4th Annual Story Night!

 I am thrilled to announce that our Story Night show will be interpreted for the hearing impaired. Thank you, Gola Burton!

Our 4th Annual Story Night is coming! It’s gonna be fun. Y’all come!

Schroeder's New Deli, Broad Street, Rome, Georgia.

7-9 pm.

Gola Burton will interpret this program for the hearing impaired.

Y'all please share with others who might enjoy this show.

Gleaning Facebook: Time's Cover - Me!

Trying to create my own Time Magazine cover (!!!) I stupidly allowed a website called mywaydotcom to get into my Safari program... I made my cover but in the process screwed up my computer.
Anybody know how to rid my Macbook Pro of this awful software? It has taken several minutes just to type this message... everything has slowed to a crawl.
By the way, Darrell Fedchak, this is me as Maurice in Beauty and the Beast about a decade ago.

Comments

Terrell Shaw
Yay... I think/hope I fixed it.

Laurie Craw
Vanity is a curse on your MacBook. 

Terrell Shaw
Vanity thy name is Terrell. 

Donald Murdock
That's so goofily you! Did you print it for framing? Try a reset.

Ken Gossett
I would buy this issue! 

Terrell Shaw
Even this 'Next President' would be an improvement over 

the Crippled American occupying that office now!

Ken Gossett
A tremendous improvement

Terrell Shaw
Ken Gossett , yes, but so would be the next guy who crawls out 

from under the Turner McCall bridge! 

Sam Burnham
I'm partial to Time's 1734 Man of the Year.

Gleaning Facebook: YoungTales Summer Show

 We had a great time with two outstanding student storytellers this morning. We had an enthusiastic room of kids from preschool through eighth grade and adults. Our storytellers included:

• Terrell Shaw (ta-dah!), There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!

• Jane Owen Cunningham who had trouble with that bubblegum!

• Michael Rios, West End Elementary with his hilarious tale of sugar and salt.

• Mary Elena Rivera Kirk who dressed a pig for church!

• Courtney Hutcherson, Armuchee Middle who could NOT keep those ducks out of the garage!

• Gary Greene who remembers Superman and Mister Mxyzptlk.

• and Mary Elena Rivera Kirk, again, who gave us a story to take home with us.

Thanks to everyone who told, everyone who came to listen, and to everyone who helped spread the word to get us a good audience!

One more show! Monday July 17! Keep spreading the word.

Gleaning Facebook: Three Women For Commission

Monica Sheppard 

Sue Hamler Lee

Wendy Davis

Someone asked me who Monica Sheppard is "running against". I somehow lost that message so I'll just answer on my wall for everyone.

Monica will be one of several candidates for three positions on the City Commission representing Ward Two. Rome has an unusual system. (I do not like our system, but that's a discussion for another time.) The candidates must reside in Ward Two but ALL voters in the city limits can vote for up to three of the candidates. Only Monica and incumbent Sue Hamler Lee (Sue Lee) have announced so far. I expect our incumbent Wendy Davis will announce soon. The current third commissioner in Ward Two is Jamie Doss. I do not know whether he plans to run for another term.

When all votes are counted the three candidates with the highest number of votes will be elected. Therefore candidates do not "run against" anyone so much as they seek votes for themselves, and second- and third-place votes from the supporters of the other candidates.

Speaking only for myself, I don't think you'd go wrong voting for three women. If they all three win, we'll have a majority (5-4) female commission for the next two-years. Bet that would be a first for Rome.

Comments

Wendy Davis Well explained, Terrell. And I DO intend to seek re-election. Hoping to earn the support of enough voters to end up in the top three!

Monica Sheppard Yes, thanks for explaining it, I've gotten this question often! I have the greatest respect for all three current seat holders, but hope to have a chance to contribute a new perspective. Thank you!

Michelle Sims I agree Monica, I would love to vote for you but because I live in the county I can't.

Hilda Atkins Moore YES!!!

Dekie Hicks Thanks for explaining the system, Terrell Shaw. I've been confused by it for some time, actually. How do you find out what Ward you reside in? I looked on my voter registration, but didn't see anything there. I live in Summerville Park.

Terrell Shaw The wards are divided by the rivers. 

Ward 1 = between the rivers (Downtown & North Rome)

Ward 3= West Rome (from the rivers west including Summerville Park)

Ward 2 = South Rome & Old East Rome (South of the Etowah & Coosa rivers)

Dekie Hicks Thanks! That is weird about requiring the candidates all live in Ward 2! I wonder what the rationale behind that is?

Terrell Shaw Avoidance of controversy, protection of incumbents.

Ann Pullen Wards 1 and 3 are not up for re-election this time; they will be up for re-election in a couple of years.

