Miss America 2006 Miss Oklahoma Claims Title
When asked why she had done so, she replied, "I always watch the Miss America Pageant with makeup on and my hair fixed." Somehow, we found her ritual mildly amusing. Anyway, it's been my experience that the folks on TV could care less how I look at home. Felicia was at our house, too, bringing our viewing audience to four. Rayanne and her three girls are often present for these events but were not this time. I had phoned Sarah shortly before seven o'clock on Saturday evening to invite her to supper. Supper was actually a breakfast meal of waffles and sausage patties, some foods that are not recommended for persons watching their waistlines or those who've survived a heart attack, but are quite delicious. "There's a waffle down here with your name on it," I coaxed when Sarah answered the phone. "Oh, good, I'll be right there," she replied, quickly adding, "What time does the pageant come on?" "I don't know, probably eight o'clock," I suggested, but Barbara quickly corrected my error. "It comes on at seven!" Felicia came in with Sarah but wouldn't eat anything. "I don't do waffles," she protested. "Have you ever eaten one of my waffles?" I asked. "No, but Mama used to make us Belgium waffles. I don't like their texture." "What a strange child," I thought to myself. "She won't eat meat with a bone in it…gags if she spots a vein in a piece of chicken, pork, or beef, and passes on catfish fillets because she associates the tiny capillaries in fish filets with veins. She'll be a vegetarian one of these days. I'd bet on it." Sarah, Barbara, and I missed the first few minutes of the pageant, as we finished eating supper. As a result, I didn't see Kristian Dambrino, Miss Mississippi, make an appearance. I also didn't see her when the cameras panned the contestants during dance numbers, though Felicia and Sarah had no trouble picking her out of the pack. Yet, I did see the selection of the top ten finalists, and while I didn't entirely approve of the top five, I had no trouble naming the top three as the field narrowed. Then, for the first time since I've been watching Miss America pageants, I successfully chose the winner and the next two runners up. Admittedly, it helped that only one of the three finalists properly answered the question given each of them. The emcee asked each to share a childhood experience that helped shape her into who she is today. Only Miss Oklahoma answered with a specific experience. The others used generalizations. During the evening, there were the usual contestant-bashing comments from "my girls." I've become accustomed to hearing family members bash contestants with regard to general physical appearance, poise, talent, and evening wear, but I can remember worse years than this year. This may have been the first year no one commented on the fat thighs of a contestant, probably because all of the finalists were relatively thin. While there was a lack of entertainment by non-contestants between events, Felicia made up for it by keeping us in stitches with her tales. Felicia told us she has her funeral plans in place, just in case she dies before her mother. She doesn't want Mama picking out her burial clothes. Felicia remembered the time she was at her grandmother Carter's house, when she was perhaps two or three years old and thought she had crawled in bed alongside her grandma. "I sort of eased up against Grandma. I was humming myself to sleep, and you know how I always liked to feel the soft flab under Grandma's arm. Well, I was rubbing her arm thinking how soft and smooth it was, then I ran my hand down her arm to her wrist and felt a watch. I thought, 'Grandma doesn't have a watch,' and I said, 'Grandma, you have on a watch.' This deep voice said, 'I'm not your grandma.' It was Sara Ruth [Grandma's niece], but I didn't know…they were about the same size, and she was on the half-bed Grandma always slept on. I lay there for a while, petrified. Finally, Sara Ruth told me that my grandma was in a different bed." Okay, it's funnier when Felicia tells it, but this is the same girl who thought when she hummed no one else could hear her. And she's the same one who was crushed by the news from her kindergarten teacher who told the class members to shut their eyes really tight and they would see bright flashes of color. "Because I had discovered how to do that on my own, I thought I was special and the only one who could see that until Miss Sherrod had our class do it," Felicia tells. The Miss America Pageant came later than normal due to a change of host city from Atlantic City, NJ to Las Vegas, NV. And it may be a full year before we see the next one. Thankfully, I won't have to wait a year to enjoy the next family gathering in my living room. I can do that practically any weekend and even some weeknights, when Sarah's not working and Felicia's at home.
Differing Views Reader Comments In order to encourage thoughtful comment without fear of editorial reprisal, it is the policy of this newsletter to avoid demeaning any response by a reader that we choose to publish but especially so from those who disagree with our point of view. The typical article found in our weekly newsletter draws few, if any comments. However, the article "Baptist Blues, " Volume 502, www.rrnews.org/rj502.htm prompted several readers to respond. Most responses were verbal and something to the effect, "Enjoyed it!" Two readers shared the following written responses. The Corner Experience by Gwen Cottrell Our church, Wieuca Road Baptist Church, tried something very similar. We had an 8:30 service, then two simultaneous services at 11 o'clock. The non-traditional one was called THE CORNER. The pastor we had then also wanted to preach in all three. Various problems caused him to have to resign.
