August 20 '05

                                                    

Volume 481

                   


Twelfth Reunion J. P. Coleman State Park

Front l-r Myra, Gail, Janette, Gwen; Standing l-r Gerard, Byron, Stanley, Donald, Conrad, JerryThe children of Herbert and Coy Howell have been able to consistently hold their family reunion every three years for the past thirty-six years. When I compare that to the paltry five or so reunions sponsored by the descendants of Berkley and Rebecca Carter over the span of fifty years, I’m amazed by the successful reunions the Howell family enjoys.

I had a clear invitation to join the merry bunch of Howells three years ago, but I worked in my daughter’s yard too long and too hard and chose to rest rather than travel the short distance from Rayanne’s house to Tishomingo State Park. I have sorely regretted the missed opportunity.

Four of the surviving ten children, that I knew in my teen years, are email subscribers to this newsletter.

Janette Howell’s husband is Val Robinson, and it was Val who sent me an email earlier this year to let me know the clan was gathering again at a state park in Mississippi, the one near Iuka which is about a half-hour’s drive North of the Tishomingo location. The timing of their reunion was the week after the RRN fish fry. I even arranged to be off work on Friday, thinking I might drop in on them, but my unfamiliarity with the camping area of J.P. Coleman State Park and the fact that I waited until the last minute to try to contact any of the group overpowered my desire to make the trip.

As a writer, I knew there would be a good story involved, had I made the trip. After receiving a few pictures from Val and a couple of short notes, I was encouraged by Val to request an article from Janette. (See accompanying photo: Front row left to right – Myra, Gail, Janette, and Gwen – Standing, left to right – Gerard, Byron, Stanley, Donald, Conrad, and Jerry.) One of Janette’s nephews has a website, too. If you have access to the Internet, I recommend the picture albums and the Reunion Video found at http://www.apt101.com. Janette graciously agreed to write the article which follows:

The Howell Family Reunion - New Generations

By Janette Howell Robinson

In the spring of 1956 Herbert and Coy Howell moved lock, stock, barrel and 11 kids to Pontotoc County, Mississippi, where at least one of the family would live until the fall of 1999. 1956 was not the beginning of life for our family, nor even the beginning of memories, but certainly it was a new beginning in many senses as this was the first place all 13 would live and experience life as very few others could compare.

We were always a close family, because we worked together and played together becoming each other’s best friends. We always ate together around our large dining table with much of that time filled with several different conversations going on simultaneous and the room inevitably filled with laughter.

There was never anything that could substitute for the memories that were made in our always small, modest but robust homes. Years passed quickly though and we found ourselves graduating, working, getting married, having children, and looking for opportunities to return home at the same time for visits to catch up on each other, to revisit events of our childhood and enjoy the laughter once again.

It was after my wedding in 1969 that Dad convinced us that we needed to plan a reunion for our family. He believed we needed a definite, planned time for all of us to come together so we could know we would see each other more often than chance would afford us. Dad wanted us to continue to enjoy and strengthen our family ties.

This year was the twelfth gathering for the tri-annual Howell Family Reunion boasting of at least 80. Our reunions have now turned into a three day event giving us the opportunity to get reacquainted, build new relationships, have relaxing fun-filled moments with ample food, and lots of time for storytelling, which usually leads us to loud outbursts of laughter. A very grateful spirit fills our hearts for all that we had, all that we have and all that will come, knowing that God blesses us greatly.

The youngest of the Howell brothers and sisters will soon be 50. We are now known as Papa G., P-paw, Granddaddy, Grammy, G.G. and who knows what else. We want the reunion to live on for our children and for theirs. They have made their own memories and again this year shared and laughed over the events in their lives. They enjoyed watching their children play hour after hour with cousins they’ve never known establishing relationships they will remember for the next three years.

What will be the hallmark of our memories? Some skied for the first time, diving down like a duck into the water to find the foot that would go into the ski. Some will remember the 60 to 70 fish they caught. Other brave souls will remember the thrill or the agony of jumping off the 25-30 foot cliff into the water below, others will remember wanting to jump, and still others will remember knowing they will never do such a thing again. The youngest will probably remember the mud pies, badminton, swimming, throwing rocks into the river and the enormous amount of sweets sitting at their height and availability. Probably none will forget the crazy antics of "those old people" having fun with karaoke. There is always the game or two of golf that brings many stories. Some are told; others are not. One of the best memories is of the three newest babies, who always seemed to greet everyone with a smile and wonderful disposition.

