Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 5, 2025 -- THREE
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Daddy
My dad was probably
the most intelligent man
I’ve ever known. He loved
knowledge and put a high
value on education. He
possessed a rare kindness
and incredible memory....
and never knew a strang-
er. He was a Navy man, a
pilot, and a Wrangler-clad
rancher with a soft spot for
all animals. Even spiders.
As I lifted my boot to squish
one, he’d say “Now that
spider never did anything
to you.”
One of his true loves
was his milk cow, Rose
Marie. I think he kept ev-
ery calf she ever had. He
would point with pride
and say “This is the great,
great-granddaughter of
Rose Marie”. I probably
wasn’t as impressed as I
should have been back then.
I’m impressed now.
I loved my dad, but
there was a side of him that
I hated. It was a weakness.
It ruled him and it robbed
me of precious time and
memories we could have
made. And it gave me a
determination that I would
never let it have me.
Daddy drank. Whiskey
in his coffee, beer in his
hand, a bottle in a brown
bag under the seat. Every
day, it wasn’t a matter of
if…..but how bad. My dad
was never mean. He was a
nice drunk. But, at a very
early age, I learned a “nice
drunk” didn’t make it nice
for me. My young vocab-
ulary included words like
“plastered”, “booze” and
“drunk tank”. I learned
when to stay away and
became an expert at identi-
fying the signs. The stagger,
the glazed-over look in his
eyes, the tone in his voice
all told me my dad wasn’t
there. And I would come
face to face once more with
the demon that had him.
It took years for me
to figure out why the hurt
was so deep and relent-
less. It wasn’t the times I
dumped out the contents
of the bottles he had under
his sink, only to find the
replacements the next day.
It wasn’t even the embar-
rassment of him staggering
in late to my eighth-grade
graduation, while the whole
school watched. It was that
every minute of every day,
I felt he chose the bottle
over me….and if he loved
me enough, he would quit.
I waited for him to see that
I was better than the bot-
tle…..that I could make him
happier than the stuff under
the sink. I knew nothing
of addictions. I only knew
this hurt.
Adulthood gave me
a new perspective on my
dad’s life and I know this
battle wasn’t something he
chose. Alcohol took my
dad from me, but it didn’t
take his life. It wasn’t until
he reached his 60s that he
got the help he needed to
defeat the demon. But I’m
proud to say he did, and
he lived another 30 years,
enjoying and being enjoyed
by his family.
This isn’t an easy story
to tell. It’s a part of my
heart that I haven’t shared
with many and I don’t share
it to elicit pity or tarnish
my dad’s legacy. I share it
because I hope it will help
someone understand how
their choices can have a
lasting effect on those who
love them. And that battles
can be won, and miracles
happen. My dad became my
hero. And I know he would
have liked the possibility of
helping someone win their
own battle. He was like that,
and that’s the dad I love and
miss.
“I can do all things
through Christ who
strengthens me”. Philippi-
ans 4:13
Susie Crosby
Prineville, OR
Heppner Chamber plans
litter patrol Thursday
The Heppner Chamber
of Commerce will hold its
annual Adopt-A-Highway
litter patrol this Thursday,
March 6, from 1-2 p.m. to
prepare for the Wee Bit O’
Ireland Celebration.
Anyone who would
like to volunteer, please
contact the chamber at 541-
676-5536 or email heppner-
chamber@gmail.com.
Spiritually Speaking
St. Pat’s Grand marshals
Father Thankachan Joseph
Season of Lent: short
reflections on what to give up
The season of Lent has begun today. The season of
lent is an invitation to introspect our lives and realize the
dark spots and turn to the light of Christ and live well.
I am sure many of you are familiar with the term
“Lent.” Lent is a season of intense prayer, fasting, and
fidelity to the word of God. Lent is a time of introspection.
On Ash Wednesday, we read from the Gospel of Matthew,
Chapter 6, the Lenten tasks expected of all of us. We read
in the book of Exodus the Israelites grumbling, even after
the amazing things God had done for them (Ex 17:3-7). In
them, we recognize ourselves. This is a particular time of
40 days that we set aside for working on ourselves so we
don’t end up wandering around in the wilderness for 40
years. We do things to burn off the fat that’s weighing us
down, try to improve our spiritual diet, and do some spiri-
tual exercises to strengthen the muscles we call “virtues.”
Every year, as soon as Lent begins, the first question
many people ask is, “What will I do for Lent?” Some
will answer, “I will give up smoking,” or “I will give up
alcoholic drinks,” or “I will give up watching movies and
TV.” Others may say, “I will go for daily Mass,” or “I
will read one chapter of the Gospels every day.” But you
who neither smoke nor drink nor watch movies and TV,
you who go for daily Mass and read Gospels every day,
for you, what is there to give up?
Some of my thoughts on that which we need to GIVE
UP to be with Christ and be like Him (Some of you parents
may train your children in a meaningful practice that is
almost vanishing from our Christian traditions.):
1. GIVE UP grumbling! Instead, “In everything give
thanks.”
2. GIVE UP 10 to 15 minutes in bed! Instead, use
that time in prayer, Bible study and personal devotion.
3. GIVE UP looking at other people’s worst points. In-
stead, concentrate on their best points. We all have faults.
4. GIVE UP speaking unkindly. Instead, let your
speech be generous and understanding. It costs so little
to say something kind and uplifting.
5. GIVE UP your hatred of anyone or anything! In-
stead, learn the discipline of love.
6. GIVE UP your worries and anxieties! Instead, trust
God with them.
7. GIVE UP TV one evening a week! Instead, visit
some lonely or sick person. There are those who are iso-
lated by illness or age.
8. GIVE UP buying anything but essentials for your-
self! Instead, the money you would spend on the luxuries
could help someone meet basic needs.
