Slim was in my graduating class. We have been friends since the sixth grade. Growing up in rural Kansas you are apt to meet people like Slim...good people, salt of the earth people. Slim was/is a farm boy through and through and one night back in high school a bunch of us were gathered at his place for a soiree. He asks me if I had ever seen an owl close up. I hadn't - "You are in for a treat city boy," he tells me as he walks into the other room - "Hold on for a second." I then hear him say in a soft tone - "How are you doing buddy. I got someone I want you to meet." He waves me into the room and lo and behold there is a baby owl sitting on a blanket in the closet. Looking back, I think it was one of the cutest things I have ever seen - "Where did you get this at Slim." Pet owls were not the norm, but Slim was not your normal guy - "He fell out of the nest in the hay barn and I picked him up." I ask what the name is - "I named him Ollie. The two of us are best buddies."
Ollie the owl brought Slim some recognition from his peers. There was a league photography contest and Slim took a picture of Ollie and added a gold sheer to it (not sure if I am saying it right)...Anyhoo, it was the neatest picture I had ever seen. This was way before all the technology was around - The picture ended up bringing home a first place ribbon.
Turns out Slim wasn't the only guy in town with a pet owl. My buddy Org had a pet owl as well. Hooter was a party favorite and solely responsible for thinning out the stray cat population in town. I didn't know him to well, but I remember him - So I guess the point of this entire post is I must enjoy seeing owls. It brings back fond memories.
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