Mena, Arkansas

I love the state of Arkansas. I took my nephew Steven there to visit some friends of mine, Dave and Margo, who live in Cove. About 15 miles (24.14 km) south of Mena. Dave and I were drinking beer and Steven had found places to fish. Dave had a little fishpond, and the neighbors had ponds too. All was going as planned, Steven had caught dinner. But we wanted to go to the bar. That meant going to Oklahoma. 

When we got to the bar, the doors were open, but no electricity was on. There was a tornado that landed in Mena, knocking out the power as far as Hatfield. That was in Mena, not where we were. That point in my life, I was a drunk. A working drunk, making a good living as a welder. That being said, the time to go hammered me. Steven was having none of me or Dave driving. He took the keys and chunked them and I got angry but gave in, and he drove home.

The morning was a rough one; I had a hangover that was pounding. My hangover wasn’t the only thing pissed at me. Steven was mad too. He was ripping into me until he realized I had no clue what he was talking about. Then he got even madder because he wanted to be mad at me. He couldn’t stay mad because I didn’t remember being such an asshole to him. I spent most of that morning apologizing and trying to make it up to him.

Later after morning after breakfast Steven and I were on our way home to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Driving through Mena was a moment of wonderment. Mother nature is such a puzzlement to me, On one hand she makes the country beautiful. And then she will rip a gash, miles long in a matter of minutes. It was a quiet for some miles before anyone said anything. WOW. That was scary, said Steven. And I told him about my first sight of a damage path. Arkadelphia had an EF-3 rip right through the town’s center. One side of the road, all the buildings were missing. The other side, not even a blade of grass out of place.

Tulsa was the first place I ever went to in Oklahoma. Found out that Tulsa is a great place to go if you are a skilled worker. The place is a manufacturing city. I never had a problem working there. Welding is an enormous market there. Good welders can pick where they work. 

My favorite places in Oklahoma and Arkansas were just a few hours away from home. Vacation spots like Branson, Missouri and Hot Springs, Arkansas were only 6 hours away. A day’s drive from the Gulf of Mexico. Yes, I went to all those places, like Lake Texoma was 4 hours away. Things got to be crazy: we would go to Skiatook Lake 20 miles (ca. 32 km) north. Or Tahlequah and play on the river. People here who have never been there are like I hate Oklahoma! When asked if they were ever there? 70% Of the time they say no. How do you know it sucks if you have never been there?

Time to post.