Dakota Beacon

A newcomer arrived to work in the oil patch. He still was not used to winter when he asked an old timer, "What do you do when the wind isn't blowing?" Without missing a beat the old timer said, "Pick the rocks out of my pocket."
Speaking of wind brings to mind a poem, an old favorite by Christina Rossetti.
Who has seen the wind?
Neither I nor you:
But when the leaves hang trembling
The wind is passing thro'
Who has seen the wind?
Neither you nor I:
But when the trees bow down their heads
The wind is passing by.
One thing's for sure. Ms. Rossetti was not from North Dakota. No one from North Dakota speaks poetically of the wind.
Some things about the wind are worth mentioning. Even naysayers have to admit there are some good things to say about our prairie squalls.
For example, the green energy rage focuses on converting our abundant supply of wind into electrical energy. Some yeoman's work has been done along these lines although more is needed to make the price right.
Of course, past generations knew how to make good use of wind energy. To this day many farms and ranches still rely on windmills to bring water to thirsty livestock. There was a time when some grinding mills were powered by wind. One such mill is located on the town square in Kenmare, ND. Until a little over a hundred years ago all sea shipping was driven by the wind.
Now, if only some genius would devise a way to run oil well pumps using wind energy we'd have it made. Theoretically it's possible. Unfortunately, installation of the hardware with the proper gear ratio would require an acre or two.
Even so, we may all avail ourselves of the simple uses of wind. I took advantage of the wind last autumn while raking summer's debris from the yard. Standing upwind, our "renewable resource" helped make light work of the leaves and last year's lawn clippings as they blew before my rake and across the yard. I'm sure my wind-assisted effort did not endear me to my neighbors downwind.
Ever wonder why we have so little trash along our highways? Don't raise the issue with folks from South Dakota. It could be a sore point.
North Dakota birds know how to use the wind. They usually find a good blow helpful. I watched two Canadian Geese come in for a landing on a pond last autumn. Their approach must have been a third of a mile long. Never once did they flap their wings as they glided into the wind. They aimed for a pond, descended onto it and made a perfect splashdown.
There are more advantages. A good stiff breeze across your bow will keep bugs off your windshield.
Wind deters mosquitoes (North Dakota State Bird?) keeping them at bay.
On the way to town, a good tail wind will improve your gas mileage--and erase the gain on the way back home.
As Ms. Rossetti pointed out, we can't see the wind, but we sure see the effects. I've heard tell that the runner-up for the North Dakota State Flag was a plastic bag on a barbed wire fence.
Not only can you see the effect of wind, you can smell it. If you happen to be on the downwind side of the local lagoon, slough or stray polecat even the slightest breeze will give you a larger-than-life clue.
Christina Rossetti was not the only poet inspired by the wind. Robert Frost, James Whitcomb Riley of "Little Orphant Annie" fame, and Edgar Guest, to name a few, paid homage to the wind.
It was Katharine Lee Bates who observed that the wind helps make America beautiful with amber waves of grain.
Actually, wind isn't so bad when you look on the bright side.
Now, about this long, cold spell..

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at P. O. Box 337, Stanley, ND 58784 or (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)