassur-
ingly at his huddled children,
then struck the match to life
and tossed it into the face of
the grill.
In that instant, the lid blew
shut, which caused the dog to
bark, bringing Mom to the
door just in time to see the
kids cover their ears as Dad
pushed off for the sprint
while the split-level grill lift-
ed off like an early 1960s
NASA rocket, rising about six
feet before angling left, then
exploding into a ball of
flames.
As the firemen put the last
of the flames out a short time
later, and the surrounding
campers returned to their
campsites, Mr. Kingsford
shoved a copy of his citation
into an apron pocket and
nursed a minor head injury
with ice. From the small
kitchen, the sizzle of skillet
burgers made its way outside
as Mom cooked over butane
fire...
When you consider that we
once carried embers around in
a hollowed out skull for fear
of losing the potential to
make fire, it seems we've
come a long way as a species.
Then, again...
Ned is a syndicated columnist
with News Media Corporation.
His book, “Humor at the Speed of
Life,” is available online at Port
Hole Publications, Amazon Books
and Barnes & Noble. Write to him
at nedhickson@icloud.com
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KXCR and the Kenneth B.
Gallery will kick-off the
Spring/Summer Folk Series
with well-known folk singer
George Mann on Tuesday, May
19, beginning 6:30 p.m. at the
Kenneth B. Gallery in Old
Town Florence.
Mann’s powerful music
brings a message of hope, heal-
ing, struggle and change to the
American scene.
For an evening of fun, friends
and great music, bring your
voice and join in the singing of
the many folk tunes most of us
learned as children.
Mann’s focus has been
toward the nation’s veterans and
the effects that two long wars
have had on soldiers and their Folk singer George Mann will
May 19.
families.
“Until You Come Home:
Songs for Veterans and Their Seeger and Woody Guthrie.
Kin” is a George Mann-pro-
Bring along your singing
duced CD compilation of voice and join in when Mann
songs focusing on PTSD (post- breaks into Guthrie’s, “This
traumatic stress disorder) and Land is Your Land.”
the cost of war to our military
This will be the opening
families.
concert for a spring and sum-
Always the labor historian, mer music series presented by
Mann produced “The Almanac KXCR and the Kenneth B
Trail,” a CD celebrating music Gallery, 1458 First St.
from “The Almanac Singers”
Door will open around 6:30
whose founders included Pete p.m. for food, beverage and a
COURTESY PHOTO
perform at KB Gallery on
chance to greet neighbors.
The show runs from 7 to 9
p.m.
Everyone is invited. Mann’s
performance is free but a
“passing of the hat” for dona-
tions will take place.
For more information, visit
www.georgemannmusic.com,
or www.kennethbgallery.com.
Call the gallery at 541-999-
5875.
Volunteer for Power of Florence
This year’s Power of
Florence will be Saturday, July
18. In the past, there have been
as many as 37 volunteer events
in one day. This year could be
even bigger.
The Power of Florence is an
opportunity the entire commu-
nity to work together and have
fun making a difference in the
community by giving one day
dedicated to volunteering.
The all-day event is set up
like a community festival, with
fun events all around town that
anyone can take part in, like
barbecues, car washes, face
painting, etc, as well as
fundraisers that raise money
for our non-profits that work
year around to support those in
need in our community.
There are also service proj-
ect events that beautify local
parks, schools and beaches.
In four years, there have
been 130 events and Power of
Florence participants have
raised $32,000 in donations,
completed 48 service projects
and collected more than
10,000 pounds of food for
Food Share and Florence Area
Humane Society.
If you or your group would
like to participate, choose an
event and contact coordinator
Kaylee Graham at powerof
florence@hotmail.com.
You could do anything
from a service project like
weeding around town, to a
collection event for a non-
profit, or be a part by just
going around to different
events and helping volunteer.
Events will be advertised in
email blasts, on Power of
Florence’s Facebook page, on
Power of Florence’s website,
in the Siuslaw News and on
KCST 106.9 FM.
Kathleen and Nina’s
Restaurant
Open Daily 6am-3pm
Home style cooking in a friendly
home style dining experience!
We off er a large menu featuring traditional
and house specialty items.
Breakfast and lunch
specials every day!
Homemade Breads • Homemade Pies
Come in and enjoy breakfast or
lunch with us or order take out.
Call in and we’ll have it
ready for you to pick up!
2015
Siuslaw News
people’s choice
award winner
for Best Pie on
the Coast!
Our popular breads and pies
are available for carry out as well.
3611 Highway 101
541-997-7004
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Folk music series to kick off May 19