WOLF MOON BASH

I’ve been a BF’er for 16 years and have attended hundreds of great Boozefighters parties.  But last night (1-10-2009) was one of the tops of all.  It was a birthday event for Gene Long put on by Big John & Connie at their ranchette.

Gene & Sheri Long

More than 200 people attended as the afternoon and evening went on.  There were brothers and sisters from as far away as Corpus Christy, Wichita Falls, Abilene, Amarillo, Bowie, Oklahoma, and the general DFW metroplex.  The main purpose was to celebrate Gene Long’s 65^th birthday with him.

Earlier Big John and helpers had built a large bon fire and a smaller sitting fire. 

They were especially appreciated for the flickering light displays and the aroma of wood burning, in which complemented the great BBQ smell.  But most of all it helped knock the freezing chill off your bones.  It was amusing to watch folks take turns hovering around and doing the rotisserie dance.  That’s when you get close to the flames and dance around in one place rotating your shivering & shaking side to replace your burning & baking part.  Eventually that would get every thing real warm and they’d move back out as someone else took their dance spot.

When Gene Long and company showed up we all sang Happy Birthday to him.  (We’d better keep our day jobs).  Big John got up and addressed points of the happy occasion.  How great it was for us to be able to come together like we were and how much he and Connie enjoyed putting the party on.  Like he said…”It don’t get no better than this!” 

Gene Long took the stage, table, stump or what ever he was standing on and in typical “never at a loss for words style” explained that the full moon overhead was known as a ‘WOLF MOON!  

Not only that but tonight it was the closest to earth Wolf Moon we’d ever see in our life time, and how unique it was for all of us to share that brilliant sight together…once in our life time.   Now that was a powerful thought provoking statement, I don’t care who ya are.

Then Big John got up again and announced that we had a lot of new members to patch out tonight.  They are from chapters everywhere and had them come forward. 

The oath was read while all of the prospective members raised their right hand (as all regular members joined in) and everyone repeated the pledge in unison.  There were tremendous shouts of cheers from the new members and the basic group joined in.  It was a scene that puts goose bumps on your arm.

Big John concluded that unusual outdoor exciting event with a down to earth prayer that was heart touching.  Not something you’d likely expect or experience at a typical biker party.  And that too is a part of what makes us a unique family.  We can have fun in the biker world and yet be appreciative and humble in the constant presence of our maker.

Then it became chow time and a couple of long lines formed at the serving tables.  Boozettes had brought their various specialty trays of veggies, beans, salads and bowls of other side dishes. 

Big John and Connie had provided numerous types of meat to include smoked turkey, BBQ pork and beef, and something someone claimed was Buffalo stakes.  What ever it was it was delicious too.  We ate till our bellies were more than content.

The one thing that also struck me as unique was the socializing.  Most parties have a loud band or boom box blearing so loud you can’t hear anyone talk.  There was some music playing here and there on the outskirts but it just served as mood music and didn’t interfere with our visiting conversations.  I was able to catch up on the latest events with our out of town visitors.

It crossed my mind again what Gene had stated about the Wolf Moon and how this was the only time in our history on this earth that we would share such special event.  But then I also thought…every moment we share together is that way.  We can never repeat it again in our life time.  We can only enjoy it in the split second present.  There after it is strictly a memory.  I’m glad those of us that attended will be able to share those precious moments of the WOLF MOON BASH well into our distant memories.

JQ