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Well here we are about a week away from Labor Day. Why do they call it Labor Day when most Americans don't work that day? I hope you all make sure you watch the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon next weekend on Channel 69 out of Atlanta. Ken Cook of Fox 5 is coming up on his 30th and I am going to serve as a host for my 17th time. I hope you can call and give us a pledge to help a wonderful organization. I got to thinking about neighbors I have had over the years. One that stands out as a fellow who had a green thumb was Edgar Arnold. He was always bringing us tomatoes and corn from his beautiful garden. At American Thread where he worked he got the nickname of "Eddy Arnold"in homage of one of Country music's all time great artists. At the house in Tallapoosa I have an autographed picture of the RCA artist who passed away last year. Eddy Arnold's "Make The World Go Away" and "Anytime" are timeless classics. In 1978 he released a recitation called "I'm The South". I have looked for the lyrics for years and my dearest friend Coach Scott Whitlock here at KSU found it and sent it to me. I wanted to share it with you all, or should I say "y'all". "I'm The South" pays homage to the best part of this nation to live. It was written by Paul Ott and it goes like this.

I'm the Little Rock of Arkansas, the Smokey Mountains and a cross-cut saw, Louisiana cooking and a watermelon vine. I'm a tall Georgia Pine and Georgia is on my mind. I'm the Tennessee Waltz and all night sings, the Florida sun and Silver Springs. I'm Huck and Tom and the old folks at home, I'm Clingman's Dome. I'm the stars that fell on Alabam, I'm coffee in the morning and an old smoked ham. I'm a Carolina moon, a dusty delta dawn, Magnolias in bloom, I'm a thoroughbred grazing on Kentucky bluegrass, I'm coon hounds, bird dogs and tea of sassafras. I'm Gone With The Wind and y'all come back again. I'm hanging moss on a live oak tree, Southern fried chicken and a cypress tree. I'm the birth of the blues in New Orleans the land of dreams. I'm a trout jumpin' in a cool clear stream, I'm antebellum home on the Natchez Trace, a rusty plow on the old home place. Azeleas blooming in beautiful Mobile, I'm the Virginia Reel, Derby Day in Louisville. That Southern hospitality in Charleston and in Raleigh, a Georgia peach, a cotton patch, Miami Beach. I'm Daniel Boone and Robert E. Lee, the Seminole, Choctaw and the Cherokee. Well, I'm everything good you've ever dreamed about. Hush your mouth, I am the South.

On a personal note, thank you to the people who sent me birthday wishes earlier this month. People stop me on the street and want to know how I am doing these days? Dear readers I must tell you that I have never been happier and more optimistic about life. It is because I am from a great town of the American South, Tallapoosa, Georgia where I have finally found tranquility and long term happiness.

Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and is a Distinguished Lecturer in the Department of Communication and Director of Special Projects in the Office of Development at Kennesaw State University. Send your comments to P. O. Box 1001, Tallapoosa, GA 30176 or email them to rhubarbjones@aol.com