9. GIVE UP judging by appearances and by the stan-
dard of the world! Instead, learn that there is only one
who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.
So, the real question of Lent is not so much, “What
will I give up for Lent?” but rather, “What do I wish to
become as a result of Lent?” (More Christ-like, more
child-like, more human, more understanding, more com-
mitted to my daily routine of life and apostolate, etc....)
The Lenten season begins with the blessing of the
ashes from last year’s Palm Sunday’s palm branches and
applying the ashes on the foreheads of all the believers
who attend the services, recalling how the people of God
listened to God’s prophets and took upon themselves
severe fasting and self-denial activities.
On Ash Wednesday, we read from the book of Joel;
the prophet is inviting everyone with these words: “Return
to me with your whole heart, with fasting and weeping
and mourning; Rend your hearts not your garments, and
return to the Lord your God” (Joel 2: 12).
Start giving thanks in everything! Start focusing on
others’ best points. Let your speech become more gener-
ous and understanding. Learn the discipline of love. Turn
from anxiety, live today, and let God’s grace be sufficient.
Visit some lonely or sick person. Spend only on essentials;
we are called to be stewards of God’s riches, not consum-
ers. Learn not to judge yourself or others. There is only
one who has the right to judge, Jesus Christ.
(I just returned home last week after my vacation in
India. Thanks for all your prayers.)
Ione drama is about to crash
high society
The Greenup family kids at the annual camping trip.
-Contributed photo
-Continued from PAGE ONE Truitt and Nina [Sydney,
Don was cattleman of
the year for 1960, father
of the year in 1964 and
grand marshal of the 1991
Morrow County Fair and
Rodeo.
Don and Colleen’s
children and their spous-
es, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren will
represent the Greenup Fam-
ily for the St. Patrick’s
weekend festivities: they
are Tag and Mitch (Angie,
Rob and Jennifer [Mary,
Jonny], Shelly and John
[Gus];
Sue Ellen and Paul
(Shannon and Bobby [Park-
er, Laney], Jimmy & Marcy
[Ayden], Cody and Brianna
[Gemma, Kroy], Katie and
Michael [Mikalie, Hadlie,
Whitlie, Briggs, Jaynie]);
Bill and Cindy (Travis
and Tiffany [Hayley, Blake,
Savannah, Hunter, Sierra],
Kaden, Taya], Tony and
Michelle [Cole, Shad]);
Greg and Janet (Amy
and Brian [Rylee, Evan,
Irelynn], Sara and Tygh
[Charli, Kaci], Kathleen
(Joseph, Carmine, Len-
non), Kelsey and Justin
[Ketch, EllieGene, Klan-
cy]);
Mary Ann and Ted
(Bradie, Heather and Bran-
don [Brooklyn, Axton],
Lacey and Tom [Saige,
Quaid, Karter Jo, Price],
Brandon [Ritter]);
Bridgett and Mike
(Hayden and Katie, Allen
and Brittney [Lexi, Jacob,
Jordan, Tommi, Amaia],
Joey and Taylor [Wyatt,
Cayelynn], Stephen, Lane).
The Greenup family
says it is honored to be
selected as grand mar-
shals and want to see all
their friends enjoying the
weekend.
Upcoming Events
March 6th Old Timers Night, Steak
Dinner, 6pm, Lodge at 8pm
March 7th - Western Dance Lessons by the
Lindsay Family 7:30pm, Dinner off the menu
served from 5pm to 8pm
March 15th - St Patrick’s Day - Corned Beef
and Cabbage Dinner 5pm, Music by
Joe Lindsay 8:30pm
March 20th - Installation of Officers at Lodge
at 8pm (family welcome)
Lodge Hours:
Wed 4pm to close with dinner at 6pm
Thurs 4pm to close (Lodge at 8pm)
Fri & Sat 4pm to close with dinner from
5pm to 8pm
Members and their Guest
Seniors Matter March Menu
March 11, - Burrito Bar, Dessert
March 18, Pork Roast, Potatoes with
gravy, buttered corn and Dessert
March 25 - Italian Tomato
Soup, Salad, Dessert
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Open Bottle Calf Showcase
Morrow County’s
Littlest Cowpokes
Calf Show: Calves must
be under 5 months old
Sunday, March 9th, 2025
Registration opens at 9:30, the show begins at 10:30 at the
Morrow County Fairgrounds.
Itty-Bitties: Ages 2-5 Years
Little Cowhands: Ages 6-8 Years
The Hands: Ages 9-12 Years
Cow Boss: 13-16 Years
A time to enjoy good food, better company and
foster the next generation of, cowpokes
Sign up at: https://forms.gle/V3f7akUy188ahkz7
Pictured is the cast of Ione Community School’s production of “Crashing Society.” Back Row:
Michaela Covey, Alex Cave, Brylee Scoggin, Haryss Padberg, Teagan Roy, Hunter Scoggin,
Bryson Bailey, Adrian Mendoza, Cayden Mendoza and Blake Vandever. Front Row: Kayden
Reser, Caydance Kreitzer, Madelyn Campbell, Ari’el Gray, Alex Mudge and Sophia Serrano.
-Contributed photo
The drama students at
Ione Community Charter
School will be performing
“Crashing Society,” a com-
edy by James C. Parker, on
March 12 and 13 at 6:30
p.m.
“Crashing Society: A
Comedy in Three Acts”
by James C. Parker is a
comedic play that delves
into the humorous and of-
ten absurd situations that
arise when different social
classes collide.
The play is set in the
1930s and revolves around
the interactions between
characters from various
social backgrounds, high-
lighting the quirks and ec-
centricities of each group.
Through witty dialogue
and amusing scenarios, the
play explores themes of
social status, ambition and
the desire for acceptance.