|
| |
If having an option of having dental surgery performed with a chainsaw or
driving in Atlanta traffic crank up the Husqvarna. The reason I love to retreat
to Tallapoosa on weekends is because it gets me away from bumper to bumper, horn
honking go back to where you came kind of people. You know the kind of drivers I
am talking about, they are usually from north of the Mason-Dixon Line and are
always in a hurry. I loved last weekend and the yard sale along U.S. Highway 78
that started in Los Angeles it seems and ended up in Villa Rica. I haven't seen
that much traffic along Tallapoosa's busiest highway since the traffic that used
to build on 78 during race days at Talladega. I bought 3 pair of socks from a
woman who guaranteed them to last until this Monday. I was amazed at the number
of kids toys, vinyl furniture, nick knacks, what nots, etc that was along the
highway. Everyone seemed to be enjoying the perfect weather and the fellowship
with each other. I liked that. A great opportunity to enjoy a Saturday night on
Head Avenue with the Possum Pickin' Bluegrass event coming up in a couple of
weekends. The girls love coming and listening to the music and visiting with
people that have known their dad a long time. The last one of 2008 I enjoyed
visiting with Hershell Kirkland. I worked with Hershell at American Thread right
out of high school and he was a positive influence on me. I have had philosophy
professors that didn't have the insight that is possessed by Mr. Kirkland. I
enjoy seeing Larry Shealey in town on many Saturday afternoons. Larry never
missed a day of school when we were growing up. His cousin Dr. Howard Shealey is
perhaps the finest history professor in the University System of Georgia. He is
the head of the history department at Kennesaw State and he has fond memories
of growing up in our town.
Hats off to Tim Cole for his leadership and service in the recreation department
and we wish him a great retirement and hope Lynn has a "honey do" list as big as
the Manhattan Yellow Pages waiting on him. I still remember listening to the
radio that night in the 60s when Milo Hamilton was doing play by play for the
Atlanta Braves on WSB and Tim's dad Ben Cole won a chunk of change in the "Home
Run For The Money" contest. If memory serves me correctly it was Mike Lumm who
hit the homer. Happy 90th to one of my favorite teachers Mrs. Littlefield who
celebrated a birthday on the 18th of last month at the First Baptist Church.
Last Monday at a charity golf tournament I got to visit with Bill Curry who
played football for Bobby Dodd at Georgia Tech and snapped the ball in the
National Football League to both Bart Starr at Green Bay and Johnny Unitas with
the Baltimore Colts. He coached at Georgia Tech, the University of Alabama, and
the University of Kentucky. His new challenge is as head coach of Georgia
State's football program that begins next year. I also got to see former Falcon
greats David Archer, Jeff Van Note and the first person the Atlanta franchise
ever signed, Tommy Nobis. First Falcon Nobis is a class guy. He is still very
involved with helping people with the Tommy Nobis Center in Marietta. This
All-American from the University of Texas didn't make the kind of money the
league pays now. A week ago Georgia's quarterback the past couple of years Matt
Stafford signed for $72 million dollars to play for the Lions. It may be worth
it because it means he has to live in Detroit.
Rhubarb Jones is a Tallapoosa native and an administrative faculty member and
director of development at Kennesaw State University. He can be reached via
email at
Rhubarbjones@aol.com or by writing P.O. Box 1001, Tallapoosa, GA 30176
| |
|
