I know I don't sound like a very wild person when I'm on
The Bull. In fact, if we ever meet in person, you'll see for
yourself what my friends at  the radio stations already know:
In the ways of behavior  I'm a bit...well....laid-back.
(Some of them may  even use the adjective "dull.")

So it's hard to believe that from when I was a kid and up to
about age 20, I was often in trouble.
Nothing serious, usually . But I was always into something.
My parents  disciplined me whenever I  acted up.
For example, when I was 8, I once  shot all the asparagus in
the garden with my Daisy BB gun...ruining all of it.
(They took away my  Daisy BB gun until I  turned  43...)

Mom made me go into the orchard and select  a  branch off
this old apple tree. I did, and she made me bring it to her.
She then introduced the firm little tree limb  to my backside---
repeatedly. Ouch.
This happened  quite a lot during the 1960's and early 70's.
My Dad blistered my posterior more than a few times---and I
deserved each occurance whenever  I  misbehaved.

I learned to hate that old apple tree.

In 1976, when I was 17, a classmate and I got into the high
school locker room after basketball practice, and we got out
the Competitive Archery Set by scaling the wire equipment cage.
Then...we locked the  previously-broken gym door, (which was
scheduled to be replaced the next day)---and we shot arrows \
into it. Many times. Dumb. Stupid. Dangerous. Of course, we got
caught.

We were expelled for a week...and couldn't play ball for four weeks,
plus  the entire rural area was rightfully angry with us.
My folks  were hopping mad. My friend and I paid for the gym door
replacement, and Mom and Dad  grounded me (until just last year,when
I turned 51). Seriously, I  should thank them always for their love..
AND  for the swats on my rear when I needed it over the years.

But I wonder what  if any, discipline was ever handed out to  rap-artist
Kanye West when he was younger an  misbehaved?

On the MTV Music Awards Sunday night (Sept.13th) a drunken West
barged onstage and swiped the microphone from Country artist Taylor Swift,
who had just won an award. He basically told Taylor (along with shocked
viewers) that his friend Beyonce deserved the  award more than Ms. Swift.
I didn't watch the show, but according to eyewitnesses, West had been
drinking for hours and was  'out of control."
He was  kicked out of the Awards ceremony---and later he did apologize to
Swift. But it was too little, too late in my opinion.

Not all, but so many of our so-called "stars," or "leaders"...from athletes
and  entertainers to politicians are publicly misbehaving---and worse than ever.

It's  also sad  that many of these adult brats  simply refuse to realize  \
that they ARE  role models to many young  people who actually idolize them...
which is by itself, terrifying.

Hey, it's probably far  too late for parental  discipline of these

troublemakers  now.

But just in case, I  know this wonderful, elderly couple in Iowa who 

still have this old apple tree.......

   Dwight Lane

My wife Pam and I were recently talking  about the  growing divide
among some Americans. There are differing political,social, economic
and other viewpoints that it  SEEMS like we agree on  few things
anymore.

In my humble opinion, one of the simplest measures we can all take
is to remember who we are, as a nation.  Part of that undertaking
is looking at ourselves, and determine if our society is  "measuring up," 
to the people who gave their lives protecting our freedoms.

They made this supreme sacrifice during wars, and during countless
other instances of defending the U.S,  at home and around the planet.

Rather than pay respect to these heroes only on Veterans' Day...
July 4th or other holidays, I suggest we do it in some manner 
EVERY day through the year. And, a large percentage of us can
"rediscover" a deep  belief in our nation, along with  thanking 
those who wear --or wore --the uniform is a good, first  step. We
should  ask ourselves, "Am I  living my life of freedom in a manner
that properly honors  these fallen heroes and others who made great
sacrifices for us?"

We're STILL the "UNITED States of America." Maybe we can  remind
ourselves of this more often, and thus find more 'common ground' with
others.

God Bless our Veterans!
---------------------------

I hope to see you at the West Point car Show, Sunday, September 20th...
along with all the great events during the "Last Fling 'Til Spring!"

Dwight Lane

The Nebraska Cornhuskers open the 09-10 season

at home with Florida Atlantic. If you can't go & catch

the game at Memorial Stadium,  don't miss any of

the action right here on Pure Country 107.9 The Bull!

***Leann Womack performs at 7pm...Friday! ***
 

(For a complete list of events, visit statefair.org)

Witness Thunder by The River coming up the weekend of Aug. 21 & 22nd in

Wisner Nebraka. See the Extreme National Truck and Tractor pull kicking off 

that Friday at 7:00 p.m followed by  live entertainmet in the Beer Garden. 

Remember the Airboat rides going on all weekend long. Plus fireworks both

nights.