Road Trip

Hello, everyone! How is your summer going so far? Hot seems to be the first word to come to mind, but at least we see a rain shower from time to time. I counted 37 rain drops just the other day. I am sure there were more to hit the grass, but those left temporary spots on the walk. We did have a pretty good rain last night.

Carol Stone and I made a road trip last week to Rison, AR. The catalyst was a book club meeting, but the real reason was just to visit with some very special friends there. Carol was able to spend a little time with some of her closest friends, but found there wasn't nearly enough time to see everyone she wanted to spend time with. Next time, the trip will have to last longer. It was a great trip. Rison is really a special place.

I had a call from Barbara McDonald Wilton the other day. You remember; she and her sister Margarette Weisenstein lost their mother, Wilton Inez McDonald last month. She wanted me to say thank you to Mrs. Cleta Simmons for allowing them to use her house while the family gathered in Rector. Jim and Mary Crews acted as their host and hostess while they were there and it enabled the family to be together in an intimate and beautiful setting. Barbara and Margarette are so grateful to Rosie Hayes and Richard and Shirley Simmons for giving them that opportunity. She also wanted to thank Glenna Bookout who sang at the service and Karen Cagle, daughter of Berniece Wooten, who played the organ. Everyone came together to make this difficult time easier for them all. It brought them all a lot of joy.

I also spoke with Lady Frances Nichols. We reminisced a little. She and my mother were childhood friends, along with Rita Ray, Dorotha Fielder and Geraldine Coats. She told me of a time when they were all teenagers and my mother, Jenny Wright had grandpa's Model T car. They all packed themselves into it and went for a drive in the country. They had pooled their money and bought a pack of cigarettes and when they were far enough out of town they pulled over and all of them lit up. Pretty soon a pickup approached and Lady realized, with horror, it was her father. In a panic they rushed to put out their cigarettes and were much relieved when the pickup passed them by without stopping.

Later that evening at the dinner table her father was talking about his day. "You know," he said. "I saw Theron Wright's car out on that country road today. There was so much smoke coming out the windows I thought it was on fire at first. But it was all gone when I got close to it." I guess they didn't really dodge that bullet. See parents really do find out everything!

Did you know that Ron Kemp took Nancy to see Mary Chapin Carpenter for her birthday? Isn't that romantic?

It is with a heavy heart that we say good-by to Ms. Frances Haas. She is going to Tulsa OK to a beautiful cottage in an assisted living community near her daughter. We all wish her the very best. It sounds like a lovely place and I am sure she will enjoy getting to know all her new neighbors. She has been a vital part of Rector and we will miss her, but we wish her the very best.

When Carol Stone pulled into the church parking lot on Sunday morning, she was surprised to hear a kitten crying. Very loudly. She raised the hood on her car and found an adorable little yellow kitten. As it turns out, Sophie Simmons had recently lost a kitten just like that and was thrilled to take it home. Now just try to tell me that kitten is not a special gift to Sophie. She found it at church. How special is that?

Oh, my. I suppose I had better go now. I do need to hear from you. We all want to know what goes on with you. Write me at 514 W. 3rd St., Rector or call me. My phone number is 595-3173. Email address: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.

Bless our soldiers.