Terrell Shaw Yeah, I don't like it because no one represents a specific area. They just have to live in it. I think each ward should elect their own reps.

Dekie Hicks Hmmmm. Wonder what was happening in Ward 2 long about the time these procedures were implemented? Has the city always had this form of government? It's Civics Lessons, y'all!

Terrell Shaw Once had nine wards I think, and individual races in each.

Terrell Shaw Nothing special about Ward 2, this is just the year for those three seats to be elected. The four year terms are staggered. Wards 1 & 3 were elected in 2015 and will be contested again in 2019.

Jean Filson Linos That would be great!

John Paul Schulz So I get to vote for three lovely ladies? Cool.

Debbie Moore I wish I could vote for you Monica!! Doug and I wish you the best of luck from Connecticut!

Monica Sheppard Thanks, Debbie!!!

Missy Bentz Me too!

James Schroeder I've been thinking about running the last two times. How do you find out what ward you live in? Is there any info available? I tried reaching out to the city commission but never heard back either time

Wendy Davis What do you mean that you tried reaching out to the city commission? You have my cell and email. Happy to help you sort out your ward residence.

James Schroeder Wendy Davis I know, I tried to set up multiple meetings but you were busy and I didn't know who else to contact. Not mad, I just don't know who to turn to.

Wendy Davis James, my apologies for not being available. Will try to call when driving back to town.

What My Facebook Vocabulary Shows

...maybe, deep down I am, 63, 65, 61, or 62 and from Texas, Florida, Texas again, Washington, or Hawaii? Whut's wrong with 70 from the Empire State of the South?!

I clicked on a meme and my Facebook vocabulary was analyzed estimate my age and where I might live. I did it five times and got five different results. I am in fact 70. I have at this point never set foot in Texas or Hawaii -- I hope to remedy that eventually -- and I have only visited Washington state one time and never spent a night there. Granted I married a Floridian and have spent a fair amount of time there.

Jackie McGehee

Sheila and I attended the funeral for Jackie McGehee at First Methodist this morning. I loved the display the family put at the front of the sanctuary:

• several pictures of Jackie hiking

• her backpack

• her hiking boots

• her hiking stick

• her wildflower field guide, displayed open with underlining, checkmarks, and sticky notes protruding from many other pages.

Jackie was at McHenry when I got there in August of 1971 and still there when Brannon finished fourth grade there in the early 90s. She was one of the best teachers I have worked with. Kind, quiet, loving, dedicated.

In recent years we ran into her several times as we hiked along the Riverwalk in Ridge Ferry Park or behind Chieftain's.

Here is her obituary from the funeral home's website:

Jacquelyn "Jackie" Millican McGehee

JULY 29, 1930 – JUNE 17, 2017

IN THE CARE OF

Daniel's Funeral Home and Cremation Service

Jacquelyn Millican McGehee, 86, Rome, GA, departed this life on June 17, 2017 with her loving family by her side. 

She was preceded in death by husband Jackson Reed McGehee, Sr. and son Jackson Reed McGehee, Jr. 

She is survived by daughter Lynne McGehee Cabe (Doug), daughter-in-law Ann Dickinson (Blair), and grandchildren Jackson Reed McGehee III (Teela), Hannah Cabe Jones (Stephen), Anna Tate McGehee Lupo, and Haley Cabe. Five great grandchildren survive: Sydnee and Cabe Jones, Reed and Libby McGehee, and Mary Alice Lupo.

Jackie was a long-time, devoted member of Rome First United Methodist Church.

Jackie was a first and second grade teacher at Alto Park and McHenry Schools. Her legacy includes touching the lives of many children and families with her empathic love and persistent belief in the intelligence, skills, and unique abilities of children.

Jackie was a friend to forests, streams, wildflowers, rain, rocks, and hummingbirds. She took solace with nature. Jackie hiked many miles on local and regional trails and supported the preservation of nature. 

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Facebook comments:

Laurie Craw
Didn't know her, but she sounds like one of the people who make America great. They are the ones who deserve our respect and public praise.

Debbie Carter Reed
She taught one of my sons. She was a very sweet lady and a dedicated teacher

Bill Barker
Prayers Condolences

Linda Hatcher
Mrs. McGehee was a favorite 2nd grade teacher at Alto Park in the 60s-what a lady!

Gleaning Facebook: Tony Patterson

This is a picture of the "little boy" who died at 55 in an ambulance wreck recently. Here Tony eats an ice cream from a trip to Kays Kastle Ice Cream shop in Rome with me and several other students. I don't remember why these kids had earned a special treat.

