Author: CharliesTrail
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Paying tribute to Grandpa, the most grateful man I’ve known
On Saturday, April 18, my grandfather Marshall Cheek Kidd passed away. He had just turned 97, and, for the first time, was really starting to feel his age. The life of the party was slowing down, both physically and mentally. It was hard to believe, but the man with the gift of gab suddenly had…
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Let laughter and positivity carry you through this difficult time
“Blow up your TV. Throw away your paper. Go to the country. Build you a home. Plant a little garden. Eat a lotta peaches. Try and find Jesus, on your own.” – John Prine, “Spanish Pipedream” Well, it’s Holy Week, and here we are in the middle of the greatest pandemic of our lifetime. It…
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Local musicians, artists go “live” to lift spirits
It was February of 2007. I was in New Orleans with my friend Daniel – a native – celebrating his first Mardi Gras after Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the impassioned city, its impact still widely spread. Daniel’s home had significant water damage and some of his friends were still crashing in FEMA trailers. New Orleans,…
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There’s no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to proposing
Are you thinking about popping the question? If so, how do you know you’re ready to make the move? Do you create the mood or wait for the moment to present itself? Do you involve others or keep it private? There is no “one size fits all” here. The best proposal is not about what…
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Be pleasant this holiday season
“Years ago my mother used to say, “In this world you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. For years I was smart. I recommend pleasant.” – Elwood P. Dowd, “Harvey” Sixty-nine years after its release, there’s still a lot we can learn from “Harvey,” especially Elwood P. Dowd, one of Jimmy Stewart’s…
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Reflections on “Joker” and society today
“Wanting people to pay attention, you can’t just tap them on the shoulder. Sometimes you have to hit them in the head with a sledgehammer…then you get their strict attention.” – John Doe, “Seven.” Kevin Spacey’s role as a serial killer playing out the seven deadly sins in the iconic David Fincher thriller from 1995…
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Magic waters: Hot springs are magnificent for both humans and wildlife
When my wife, Kari, stepped into the natural, 94-degree pool at Days Inn Thermopolis last Labor Day weekend, she was overcome with euphoria. She smiled and let out a big sigh. Completely captivated, she became one with the water. Such is the salvation in the hot springs of Wyoming. Upon dipping in, your sorrows and…
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“Dookie” Lives On: Reflections on Green Day’s breakthrough 25 years later
August 14, 1994 Twenty-five years ago today, Green Day burst onto the scene with a playful, unhinged 8-song performance at Woodstock ’94 that ended in a full-out mud-throwing fight with the audience. “This isn’t fucking peace, it’s fucking anarchy,” said frontman Billie Joe Armstrong as dirt-drenched festival goers kept making their way onto the stage.…
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For Brady: Feed Jake
“You gonna play a song or what?” I was strumming an orange Washburn acoustic the bartender handed me. It was one of several guitars hanging over the bar at the Oasis on Merrill Avenue, in the heart of downtown Glendive. I’d just interviewed for the reporter position at the Ranger Review and wanted to get…
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Supaman unites through hip-hop and positivity
Christian Parrish Takes the Gun doesn’t hide from his identity. He doesn’t hide that he’s Supaman, nor does he hide where he comes from: the Crow Agency of Big Horn County, Montana. A decorated and celebrated musician and activist, Supaman’s songs blend contemporary hip-hop with traditional Native American instrumentation and style. He’s been recognized for…
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