The Skillet Lady Speaks
A follow-up interview on what happened to the hog | feb17.2024
This site’s December 2023-release video ‘Looking for Major & the Killer Skillet Incident' from theHARToftheMATTER.substack.com has been chosen as an official selection of the 2024 Five-Minute Film Festival, taking place Sunday, Feb. 18, in Liburn, Georgia. I must share below the dear e-mail the festival sponsors sent me when I had to RSVP that I could not make it, much as I wished so that I might personally represent this video, which so captures the witty, soulful spirit of Bill Hart. NOTE: To understand their ‘Ka-Sworp!’ remark, you need to have seen the video, which I have included at the bottom of this post:
In a sweet and classy move, SL and Jef created an image in honor of Bill, to be shown before the screening of ‘Looking for Major and the Killer Skillet Incident' at their festival. (Which, OK, when I opened up their e-mail and saw it I could not speak for a minute or two through the tears …)
SKILLET LADY FOLLOW-UP
You can read my Feb. 13, 2024 homage to him at the following link — ‘Saying Goodbye to Bill’ — or by clicking the image below. It’s a photo-essay account of the week some of us spent with him as he passed earlier this month at his home deeep in the West Virginia hills. Not an easy thing. But his dearest wish was to remain in the Braxton County hills as he left this world. And so that came to be — with his sweet companion beast, Bark Raven, close at hand, his sister and some other dear folk, plus two world-class hospice nurses, creating a comforting, supporting space for his leavetaking.
A succession of visitors from near and far came to say goodbye to Bill or arrived after his passing for some communion and conversation about a person they knew and loved. Among them was the Skillet Lady herself — a.k.a, Sharon Jarvis, who lives just down the way from Bill’s house, up a corkscrew road in the West Virginia outback. In sitting across the kitchen table from Sharon and her friend, Shirley Rose, I asked her about the hog featured in the ‘Looking for Major and the Killer Skillet Incident,’ plus a few skillet-related questions. Well, then. She was fun to listen to and to learn from. I then requested if I might video interview her for more specific details.
VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED: This video contains graphic descriptions of Sharon's way of butchering a hog — it's not pretty, but where do you think we got bacon and ham from before the more massively cruel factory farms of today? Plus, she shares a few tips on how to cure an iron skillet, including ones you may have used to bean on the noggin a since-discarded husband — in favor of a nice, non-drinking boyfriend who passes The Skillet Test.
CLICK TO VIEW VIDEO
VIDEO SOUNDTRACK: A lovely piece by Lucas the Flow titled "When the Sun Comes up." HEAR MORE OF HIS MUSIC: soundcloud.com/lucastheflow
ONWARDS TILL WE STOP
We have some wonderful interviews we did with Bill about his notable experiences and observations from his life both before and after he arrived in the Appalachian hills. We will be rolling those out, along with some remembrances of Bill, in upcoming weeks and months. So, free susbcribe if you are not already, for e-mail notice of new posts. Meanewhile: ‘Ka-SWORP!’ (Spelled with an ‘O',’ SL and Jef! Have a fine festival and thank you again!)