Why Red Dirt?

Have you ever been to Oklahoma, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains?  Those of us who live here know the wind blows red dirt!  Just look at your vehicle after a spring storm!  Red spots of dirt glued with sprinkles of rain to the surface of doors, bumpers and windows, resulting in “Okie camouflage.”

We’re told the “red” color of soil results from iron oxide and the soil often needs supplemental nutrients.  We have plenty of “BS” in Okieland to enrich the soil and lots of cows as a source of those nutrients.  Yes, lots of hot air and BS!  We’ll be discussing that.

Why Dilettante?

Okay, it’s a rather fancy French word for a blog from the plains, but that’s part of the irony, right?  A dilettante is described as a lover or admirer of the arts.  I am certainly that.  I love the arts and I love artists.  “Dillettante” also means one who is a dabbler.  One who has a superficial, not serious knowledge of a discipline.

The first bit of advice when starting a blog is to find something the blogger is passionate about and narrow the blog to that passion.  I don’t want to narrow.  I want to expand, and my waistline proves it!  I’m interested in a wide variety of topics, but I don’t want to wade too deep.  So, I’m a dilattante, but with a “red dirt” perspective.

I’ve spent many years becoming expert in different areas.  The time has come to be a generalist, with an interest in everything!  I won’t delve too deeply, so I’ll appreciate any further edification from my readers.  Feel free to comment.  I don’t mind disagreement, but let’s keep it civil, ok?  Civil discourse is a true Okie value.  It’s one of the reasons this blog exists.

Who am I?  

I’m a proud Native Oklahoman.  My great-grandparents came to Oklahoma Territory as the final wave of adventurers moved west into unsettled sections of Oklahoma Territory.  They raised crops and livestok in the red dirt and eaked out a life for themselves and their children.  My grandparents suffered through the Great Depression’s dust and despair.  Both of my parents lived through the dust bowl and started their marriage as farmers until my dad decided to follow his passion in the construction industry.  Because of the economic expansion of the 1960’s, Dad was able to start his own company.  It was a dream his grandfather could scarcely imagine as a red dirt farmer, auctioneer, lawman and preacher.  Maybe he was a dilletantte too.

This background is  offered to  express my deep  appreciation to those who preceeded me, and to help the reader understand from where I come.  Because of the sacrifices of my predecessors, I was able to attend college and law school and I am daily grateful for my undeserved blessings.  My ancestors were acutely conscious of their resources.  They were conservationists because the earth was their livelihood.  Both sets of grandparents were FDR democrats and my Grandad Oakley was a “union man,” who was a vocal supporter of the benefits of collective bargaining.

I was raised to practice conservation, environmentalism and respect for the land.  Reflections upon “The Golden Rule” and my other church lessons taught me I should never take more than my fair share and I should offer assistance to those who needed help.  My lessons about Christianity included a prohibition against being judgmental and a heathy dose of tolerance.

The “Okie” values instilled in me do not seem as evident in Oklahoma today, but I know those values exist, perhaps hidden beneath the surface.  My musings are intended to be reminders of those values, both to the reader and to me.  Hopefully, we Okies will feel closer to our roots and others will gain an understanding of the land of red dirt.

*The greeting of “Hey!” is more common than “Howdy” in Oklahoma.