The Good Samaritan

Donny was going to work one morning when a white work truck stopped in front of Valley Point School to turn in. There is lots of construction work going on because Valley Point is building a new school building. 

Donny was sitting, waiting on the man to turn in, when a car suddenly hit him from behind. The impact was so unexpected that he took his foot off the brake and it rolled into the truck in front of him. Now both bumpers are dented and the tailgate looks bad. Fortunately, the guy's truck wasn't damaged because of his trailer hitch but the car that hit Donny was totaled.

The insurance company finally approved the repairs for Donny's truck. Donny asked me to meet him at the house around four o'clock so we could take the truck to the mechanic, Mr. Carroll, to get it fixed. 

I had been at the Whitfield County courthouse this morning. Later I picked up my friend, Joann, and we went to the Cracker Barrel for a bowl of soup. She paid the bill and I paid the tip. That's how I know I had my wallet then. 

Later we went to Walgreen's and while we were in line I got out to look for my pocketbook I had stuffed behind my seat. I needed my dark sunglasses because the sun was finally shining too brightly.

I rushed home to meet Donny and we took his truck to Mr. Carroll's and started to go home but I remembered that Mamma said Donny could drive my daddy's truck while his was being fixed so we went on to Mamma's house to get the truck.

As luck would have it, it wouldn't start, so we called my son and got him to come help push the truck away from the carport so we could get close enough to boost the battery off.

I went to the Walmart Neighborhood Market after that. 

I tried to find my wallet and tore my pocketbook apart and looked all around inside the truck but couldn't find it. Naturally, I got mad and started panicking and calling Joann to ask if she could remember where I had it last. She mentioned that I'd gotten out of the truck. 

She drove around Walgreen's and I called them to see if anybody had turned it in. Joann even called the Cracker Barrel for me. Nobody knew anything.

After about an hour I finally came home and looked for it even though I'd already got Donny to look for it.

The phone rang and I answered it. Somebody said they were Officer Rittenhouse from the Dalton Police Department and wanted to talk to Pamela or Donny Strickland. I was excited and said "I'm Pamela Strickland. Did you find my billfold?"

She told me a nice 85 year old lady turned my wallet in to the police. I asked her where she found it and the lady said it was at the Walgreen's. The officer said I could come pick up my wallet at the police station.

I couldn't believe my good fortune. I offered Officer Rittenhouse a reward for the lady who turned my wallet in and she called the lady to tell her that I wanted to give her something but she said she was just glad she was able to help. Her name was Mrs. Manis. She has renewed my faith in people again. 

                                                

There aren't enough stories about good people who do good deeds and I believe people like Mrs. Manis are few and far between. They deserve a special thanks and honor. Not everybody would be that honest.

Thank you, Mrs. Manis. 
Donny said I'm lucky. 
No, I'm blessed.

AS ALWAYS
PIO

MAY 2016

MONDAY

Today was one of those days. I had a dentist appointment but was late because I realized our goat, Bonnie, was out and I had to go looking for her before I left. Thank goodness our neighbor caught her and was bringing her home when I started looking. He probably heard me yelling for her.

After my dental appointment I had to rush home to make sure Bonnie was still in the pen. I shut the door so she couldn't escape again. I didn't have time to look for the hole in the fence. 

I ran to the electric company to pay my bill that I had forgot all about until the other night. I was happy I got it paid within the grace period and didn't owe a late fee but when I went back to my truck to leave it wouldn't start. Oh great! This day was turning out to be a doozie. I called the mechanic and then Scout and Donny, just in case I needed them later. 

I wasted about an hour trying to get my truck to start.

Donny finally told me to mash the doohickey that Scout pushed when it wouldn't start the last time. I looked around under the hood. To say I'm inept is a compliment. I took some cover off of something and then had to put it back on because I didn't see anything there to push. I finally realized the doodad was right in front of me but I couldn't reach it. No problem. I got my trusty old back scratcher I carry in my truck and used the handlike stick to push the spring a couple of times then I tried to crank my truck and, by golly, it worked! That was a relief. 

I'm just glad to finally be home.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TUESDAY

Well, today was another day. I thought, "what the heck, I'll do some running around" clearly ignoring my precarious predicament from yesterday. I convinced my buddy, Joann, to go riding around with me and we ended up at Burger's Market in Carbondale. 

Lo and behold, the truck bowed up on me and wouldn't start. Who'd a knew? Well, we called in the cavalry and waited. It was a long hot wait. Joann and I got comfy with a sun shade and ice cold water compliments of the lady from Burger's Market. 

Joann was rescued by her friend, Nancy, who came down to Carbondale to pick Joann up. My son, Scout, came by after work to see if he could help. Nothing we did worked. He gave me the number for the wrecker service and left. 

It wasn't very long before Donny arrived from work and tried to start the truck. No such luck. We finally gave up and called Dalton Wrecker and had them haul my Ford to the mechanic in Resaca. We've become such reliable customers we've built sort of a bond. I hope he won't mind coming to get the keys to my truck in the morning when I call. Crap! I wasted a couple of hours today because I didn't take the truck to the garage the first thing today like I should have. I should have known better.

