Place In Pearl
Brett & Kathy's House
My wife, Barbara, wanted someone to chauffeur her to a Habitat
For Humanity workshop near Brandon, MS, a few weeks ago, so I agreed to tack
one more day of travel to an already travel-filled week. Realizing she would
be within a few miles of the home of Sarah’s son and daughter-in-law,
Brett and Kathy Brown, Barbara invited Sarah to go with us. Sarah works most
Saturdays, admitting folks to ER at the local hospital which is affiliated
with North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, but managed to be off to
make the trek with us. Jason stated he would like to go, also.
Since the workshop started at 9:30 a.m. it was necessary that we leave Pontotoc
shortly after 6:00 a.m in order to get Barbara to her meeting on time. Thus,
armed with driving instructions and addresses, we picked up Sarah and were
underway by a quarter after six o’clock. Jason wanted to take the pickup,
in case he decided to spend the night with Brett and Kathy. The rest of us
planned to return Saturday night.
Jason wasn’t quite ready to leave when we were, so we left a few minutes
ahead of him. I had told him we would likely take the route through Oxford
and Water Valley and get on the Interstate near Grenada. He phoned us about
the time we stopped for gas in Grenada to report he had chosen to connect
with the Interstate at Batesville, a decision that made for a simpler but
longer route, as well.
I managed to get Barbara to her meeting exactly three hours after leaving
Pontotoc. From the church to Brett’s house was only a mile and one-half.
As Sarah and I were getting out of the car, after parking in the driveway,
Jason phoned me for directions. He had failed to bring a copy of the instructions
Brett had emailed to him.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"I’m a little north of Jackson," he replied, and moments later, "I see
the exit for County Line Road."
"Okay," I coached, "you’ve got a few miles to go to get to I-20."
Nearing High Street, Jason told me that he could see the Capitol building.
"You’ll want to get over in the right two lanes, as soon as you can,
so you’ll be lined up to take I-20 East."
Jason made it onto I-20 without any trouble, as I told him to stay in the
left lane so he wouldn’t inadvertently drift into the Hwy. 49 exit to
Hattiesburg. Because, I knew the landmarks along the Interstate, I had not
paid attention to exit numbers and couldn't tell Jason which exit he needed
to take. However, I do remember telling him he would go past the exit to
the airport.
"The Pearl exit is one mile. Do I take it?"
Though, I didn’t think he had been on I-20 long enough to be at the
correct exit, I told him to take it, anyway.
"Take a left at the end of the ramp and cross over the Interstate," I assured.
"This road goes under the Interstate, Daddy."
"You’re on the wrong road, then."
I quickly checked with Brett for directions, and he said it would be better
to have Jason turn around and get back on the Interstate, instead of trying
to have him work his way along Hwy. 80.
Jason got back on the Interstate and managed to find the correct exit, as
we continued to talk via cell phones.
"Are you on Crossgates, now?" I asked.
"Yeah, but that exit sign didn’t have Pearl on it."
"Never mind, that; you’re on the right road, now."
And, moments later, Jason was at the front door.
Brett works for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, in the Information
Technology department. Kathy is presently working in the law offices of Kay
Cobb, but will be enrolling in the University of Mississippi Medical School
in Jackson, this fall. Following their marriage in 2003, Brett and Kathy
rented an apartment near Flowood prior to buying a house.
Brett and Kathy were anxious to show us their home, as it was the first time
any of us had visited since they moved in around the first of the year.
It’s a roomy three-bedroom house with two baths and seems well-suited
for them. Plus, the backyard has a wooden fence to contain Ben, their Labrador
retriever. Kathy had lots of questions about the plants, shrubs, and trees,
most of which either Sarah or I could identify.
Following the tour, we spent most of the remainder of the morning in the
comfortable living room catching up on recent happenings on both sides of
the family. For lunch, Kathy suggested we drive into Pearl and eat at The
Cracker Barrel restaurant. Finding a line of folks ahead of us and being
told to expect a fifteen to twenty-five minute wait, we left and drove to
the nearby O’Charley’s restaurant.