It has been an absolute joy to reconnect with some of these kids by way of Facebook over the years, but then something like this brings heartbreak.

Here is the obituary from Henderson and Sons Funeral Home:

Mr. Tony Marion Patterson, age 55, of Rome, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017.

            Mr. Patterson was born in Rome, GA on June 13, 1962, son of Jack Edward Patterson and the former Shirley Lambert.  Prior to his becoming disabled, he was employed as a driver with Yellow Cab Company.  He was a member of Coosa Valley Praise and Worship where he served as the church pianist.  An avid musician, Mr. Patterson also enjoyed singing, and playing guitar and drums.

            Survivors include his wife, the former Deborah Pace, to whom he was married on November 28, 2013; 4 daughters, Tonya Warren, Summerville, Tera Jones, and her husband, Greg, Naomi, GA, Melody Patterson, Rome, and Ashley Ratliff, and her husband, Donald, Silver Creek; 3 sons, Danny Mayfield, and his wife, Jennifer, Centre, AL, Johnathan Mayfield, Rome, and Isaac Mayfield, Rome; his parents, Jack and Shirley Patterson, Rome; 3 sisters, Lori Sturgeon, and her husband, John, Rome, Wendy Jenkins, and her husband, Willie, Swainsboro, and Erika Seale, and her husband, Julian, Copperas Cove, TX; a brother, Wesley Patterson, Rome; 6 grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive.

            Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2017, at 3pm in the Chapel at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel.  The Rev. Steve Kelley will officiate.  Following the service, Mr. Patterson will be cremated in accordance with his wishes.

            The family will receive friends at Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, on Thursday from 1pm until the service hour.  At other times, they may be contacted at their respective residences.

            Henderson & Sons Funeral Home, North Chapel, has charge of the funeral arrangements.

YoungTales Summer Show

 Y'all find us an audience for these great kids! Please share if you are in Northwest Georgia! 

(Thank you for 30 shares on Facebook!)

Legacies

A picture on Facebook this morning reminded me of someone else, Sarah Colley.

Sarah Colley used to travel around the country to help communities put on shows starring the children and other folks of the town.  She had graduated with a degree in theater and dance from the prestigious Tennessee school now called Belmont University and now she was putting that learning to use. In the early thirties Bibb Manufacturing brought her to Porterdale, Georgia, their mill town and home of little Sarah Ruth Baird. Quiet little Ruth was somehow coaxed to play the part of "Rita, the Bold Senorita" in the show that resulted. 

Half a century later, Larisa Johnston (now Featherstone), one of Ruth's granddaughters, became part of the confirmation group at Brentwood United Methodist Church. Sarah Colley Cannon, was now a seventy- or eighty-something, and an active and highly respected member of that congregation in the suburbs of Nashville.

Sarah became Larisa's "Friend in Faith". If I remember correctly Larisa's confirmation mentor and prayer partner not only prayed for her and sent little notes of encouragement, but also arranged for her backstage tours of Nashville's Grand Ole Opry. (see comment from Larisa's mom, below.)

Of course, there is more to the story. 

In between those two events involving Ruth and Larisa, Sarah Cannon, a smart, cultured, serious, and dignified person in her personal and church life became world-famous for hanging price tags on her hat, hollering "How-deeeee!" and pretending to be brash and plain. 

As part of her theatrical efforts Sarah developed a comedy act filled with characters distilled from her Tennessee neighbors. She renamed her hometown "Grinder's Switch" after a tiny neighboring community, and she peopled it with lovingly lampooned "hillbillies" including her own alter ego: Minnie Pearl.

Others look at the pictures above and see a famous rube. I think also of a loving Christian, who faced terrible illness (breast cancer, double mastectomy, and stroke) and left a cancer-fighting legacy at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, and also left an impact on the lives of two people "I love... so much it hurts!" 

Do you suppose her work with the introverted preteen who would become my mother might have helped Ruth Baird Shaw, at least a little, to build the self-confidence that would later allow her to face widowhood, the horrible pain of trigeminal neuralgia, and aging, with the determination and dedication needed to build a new career as a pastor?

Do you suppose her willingness to mentor a young Christian helped my beloved little niece explore her faith and, perhaps, build the strength with which she would face, later in life, with heartbreak but dogged determination and great courage, the reality of her young daughter's battle with leukemia? (And Larisa with her daughter Lily and other family members and friends would build their own legacy by establishing Lily's Garden.)

I love Minnie Pearl, but there was a lot more to Sarah Colley Cannon than a dangling pricetag and that cheery "How-deeeee!" and tagline: "I love you so much it hurts!"  

June 13, 2017 - Joe Humphrey gave me the yucca about 20 years ago. The four-o'clocks are rampant every year. Some of this is prairie sunflowers that won't bloom till September. Somehow this wild corner of my yard pleases me.