Oh lord, help me through Wednesday. It looks like it's going to be a fun-filled week.

It was the fuel pump.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Rachel, Steve, Connie, Maranda, Nita, Junior, and Madison

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

REMEMBER

RIP

Edwadene McAllister, Grampaw Carter, Ev Chastain

 Vivian

AS ALWAYS

PIO

SEPTEMBER

It's fall around here, people. Summer's slipping away. I'm glad Donny and I got to take a vacation before the weather turned cooler. We took a road trip to Panama City Beach. Our friend, Joann, went with us. We shared a condominium on the twenty second floor. I had vertigo until I got used to looking down. It was worth it though because we had a spectacular view.

We haven't been on vacation for about ten years. It was perfect. The weather was warm but not scorching hot and there were a few tourists but not enough to overcrowd you.

We saw sea turtles swimming in a line near the shore one day and Joann swore there were whales in the ocean. Huge dark shadows floated underneath the water. We could see for miles. 

The earth really does curve when you can see the horizon but the most awesome optical illusion was looking at the sea and getting the impression that the water rose above the land and was as high at the balcony. I think I spent a large part of vacation imagining disasters. Jaws, tsunami, Cast Away. You get the drift.

The last time we went to Panama City the boys were little and we went during a hurricane. I didn't want to do like we did before and turn around and drive back home. Although the weather channels were predicting a storm we lucked out and it was partially cloudy but otherwise mostly clear weather. I thought vacation was perfect.

We went to Captain Jack's for an all you can eat seafood buffet one night. Joann hates seafood but she was a good sport and came with us. Donny and I scarfed down crab legs and shrimp until we nearly burst. Well, I did, anyway. I love crab legs but I wonder who looked at those ugly creatures and thought "Hey, I bet those would taste great steamed and dipped in garlic and butter." Thumbs up, to them. Joann dared me not to squirt her with crab juice. She didn't want to smell like a fish. She cracks me up.

When we came back home, Donny had an appointment to see one of his heart doctor's. They checked Donny's defibrillator and said he was doing great. I am so proud of Donny. He is amazing for a man who had a quadruple bypass. He deserved a vacation. Bless his heart.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Butch, Katy, Kim, Susan, Carol, Larry, Corbin, Gail, Melissa, Melody, Erin, Emily, Debbie, and Jesse

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
Resaca Rose

RIP

Gary McNamer, Robert Burchfield, Jack Rat

REMEMBER
Labor Day, Rosh Hashanah, Autumn

AS ALWAYS

 PIO

PBS 9-14-15 Monday 10:15 pm EDT

MAY

Whew! Nobody told me getting older was going to be so hard. If they had of told me I'd have tried harder not to get old. 

It's always something. Right now I am transitioning from constant caregiver to part-time homebody. I get so distracted when I'm not on my own schedule that I forget to keep up with my bills and laundry. Needless to say, I get behind.

Things have "flipped" again, in my life. My baby boy, the Coltman, has flown the coop. He moved out on his own. Yeah, now Donny and I are empty-nesters. Colt is working in Atlanta full time now. What to do, what to do?

*******

Between running up to Dalton every day to check on Momma or Bennett I don't have much time to do everything that needs to be done around here. I have literally a mountain of junk piled in Scout's room that I've accumulated since he's been gone. Now I'm sorting through Colt's room moving stuff around trying to figure out what I should do in there. It's a mess.

I think I am psychosomatic. I probably suffer from ablutophobia or possibly disposophobia. I collect things. Things ordinary people would trash. For example, I have an overabundance of plastic meat containers with lids that sandwich meat comes in. I took a stack of them to the Christmas dinner with Donny's family so everyone could get leftovers to take home last year. It impressed my sisters-in-law. I don't know why I haven't thought of using them like that and depleting my reserves before. 

*****

I promised to keep Mamma's yard mowed and, between Scout and me, it's looking pretty good. I went to mow Saturday. Colt was loading the truck up with spare furniture he salvaged from Momma to take to his trailer.

Jason and Hanna were there with their little boy, Tristan. Jason is Scout and Colt's oldest friend. He and Hanna are expecting their second child soon. They're having a little girl. Tristan is a doll so I know the baby will be, too.

Another white car was sitting in the driveway when I drove up but I didn't pay attention. I finally heard Katie say something about Joann and asked her what she was talking about. She said, "Joann is over there," pointing at the white car. I had totally blown by her and didn't even notice.

To tell the truth, I really didn't think about Joann being there. She's not supposed to drive and I never thought about her getting her friends to bring her by the house.

She said they rode by my house, but figured I was sleeping and didn't stop. Mind you, it was going on noon by the time I got to Mamma's house. Oh Joann sure is a kidder. 

She had Nancy and her friend Sandra with her. Sandra is a truck driver. She's about my age. 

