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Burningtown News, Sunday, March 6, 2016
Good afternoon to all the fine folks out there in the world. It is now
Sunday afternoon at 3:33 p.m. We've had an exciting day as it is MF
and LF's 62nd wedding anniversary today. This is ST writing this and
putting the finishing touches on the BTN for MF. Join us in wishing
them congratulations on this wonderful occasion. Below is a picture
of MF and LF at Burningtown Baptist Church this morning. They're standing
in front of flowers placed in the sanctuary in their honor.
Happy
Birthday to longtime and faithful BTN reader Dennis Desmond! Dennis
celebrated his birthday on Saturday, March 5th.
PRAYER REQUEST
Please
remember the following in your prayers this week.
Lucy
Mason Ken Shepherd Nell Duvall Welch Lori
Impagliatelli Harry Henry Melba Martin Melba
West Meredith Jones Clarence Scott
Linda Campbell Pamela
West Bob Bryson Sue Martin Oweila
T F Sue West Beatrice Deweese Wayne
Powers Charles West
Tom Needham
Please let me know if there are names listed above that should be taken
off. Thank you.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Rev. Brian Holland brought a great message this Sunday morning, March
13, 2016, at 11:00, at Burningtown Baptist Church.
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From
Macon County Library
Friday, March 11, 2:00 p.m. "Penny Serenade" starring Cary
Grant & Irene Dunne- A couple's big dreams give way to a life full
of unexpected sadness and unexpected joy. 1 hr. 59 min.
Friday, March 11, 7:00 p.m. The Nantahala Hiking Club welcomes MaryAnn
Ingram, massage therapist and owner of Rainbow Healing Hands, who will
give a talk on Fitness thru Strength, Flexibility and Coordination exercises.
She will demonstrate several stretches and encourage everyone to join
in.
Saturday, March 12, 2:00 p.m. Dollar a Day Boys Many young men worked
at Civilian Conservation Corps camps in western NC starting in 1933.
Author Bill Jamerson presents a music and storytelling program about
how the CCC camps improved the surrounding area as well as the lives
of the men and their families. Join us for this entertaining and nostalgic
program!
Co-sponsored
by the Macon County Historical Museum.
Kristina Lynn Moe
kmoe@fontanalib.org
Macon County Public Library
149 Siler Farm Road
Franklin, NC 28734
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Hey Uncle Merritt,
Just wanted to give
you an update on our adoption for the Burningtown News. The birth mother
for the potential match on March 9th is not going to work out. She has
chosen a different placement family. We are a little disappointed of
course, but we know that all of this is in our Sovereign Lord's control.
We were so blessed this week with all the love and support we were shown
from everyone. We have not reached our goal yet but we have made a substantial
dent in it. We wanted to thank everyone who gave and prayed for us this
week. It was an emotional week for Erika and me, but we were strengthened
by the love that was shown to us from our family and friends. We wanted
to thank everyone and hopefully we will have another update soon. Cadon
and Erika
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ARTICLES, LETTERS, POEMS, PICTURES AND THINGS
If you are on facebook
then you have probably seen this picture as several of my friends have
shared it. I do not know who took the picture but when they say "a
picture is worth a thousand words", they could not be more correct
if speaking of this one. The Bible says in John 14:6 "Jesus saith
unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me.". If this verse leaves any doubt as to whether
you can get to Heaven any other way, let me repeat the latter part of
the verse, "NO man cometh unto the father, BUT by me." One
way, just like the sign says. There are no two way streets or divided
highways that will lead you to Jesus. There will be curves ahead and
steep slopes that are hard to climb but just keep pointed in the right
direction and He will bring you safely home. If you have made Jesus
Lord and Savior of your life, please pray for those who have not. Have
a blessed week! Donna Mathis ?
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"Saying 'Welcome' To The Morning"
Larry Alan Reeves, Region A Long Term Care Ombudsman
Southwestern Commission- Area Agency on Aging
I am an early riser. Always have been. Even as a small child I enjoyed
getting up early in order to experience the beginning of a new day.
I remember watching the chickens fly down from the branches of the trees
where they had roosted during the previous night just as the new day
was dawning. I loved hearing the rooster, crowing as loudly as he could,
waking up the world around him to the possibilities held in promise
for the upcoming day. For me, the time was magical; still is, even though
I am no longer a child (except at heart).
Through the years I have made it a priority to awaken early, to "hit
the floor", get moving and going in order to capture (and be captured
by) the morning. As a junior and senior high student I had some chores
to do before heading off to school each morning. In college and graduate
school I would arrange my schedule so that I always had 8:00 AM classes.
