Branson and Beyond

By Richard Bingman

About the Book
In Branson and Beyond, Richard Bingman uses a series of short essays to detail the adventures experienced by him and his wife as they traveled and lived in five cities in Missouri. While the essays explore Bingman’s own inner realizations and experiences, they present to readers lessons applicable to their own lives, encourage enlightenment on many levels.

About the Author
Richard Bingman was born in Missouri. Following a tour of duty in the United States Air Force, Bingman taught science and mathematics for nine years before turning toward research.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: May 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887297736

Book preview

About the Author

I was born near Carthage, Missouri, over ninety-four years ago. I was the oldest of four sons. We grew up on a farm and graduated from Golden City, Missouri High School. All of us attended college at some level.

Following a tour of duty in the United States Air Force, I earned a master’s degree and taught science and mathematics in the Kansas City, Missouri, high schools for nine years.

Then, a desire for more education and a change of pace prompted me to enter a doctoral program at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I received the degree in 1967.

At this point, I redirected my life ambition from teaching to research, and I accepted a position of Applied Education Research at Mid-Continent Regional Education Laboratory in Kansas City, Missouri. This required that I develop special thinking and writing skills, which I was able to utilize when I retired—to write short stories.

I create my own style of writing in which I combine my memories of rural and farm life with spiritual principles and season it with a bit of humor. This is on display in this document and it represents my legacy.

Blessings,

Richard M. Bingman

Introduction

This third book represents an application of the Individual Process Model developed in the creation of the Home Place in book two.

This model is based on the deep inner realization of what is best for me, but it is subject to change throughout my life. The target of this process is moving to the Branson area as urged by the Spirit, and our choice was Forsyth. Later, this trip evolved to include living in Hollister, Blue Eye, and Springfield in circular fashion with Branson as the center of influence.

The towns were interspersed with thirty-six activities to provide the action and flow of this spiritual journey.

The reader can expect to become acquainted with certain Ozark terms such as cooling board, first table, guano, and fourteen-inch stick.

Also, the reader can look forward to knowing the identity of the outlaws who used a certain road to escape into Arkansas when they were detected in Missouri.

Another episode of interest will be the emergence of an aggressive creature in Table Rock Lake.

Then, there is a man who could deliver a whole sermon around the use and meaning of the word blessing.

All of these incidents and many more serve to put spiritual meat on physical bones.

The true significance of the journey will become evident at the end.

Happy reading!

Welcome 

to Branson

Bingman_002.PNG

Chapter One

About Branson

Following the big flood in 1986, I felt the spirit urging me to move to the Branson area to renew and advance my spirituality. Actually, we had visited this area several times before residing there. So, much of the information provided herein is based on prior knowledge.

Bingman_003.PNG

I learned that Branson owed its early origin to Harold Bell Wright. He came to the Ozarks because of health concerns around 1900. His original writing of The Shepherd of the Hills led to an intense interest in the Branson area. It has resulted in the establishment of Branson as an entertainment, musical, and cultural center that embraces both the Ozarks culture and the New World of Progressive ideas.

This became evident to me in 1994 soon after our arrival in the area. It was during the observance of Veterans Day that I volunteered to carry a flag during a parade in a local musical theater in Branson. I was anxious to do this since I am a veteran of the Korean War and had not ever participated in any ceremony of this nature.

I practiced diligently right up to almost time for our parade. As I was walking through the back production room of the theater, I was hit on the head by a radio that had slipped out of the belt of a technician who was adjusting an overhead light.

Bingman_004.PNG

It created a gash and, like all head wounds, it bled profusely. However, there was a lighter side in that it was the first and only time that a Christian woman and a Muslim woman were praying over me at the same time.

An ambulance was called and I was rushed to the hospital because the amount of blood made it appear that it was more serious than it actually was. Everyone was relieved, including my family, who was at the theater.

Some stitches were provided to close the wound, and I was returned to carry my flag across the stage at the appointed time.

When someone not familiar with the situation asked me about it, I merely said that I was using my head. Then, I learned later that there were some people who said I was wounded in action and should insist on receiving a Purple Heart award. However, I was happy with the outcome and simply felt blessed.

What a way to be welcomed to Branson!

Bingman_005.PNG

Chapter Two

Partnership

When we got settled in Forsyth, I quickly felt inadequate because of the lack of musicians in my background. I reviewed at least forty blood relatives and only one demonstrated any skill at playing a musical instrument beyond the radio, television, and associated instruments. He played a fiddle back during our youth, but disappeared many years ago. His presence was last known to be in Arizona, having joined an Indian tribe. However, Beula and I enjoyed listening to music and eagerly attended almost every show in Branson.

Bingman_006.PNG

The musicians seemed eager to have us attend shows and even offered reduced prices of admittance for us as locals. I think they considered us as partners in sharing the noise, traffic, and other nuisances. Also, of course, they hoped we would promote their shows. However, I believed that there were other ways of establishing our roles as partners.

Musicians and show promoters often lead us to believe