Opinions
Raising children II
As I stated in a recent article, raising our two children has been a blast for my wife and I. We each worked but held to our promise for one of us to be with them whenever they were not in school and still in the ‘child’ mode. This was a huge promise but we did manage it somehow.
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Anxious moments in the Caicos
In January 2010, the luxury liner Holland America Westerdam sailed from Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale and set her course for the Blue Caribbean. B. J. and I were aboard. It was our Golden Anniversary cruise that we had promised ourselves. Our ports of call would be Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, Grand Turk in the Caicos Islands, through the Windward Passage to Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands and Cozumel, Mexico. We were elated!
The captain had promised us smooth sailing but it was a little choppy and would get worse for a while. I feared that B. J. would be seasick and my fears would be realized along the way. In fact, I would get a little green around the gills myself—something I almost never do on a cruise. [Full Story »]
The captain had promised us smooth sailing but it was a little choppy and would get worse for a while. I feared that B. J. would be seasick and my fears would be realized along the way. In fact, I would get a little green around the gills myself—something I almost never do on a cruise. [Full Story »]
“Com’ on man”
Dear Editor,
In the afternoon of December 14, I went to pick my son (Austin Wilson) up after school was released. The ride home was quiet and I could obviously tell he had a bad day, so I ask how his day went. He told me he was upset because “tomorrow is fun day and I have to stay in a classroom and do work all day while all my friends get to have fun”. I asked why he had to miss fun day and he explained to me he missed more than four days of school. These days were completely excused absents due to a death in the family and doctors appointments, however this did not seem to matter. [Full Story »]
In the afternoon of December 14, I went to pick my son (Austin Wilson) up after school was released. The ride home was quiet and I could obviously tell he had a bad day, so I ask how his day went. He told me he was upset because “tomorrow is fun day and I have to stay in a classroom and do work all day while all my friends get to have fun”. I asked why he had to miss fun day and he explained to me he missed more than four days of school. These days were completely excused absents due to a death in the family and doctors appointments, however this did not seem to matter. [Full Story »]
The twelve days of Winter Wonderland
Dear Editor and Community,
On the First day of Winter Wonderland, Bobby Matthews delivers the flatbed. [Full Story »]
On the First day of Winter Wonderland, Bobby Matthews delivers the flatbed. [Full Story »]
ACHS Pirate Football….What A Season!!!
Dear Editor and Community,
“It’s a great year to be a PIRATE!” It’s certain that many share this sentiment. Making it to the final four in division 2-AA in the state playoffs is a tremendous feat. It’s been 12 years since the Pirates have had this honor. This has taken much effort on the part of the players, coaches, parents, cheerleaders, band, teachers, staff, and administration of Appling County High School. However, it cannot go unnoticed that fan and community support has been overwhelming. The support that the Pirates have experienced from local businesses, dedicated fans, and the board of education is awe-inspiring. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all who have took the time to encourage and support the Pirates, Head Coach J.T. Pollock, and the coaching staff. [Full Story »]
“It’s a great year to be a PIRATE!” It’s certain that many share this sentiment. Making it to the final four in division 2-AA in the state playoffs is a tremendous feat. It’s been 12 years since the Pirates have had this honor. This has taken much effort on the part of the players, coaches, parents, cheerleaders, band, teachers, staff, and administration of Appling County High School. However, it cannot go unnoticed that fan and community support has been overwhelming. The support that the Pirates have experienced from local businesses, dedicated fans, and the board of education is awe-inspiring. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to all who have took the time to encourage and support the Pirates, Head Coach J.T. Pollock, and the coaching staff. [Full Story »]
“Just what if?”
Dear Editor,
I am a disabled 53-year-old black female who lives in Lakeview Retirement Center (a personal care home) on Stephens Avenue in Baxley. I am a law-abiding citizen and a registered voter. I don’t drink, smoke, sell or use illegal drugs. I am a member of Satilla Missionary Baptist Church in Baxley. In order to feel as though I can give a little of myself back to society, I choose to do volunteer work at the Pavilion two or three days a week. I help out in the Activities Department. [Full Story »]
I am a disabled 53-year-old black female who lives in Lakeview Retirement Center (a personal care home) on Stephens Avenue in Baxley. I am a law-abiding citizen and a registered voter. I don’t drink, smoke, sell or use illegal drugs. I am a member of Satilla Missionary Baptist Church in Baxley. In order to feel as though I can give a little of myself back to society, I choose to do volunteer work at the Pavilion two or three days a week. I help out in the Activities Department. [Full Story »]
Perspective:
Why the U.S. was downgraded:
• U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
• Federal budget: $3,820,000,000,000
• New debt: $1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
• Recent budget cuts: $38,500,000,000 [Full Story »]
• U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
• Federal budget: $3,820,000,000,000
• New debt: $1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
• Recent budget cuts: $38,500,000,000 [Full Story »]
Patience: a year-round virtue
When I was a child waiting for Christmas to arrive, time dragged on forever. Every single day had at least 72 hours in it; some, more. The closer to Christmas Day we got, the longer the days grew. During those days I worked conscientiously at doing everything Mama told me to. Even when the rain fell in sheets, I ran to the wood pile and brought back armloads of wood for the fireplace. Without complaint, I washed dishes immediately after each meal. I bit my tongue and refrained from arguing with my sister, no matter how obnoxious she became. The whole process was a lesson in patience for me.