We did not notice a significant change in the attendance, though it did bring
some people in who might not have attended otherwise. Most of those that
dropped in didn't join and become active members in other areas of the church
life. Also, we experienced a much lower rate of giving by those who attended
the alternative service. The people who attended the regular traditional
services and made pledges were the ones who supported The Corner. It presented
a financial strain on the church and created division among the people. Gwen H. Cottrell, Norcross, GA This Baptist Isn't Blue by A Church Member I guess the only people in heaven will be wearing ties? Maybe you should try to get a few new visitors to sit in your pew, that you are so rooted in! I feel sure the tie you're wearing must have cut off the circulation to your brain!!!! I'm not sure but have we seen you in the First Day Service? I know Felicia is in the praise team but I can't believe this would cause such a bitter response from a SO CALLED CHRISTIAN????? I guess your Sunday Best is much better than the average person in Pontotoc County. Which by the way the average reading level is the sixth grade, and income level does not exceed $30,000 per household... Come Down From the Judgement Seat and get some fresh air... I promise it will do you some good. Name withheld at Editor's discretion. Editor's Reply: Ouch! I believe I've just been "flamed," at least that's what a friend told me was the term for a hot response from a reader. What can I say? With regard to worshiping in a Baptist church, I'm a traditionalist. Perhaps, you're not. But, I try to disagree without being disagreeable. Apparently, I've failed and now you're upset. For your information, I don't oppose the First Day service. I don't care for praise bands and contemporary worship services, but I'll allow you the right to worship as you choose and hope you'll grant me the same privilege. I didn't know you were a reader of my newsletter, and maybe you're not. If this is your first time to experience Ridge Rider News, I'm sorry you are left with a bad impression. Please do drop by again and feel free to comment regarding anything, with which you agree or disagree. I welcome your thoughts. Letters Policy: Letters to the editor are welcomed, but due to space limitations, not all letters are published. Letters must be signed. Names will be withheld upon request. Comments may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to our street address.
Rooted In The Pew By Felicia F. Brown I read something recently that mentioned being "rooted" in a church pew. The more I thought about that phrase the more I began to think about my church pew (fifth row back on the east side of the sanctuary, ground floor of course). The writer suggested that being rooted in a pew was a bad thing, I could not disagree more. On separate occasions, I remember my brother and I walking down the aisle to make our public professions of faith, from our pew. I have seen our pew welcome newcomers and bid farewell to others who have moved away to other towns, not other pews, and some have gone on to Glory. It is on that pew that several of us celebrate "red" Sunday. That is when on the Sunday closest to Christmas we all wear the popular holiday color from the waist up. On that pew for some time now I have made an effort to sit close to my Uncle Wayne so that, at my favorite time of the service, when we all join hands and sing The Family of God, Uncle Wayne and I can harmonize as we sing loud and long. The people on that pew have supported me when I strayed to other pews to sit with high school friends or current boyfriends, and those same people have welcomed me back home to my pew when love went wrong and friendships drifted. In the closing song every Sunday, First Baptist members sing only the chorus. But, I like the verse, which says,
"You will notice we say brother and sister round here, The more I think about my roots to pew five on the east side of the sanctuary, I realize that it isn’t the pew, it is the people I am rooted to, and that's a good thing. Felicia F. Brown - Pontotoc, MS
Bodock Beau Boudreaux's Daughter Ed Dandridge, former college running mate of the editor, sent us the following tale. Boudreaux, pronounced along the lines of "booed row," is the Cajun equivalent of a Mississippi redneck. Boudreaux's Daughter Boudreaux's 21-one-year-old, unmarried daughter tells her parents she thinks she is expecting. Very worried, they go to the drugstore to buy a pregnancy kit. The test result shows that the girl is pregnant. Shouting, cursing, and crying, Boudreaux says, "Who 'dat pig what did you like 'dis? I want to know!" The girl picks up the phone and makes a call. Half an hour later a Ferrari stops in front of Boudreaux's house. A mature and distinguished man with gray hair, impeccably dressed in a very expensive suit, steps out of the car and enters the house. He sits in the living room with Boudreaux, the mother and the girl and tells them, "Good morning, your daughter has informed me of the problem. I can't marry her because of my personal family situation, but I'll take responsibility." "If a girl is born, I will bequeath her two retail stores, a townhouse, a beach villa and a $1,000,000 bank account." "If a boy is born, my legacy will be a couple of factories and a $2,000,000 bank account. If it is twins, a factory and $1,000,000 each." "However, if there is a miscarriage, what do you suggest I do?" At this point, Boudreaux, who had remained silent, places a hand firmly on the man's shoulder and tells him, "Den you try agin!" Latenight Humor David Letterman: "Top Questions On The Al Jazeera Anchor Application": Would we need to provide you with a company camel?; If things don't work out, would you rather be shot or hanged?; Where do you see your beard in five years?; Are you willing to work with our cranky commentator, Ahmed Rooney?; Do you promise not to tell anyone we've been hiding Osama in the supply closet?; Can we put a hidden camera in your turban?; In how many different languages can you say, "Death to America"?
Jay Leno: The government is still analyzing Osama bin Laden's latest
tape. On his most recent release he called Bush a liar and said that he was
just after oil. It's the usual stuff we have heard before. Like at the Golden
Globes. ... On the tape, bin Laden has three demands: That we pull our troops
out of Iraq, that we pull the troops out of Afghanistan, and he wants to
see actual stars on "Dancing With the Stars." ... New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin
is being criticized for saying that God wants New Orleans to be a chocolate
city and that the hurricanes were because God was mad at us. The good news,
he was nominated for the Pat Robertson Lifetime Achievement Award. ... Here's
your government at work. This week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission
issued a recall for thousands of Christmas lights that they say may pose
a risk of electric shock. They're recalling Christmas lights. Good timing.
What is it, January now? You think this is maybe where the ex-head of FEMA
wound up? ... The "National Inquirer" has reported that Ted Kennedy has a
21-year-old secret love child. Is that really the most accurate term, "love
child"? Isn't "drunken fling child" a bit more like it? ... Senator Kennedy
wasn't available for comment on the love child—he was overseeing a hearing
on ethics. ... NBC has cancelled the "West Wing." That's when you know things
are bad—when even fictional Democrats aren't doing well. Can't even
get elected on TV anymore.
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With predictable rituals, certain members
of my family gathered around the television set during last Saturday night's
Miss America Pageant to cheer for Miss Mississippi and to assess her national
competition. My sister, who had spent the day at home in a state of casual
disarray, put on makeup and fixed her hair before arriving.
