Everyone has heard of the mythical Jackalope--half jackrabbit and half antelope. Many parts of the country even claim to be the site of its origin. But what I sawdefied the imagination. It was a warm spring night and I was driving alone from Hobbs back to Eunice. There is a slight rise in the landsape just south of Hobbs, on highway l8, where you feel the earth heave almost imperceptibly. The moon was full and I had the car windows down enjoying the fresh New Mexico clean air. The radio was set to one of those clear channel stations in Mexico. You know the ones that reach around the world? The music was "Tequila" and all was right with the world. It must have been around l0:30 p.m. Then after "Tequila" came "La Bamba". Latin rhythms as only they can do it. As I topped the imaginary ridge there it stood a full four feet tall--the legendary Jackalope! My first sighting ever! ...to be continued....
 
LYNDA RAGAN 1960:  Come on Glenn, type faster...
 
BEVERLY HARVEY 1967:   Oh Glenn,  I knew this was you. I guess those creative juices are flowing again. I will never get all these great stories on your website. I am working though.   So tell us more. Is this a sighting of the kangaroo that so many claimed to have seen years ago around Eunice??

It was a good l0 miles more to Eunice and I was so excited about the experience I began to hyperventilate.I had seen the legendary Jackalope, the one and only cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope. Here I am by myself, with no corroboration. Who can I tell? Who would believe it? Dare I make a fool of myself by announcing such a thing? Become the laughing stock of Eunice? But, what if others had seen one also? What a quandry! For the last l0 miles my mind raced with questions and "what ifs". Then I decided I had to talk to someone. Maybe stop at the RKC for coffee and broach the subject with a fellow traveler? Perhaps he might have seen it too. Maybe I could get him to bring it up first. I know. I'll just be cool and get him to go first. You know, talk about the weather, where he's been, small talk. So I approached the "Y" where the famous Road Kill Cafewas still open....to be continued...
 
LYNDA RAGAN 1960: Oh my do you think that famous hardly ever seen "jackalope" will be featured on the menu at RKC? Please tell us it is not so !!

I was greatly relieved that only two cars were in front of the RKC--few people. Whew! As I entered I was greeted by "Bubbles" working the counter shift. "Hi, Hon." was her standard friendly greeting. "What's up. You look like you saw a ghost." (Maybe I did) Soon she was at my cup carring two flasks of coffee."Decafe or regular" she asked. "Decafe", I replied.(I couldn't calm down, and didn't need the caffeine.)"What's on the menu" I asked. "Road Pizza" was her reply. (Ugh! Catch of the day!) "Ever have anything new come in lately?" I carefully queried. "Like what?" she answered. "You know, an unusual animal hit on the highway." "Something different you've never seen before." Her response was: "Naw, same old fare day in and day out." "Why?" "I've seen 'em all."...to be continued...

ANN BERTRAND 1954:  I haven't been able to get on the message board much lately and was just fixin to post a message asking where the dickens you were!  Glad I saw these posts and to know you are back in fine form with the 'Tall Tales'!   Come on with the next episode.......

Bubbles was not the kind of woman who might belong to MENSA. But from the neck on down--lookout! The kind that brings in a lot of male customers."I once heard of an animal called a Jackalope" I offered. "Hon, there ain't no such critter. Are you going through a mid-life crisis or something?" she responded. "Jackalopes are just plain fiction. You been watching too much television." "But I think I saw one, just now, south of Hobbs." I stammered. Bubbles laughed. "Then why didn't you just run over it and bring it on in? We could've cooked that prong-horned devil, added some beans and rice and made up a real nice presentaton." "Ha!" I could see I was getting nowhere with her so I changed the conversation. "What are those red baseball caps on the shelf?" "Why we're selling those at the big reunion coming up" she responded. "To promote the Road Kill Cafe. "You Kill em-We grill em." ....continued....

LYNDA RAGAN 1960:  I  hate to say this, but would you ask Bubbles to save a couple of hats for me? And really try to keep your eyes on her face when you talk to her !!! ROTFL   Sending a tune for you.. Enjoy--------hehehehe

BEVERLY HARVEY 1967:  Lynda, Hey want to see what one of Glenn's hats looks like? I just got this photo in the mail from him. I definitely have to have a hat!!!

ANN BERTRAND 1954:  Better have plenty of those hats ready! Everybody will want one.........or two..........

LYNDA RAGAN 1960:  Annie,  Surely Glenn will have plenty of hats for all of his favorites. LOL

ANN BERTRAND 1954: Lynda, I sure hope so!!!!!!   It's a gettin close to time.......

Following Lynda's advice, I asked Bubbles to come closer so I could look into those big blue eyes. Sure enough, it was like looking in the windows of a house with no furniture inside. Then I knew I couldn't trust her to keep my sighting of the Jackalope a secret. She would blab it all over Eunice by daybreak. She sure didn't let me down. I went to the post office next morning to get my mail and was greeted by: "Hey, Mr Jackalope Man, seen any more Jackalopes today?" By nightfall I was the laughing stock of town. "Maybe you could bring one in to the 4th of July Picnic!" Hahahaha. "What are you going to name it? EunicerictusJackalopalooza?" Meanwhile, somewhere up highway l8 a real live Jackalope carries on his life in relative security, knowing his secret will never be known. And I have to live with being known as the only person from Eunice to have ever seen the real thing. Very frustrating!!!!

ANN BERTRAND 1954:   Well Glenn, We'll just have to see what can be done about finding one in July!!!!!! LOL
I hate for you to be the laughing stock of Lea County..........

LYNDA RAGAN 1960:
Glenn,
I believe you saw it and I agree with Annie, we should try to capture one during the reunion.. Then we'll see who gets the last laugh! LOL
I cannot imagine a Postmaster being that rude, it must have been a clerk..

Ok, heres the plan.. Annie you bring the net, Glenn you bring the rope, and I will bring a camera and off we will go snipe hunting, oops I mean Jackalope hunting. Maybe we better bring a few more people along with us. That creature might not like being roped and netted. I know, we'll ask Bev, Fred, Red, and Dean to come with us. Maybe your lovely wife Carolyn could keep the car running just in case we have to make a run for it!!!

We just have to get your reputation back in good standing. We cannot have people laughing at our very own "Teller of Tall Tales".

LOUISE HANKINS 1960:  Glenn. I sure hope you are going to have plenty of hats,,,,,,,there is a WHOLE LOT OF US that will want to buy one.........Keep some reserved for us!!!!!!! ok??????

BEVERLY HARVEY 1967:  Glenn, this is a great picture of that jackalope. This provides absolute proof that you did see him. I am attaching it for the rest to see.

RICHARD ALLEN 1967:  Bev, The Jackalope has a relative living in Odessa, Tx. He is working hard as a mascot for the semi-pro hockey team that plays there.

GARY MORAN 1964:   Sounds to me like Glen might have stopped too long at the Jones City Bar on the way home!

Glenn:  Nope, Gerinimo Hut, Monument! Where they used to have the inter-regional knife fights every Saturday night.