In most cases, I would be finished with my classes before noon, leaving
my afternoons for my necessary jobs that helped to pay my bills and
buy the provisions required. Following my formal educational experiences,
I kept up my routines that allowed me to continue my preferences for
the early morning hours. For the most part, my days have begun well
before 5:00 AM, both weekdays and weekends. If I have needed to report
for work at a certain time in the morning I usually show up anywhere
from 30 minutes to an hour early. I do not like to be late, for any
reason, unless it is unavoidable.
In the world that I call "home" today there is an emphasis
that I give for the morning hours. I awaken and rise around 4:15 AM,
Monday thru Friday, in order to hasten to the fitness center, arriving
for my workout (stretching, lifting, running, etc.) by 5:00 AM. The
door, allowing entry to the workout area, opens at 5:30 AM. There is
a group of a dozen or so "early birds" (like me) that spend
about 30 minutes each morning chatting, laughing, moaning, groaning,
and sharing life together. Some of us "early birders" have
been doing this for more than 15 years. We know each other, very well.
We are friends and fellow pilgrims, journeying together. Hopefully,
we will continue on. Faces change. New folks come along and become a
part of the group. Others find their paths taking them elsewhere, even
away. This is a good way for me to begin my workdays. I am usually in
my office before 7:30 AM, even though the office does not open until
8:30 AM. Even on the weekends and holidays I am "up with the chickens".
There is no need to miss the morning; at least as I see it.
Long years ago, I awaken early one morning, dressed, went outside, walked
up the road to the ridge above the house where I lived, sat down on
a large boulder, and allowed "morning" to happen. I wanted
to wrap myself in the stillness of the new day, to smell the fresh fragrances,
to feel the gentle breeze, to hear the stirrings of the song-birds,
to observe the movement of the flocks of cattle, to listen to the sounds
of dogs barking in the distance, to watch the painting of the colors
of the eastern horizon clouds at the breaking of the day, and then to
feel the excitement of the lifting of the sun from its cycle of slumber.
What a morning!
Upon my return to the house, my mother asked where I had been. I just
said, "Saying 'welcome' to the morning."
Larry Reeves
Long Term Care Ombudsman
Region A, Southwestern Commission
125 Bonnie Lane
Sylva, North Carolina 28779
(828)586-1962, ext. 223
FAX (828)586-1968
www.regiona.org
larry@regiona.org
"I love the unimproved works of God." (Horace Kephart, 1906)
A COUSIN WORTH REMEMBERING
By: Nita Welch Owenby
My cousin Rogers was full of laugher, love, and a little touch of the
devil himself. He lived life to the fullest and never missed a chance
to pull a prank on someone, anyone. I don't know that I ever saw a frown
on his face when I was a child, because he was always smiling from inside
out. Rogers was about 12 years older than me, and I was just a little
snotty nosed kid when he spent time with Grandpa Deck and Grandma Cordie.
Though I was young, I remember that I always felt happy when Rogers
was present.
But, I'm not so sure Grandma Cordie always felt the same. She loved
him dearly, but he was a handful and managed to keep her on her toes
to keep him in line. Like the time Rogers killed a black snake, placed
it under the house with just it's head sticking out, and started yelling
"snake, snake." Grandma came running out of the house, thinking
he had been bitten. Seeing he was okay, she grabbed a hoe and "killed
that dead snake." Rogers was in stitches and fell on the grass
laughing. Even though Grandma didn't take the hoe to him, or use any
foul language, I really think both ideas must have been on her mind.
Then there was the time Rogers somehow got some of the small firecrackers
that were so popular around the 4th of July. Rogers didn't have any
money to buy them, but I can only imagine that he used his charm to
acquire them from someone. It was bad enough when he threw a lit fire
cracker out on the lawn and one of Grandma's hens grabbed it, thinking
it was food. As I understand, that hen never was able to close her beak
again. But the catastrophe came when Rogers accidentally threw a fire
cracker into Grandma's chamber pot that she had washed and was airing
on the porch. It was a fine white ceramic chamber pot and Grandma's
pride and joy. When the fire cracker went off it blew a big hole in
the pot and shattered the ceramic glaze. I still can't remember what
Grandma said or did, but she was so religious, it was against her belief
to kill Rogers.
Then there was the night we had the hair ball situation. I was spending
the night with Grandpa and Grandma, and all was quite as we sat around
the warm stove and listened to Grandma read from the Bible. She read
from the Bible every night, and even though Grandpa couldn't read or
write, he would often correct her when she read it wrong. Grandma would
get a little huffy, but would go back and read it right. The light was
rather dim since they used very low wattage bulbs to save on electricity.
As Grandma read, something about the evil people who were against Jesus
and wanted him crucified; a small wad of hair and dust came rolling
out from under the bed. At that time, Grandma and Grandpa had their
beds in the living room next to the stove, since the back bedrooms were
not insulated and were cold in winter. Rogers, being the rascal he was,
and getting bored with the Bible reading, saw the wad of hair moving
along the floor. Suddenly he yelled "spider, there's a big spider"!
