Pistol Pete

If you follow college football, Pistol Pete is a familiar name. But, do you know the whole story?

Pistol Pete is the mascot for Oklahoma State University.  Pistol Pete is more than a legend, he was a living breathing man and served as the inspiration for the mascot for Oklahoma State University. And, he is a relative of mine. 

Pistol Pete was born Frank Eaton, Jr in 1860, and at the age of 8, he watched six men gun his father down. He vowed to avenge his father's death, and hunt down the six men that killed him.

With the help of his father's friend and neighbor, and daily practice, Frank learned to shoot fast and straight. Colonel Copinger at Fort Gibson gave him the nickname Pistol Pete. At the age of fifteen he outshot everyone at the fort.

 In his last years, Pistol Pete could draw his forty-five Colt as fast as he did in the days of his youth when he earned the eleven notches on his gun - five for the murderers of his father and six in the line of duty as U. S. Marshal for Judge Parker, the "hanging judge." At the time of his death, he still carried his gun loaded because, as he said, "I'd rather have a pocket full of rocks than an empty gun."

Pistol Pete was adopted by a man named Jasper Exendine when he was about seventeen. Jasper is a cousin to my Great-grandfather on my father's side. Ok, we are not blood kin, but legally we are. Pistol Pete wrote a book of his adventures, and it is so interesting to see how he lived in the Old West.

Pistol Pete at about age 26.

Pistol Pete, 1948 on his horse, Black Dog.

Frank (Pistol Pete) Eaton, died at the age of 98. At the time of his death, he earned his living as a blacksmith and deputy sheriff.

ISAAC

Since I have lived near the coast, I have endured two hurricanes; Ike (2008) and Irma (2017). I now see that there is a storm named Isaac in the Atlantic. 

The prediction for Isaac is that it will continue it's westward track. My concern is that Isaac reaches the Yucatan Peninsula and turns northeast, and heads for Key West, FL. That is exactly what Hurricane Wilma did in 2005.

I am seeing a pattern here.... the two hurricanes I have met both started with the letter "I". And now Isaac is out there. Hummm....

ONE YEAR AGO

It was one year ago today that Hurricane Irma devastated The Keys. We are still cleaning and fixing up in some areas.

Gordon was our first named storm of this season. However, he was east of Key West and we didn't get a drop. A breeze is all he sent us.

Florence is looking like it will miss Florida, but hit the Carolinas. 

There are two more storms in the Atlantic that have gained strength and became hurricanes... Isaac and Helene. We will keep an eye on them.

I can remember back when a hurricane was the furthest thing from my mind. That was something that other people experienced. In the past ten years, I've lived through two. I would prefer to not make it "three".

IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN....

HURRICANE SEASON 2018

Looks like Florence is up and running in the Atlantic. Too far away to know where she's heading or if she turns into anything, but we will be watching. It's almost been a year since Irma, and still fresh in our minds. Some people have not finished fixing their home from Irma damage.

My hurricane plans are the same as last year. My "hurricane buddy" and I will ride it out the same as last time. That was a good plan, so why change. I live in a different place this season, but it did well through Irma, so I'm not concerned. 

This weekend I will stock up on batteries, drinking water, canned foods.... and rum. All the essentials for weathering out a storm. Check back often and we will navigate the hurricane season together.