REFLECTIONS: OKC & THE BUCKET OF BLOOD CLUB

The summer of 1996 I accepted a travel assignment in Oklahoma City; it was a year after the Oklahoma Bombing.  My sweet Mama grew up in Oklahoma and I wanted to see where she had grown up because we’d never got an opportunity to visit.   I promised her I would do a road trip to McAlester and Wewoka her home town.
I always dreaded the first week of a new project because all the females got together at The Hotel Happy Hour and confided their innermost secrets to each other things I wouldn’t even want God to know. By the second week typically they would have ‘fell out’ for whatever reason but now their enemies knew all their Sins.  I myself have always been a private person so much so that some of these females have gone out of their way to find out about my personal life…red flag!
My friend Gina who I’d done other projects with was Team Lead on this project so I felt comfortable that things would go smoothly.  We planned our weekends sight-seeing which I looked forward to with excitement.  First on the list was Boley OK…home of the Boley Black Rodeo.
Gina and I attended the Annual Boley Black Rodeo and I was mesmerized so very different than anything I’d ever seen.  It had a Soulful Flavor that I had never experienced.  The Black Cowboys reminded me of my Uncle Ford who was a Singing Cowboy and who I remember as The Original Horse Whisperer. 
I was hooked and couldn’t wait to tell Mama about it.  Gina being from Texas had always gone to Black Rodeos and was accustomed to the event[s].
Our second excursion was to McAlester I was surprised to see Oklahoma State Prison on the outskirts much like Corcoran Cali where I grew up.  Once inside city limits the town itself appeared much like Corcoran…very rural no sidewalks in the residential section.
It didn’t look like much had changed since Mama lived there.  We ate at a small diner and the waitress asked me where I was from when I said California she winked and said, “I thought so.” 
I asked her why and she said I talk funny….Gina and I laughed at her answer.
I replied, “Thank You.”
On a quiet Sunday afternoon we made our way to the Memorial for The Oklahoma Bombing.  This was before the museum was built.  We walked along and observed the Fence that served as a memorial notes, flowers, and keepsakes attached to it.  It was a sobering experience and I felt at the time a Premonition of what was to come in America.
I wanted to experience the Music Night Club scene in OKC and learned about a Night Club a few blocks from the Hotel that was next on our list.  Saturday night we decided to check it out. Gina knew her way around OKC so we had no trouble finding it.
“I don’t know about this, in Texas we call this kind of place a ‘Bucket of Blood.”
I laughed out loud as I’d never heard that saying…we got out and made our way over the parking lot which had pot holes big enough to hide a car tire in it.  The whole parking lot looked bombed out.
“Girl you could easily break an ankle if you don’t watch your step!”  Gina cautioned.
Once inside it was the typical ‘Hole in the Wall” club atmosphere I was used to.  We ordered drinks and checked out the band which was pretty good.   I learned they were from Fresno Cali….what are the chances?  I felt right at home.
The waitress brought our drinks while a young guy who looked like the actor Terrence Howard plopped down at our table and proceeded to try and ‘rap’ to Gina.  I chuckled I knew that was going nowhere as she shut him down expertly. Don't Mess With Texas....LOL.
“Did ya have to hurt his feelings?” I asked.
Before Gina could answer we heard a Banshee Scream followed by some Hollering you couldn’t mistake for fighting words.  
Terrence Howard got knocked over by the scuffling and tussling and our table was overturned.  All Hell broke loose.
Gina grabbed me by the arm yelling, “PeeCee head for the door NOW!”  
She dragged me drink and all towards the door which was blocked by onlookers but we made it through. 
Once outside we heard one solitary gunshot most likely to break up the Brouhaha.
And the Band played on.

Epilogue:  Gina refused to go back to the BOB but I did and met the owner by the name of ‘Stoney’ who became a friend and each time I went there were no fights….had a good time.[s]





I'm a Child of the Sixties: 50% Hippie + 50% Militant= 100% Human
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