I have to add the greatest memory of my own. When we came back home and to reality, two of our grandchildren were in our home. They went to the refrigerator, where there is always a display of pictures. I had spent time trying to introduce my grandchildren to cousins well before they went to the reunion. They never seemed to understand the significance of knowing who they were or of any importance they might have in their lives. When they saw the pictures this time, their eyes practically popped out of their heads and they began to name the names and talk about each one listing the things they had done together. For the first time they weren’t just looking at pictures, they were looking at cousins, and they knew them!

We all left with kisses, hugs, gotcha last (family tradition), and "we can’t wait to see you again." We will have more wedding and holiday reunions and one day the funerals will begin, but I believe we are building a family tradition of keeping, not just memories alive in our hearts but a desire for generation after generation to be together. Thus the Twelfth Howell Family Reunion – New Generations was a great success.


Greenville Wedding Wise Guy Takes Delta Bride

I like Jimmy Wise and his wife Beverly. I like all four of their sons, whom I’ve watched grow into adulthood. I like the Wise family well enough to count them as friends, though we seldom socialize apart from a church function or community gathering. They are a really fine family, one that is respected by all who know them. But as much as I like the Wises, I don’t count them as close enough friends to drive one hundred seventy-three miles to see their youngest son get married at seven o’clock on a Saturday night then turn around and drive home. Fortunately, someone else did the driving.

I’m not a "wedding person." To be honest, I don’t know any guy who is, but I know plenty of women (May I say ‘dames’ or ‘gals,’ as either goes better with ‘guys?’) who are wedding persons. I figure guys go to weddings because they have to go, and women go to weddings because they want to go. While that may be too broad a generalization, I’m sure there’s a lot of truth in it.

Barbara and I have been close friends with Dot and Jerry Bell for almost thirty years. Barbara and I also once lived in Greenville, Mississippi, on the same street that practically dead-ends in the parking lot of the church where the wedding was to take place. I’d probably never have given a second thought to going to the wedding of Josh Wise and Miley Tindall had it not been for Dot inviting us to ride with them and the chance for Barbara and me to see our former house on Arnold Ave. once again.

Initially, Barbara and Dot decided that we could leave Pontotoc around three o’clock in the afternoon and arrive in Greenville in plenty of time for the wedding. I knew better than to believe their time schedule would hold up under scrutiny, though it provided ample time to put us in Greenville by six p.m. I knew that one of them would think of food and that would necessitate a stop on the way to Greenville. Sure enough, on the morning of the wedding, Barbara directed me to call the Bells and find out if they wanted to get something to eat before the wedding. They did, and we immediately changed our departure time to two o’clock, and I suspended all plans for yard work.

Grenada is roughly midway between Pontotoc and Greenville, so we stopped for Jerry to fuel-up at the Exxon on Hwy. 8, just off the Interstate. Since a Huddle House was tied to the convenience store, it made sense for us to grab a bite to eat there, instead of driving to another restaurant.

Jerry ordered his "usual," a manly breakfast consisting of two eggs over easy, with bacon, hash browns and toasts. I opted for a waffle and Barbara and Dot selected a grilled chicken wrap, something I call "fare for women," largely because I’ve never seen a man eat one. They seemed happy with their choices, and I know Jerry and I were happy with ours.

I think it was while we were eating that Neal Huskison phoned Jerry to ask what time we expected to arrive in Greenville and to ask us to meet Virginia and him at the motel so we could show them the route to the church. I think Neal phoned twice more before we got there. Poor Neal, he and Virginia had to go down the day before to attend the rehearsal dinner, so by the next day he was bored silly and couldn’t wait to see us.

We stopped briefly at the motel, which gave all of us a last-minute bathroom break and the women folk a chance to touch up their makeup. The Huskisons were spending a second night in Greenville, so we drove to the church in separate vehicles. Barbara and I guided Jerry to the church, pointing out our former house along the way. It appeared to be occupied, but the man who bought it from us was transferred to another city last year.

The wedding was held at the First Presbyterian Church. By the time we were seated, there were already several guests present from Pontotoc. The small sanctuary was filled to overflowing long before the service began. Many guests stood in the aisles along the sides to view the wedding ceremony. Among those in the aisles were Jimmy and Su Su Whatley of Greenville, MS. Jimmy was once my boss in Indianola, prior to the first restructuring of SUPERVALU in 1996.

