Opinion

Around 2am we played a game. It was called “Name that noise”. Not a particularly fun game but Mike found it necessary. There was a wind blown object knocking against the house. I give him an “A” for his enthusiasm on finding it however fruitless the attempt was. I however, never left my warm spot and had the same results. I call that winning… Driving through Dalton always reminds me of my dad. That was his country. The other day we stopped at the creek on the cut through to Crumpies. I couldn’t tell you how many times I played in that creek on our way back from Mrytle Bar after an afternoon of daddy day-drinking. I might not have had the most “normal” childhood but I’m pretty sure it was one of the most colorful.

Voices from the past. While watching a TV show that featured outstanding singers recently, my mind began to remember great voices I’ve heard locally.

The exact origins of April Fool’s Day are unknown, though historians have some interesting theories regarding the dawn of this day devoted to pranks. Some historians have linked April Fool’s Day to the festival of Hilaria in ancient Rome. According to History.com, Hilaria was celebrated by the followers of the cult of Cybele at the end of March. During the festival, celebrants dressed up in disguises and mocked fellow citizens. Another theory suggests April Fool’s Day might be linked to the transition from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in France in 1582. The news of that transition, which officially recognized the start of the new year as January 1 after it had been April 1, reached some people’s ears more quickly than others’. Those who were slow to get the news continued to celebrate April 1 as the start of a new year, inspiring others to mock them and refer to them as “April fools.”

There was a festive feeling in the air that Saturday. All week, it had been like a busy beehive right next door to our business, with people bringing trailers loaded down with things for the FFA Auction. For several days, there were pickup trucks loaded with all sorts of things, big trucks loaded down, and trucks with long trailer loads full. There were nearly traffic jams with so many people driving around, looking and shopping from their vehicles, interested in seeing it all, wondering what they might need and want to bid on. It was surprising there was so very much stuff that kept coming in. A couple of days before the actual sale, FFA kids were swarming around, busy as bees. There were all sorts of equipment, machinery, tractors, pickups, cars, trailers of every sort, campers, boats, lots of tempting junk, (and my belated Valentine’s present from my ever-lovin’, Red!) all lined up just waiting for the auction to begin. A few years back, Red had gone to this auction a near-broken man; he’d had to sell some of his prized belongings at the FFA auction. A lady at a restaurant remembered and asked me about this very thing just before the auction this year. Red had a hard time over all of that; a man wouldn’t pay the debt he owed.

Her ‘new’ life began on July 4 weekend 2022. It made me incredibly angry at first. But over time, I learned to appreciate her. Even though that anger overwhelmed me, after a while, I was sure glad she came. In the time that has passed since then, I have lost several family members, all due to complications of old age. There is nothing one can do about that. She helped me overcome the grief I had every time I experienced another loss.

I was lying in bed early this morning having a conversation with Turner. I was loving on him and he rolled over and put his paw on my face. So sweet. I said “You are adorable. I love you so much.” Mike, who was snoring, rolled over and said “Love you too.” He didn’t put his paw on my face but he’s pretty adorable too...