We had a full house Saturday. Not only were Jason and Joann there but my aunt Mary was visiting with my momma. She had been visiting for a while. Mary lives in Savannah with her son now. We love it when her daughter-in-law, Tonia, brings her for a visit. Mary went back home on Sunday.

I was hoping Momma and Mary and I could do some things together but Momma didn't want to socialize. Mary kept herself entertained reading a paperback and chain smoking. 

Thankfully, Mamma's church family fixed them several meals and brought them to Mamma's house. They are excellent cooks, especially Shirley, the preacher's wife. They're good people.

*****

Burger's Market is open again this season so I got a beautiful tri-colored pink mandevilla plant and gave it to Momma for Mother's Day. I bought myself two different kinds of ferns. I love them. They give any house a southern vibe.

Poor Donny has to tend to our yard alone. Nobody else is ever around to help him. I've started doing my part by tying the goat out so she can eat some of our overgrown spots. Bonnie acts like she's always starving so it's a win-win for all of us. Well, all of us except Buddy. He got off on the wrong foot with the goat and she doesn't like him at all.

Now Buddy cowers in fear when the goat gets on a tear and decides she wants to butt him. Oh well. Live and learn, I always say. Maybe next time he'll be a little nicer when he meets a goat.

*****

I'm becoming cautiously optimist that this might turn out to be an awesome summer. Here's hoping. 

Bless you all as you go about your daily struggles. We all have our crosses to bear. Just think "this, too, shall pass" and carry on. I love you all, even when I'm being a bitch sometimes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Rachel, Steve, Connie, Maranda, Nita, Junior, and Madison

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

REMEMBER

Edwadene McAllister, Grampaw Carter, Ev Chastain

RIP

Vivian

AS ALWAYS

PIO

MARCH

I am thankful for the hints of spring we are experiencing now. Temperatures are in the 70's and we are getting plenty of rain. I don't mind, not after the frigid weather we lived though a couple of weeks ago. Our gas heater went out and we had to live through some of the coldest temperatures we faced all winter with space heaters. We worried about the water freezing but we got off lucky. Mama wasn't as lucky. Her pipes froze. Thankfully, they didn't burst.

I don't think we would have been nearly as comfortable if it weren't for Mama and our friend, Joann. Mama gave Donny an infrared heater for Christmas, and Joann generously lent us her extra heater during our crisis. Believe me, we needed them. 

The bedrooms were cold as ice. It reminded me of the times I sent the night at my grandparent's house in the winter when I was a kid. My grandmother always stacked up plenty of quilts and usually put a hot water bottle in the bed for my feet. She also let me wear her mother's flannel granny gowns. I felt warm and toasty in my cold, cold room wrapped in my sweet great granny's old gowns.

I was basically a hermit until we got the heat back on the next week. Now, I am becoming a little bit optimist and that frightens me. I'm like Chicken Little. I'm afraid the sky will come tumbling down on my head if I get too cocky or happy.

Donny and I started walking for exercise again and I'm able to walk twice as far as he does now on our treks. He comes home after a few turns around our track and leaves me to walk until I give out. 

I hated walking when I first started but I knew that I'd eventually hit that plateau that people talk about where your body kicks in and starts to "sing" with energy. I hit that peak about six or seven turns around the parking lot where we exercise and get pumped up and want to walk faster and farther every time. I sure am glad. I missed that when I was recovering and the weather was bad.

I've been cooped up in the house too long. It's time to get moving to get healthy. Katie and Joann go to the gym to exercise now so I don't have my walking buddies any more. That's alright. Donny and I are about the same speed anyway. You know ... old farts. We get plenty of walking in when we get started.

Donny actually called me skinny tonight. I don't know if he was being facetious or was really serious. He handed me a dinner plate and said, "Here. You can go before me cause you need to eat, you're so skinny."

What do you think? Was he paying me a compliment, or was he trying to be funny? You can never tell with Donny.

We eat cafeteria style and everybody gets their plate and moves on to the dining room. Our dining room table belonged to my grandmother. I like having family dinners at the same table I've sat at with my grandparents. It's a family thing.

On another note, Donny got his drawers all in a tangle because he hates the pictures I posted of him when he had surgery last year so I decided, in the name of fairness, I'd post a picture of me when I was in the hospital. Just so you know, I look pitiful so you have my permission to feel sorry for me a little but I'm all better now so don't worry about me.

Everybody has to go through their own journeys and we all have burdens we have to deal with. The important thing is to not let the burdens own you. Sometimes you have to cling to that glimmer of hope. We all do.

I love you guys.

Are we even now, Donny?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Heather, Jami, Dana, Mike, Mary Jane, Johnathon, Jason, Alex, Patsy, Sunshine

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

RIP
Jerry White, Debbie Chitwood,
Crick Marshall, Mary Bell Carter, Evelyn Chastain, and Lela Smith

REMEMBER
Daylight Saving Time, St Patrick's Day, Spring, Palm Sunday

AS ALWAYS

PIO