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Bargain hunters from Anniston to Atlanta and from Rome to LaGrange came to our town last weekend for the big yard sale. It took us back to how the city used to look on weekends before I-20 and U.S. Highway 78 was the only way to get to Atlanta or to Birmingham. Hungry people came through our town and stopped and ate at the Southern Cafe, Tri Mi Grill, Smith's Cafe which also served as the Greyhound Bus Station, Burger Inn, the Tasty Treat, or the Smokehouse. Thirsty folks might stop at the Hi Hat, Club 78, Bruno's Place also known as Essie Mae's or Whitey's Tavern. Travelers back in the 50's and 60's gassed up at John Phillips' Standard Oil Station later taken over by Burford Pope who sold the Esso brand if memory serves me correctly. Ralph "Greek" McBurnett's Gulf, and E. D. Lively's Texaco were two more filling stations where they pumped your gas, checked the oil and washed your windshield. When is the last time you saw a full service gas station? How many of you recall the Anchor on the west end of town? How about the Key boys' gas station near the Stand Pipe? I don't think I have seen that many people in our town over 40 years as I witnessed last weekend. Tallapoosa looked like it had Atlanta mall traffic the day after Thanksgiving with it being bumper to bumper from the Connecticut Avenue to Bowdon Street to Head Avenue. I bought a leaf blower that has the engine off a Boeing 767 from E. D. Lively. This leaf blower is a bit powerful. I blew the next door neighbors the Glaze's dog Charlie from my driveway to the foot of the hill at Stokes Street. I am talking powerful. Also purchased was a wonderful framed print and a Tiffany lamp from Tallapoosa's First Lady Barbara Bridges. You could buy everything from Halloween costumes to gas generators. One guy from Roanoke, Alabama was selling tazers. Isn't that a law enforcement protective weapon? The weekend was a bargain shopper's dream. It also bro ught a lot of people to our town from not so near distances. I saw more than one license plate from Tennessee, North Carolina, and Mississippi. Georgia tags from Fulton, Cobb, Monroe, and Gwinnett Counties were seen all around town. I ran into people I hadn't seen in years and everyone was caught up in the excitement of it all. . I posed the question to Mrs. Bridges about the idea that why can't we do this more than once a year? Tallapoosa could benefit from a Spring city wide yard sale as well as the Autumn event don't you think? A life long friend found a solid oak desk that came from the Commonwealth of Virginia for a steal. I saw people buying sofas, recliners, and used tires. I found a copy of a 45 rpm recording of Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" for a buck. My mother loved Mitch Miller and the "Sing Along With Mitch" television program on NBC back in the early 1960's. I found a mint condition Mitch Miller album for a dollar. Kay Newman and her mother Sue Allen were able to move some old radio station shirts I had hanging in the closet at their post on Bowdon Street. People were buying movies on VHS. Can you still buy a VHS player? Truly it was one of the most exciting times I have had since coming back home 3 years ago. Being interested in music, I found a hymnal that had songs for different occupations like politicians"Standing On The Promises". People in real estate had "I've Got A Mansion Just Over The Hilltop". Internal Revenue Agents had "I Surrender All" in the hymn book discovered at the yard sale. The Possum Pickin' last Saturday night didn't have quite the crowd they normally do because I think people who shopped the yard sale were just too "give out" as my grandmother used to say. I am looking forward to spending my first Thanksgiving in Tallapoosa since I was in college this year. I have heard that Allen's Florists really has a spectacular way to get into the Christmas spirit on Thanksgiving Day. Tommy and his people have been hard at work decorating since la s t month. Our first Possum Drop on New Year's Eve already has my two girls jazzed up for it. Tallapoosa's 150 year celebration committee met last Tuesday and the event set for 2010 is going to be fantastic. For the 100 year celebration some men grew beards to capture the era. Since I have never had a beard I plan on trading my Dodge Dakota for a mule and a wagon to get into the spirit of 1860. Jefferson Davis for president yard signs will probably spring up next year.