Bars, Churches, and Whoop Up

Bars, Churches, and Whoop Up

We arrived in Conrad on Friday afternoon after hugs with our kids, doing dinner and catch up, we went to the Branding Iron Bar and Bowling Alley to hear Eric (fingers Ray) Gustafson provide the entertainment for the evening. Gus, as he’s known, has a day job as a math teacher at Conrad High School where Anna teaches Spanish. Anna says he’s a great teacher but what impressed me most was that he’s a five man band all in one, as in Gus playing a drum, cymbal, harmonica, guitar, accordion, as well as singing. Kurt told me musical talent runs in the family, Gus’s brother does the YAHOOOO for Yahoo ( So what do you do for a living? I yodel yahoo for Yahoo. Who? Yahoo that’s who and that’s no hooey) Whew.

Anyway Gus and the Branding Iron Bar made me think of some similarities with church and some pointers churches could learn from bars. Now understand, Conrad has a population of about 2,000 so when you go to a bar, like church, you’re going to see a lot of people you know. In fact, I even saw somebody I knew in the person of Darrel who I’d met at church when we were out here for Easter. Darrel was in the majority - looking normal and savory, but there were several others that I’ll just say looked like real characters. Of course our church and maybe yours also has some “real characters.” This not being a bad thing in that I’m of the opinion that real characters (like Jim, Bill, and those others – you know who I’m talking about) give a church or a bar character.

And then there’s the young cowboys whom Gus told us were competing in the Conrad Whoop Up Rodeo. Broad shouldered, big belt buckles, a slightly bow legged gait, plus a disgusting example of dipping immediately followed by a long pull on a long neck, and hats that were big enough to be used as a drag chute on a Jet. I tried not to stare but you just don’t see real cowboys in Holland.

And just like Church, people there greeted each other with a hug, handshake or backslap. Now granted some of the bar hugs were a little more demonstrative than church hugs, but remember there’s nothing like a good hug to help thaw out some of the frozen chosen at church. Of course do your church hugs in moderation and in good order.

Another observation was that most everybody was pretty happy, as exhibited by a whole lot of smiling going on. The main source of their happiness was not the refreshments but the fellowship that was going on – see there’s a church phrase that applies to bars as well as vice versa. There was a whole lot of happiness and rhythm going on on the dance floor as well. I don’t know about you but I’m impressed when a couple can do a great two-step while they’re holding each other’s hands, and they’re hands are each holding a can of Busch. They didn’t even spill a drop – as Larry would say “now that there’s real talent.” Made me smile.

But back to multi-instrumented, -talented, -tasking Gus. You probably really can’t compare him to a preacher, but he did lead us in singing, and his rendition of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues has confession (shot a man in Reno), remorse (I hung my head and cried), recognition of his sin and misery (I knew I had it coming) but not much hope in the end other than a lonesome whistle blowing his blues away.

So we had a good time at the Branding Iron Bar and Bowling Alley but as I write this on a Saturday night, I’m looking forward to hearing Q&A1 and whatever else Reverend Reese has to preach about tomorrow. I know it will affirm that He came, He died, and He rose again so that my joy and my hope and my comfort may be made complete. Or with a little help from Johnny Cash - He blew my blues away. And you can’t get that at a bar.

Whoop Up Days in Conrad

First of all, how did the Whoop Up get its name? Elementary - Tulip Time has Tulips and Whoop Up Days has people whooping it up at a parade, rodeo, golf scramble, pancake breakfast and the Branding Iron. That’s my definition; the one in the brochure said that Conrad was on the trail that whiskey traders took from Fort Benton to Canada. With a substantial amount of 180 proof grain alcohol as part of the cargo, the trader was admonished not to let the Indians “whoop you up.” Thus began the Whoop Up Trail and now Whoop Up Days. A kids parade is first and then the main event consisting of horses, tractors, semis, Shriners in little cars, old cars, motorcycles, Whoop Up Queen wanna bees, and all of them throwing out candy to the crowd.

The Rodeo was out of town aways and was great fun as well. Check out the pictures. The caption contest requires one for the upside down cowboy - what did he say, as well as one for the horse. Coffee on me at JP's for the prize winner. It was very windy and cold, but we stayed for two hours. It finally started to rain, so we headed back “to the ranch.” After some people took little naps, Anna made gnoccis (it’s a potato pasta), which was good. A bottle of red wine and discussions about politics and religion, and we got warmed up from the two hours in the damp wind. We are all now pretty worn out, and with church tomorrow we need to get some sleep. Anna just told us we have to go early because we have to set up for the snacks (that Anna made) after church. Gary is right now reading the local weather, and it’s wet and cold for the next three days!!! Ugh!! Until next time…