Grandma threw down the Bible and ran to get the broom. She hadn't learned
from the snake situation I reckon, and once again "killed"
a wad-of-hair. As usual, Rogers was in stitches laughing, and even Grandpa
was rocking as he quietly expressed his inner mirth.
And, as the story goes, Rogers was not fond of school, but Grandma was
determined to educate him. At that time, my older brother, Beauford,
was helping Daddy haul and sell produce. This included apples, peaches,
and whatever vegetables were in season during that time of year. So
Rogers made plans with Beauford to meet him early in the morning when
he headed out to sell. I'm not sure that Rogers was a great salesman,
but to him it was an adventure, and much better than going to school.
However, Grandma got suspicious. On that morning when Rogers headed
down the hill, he was a little early and sat down to wait until he saw
Beauford leaving. While he was waiting, he heard a rustle in the bushes
behind him. Thinking it might be a wild critter, he turned to look and
saw Grandma Cordie's face peering through the bush at him. Needless
to say, he went to school that day.
Somehow, with the determination of Grandma Cordie, and a little help
from God, she got Rogers educated and he headed out into the world to
seek his fortune. He went into a branch of the military and made it
his career. I never saw much of Rogers after he joined the military,
and things settled down a bit around home. But, somehow, after he left,
there was always an empty spot in my heart. I knew that things would
never be quite the same without him, but I also savored the wonderful
memories he helped to create back in the Good 'Ole Days.
--
RIDING
ON MY THUMB
By: Roy Owenby
When I was a kid growing up in Nantahala, we had to walk everywhere
we went. It was customary for anyone driving a car to pick up his neighbor
on the road. Sometimes, a driver would have a carload of folks by the
time he got to his destination. Anyone who didn't stop for someone on
the road was considered to be a bad neighbor or a flatlander. Now, it
was known by everyone that flatlanders were rude, uncouth people who
had no manners.
When we moved to Valdese, I soon learned that there were more flatlanders
around than there were regular folk. In fact, people who didn't have
a car were in the minority. People just wouldn't pick up their neighbors
on the road. Later on, I learned that there was an exception to this
rule. If someone on foot stuck his thumb out as a car approached, there
was a good chance of getting picked up. When I reached high school age,
my buddies and I would hitchhike to Drexel and Morganton or even Hickory
or Lenoir. So it seemed reasonable to continue this practice after I
joined the Navy.
Hitchhiking in those days was a lot safer than it is now; even so, it
still had it perils. I didn't hitchhike in Boot Camp because we weren't
allowed to leave, but as soon as I got into basic electricity school
in Norman, Oklahoma; I tried my wings. Someone told me that there were
a lot of girls in Denton, Texas, so that's where I headed. We were allowed
to wear our uniforms in those days, so many people felt obligated to
pick up servicemen. On my several trips south, I really had no serious
problems. I did learn that thumbing in North Texas at three in the morning
was not a useful exercise. One chilly night, I had the pleasure of standing
by the road for about six hours without a car passing by. I found an
old cardboard box and sat in it to keep the wind off. After that, I
started out earlier.
When I transferred to Millington, Tennessee for electronics school,
I did more of the same. Even though Memphis was about 600 miles from
home, I decided I could make the round trip on a weekend. I had to time
my return trip well because failure to make muster at 0800 hours on
Monday morning would be consider absence without leave (AWOL) and dealt
with accordingly. As soon as class was over on Friday afternoon, I would
head out. By hitchhiking all night, I could be in Valdese by Saturday
afternoon. That gave me about twelve hours at home which, in reality,
was an unprofitable venture. Even so, I made it back to base in time
for Monday morning class. One Sunday night, a truck driver gave me a
Benzedrine tablet to help me stay awake. I was wired all day Monday
and breezed through my classes like a collegian. The pill started wearing
off in the chow hall, and two of my buddies had to help me to the barracks.
I slept for thirteen hours and woke up with a bad headache. Tuesday's
classes were a little tougher.
On my third trip home, a man from Kentucky gave me a ride. I went to
sleep in his car and woke up in Lexington, Kentucky. He claimed that
I never told him where I was going so he just decided to let me sleep.
Since I was as far away from home as I was when I started, I decided
to make the best of it and hang out in Lexington. As it turned out,
I had a good time. That was probably my last step in growing up. I realized
I no longer needed to go home every chance I got. When I graduated Radar
school in Millington, I transferred to San Diego. I took the Greyhound
Bus the first time. After that, I hitchhiked. I quickly learned that
it's a long haul from Morganton to San Diego. Be that as it may, I found
that I could beat the bus by several hours. Most of the time, I was
picked up by nice people who were interested in helping a serviceman.
A few of them took me into their home for the night and fed me good
meals. A couple of events are worth mentioning.
