Dust Bowl

Last Friday night (11/2/12) I got to see a preview of the upcoming Ken Burns "Dust Bowl" film.  Quite an experience.  The preview was very moving...it's hard to believe what those folks went through.  They survived on almost nothing.  No bath.  Everything covered with dirt and worst of all, the dust pnuemonia.


Co-producer Julie Dunfrey introduced the series and afterwards signed the


book.  She's a very nice lady and had a quiet confidence and humility.  This film will probably be the last work with actual survivors of the dust bowl.

Two dust bowl survivors, Sam Arguello (Clayton, NM) and Boots McCoy (Texas County, OK), were present and told some of their stories.  Black Sunday, when the sun disappeared, was especially vivid.  Boots' sister developed dust pnuemonia afterwards and died.  He never forgave God for taking, "Little Sister".  Sam's family had a 40 acres farm North of Clayton.  After the event, we hung around and talked with the survivors.  Sam's family (son and granddaughter) were with him and I thanked them for coming all the way to Albuquerque for the event.  Sam's son knew Philmont and I enjoyed talking to him about that part of NM.  Boots could have tlked all night, and I wish we could have stayed and listened to him. 

It's interesting.  Most of the audience were older: 50+ for sure, and probably 60+.  I don't think younger folks know about the dustbowl.  We can tolerate alot...the dustbowl proves it.  We just don't act that way.