This column from Bob Hanson was written from June 21, 2024. The previous version contained an error.
Have you ever seen a white baby buffalo? Neither have I. One was recently born in Yellowstone. The Native American old belief is “This is a sign of good things to come.”
The U.S.A. most certainly could use many good things especially in regards to all the shootings.
I’m watching the Twins play the Colorado Rockies on TV. The Twins start out with 5 runs in the first inning and just continue hitting and scoring with a final score of 17-9 in favor of the Twins. In scoring 17 runs the Twins had an unbelievable total 24 hits. As one of the announcers excitedly said “Omy goodness.” I recall the following story of “Omi Goodness.”
John Goodness a young man from England was sent to the New World (now America) to look into colonizing land as a settlement for England. He traveled west arriving where Beaver Lake is and decided this was a possibility.
In checking the possibility further he became good friends with the Indian Chief and especially the chief’s only child, daughter Omi pronounced “Omy.” John asked the chief for permission to wed Omi. The chief verified this with Omi who said yes to marrying John Goodness.
They were married with the agreement their first son would become chief upon reaching the age of adult. (This made the chief very happy.) The wedding was performed at the Indian village on the side of a hill facing south where the Grunwald farm is now located.
Time went by and Omi became pregnant while the chief was getting more and more anxious as to a son being born.
The day of birth arrived with Omi trying to give birth to Siamese twin sons. Unfortunately the sons were stillborn with Omi dying shortly thereafter.
The loss was too much to handle for John so he returned to England.
The chief summoned the tribal medicine man to create an ever lasting remembrance of Omi.
The medicine man with his spiritual ability created the forever lasting remembrance of Omi.
“Any person with any connection, no matter how remotely, to Beaver Lake would utter “Omy Goodness” in their response to excitable tidings.
As a reader your response to this column should be “Omy goodness.”
P.S. There have been many arrowheads, stone ax type instruments plus other Indian artifact found in an around Beaver Lake. Even the antlers of an Elk in Beaver Lake.
— — —
Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.