One night while standing by the road in Tennessee, I witnessed a bad
car wreck. A young man under the influence of alcohol ran off the road
and caused major injuries to his girlfriend. It was a dark night with
few cars so all I could do was try to make her as comfortable as possible.
He had minor injuries, and he spent his time wringing his hands and
crying. I finally got a man to stop, and he drove back to a house and
called the police. I never did know the final outcome of the injured
woman. Another time, I was riding with a man who went around a curve
too fast and rolled the car. Fortunately, it landed right side up. I
managed to crawl out and help the driver out. Several people stopped
to offer assistance. I got a ride with a couple and left the man to
deal with his problem. I wasn't injured, but I was a sore puppy the
next day.
Another time, I was picked up by three men who were apparently on their
way home. All three of them were in the front. I got in the back and
drifted off to sleep. I awoke sometime later and heard them discussing
an altercation they had had in a night club earlier in the evening.
The guy in the middle was pretty sure he had killed a man in a fight.
They looked back to see if I was asleep. I never moved a muscle. Satisfied
that I was sleeping, they continued their discussion. After a few minutes,
I realized we were riding under street lights. I pretended to be waking
up. I saw a sign for a restaurant and told them I wanted to get out
and find something to eat. They pulled over and let me out. I always
wondered if they had really been in a fight or if they were just trying
to shake me up.
I continued to hitchhike until I bought my first car at age 21, a 1954
Oldsmobile. After that I drove the car to places I wanted to go. Immediately
after my discharge from the Navy, three buddies and I hitched from San
Diego to western Canada and back, but that story is in my upcoming book
about travels across America. The last time I hitchhiked, my wife got
mad at me in Blowing Rock, drove off and left me. Ten minutes after
she left, I got a ride with a man who let me out in front of my house.
She never did figure out how I beat her home. These days, hitchhiking
or picking up a hitchhiker is risky business. I don't recommend it.
--
ACTIVITIES OF THE WEEK
LUCY
EVANS AND HER GRAND DAUGHTER VALARIE NORTON
Lucy is the only
first cousin living on my father's side of the family. Her mother was
Aunt Emma Fouts Campbell. They lived on Olive Hill.
Below is a picture of MF and LF sitting on an antique school desk LG
is donating to Macon County Heritage Center at the historic Cowee School.
MF bought the desk from Eddie Raby and gave it to LG many years ago.
LG had the plaque made to put on the desk to recognize MF's years as
an educator in the Macon county School System.
GT and ST had an
old barn taken down this week. Through the years the building had housed
livestock, been used as a place to process mica, and as a storage place
for various items. Most recently, it had served as an eyesore for Maria
Greene and ST. Chad Welch took the building down and Matthew Holland
hauled the wood away to be ground up. Below are some photos of the demolition.
It has been a good
week here on Burningtown.
GT and LG are in a contest to see who can harvest sugar snap peas the
earliest. So far, they are tied as neither has had a plant come up yet.
Yesterday, GT and ST stopped out that Jim's Shed to collect the money.
I was gonna stop at Jim's yesterday morning but I met CMG coming toward
our house as I went up the Parrish Hill. I went on to the dumpster,
and then when I came back I knew LF was getting dinner so I had to hurry
on back home fore they ate it all up. She had shell beans cooked in
a piece of ham, parmesan potatoes, kraut, corn bread, a little bit of
milk, and some apple sauce. CMG and LG ate with us. JG was burning brush
and could not come over here, but CMG carried him some over there. After
lunch CMG and LG cleaned off LF's bank and prepared it for spring. It
sure is good to have CMG visiting from Asheville.
There was $20.12 in the jar at Jim's Shed. People contributing money
this week were Tom Welch, Bernard Huggins (twice), June Bug Crisp, Mike
Fouts, Marilyn Roper and James Roper. ST was very excited to see a note
to her from Jim in the jar and two pieces of candy. The note instructed
her to put money in the jar but she ignored the instruction. She did
not ignore the candy.
Today, we had lunch
over at JG and LG's house. JG had fixed up salmon spread using salmon
he cured himself. He gave us some to bring home. LG and CMG fixed chicken
and dumplings and a nice salad. ST brought a lemon cheesecake. We had
a nice time and missed all of the family that couldn't be with us to
celebrate our 62nd anniversary; WG, GJ, JFJ, MJ and KJ.
Here is a beautiful picture from our Staff Photographer, Ralph Preston
CURVES
FROM A FIRE PIT
We hope you have
a wonderful week.
Remember the poor man and his enduring little wife on Lower Burningtown.
MF, Editor
LF, Operations Editor
ST, Circulations Manager
RO, Feature Story Author
NWO, Feature Story Author
AM, Arts Illustration Editor
RP, Photographic Editor
JK, Assistant Photographic Editor
DB, Copier
JB, Assistant Photographic Editor
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