Still Recovering

Sorry about last week, folks. Things are coming right along with the post freeze restoration. I am thrilled to finally have internet back, and phone and cable too. Thank you New Wave Communications! Of course I got my services back on Thursday and left Friday morning for a trip to visit family in Texas and guess what! Can you believe my brother doesn't have internet at his house. Totally NOT in the 21st century!

Anyway I picked up an email and a phone call or two before I ventured into the wilderness so I did have some news to share. So I got up early Monday morning, well maybe not that early, and prepared this column. Then I set out to try and find a way to send it. I ran into one problem after another, culminating in almost trashing my laptop. I decided to wait and give you all the news this week. So here goes!

Guess how Barbie Terry found out we were a frozen wonderland. On CNN! Somewhere in the Caribbean, with sand on her feet and sun in her face, she heard "Piggott and Rector Arkansas" and looked up to see our little winter scene right there on international news. Her trip ended before all our troubles did, however and she was clever enough to stop in Louisiana and get a generator. I think she is still using it too.

I had an email from Carla Latham. She graduated from Rector High when they were the Blackcats. You know I really liked that as a mascot. Maybe because I have two black cats. Anyway, Carla tells me that her sister, Kelly (Sanders) Mayhue (you probably know her. She graduated in 1982, I believe) has recently become a grandmother. Yes she has an adorable grandson named Cameron. Oh, would that make Gene Sanders a great grandfather? I know you did the math. If you are going to be a young grandmother is helps to marry a man who already has a daughter. The grandparent thing is just as wonderful though. I know.

I also had a call from Pat Speer. She wanted to let everyone here know that her husband Windell passed away on February 9. Although they live in Alaska they come home to Rector often. Pat said that Wendell had made 52 roundtrips between their home in Alaska and Rector. I know many of you will be saddened to hear of his passing. Me too. Pat, I hope you will stop by and see me the next time you are in town.

Demetra and Terry Shultz went to Conway to meet with Douglas and Marilyn Shultz and celebrate Douglas' birthday. His 59th birthday, I might add. You know they all had a good time and I am sure they didn't tease him at all.

Candy Hill had help from up north during the ice storm. Her sister Mary Kay McCallen came down from northern IL to bring her a kerosene heater and some kerosene. Talk about sisterly devotion! Candy wants to add her praise to the city and citizens for the emergency preparedness and all the help. She too wants to give kudos to Perry Morrisett and his crew for their quick response to her clean up needs. They do seem to go that extra mile. Is there anyone you would like to thank for their help?

Glad to see Caroline Sain is up and around. She has been pretty sick, but is looking pretty fine now.

Speaking of looking fine, Pauline Graves Shields celebrated another birthday Monday. She is sort of like those Timex watches. Takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Happy Birthday, Pauline. You are truly a treasure.

Happy Birthday to Pastor Velda too.

Jessica Earls is back in town. Richard decided it was not in the best interest of Jessica or their baby to spend the time in a house without heat, so Jessica lit out for Atlanta, GA where she spent some quality time with her dad, Jim Blank, who spoiled her silly. Of course she had a cold the entire time she was there and needed pampering. She said she missed Richard and Rector and is glad to be home. Richard's uncle Alvin was a sweetheart who made a round trip to Tupelo MS to drop Richard off so he could help Jessica drive home.

Since she has been home, Jessica says Demetra and Terry Shultz have brought her some good old home cooking that she has really enjoyed and Richard has started painting the baby's room. Just a couple of months to go and we can all meet their little girl.

About my trip. I spent a week communing with some of my cousins, the grandchildren of Lina and Theron Wright. Lina Dudley, Sheffield and her husband, Flea played host and hostess for a sort of cousin's reunion in League City, TX. Merle and Marie Wright from Montgomery, AL were there as well as former Rectorites, Gloria (Rust) Reed and Nancy (Rust) Clevenger and her husband, Tommy. My brother, Rocky Vineyard and his wife, Marcia who live nearby dropped in, as did Royal Dudley and his wife, Joyce. We also had a quick visit from John Rust and his wife. John is the son of the late Danvis Rust whom many of you will remember. We all told stories and stories and stories. Lot's of remembering, and laughing and hugging going on, I assure you.

We were also treated to visits from Lina and Flea's children and grandchildren. That group consisted of Dudley and Lisa Sheffield and sons, Stephen, Dustin and Trey, Matt and Tonya Sheffield and William and Katie and Tracy and Jon Hom and their daughter, Elizabeth. All of us took time to look in on my Aunt Pansy Wright Parr. She is 95 now and still sharp as a tack. Another treasure. She really seemed to enjoy the company.

I spent several nights with my brother, Rocky and Marcia and with cousin Lina Sheffield and her husband, Flea and my Aunt Pansy (Wright) Parr. All of these people were be able to give me a lot information on Rector from a few, maybe more years ago.

I was able to spend some time with my nephew, Travis Vineyard and his adorable children. I miss them so much. Samantha, Simon and Spencer. They are so special to me. And I dropped in to spend a frew minutes with my niece, Karen Simpson.

On the way down I stopped for the night at Jim and Carol Stone's. They will be in Rector the first week in March so look out. I see a golf game or two in the making. And we can celebrate Jim's birthday! He will be older than me for four months.

I suppose it is time to end this now, but not without just one more word of thanks to everyone who turned our disaster into a livable situation. I am so proud to be a part of this community. Let me hear from you. My address is 514 West 3rd St. Phone: (870) 595-3173 and email: porchswing@newwavecomm.net.