Using Resources Wisely

I've never told you this, but when I was in school, I used to tell tall tales. I didn't want to, I tried not to, but I would open my mouth and out would come a lie of mammoth proportions. A totally made up story of something that had never happened. And then, one day, I was telling one of my stories and someone who had heard it before called my attention to a change in the details, which caused me to respond, "Who's telling this lie, you or me?" And, just like that, I was cured. I may still elaborate for the good of the story, but you can bet that the event itself occurred.

I think that another reason I don't need to lie any longer is that I live in Alaska -- I don't need to make things up, the most amazing things actually happen here.

Such as the time, in the early days of flight, a pilot flew the first plane into Barrow one cold, windy, winter day. He landed his little two-seater plane, and then was in a real fix, as there was nothing to tie it down to. No fence posts. No trees. While he was trying to figure out what to do, and holding on to the plane with all of his might, fighting the wind that was trying to snatch it from his hands and his life, the local men poured out of their homes, tied ropes to various parts of the plane, pulled the ropes out in straight lines, laid them on the ground and peed on them. The hot urine immediately froze solid to the ice under it and the plane was safely anchored for his entire stop over.

Now tell me, what on earth could I make up that tops that?

Read further -- two more posts today.