There were only two floral arrangements, but they formed a pleasant backdrop for the wedding party. There were no candles except a couple of electric ones between the organist and the pianist, and no one sang. Thus, from my Baptist’s perspective, the wedding was one of simplicity, save for the wedding party. If memory serves me well, there were three flower girls and a ring bearer to round out the sixteen other members of the wedding party not counting the bride and groom.

The wedding ceremony was brief, for which my back gave thanks, as the pews were among the most uncomfortable I've known. It’s probably a Presbyterian design, specifically to keep folks awake during church services.

The adjacent homes of bride’s parents and grandparents were less than a mile away from the church. Their backyards were used for the reception. I made a few mental notes of the use of paper lanterns suspended from a large oak the lighting of which I reasoned would create a nice effect for next year’s fish fry, should we decide to stage things at twilight. A blues/ jazz band played beneath a covered platform near the food tables inside the outdoor carport. The music was good, and while I didn’t eat anything, I’d say the food was also good, based on the way folks were "putting it away."

Barbara and I spent much of our time at the reception waiting our turn to congratulate Jimmy and Beverly and wish the newlyweds a happy marriage. By nine o’clock the Carters and the Bells were ready to drive back to Pontotoc.

As Jerry and I buckled ourselves into the front seats, Dot and Barbara were doing the same in the backseat. I told Jerry we probably wouldn’t get out of town before the girls, who had talked all the way to Greenville, were asleep in the backseat. I offered to drive for him if he got sleepy.

Jerry, who is an undertaker by profession, commented," I’m used to riding with quiet folks."

"Yeah, I guess you are," I responded.

We took the long route home, sticking mostly to four-lane roads and the Interstate, and we made it back to Pontotoc a few minutes after midnight. Barbara and I had a good time visiting with Dot and Jerry and seeing familiar sites in Greenville, and even the wedding wasn’t a bad experience for me, but it was something we definitely don’t want to do every weekend.


Bodock Beau Humor - Late Night Leaders

There’s no telling how much the writers were paid for the material below that recently aired on the shows of late night leaders, David Letterman and Jay Leno. And while some may point out that a dollar doesn’t go as far as it once did, you can beat the price to the consumer (listener).

David Letterman - Top Strategies of Saddam Hussein's Attorneys

Play up the "at least he didn't do steroids" angle;

Pin everything on Saddam's scheming brother, Larry Hussein;

Answer every charge with, "No, you're thinking of Iran";

Explain he was driven insane by the intense flavor of new Spicy Nacho Doritos;

Brand prosecutor's list of 12,000 witnesses as "flimsy";

Request one of those "confined to your 153-acre estate" punishments like Martha got;

Give Saddam white suit and turkey leg making him hilarious Boss Hogg-like figure;

"If the underpants don't fit, you must acquit".

Jay Leno

Two jurors in the Michael Jackson case now say they've changed their minds; they now say Michael is guilty. I believe the legal term for this is "book deal." It's kind of sad, in California; it's always the jury who's the last to know.

Jose Canseco is now selling his World Series ring on his website for $40,000. He didn't want to sell it, but since he's off steroids, he can only wear it as a bracelet now.

President Bush has indicated that the President of Iran will receive a visa to come to the United States. I'm as shocked as you. You still need a visa to come to the U.S.? I thought they did away with that stuff years ago.

President Bush is the fittest president in history. They said it's because he spends a lot of time exercising. See a lot of our previous presidents wasted that time reading.

A lot of people are every critical of President Bush for taking the entire month of August off for his vacation. But his staff points out, there's nothing at the White House he can't do at the ranch because the ranch is fully equipped. It's got the treadmill, the weight room, the jogging path, the big screen TV, they get Nickelodeon. It's got everything he would do.

After a month-long search, the White House has hired the first female chef in history. And the administration is making a big deal about the fact that she's a female. Finally, women getting into cooking!

Democrats have been complaining that President Bush has spent more than 21 percent of his time in office out of the White House. That's nothing -- since Bush has been president, the Democrats have been out of the White House 100 percent of the time.

Well President Bush signed a big $286 billion highway bill [last week]. The sad part, $285 billion of it is for gas money.

Another record was set this week -- crude oil is so expensive now, a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken costs more than $300!

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Congratulations to the following whose wedding anniversary is August 20:

Bill and Katie Jackson

Wayne and Barbara Carter

Kenneth and Louise Prewett


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