After lunch we returned to Brett and Kathy’s home to enjoy a leisurely
afternoon, watching DVDs of movies and TV shows. Barbara called around two
p.m. to ask me to come and pick her up. Naturally, she also received "the
tour." After the tour, everyone opened Christmas presents that we had been
unable to share at Christmas, since Brett and Kathy flew to El Paso, Texas
to be with Kathy’s family for the holiday.
I dozed for an hour or so during one of the DVDs, knowing I’d have a
difficult time driving back to Pontotoc that evening if I didn’t get
some sleep after getting up at four a.m. Barbara, Sarah, and I said our goodbyes
and left for Pontotoc around five-thirty. We had hardly reached the Interstate
when Barbara asked where we were going to eat. I wondered how she could be
hungry so early in the evening. I had thought we’d have time to get
back home before eating, but I was in the minority. So we stopped in Grenada
long enough to gas up and find something to eat.
By the time we reached Pontotoc, the folks traveling with me were physically
drained and more than ready for a night’s rest. I’d like to think
I held up better than they did, but I was glad to be back home, too.
Ageless
Heroes Wadelo Waldrop
At some point in our lives, each of us has a hero. Heroes are hard to categorize
for they exist in all walks of life. We’ve heard a lot about heroes
since September 11, 2001, especially those ordinary individuals who risked
their lives and in many instances gave their lives trying to save others.
Our history books are full of heroes. Many of us idolized a movie star in
our youth and bestowed upon them a hero’s status. Many an entertainer
of today is to someone a hero. But, heroes don’t have to exist as larger
than life individuals in books and movies, they can be found among the members
of one’s own family.
My dad had two brothers and one sister, and in my mind each of them was a
hero. His brothers gave of their means to help me receive a college education
and their respective intellectual achievements inspired me to emulate their
successes. Dad’s sister didn’t have the same opportunities as her
brothers, but she became a hero (heroine) for me by providing for her family
and staying the course of marriage when others in a similar situation might
have chosen to abandon ship.
Heroes don’t have to be great warriors, statesmen, movie stars, super
athletes, or super family members. A hero is sometimes a classmate. When
I was in high school, my best remembered hero was a couple of grades ahead
of me. Danny Weatherly was, in my estimation, the consummate student athlete.
Danny was well liked by students and teachers and was a better than average
football player. While some upperclassmen tried to remain aloof from anyone
a grade or two behind them, Danny Weatherly always had time to greet me (or
other underclassman) or flash his famous smile from afar.
"The Greatest Generation" has not only given us wartime heroes, they also
supplied us with heroes in industry, commerce, politics, and business as
they returned to an America at peace. Sadly, "The Greatest Generation," is
now a disappearing generation, dying at the rate of 1000 or more each day
(I think).
Heroes still abound in America. A few years ago, the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association created a program called "Ageless Heroes." And, according
to the Mississippi Blue Cross/ Blue Shield website, the program exists "to
celebrate the spirit and vitality of our nation's seniors and to showcase
the organization's long-time commitment to healthy aging."
According to the Blue Cross website, "Ageless Heroes are people whose
accomplishments at age 65 or over are inspirational to others. Society's
spotlight tends to focus on younger people. The Mississippi Ageless Heroes
program is a way to help change that by promoting the reality of active,
healthy lifestyles for older adults. By showing hometown Mississippians as
role models, we want to help others see what is possible in their own lives."
The following recommendation was submitted to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, last year, by Barbara Carter:
"Returning to Pontotoc County in 2001, to assist with the storm relief efforts
and to become Director of Pontotoc County Habitat for Humanity, I became
reacquainted with Mr. Lake Wadelo Waldrop. Mr. Waldrop, a founder of the
Churches United Food Depot, along with other board members of the Food Depot,
worked to obtain a facility from the county to warehouse and distribute food.
On behalf of the Food Depot, he regularly assists in taking new applications,
reviews files of new applicants, and supervises the receipt and distribution
of food items for more than 400 low-income families."
"Mr. Waldrop was instrumental in allocating available space in the facility
for use as offices by Habitat for Humanity. A current member of the board
for Habitat for Humanity, Mr. Waldrop serves as chairman of the Site Selection
Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee. This year, his leadership
made possible the location and acquisition of a twenty-acre tract of land,
which will be developed by Habitat for Humanity to provide residences for
both low and middle-income families."
