August 14th

Joel Osteen writes that we can't pray away everything uncomfortable in our lives. Difficulties define us and develops character. I keep rereading the Houston pastor's words every time I see a weather forecast the past two months or open a bill from Georgia Power. I can't remember seeing such a string of weeks and weeks of hot and humid weather like we've had. The first week of August Memphis had a heat index of 118 degrees. I have box fans circulating the cool air as best I can. I have so many in my bedroom in Tallapoosa it sounds like I'm testing engines for Delta and Lockheed. I have great admiration to the kids involved with high school athletics for the dedication. The courage and commitment of the Haralson County High School Rebel Band is inspiring. I ran into Paul Ramsey at the post office a couple of weeks ago. Paul is perhaps one of the most self disciplined people I ever knew. In the fall of '71 we were in the Marching Southerners at Jacksonville State and Paul always kept us focused and upbeat at band practice. I remember his cry of "whoop the devil" when we'd have to go over a march move over and over again. Haralson County High School is lucky to have this wonderful music educator that I am proud to call friend. I am hoping to get to the Golden River Marching Festival in October. I understand that it has been a great event for several years. I can remember in high school that Stevie Adams and Bobby Sanders were the biggest Georgia Bulldog fans in Tallapoosa. Coach Vince Dooley is now with us at Kennesaw State. His office is 33 feet from mine. Yes, I measured it. Did you know that he has a master's degree in history and that he also holds a degree in botany? We talked about a couple of Tallapoosans that made the Bulldog squad during his 25 years of coaching in Athens. He had good things to say aboutDon Griffith, Jim Griffith, James Moreen and Mike Garrett. The first time I ever got to go to a Georgia-Georgia Tech football game was in November of '73 and ran into the Garrett family. Mike went on to punt for my all-time favorite NFL team, the Baltimore Colts. He is a businessman in Fulton County was doing well the last time I saw him. Are you glad the primary run-off is over? It amazes me how politicians can attack one another one week, and endorse their opponent the next. November's elections can't get here fast enough for me. I want it get here so I don't have to endure another negative political television ad, and beside's the National Weather Service promises a relief from the heat BY November. I had a birthday last Monday and can tell that I'm getting at that age where I talk at the television to every political commentator, referee, coach, and reality show judge. I am finding myself actually looking forward to trips to Lowe's, Home Depot and Ace Hardware. I am old enough to remember when friends married and divorced instead of "hook up" and "break up." There are pleasant advantages of growing older, like the discount I can get on certain days at Kohl's. People in their 30's address me as "sir." Life insurance companies now are offering to buy me out so I can spend my children's inheritance. I could tell I was growing older when I began hearing some of my favorite songs in elevators. I could tell I was getting older when I started paying attention to television advertising for Tums, Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer, and Sun-Maid pitted prunes. I know that I was getting older because I now will watch reruns of Matlock and Murder She Wrote.