Celebrate Life Without A Head

There's a huge celebration in Fruita (froo-ee'-ta), Colorado, this weekend. May 15th and 16th are Mike The Headless Chicken Festival days, in Fruita. I'm not kidding, pulling your leg, or having one off on you. It really is Mike's big annual weekend. Cut and paste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baCL6J27-Q4 and www.miketheheadlesschicken.org I know. You're thinking that the old Pyrate has finally lost his sword and fighting a losing battle with dementia, swinging a wet noodle. Here's the skinny on old Mike and how he remains so important, 62 years after he finally toppled over with a mournful gurgle and died. 18 months previous, farmer Lloyd Olsen of Fruita, decided his plump Wyandotte rooster looked ripe for dinner. He went out and promptly lopped poor Mike's head clean off. Well, maybe not so clean. It seems that Mike refused to give up that precious thread of life, and continued staggering around the barnyard, attempting to crow and preen himself. Of course, that was out of the question, but when he was still going strong 2 days later, Lloyd decided to keep Mike alive. He fed him a mixture of milk and water with the occasional kernel of corn, and Mike thrived headlessly. In no time, farmer Olsen and his 'Miracle Mike' the headless chicken became the hit of regional and some far reaching carnivals and state fairs. In short, Mike took in about $40,000.00 in the 18 months he survived, and that wasn't chicken feed in 1946. From that September morn in 1945 until he finally choked (human error-Olsen accidentally left his neck sucking syringe at the last show) to death in March of 1947. If you're wondering what all that means to you and me, here's the deal. We go about our little lives, clinging to this big blue ball and hoping for the miracle that will save us, fix our lives, make us pretty - you fill in the blank. Then there's Mike. He continues on in spite of the biggest handicap of all: NO HEAD! Not only did he survive and prosper way beyond any other chicken before or after, he lives on as an episode in human and chicken existence we can all look to for inspiration. This Friday and Saturday the 15th and 16th of May, take a minute to honor Mike and all he stands for. Have some hot wings, a chicken salad sandwich, or maybe some Jamaica jerk. Whatever. Go on now, celebrate! Think about it!