We Are The Greatest Nation on Earth

Well, it is Monday morning and the sun is shining and we are looking at a beautiful day ahead of us. Until the clouds roll in. I just love the weather here. We can go from 9 degrees to the 50's in a matter of hours. Snow flurries Friday evening and a dust storm on Saturday morning. Quite the spice of life, I say. But we are not snowbound, iced in, or flooded, so all is good.

Tomorrow is the inauguration. Never before have I been so excited as I wait for the swearing in of a new president. Never before have I glued myself to the TV to watch all the preliminaries. This is a momentous time for us all, a great time for our nation. We turn a corner tomorrow and I predict that the direction we take will bring us strength and unity. We are the greatest nation on earth!

I know we each take the message we need from whatever events we witness. The message I chose to take from that airbus landing in the Hudson River last week is another sign that we are heading in the right direction, which is people caring for other people. We often hear about New Yorkers as detached and cold. That concept was pretty much shattered when the twin towers tumbled and was totally non-existent on the Hudson last week. An experienced pilot put the plane down safely and hundreds of New Yorkers, regular guys, responded instantly to turn a tragedy into a miracle. There are many heroes there. It is a blessing for us all.

Okay, okay I know it's time to start talking about Rector here. It's not like there was nothing happening here last week. Frances Haas has had some orthopedic surgery and I expect to see her skipping around town soon. Right, Frances?

I want to say "Hi!" to Jewell Dean Cranford. She is doing well, I hear and I know she loves to hear from people back home. We miss you, Jewell Dean.

I went to see the Rector Drama Troop perform the act they will take to the State Festival this week, the female version of The Odd Couple. They are pretty fantastic. I got a kick out of those New York accents. I know the troop is going to bring home some awards. Let's all wish them luck. Or, I guess the right thing is to wish them to "break a leg". That just sounds so dreadful to me.

Guess what else I heard. Richard Earls has a new grandbaby. Yes, a granddaughter, Clarisa Marie Earls was born December 28. Oh, yeah, her parents are Rudy and Courtney. They are pretty proud of her too. Congratulations to you all. Welcome, Clarisa!

Jessica Earls, by the way says the women from the First United Methodist Church have been taking good care of her. She wants to say thank you to Shirley Simmons, Kay Huggins, Rheba Scobey and Lura Holifield. They have been making sure she eats well while she is on ordered bed rest. Bed boredom is more like it, I am sure.

You know last week I was talking about the street musicians in New Orleans. Well, the other day I went to the drug store, Rector Downtown Drug, to be specific and when I got out of the car I thought perhaps we had upgraded and now had our own musicians. Nice peppy toe tapping music was coming from somewhere and I just thought "Wow, this is so cool!" As it turns out, it wasn't live music but the radio the workers at the bank were playing. Hey it did sound good. Maybe we can get the merchants install speakers and have music piped all over town. Or get the strolling musicians.

I want to say "Hi!" to Margaret in Paragould. I met your daughter at the school on Thursday evening. "Hi!" also to Martha, Jessica's mom. And a special Hello to Frankie Lyalls.

Well, that's it for today. I look forward to hearing from you all. You can give me a call or send me an email. My phone number is 595-3173 or you can drop me a note at 514 West 3rd St. My email address is: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.