 

June 13, 2017 - Our river walk was beautiful again this evening.

Left to right: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

June 13, 2017
Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
A face only a mother could love. The cone-shaped spines on the leading edge of the carapace are the basis for the common and scientific names.

June 13, 2017
Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
I suppose she has finished laying eggs somewhere south of the pond and is now returning to her home in the pond.

Dennis Wipper
Or as I see it, Mitch heading back to the swamp!
... I'm sorry, I just realized that I insulted the turtle.

Terrell Shaw
As a lover of wetlands I hate equating Mitch or Donald, etc. with the beautiful and fascinatingly diverse critters I see in our marvelous marshes! /-)

Anita Stewart
Another great photo....especially love the reflection of the clouds on the lake.

June 13, 2017
Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)
The quarter gives some persprctive to this big mama reptile.

Deborah Lake Dawson
Pretty shell!

June 13, 2017
Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

June 13, 2017 - whoops, this one is fuzzy. 
Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera)

Deborah Lake Dawson
What kind of turtle is this guy, very odd looking snout.

Terrell Shaw
I have labeled it now. Softshells are very common but you rarely see them out of the water except when the mamas come out to lay eggs. They look sorta extraterrestrial don't they?

Melissa Howard
Wow

Dennis Wipper
Mitch McConnell's father?

Laurie Craw
A dinosaur

Gleaning Facebook: A Pair of Mugs

From Carol Shaw Johnston to Ruth Baird Shaw:

Mother - I left my WRHS mug sitting on your kitchen counter! I can't believe it! Please set it aside somewhere safe (don't let Terrell or Deborah steal it!) and I will get it the next time I visit.

Jenny Sills

Gotta watch those two. Does this make you the "good" sister?

Joan Shaw Turrentine

I noticed it after you left 

Ruth Baird Shaw

I could not believe you left it. I know it is something you want to keep. (So I will try to remember to put it away before Terry or Debi come over!!! ) <smile> As Always...It sure was great to have you and Ron here.

Amanda Hearn Sims

She didn't say that anyone else in the family couldn't take it...noted

Ruth Baird Shaw

Uh-Oh...wonder what Amanda has in mind???

Carol Shaw Johnston

Amanda will hold it hostage and demand a ransom!

Amanda Hearn Sims

Sounds like you know me quite well...I need to stop being so predictable

What a nice pair of mugs! Carol Shaw Johnston Oh no! Mother wasn't quick enough to hide it before you got there! Frank Norris You don't have a shot in that mug, do you Terrell? (smile.)

 

Gleaning Facebook: Believe Trump?

To believe our president you must believe:

• That the FBI Director decided on January 6 to make up a fake conversation with the President-elect of the United States and document it in a memo to share with his FBI co-horts.

• Then that the president gave him the opportunity of making up a further untrue conversation when the president invited the Director to an unusual one-on-one lunch.

• Then that the president happened to give him the opportunity of making up a further untrue conversation when the president dismisses ALL of the other leaders present (The VP, the AG, Kushner, etc.) and again gives him a private audience.

• The president then fires him as his already written and desseminated memos hint the president has threatened.

Sorry. If you believe that you are incredibly naive.

Donald John Trump is a liar, a crook, an authoritarian, and a disgrace to the office he holds.

Comments

Luis Schnitzer Da Silva "You're incredible Naive"...... So?

Luis Schnitzer Da Silva They could care less

Trish Sullins Benefield He's a sad little boy 'playing' house in the Biggest House America can give him (for 4 years).............Honestly, whenever I see him smile, I think of a little boy Playing Boss. 

Luis Schnitzer Da Silva Incredible naive is the least of their problems....

Luis Schnitzer Da Silva They .... the idiot trumpers..... believe Obama is a Muslim insurgent.... So being a little naive is a big deal? When obama is coming for their guns and is destroying the constitution....and you attack them with a little naive? Hahahhahahaa

Donald Murdock People believe what they want, or desperately need, to believe in order to justify their willfully ignorant agendas and poor decisions. They've backed a guy who is unable to recognize or take responsibility for doing so much damage, domestically and internationally. Naïveté implies ignorance of facts, but Trump has been completely open about his dishonesty, lack of integrity, and willingness to cheat and steal. Those who continue to believe and support him are guilty of the same level of dishonesty and are unquestionably un-American.

Michael Berg Now Terrill don't be so hard on the President. You remember what your first real job was like....

Christie Hufstedler Boyd Trumperthinskin

Jim Marshall He is a disgrace to the office of President plus a dishonest lying sack of shit. Nothing more.

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