The Texas Black Beetle Chronicles

By Paul Heidelberg

The Black Beetles were coming across the doorway, intent on getting in.
One Black Beetle crossed: it was 1958 and Willie was on the radio – Djing at KBOP in Pleasanton, Texas.
Then, later, another Black Beetle crossed – it was 2010 and Willie was a legend, but these were the same Black Beetles, coming and going.
Then, in Periods, the rains started … “The broken down fences need mending, the rain just ended the drought, it rained and it poured ‘til it flooded, guess that’s what life’s all about”…
But the Black Beetles kept coming, although Houston-like rains in Central Texas had affected their marching, and their intent on getting in was diminished, if only in brief spells.
The Cowboys in the year 2010 sat at the long table, drinking the good Texas iced tea as they waited for their meals: double cheeseburgers with French fries, the cheeseburgers wrapped in that thin paper from an earlier Age; cheese enchiladas served with fresh diced sweet onions, and tacos with shells hot from the grill.
The Cowboys smelled of the Cattle they had spent the morning working during their round-up: they had cleaned their work boots before entering the café, but they could not shake the smell.
One Cowboy, the boss, walked to the café counter. He was wearing stirrups on his worn cowboy boots, but they were for-real stirrups (this was not the movies).
…A Black Beetle walked across The Great Divide… In the early 1960s…"This is Ricky Mare, KTSA, San Antonio, Texas. I’m gonna play you a song right now that is one of those songs where I tell you guys to tell your gals, as you look them straight into their eyes, ‘This song is for you, and nobody but you.’ This is Mr. Ray Charles and I am telling you right now, you are never gonna hear a better love song than this in all of your life, I ‘gair-own-tee’ it."
…"I can’t stop loving you, I’ve made up my mind"…
A Black Beetle pauses at The Great Divide: it is the same time, the early 1960s, but this is near Houston, Texas, not San Antonio.
At The Blue Room Northwest of Houston, the small frame building is wrapped in brilliant Blue Neon, announcing the location of one of the best Blues Jukeboxes in all of America.
The walls shake as the Jukebox rumbles: “The Sky Is Crying,” by Elmore James, “Baby Please Don’t Go,” by Muddy Waters…
…The Blues, On and On and On…

Black Beetles, Black Beetles, crossing The Paths Of Time,
Black Beetles, Black Beetles, crossing The Paths Of Time.

A Black Beetle again crosses The Great Divide: The year is 2010. Ricky Mare is broadcasting at KTSA in San Antonio, Texas.
The same transmitting tower carries his voice throughout Central Texas.
He says: “This is Ricky Mare, KTSA, San Antonio, Texas. I’m gonna play you a song right now that is one of those songs where I tell you guys to tell your gals, as you look them straight into their eyes, ‘This song is for you, and nobody but you.’ This is Mr. Ray Charles and I am telling you right now, you are never gonna hear a better love song than this in all of your life, I ‘gair-own-tee’ it.”
…"I can’t stop loving you, I’ve made up my mind"…

Black Beetles, Black Beetles, crossing The Paths Of Time,
Black Beetles, Black Beetles, crossing The Paths Of Time.