Tip O' the hat to Tap, Gaby, Marie & Steve

What's a recipe for a great story? First, let's start with two damsels in distress. Whip them well into the wilderness. Sprinkle in a mountain lion, some prayer and a dog. Next add heaping dose Camp Verde's Andy Griffith (AKA Tap Parsons). Stir and let simmer for 47 years. Finally, serve with a well seasoned storyteller--none other than Steve (Twain) Ayers.

The December 3rd Camp Verde Bugle dishes up a real story for the ages today entitled, "Heaven-sent: Camp Verde man's kindness opens a lifetime of adventure." Reporter Ayers pens a classic feature tale about a classic Camp Verde icon's role in an informal 1963 wilderness rescue of two teenage girls. It's a heartwarming story guaranteed to bring a glow to the spirit of anyone who knows Tap Parsons. As I read Steve's fine story I almost felt like I was watching either "It's a Wonderful Life" or The Andy Griffith Show.

Tap and I go "way back," as they say, easily more than 25 years. He was always one of my "best buds" in clannish ol' Camp Verde. Somehow, we always felt we were related in some distant genealogical way. Photos of Tap's Dad and Grand Dad looked almost identical to pictures of my Dad and Grand Dad. Neither one of us had time or inclination to research our respective family trees to prove a genetic connection. After a few years, we both just assumed we were somehow related and left it at that. Even though I was labeled an environmentalist, Tap liked me. And even though Tap was The King of The Good Ol' Boys, I liked him. Tap ran Pack Saddle Liquors so our paths crossed often. Tap cared about the Verde River a whole lot more than anybody knew. We had a lot in common and it was always a pleasure to enjoy Tap's gentlemanly hospitality.

Imagine my delight and surprise this morning when I came upon Steve's story in the online edition of the Bugle. Steve's well written words sure brought a lump to my throat and put a mist in my eyes. Obviously, the story existed in its own right. However, no one would have ever known about this story if Steve hadn't stepped into the soup to craft a classic. Stories exist but they don't really become REAL stories until someone takes time to tell them. Thank You, Steve, you played just as vital a role in this story as the protagonists did themselves. Pat yourself on the back and pin yer another gold star on your Life Chart today! YA DUN GOOD!

Click here for the story as it appears in the Camp Verde Bugle.

If the newspaper link fails to function, click here for an archived PDF of the story that we've put up for posterity on our Google Doc's account.