A Water Cooler Legend

It never ceases to amaze me what the S-I-L will come up with next. The other morning I stumbled out of bed, started the coffee, let Butch outside, and turned on the computer. The first thing I do is check to see who was thinking of us during the night while we slept.

Lo and Behold if I didn't have this little ditty in my Inbox from the S-I-L

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The Ballad of Michelle

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Have pen will travel

reads the card of a woman.
A CPA without armor

in a savage land.
Her fast pen for hire

heed’s the calling wind.
Michelle, Michelle,

Where do you roam?
Michelle, Michelle ,

Far, far from home.
She travels on

to wherever she must;
A calculator of plastic

is her badge of trust.
There are water cooler legends

that office people spin,
Of the woman with the pen ;
Of the woman called Michel-l-l-le
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The daughter works for a concern in Houston as a financial consultant. She travels extensively wherever her services are needed. As her mother, I don't like to see her travel so much but as I've posted before, whatever works for them, works for me.

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While reading those words, I kept thinking..."Where have I heard something like this before?" Today it dawned on me!! Most of you are too young to remember the old Paladin T.V. series, premiering in 1957 and ending in 1963.
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Paladin was not your normal gunfighter. He was an educated and a traveled man. A West Point graduate, he served as a Union officer during the Civil War. After the war, he went west and became a high-priced 'gun for hire.' He was based at the Hotel Carlton in San Francisco and enjoyed the finer things in life. He dressed in fancy clothes, enjoyed fine wine, gourmet food, opera, expensive cigars and he could play the piano.

☺

He read newspapers from all over the West looking for situations in which he could help, for a fee. Sometimes Hey Boy, the Oriental porter who worked at the Carlton, would bring Paladin a letter or 'wire' asking for his help. Usually, within the first few minutes, he was dressed for 'business' and on the trail.

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When working, he dressed completely in black including a black hat with a band of silver conchos and a custom holster with a silver chess knight on it. He carried a custom made pistol which was perfectly balanced and had a rifled barrel. He preferred to settle problems without violence whenever possible, but if forced to fight, he excelled. A master marksman and a quick draw, he was a match for most any man. And for those 'difficult times' he kept a derringer hidden under his belt, which saved his life on many occasions. His rifle, which was rarely used, also had a silver chess knight on the stock. This leads us to believe it was as carefully made as the pistol he carried.

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Before resorting to violence, Paladin would put his rich education and experience to work to try to find an alternate solution. In spite of his profession, he had a deep respect for the law and would often turn on his employers if he found they were the guilty party.
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Ballad of Paladin Lyrics

Have gun will travel

Reads the card of a man

A knight without armor

In a savage land..

His fast gun hired

Heeds the calling wind

A soldier of fortune

Is a man called Paladin..

Paladin, Paladin

Where do you roam

Paladin, Paladin

Far, far from home..

He travels on

To wherever he must

A chess knight of silver

Is his badge of trust..

There are campfire legends

That the plainsmen sing of

A man with the gun

Of the man called Paladin..

Paladin, Paladin

Where do you roam

Paladin, Paladin

Far, far from home.

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So, now you know the rest of the story. ...which has nothing whatsoever to do with the New Year.....but

Happy New Year!