Life decided when Aubrey Lenamon, of Fannin, Texas, would retire. After working in the oil patch for over 35 years Aubrey's life went upside down.
He lost his thirty five year marriage and his long term job the same year. If that was not enough he's spending more and more time in doctor's offices.
The world offers very few replacement jobs to a man in his fifties. Aubrey knew he was going to have to create a livelihood or else. That's just what he's doing.
Aubrey is a religious man. He is very much an active Christian. He has three main passions. First is his strong belief in Christ.
He backs that up with what he calls his Chuck Wagon Ministry. Which leads us to his cowboy lifestyle and chuck wagon cooking. The third part of Aubrey's life ? He's very much a patriot.
A few years ago he brought his religion, his cowboy chuck wagon and his patriotism together all in one annual event.
Each spring he puts together something called Cowboys for Heroes. He works with the Chaplin's office at Brooke Army Medical Center and together they bring western life to the wounded. They takes over the old cavalry stables at Brooks and turn it into a little corner of the Cowboy world.
The soldiers bring their families. The kids have a blast. They get to participate in mutton busting, ride the mechanical bull, learn to rope a bale of hay, and lots of other fun activities.
In order to put this show together, the normally bashful cowboy pulls together 10 or more Chuck Wagons and a day long stage full of Christian Musicians. His team puts on an eight hour outdoor banquet, a mini kids rodeo and day long Christian concert. That for over a thousand people.
Every year he has to raise approximately $20,000 from sponsors. That's not an easy task during these tough economic times. Then he has to talk about fifty folks into bringing equipment and volunteers to make it run. It takes a lot of campfire cooks to feed a thousand people.
Cowboys for Heroes is the Chuck Wagon Community's way of saluting our War Heroes. It is love of country, love of Christ, and the Cowboy way. That's my pal Aubrey, in a nut shell.
Aubrey's reputation as a chuck wagon cooking is growing. He cooks for Cowboy Churches all over the Southwest. He and that wagon have been as far as Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and Nevada. Up until now Aubrey has done most of these pro bono or for expense money. Now some of that good will is beginning to come home. Aubrey is receiving phone calls about catering corporate and charitable events.
Recently a Swedish Church group asked if he would be interested in cooking in Sweden. Aubrey's response was fairly typical. " I guess so". It may not be riches but it sure looks like Aubrey is on his way to an interesting, albeit "forced" retirement.
Sometimes he lets me tag along and make the coffee or cook a little dutch oven cornbread. People enjoy eating around a campfire and experiencing the cowboy lifestyle.
Aubrey can be
reached at: aubreylenamon@yahoo.com
He is lives near Victoria, Texas.
This story brought to you by the usual suspects @
The Boomer Magazine
and
John Boykin
No comments:
Post a Comment