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Having children
I was privileged to be in the delivery room when my wife and I had our first child. We did not know beforehand what it was to be, but I never entertained any thought but that it was going to be a boy. The doctor was sitting in place and the nurses were around doing whatever it is they do. I was watching the action with the doctor. I knew all about cows and hogs and dogs giving birth so I was not really nervous at all. It was just nature to me. Suddenly, I could see a little head full of black hair and I shouted, “Here he comes!”, and here she came! When I saw it was a girl, my whole being completely changed. I knew instantly I could never be the same as I had been, ever again. It is the strangest thing how the birth of a daughter can do that. I mean it is hard to keep up a rough, tough, country boy image while carrying a diaper bag on one shoulder and holding a baby girl in a carrier in the other.
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Holiday Fiestas
My and B. J.’s annual winding-down-the-year holiday fiestas usually begin during the Thanksgiving season and run through New Year’s Day. It is the celebrating/eating time of the year where abundant calorie-laden cuisine is both a savory delight and a risky amusement. Extra pounds can and do collect.
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Goodwill asks for donations
Goodwill is asking the public to please donate clothing, household items, etc. Everything was lost at the Wilmington Island Store. These donations help employ more than 550 folks with disabilities.
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Women belong in construction
By Mittie D. Cannon, Ed.D
Construction is historically viewed as a male-dominated industry, with men having populated the skilled crafts for centuries. The underrepresentation of women in the construction crafts has been a debate and focus of attention for many years. The dream of gender equality is still distant; however, the new dynamic of the ‘traditional family’ allow for a more diverse workforce. [Full Story »]
Construction is historically viewed as a male-dominated industry, with men having populated the skilled crafts for centuries. The underrepresentation of women in the construction crafts has been a debate and focus of attention for many years. The dream of gender equality is still distant; however, the new dynamic of the ‘traditional family’ allow for a more diverse workforce. [Full Story »]
A smart professor
An economics professor made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had recently failed an entire class. This particular class had insisted that the current socialist movement in America is working and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich; a great equalizer.
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Looks a lot like Christmas
Since before Halloween, stores have been putting out their Christmas merchandise. Red ribbons and silver bells along with trees of every shape, size, and color wait in the stores to decorate someone’s home. I actually saw a metallic purple tree in Savannah a few weeks ago. It was resplendent with pink lights and green ribbons. I won’t say I hated it, but I wouldn’t want it standing in my living room for the month of December—actually not even one day of it. I’m more a traditionalist myself. I want my old faithful ornaments that the children and grandchildren made or that we’ve collected over the years. I also like the ornaments that someone chose or made just for my family. Just today we added a handful of red Santas done in plastic canvas and filled with Hershey’s kisses. None of our ornaments are expensive. They have little monetary value, but to me they are priceless. I do like my Christmas tree.
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Fertilizer and education
I remember the day I tried to pick up a two-hundred pound sack of fertilizer. I was young and thought I was strong but I could not budge it. A short, thin, wiry man walked up, knelt down and grabbed it, heisted it up and onto his shoulder and walked off with it. This took place at R.W. Griffins Warehouse somewhere around 1959. By then, 200 pound sacks were relics, but back in the bowels of that old warehouse there were many relics that today would be priceless antiques. I would go there each day after school and help do whatever work was at hand, like unloading a boxcar of fertilizer until 5:30 and quitting time, whereupon I would catch a ride home with one of the men who worked there and who lived close to our home. You see, my Momma was working in Douglas at C.O. Smith Guano Company then and she moved me from the Hebron Institute of Higher Learning of the Piney Woods to the Douglas Elementary School where she thought for some reason that I would have more opportunity to excel. This plan might have worked except for the assorted miscreants in my sixth grade class with whom I became fast friends. All I knew at that time was hunting, fishing, and work. They introduced me to other areas of human endeavor that I didn’t even know existed, all of which were in direct conflict with my Sunday school upbringing and complete innocence. Of course, they say the same thing about me though I am the one still in recovery. Anyway, rather than ride home with Momma each afternoon, I chose to work at the fertilizer warehouse for free after school and hang around with the older men who didn’t care if I smoked, chewed, or cussed, as long as I worked. Muddy Waters called it being a ‘mannish boy’.
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