Well, let’s take a backward look and see what I did or was involved in since last week’s column was written. On Wednesday morning just prior to Thanksgiving Day, I attended the morning breakfast of the Rayville Kiwanis Club at the Rayville Methodist Church. After the good breakfast meal, we enjoyed hearing a special message from the pastor of the local Church of Christ, Rev. Jerry Lee. His message was timely and a bit unusual as he focused on “a dash.” He was referring to the common use of a little dash when we write down dates such as on tombstones. The years of life are listed as from the date of birth until the date of death with only a little dash in between. And, Brother Jerry asked what will we do with our “dash”? That is a sobering thought that all of our life can be referred to as a “dash.” So, we each need to make the most of our time of life on earth or our particular “dash.”
I was all alone on Thanksgiving Day since my son and his wife were off on an excursion along with my granddaughter, Kristi and her family. (I will write more about that when I get further details from them.)
So, my dear sister-in-law, Ann Weeks Jones invited me and my friend, Laura Pierce to come to her home in rural Simsboro to join them for Thanksgiving. So, that’s what we did and it was a lovely trip. The drive over was very colorful with all the beautiful fall foliage along the way.
We arrived at the Jones home to find a host of relatives already on hand along with some other friends/neighbors. Food was everywhere and we found groups to mix and mingle with all over the living room, kitchen and dining area. Of course, the food was really plentiful and tasty and nobody was shy about digging in. And, I feel sure that nobody went away hungry. It was a very special day and we visited until late that afternoon when we drove back to Rayville.
What did I do on Saturday? Nothing momentous that I can recall. (And, that is sometimes good or just as well, rather than being up to my neck in problems.) It was too cold for any rummage sales on Saturday, so Laura and I visited the Rusty Bucket in Archibald.. Mr. Joey Hibbard is always pleased when we show up and we enjoy seeing him and him and his faithful little dog companion, Bear. On this cool Saturday morning, Bear was sporting a lovely sweater which covered him from one end to the other. Mr. Joey said that Bear likes to wear a sweater. (I can only imagine trying to get a sweater on my dog, Happy. Cold weather never seems to bother her.)
Driving on down to Mangham, we spent some time in the Flea Market store and found a few bargains there. It is sometimes surprising to see some of the items which folks have placed there on consignment. (Remember the old adage: “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”) For example – Laura bought some kind of water-color painting and it was done by Marian Tilbury. How about that? Of course, that name didn’t mean anything to Laura until I told her about the many years the Tilbury family lived here and were active in this community and in Woodlawn Baptist Church.
A sad note late last week was the death of Madeline Hendrix Johnston. I went to the visitation at the funeral home and it was like another family reunion because I saw so many of the Hendrix clan. Aunt Madeline and her late husband, Uncle Henry, were such special folks to my late husband, Doc and me in our early years in this area. We used to visit them quite often then and we always found a warm welcome there. Aunt Madeline will be greatly missed by a host of friends and relatives. May God’s great peace and love be sufficient to sustain all who grieve at the loss of this special loved one.
This past Sunday did not have an auspicious beginning for me and probably not for any other Rayville resident as we got up to find no water when we turned on the faucets. I couldn’t believe it. (Oh, we’ve had water problems over the years; but, I can’t recall such a thing happening on Sunday morning.)
As a result of the water being off, we had some problems at Woodlawn Baptist Church. The water was back on by that time; but nobody knew for how long. So, we didn’t stay in our Sunday School classrooms. Instead, we all returned to the church sanctuary and had our morning worship service. We were all through and ready to go home by 10:30AM. (I wonder if anyone came at that time as they usually do – just for worship. They found a deserted place because we had all gone home.)
And, we returned at 6PM for the evening worship service and it was really special since it featured the annual Hanging of the Green. This is such a lovely event in which the sanctuary is beautifully decorated with assorted greenery and other items pertinent to the Christmas season. This happens right before our eyes as the various decorations are brought in and put in strategic places. This setting will remain for our visual enjoyment throughout the month of December.
After the Hanging of the Green service, everyone trekked over to the Family Life Center to enjoy an assortment of goodies along with the fellowship of other church members and visitors. Seems most folks do like to eat and talk and talk and eat. Don’t know which is the most important – talking and eating or eating and talking. (About equal, I’d say.)
Getting back to the water problem, I had black water coming from my faucets most of Tuesday of this week. Ugh! How revolting! Had to go buy a gallon of water because I sure wouldn’t drink any of the dark stuff nor give it to an animal. Now, I am thankful to report that the water is clear as I write this and I pray it will stay that way. Enuff is enuff!
A CHUCKLE: (And it’s past time for one!) A man found a gorilla in a tree in his backyard one morning. He called a gorilla-removal service and a serviceman soon arrived with a stick, a Chihuahua, a pair of handcuffs and a shotgun.
“Now listen carefully,” he told the homeowner. “I am going to climb the tree and poke the gorilla with this stick until he falls to the ground. The trained Chihuahua will then go for his, uh, sensitive area. Then, when the gorilla instintively crosses his hands in front to protect himself, you slap on the handcuffs.”
“Got it,” the homeowner replied. “But what’s the shotgun for?”
“If I fall out of the tree before the gorilla does,” the man said, “then you shoot the Chihuahua.”
Oh, yes – I want to express my appreciation for the new seasonal decorations which have been placed along the main streets of our town. They are a refreshing change from the dreary, ancient Christmas decorations which served our town quite well for a long time. They definitely needed to be consigned to the past. Thanks for the new ones!
And, please, folks…I add this plea along with those from others – don’t litter. Keep your trash private – sack it up and dispose of it properly. That’s what we have garbage barrels for such use. It is so disheartening to drive the streets leading into and out of town and see the trash littering from one sidewalk across to the other. Please don’t litter and teach your children not to litter. Respect the property of others as our parents taught us to do.
Birthdays are fast approaching for: Mollie Gammill, Amy Wilkes, Gloria Murray, Bubba Logue, Sara Archibald and Matt Philley on 12/4; for Brenda Hooks, Neal Smith, Rev. David Lane and Robert Jones on 12/5; Nathan Pentico, D’Juana Stewart, Crystal Anderson, Gary Branch, Jane Pierce, Gwen Garner, Toni Lambert, Gladys Burk, Diana Lee and Gordon Sorey on 12/6; Dottie King, Victoria Ross and Lois Arnold on 12/7; Kenneth Newsom, Charles Greer, Wyndal Wroten and Wayne McManus on 12/8; Janet Caston, Shane Starks and Charles Johnston on 12/9; Ethan Weeks, Joe Morris and Dell Hoggon 12/10. May all of these good folks celebrate well and wisely on their special natal day. And, we wish them many more…
That will conclude another Outlook effort for one more week. Call me at 728-4422 if and when you have any news which you wish to share.
PARTING THOUGHT: A holiday gives one a chance to look backward and forward, to reset oneself by an inner compass.
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