"As a veteran of the American Armed Forces, Mr. Waldrop is actively involved
with the local American Legion chapter, where he serves as Adjutant.
Additionally, he helps weekly in the delivery of hot meals to the elderly
and disadvantaged participating in Meals on Wheels, and he is an elder in
the local First Presbyterian Church."
"This active, seventy-four year old senior has had three surgeries on one
hip, including two hip replacements, and by-pass surgery following a heart
attack, yet he still climbs on board his four-wheeler to go for a spin to
check on his garden or his horses."
"Mr. Waldrop has a wife, Mary Jane Waldrop, one brother, Drew Waldrop, and
several nieces and nephews."
Mr. Waldrop was recently notified by Blue Cross that he had been selected
as a "Good Neighbor" Ageless Hero for the North Region of Mississippi. The
following are 2005 North Region Heroes:
-
Community Involvement -- Ernest Gray Flora, Jr., 73, of Macon
-
Creativity -- Clemon Baker, Ph.D., 77, of Itta Bena
-
Good Neighbor -- Wadelo Waldrop, 74, of Pontotoc
-
Love of Learning -- Dr. Tom Dulin, 75, of Winona
-
New Beginnings -- Susie Mitchell Marshall, 91, of Oxford
-
Vitality -- Alta Jo Bryan, 92, of Oxford
On March 29th, 2005, Mr. Waldrop and twenty-three other Mississippi
Ageless Heroes were honored with an awards luncheon in Hattiesburg, MS, where
each of them had photo opportunities with former first lady of Mississippi,
Pat Fordice, and Hugh Downs, who addressed the group as the keynote speaker.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi donated a total of $21,000 in
honor of these heroes to the charities of their choice.
Attending from Pontotoc were family and friends of Wadelo, including his
wife Mary Jane Waldrop, Reverend Kenneth Corley and wife Glenda, Tracey Kramer,
Rev. Erin Bunnell, Linda Thomas and Barbara Carter.
Ridge Rider News salutes Wadelo Waldrop as an ageless hero and thanks Barbara
Carter for her nomination.
Bodock Beau
Classified Humor
The comic section of most daily newspapers is not the only section to provide
a laugh or two. Consider the following classified advertisements.
1) FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER. 8 years old.
Hateful little dog. Bites.
2) FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2
sneaky neighbor's dog.
3) FREE PUPPIES ... Part German Shepherd,
part stupid dog.
4) GERMAN SHEPHERD 85 lbs. Neutered. Speaks
German.
5) FOUND: DIRTY WHITE DOG. Looks like a
rat ... been out awhile. Better be a reward.
6) COWS, CALVES NEVER BRED . Also 1 gay
bull for sale.
7) NORDIC TRACK $300 Hardly used, call
Chubby.
8) GEORGIA PEACHES, California grown - 89
cents lb.
9) NICE PARACHUTE: Never opened - used once.
10) JOINING NUDIST COLONY! Must sell washer
and dryer $300.
11) FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of
Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes. Excellent condition. $1,000 or best
offer. No longer needed. Got married last month. Wife knows everything.
Contributed by Bob Jackson
Cross Examination
A defense attorney was cross-examining a police officer during a felony trial
- it went like this:
Q. Officer, did you see my client fleeing the scene?
A. No sir, but I subsequently observed a person matching the description
of the offender running several blocks away.
Q. Officer, who provided this description?
A. The officer who responded to the scene.
Q. A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender.
Do you trust your fellow officers?"
A. Yes sir, with my life.
Q. With your life? Let me ask you this then officer - do you have a locker
room in the police station - a room where you change your clothes in preparation
for your daily duties?
A. Yes sir, we do.
Q. And do you have a locker in that room?
A. Yes sir, I do.
Q. And do you have a lock on your locker?
A. Yes sir.
Q. Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life,
that you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with those
same officers?
A. You see sir, we share the building with a court complex, and sometimes
lawyers have been known to walk through that room.
Honest Answer
Prosecutor: Did you kill the victim?
Defendant: No, I did not.
Prosecutor: Do you know what the penalties are for perjury?
Defendant: Yes, I do. And they're a lot better than the penalty for murder.
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