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Betty’s Week

  I’m hosting the Friday night event of our Class Reunion at the Cole Home—Fifty-second—that’s hard to believe. Until our 50th we were gathering every five years. At its conclusion, we discussed the possibility of coming together at two year intervals, or maybe even yearly. We opted for yearly, since we were afraid to wait two years because of the possibility of no one being able to get there. And sure enough during the following year we lost several classmates. Our 1955 Crowder High School Graduating Class, which numbered 36, is now down at least a dozen and we have only two teachers left.

  We’re all excited about this reunion—our class is more like a family than  schoolmates.

  Adding to the fun of this weekend will be a three-class (Classes of ‘55, ‘56 & ‘57) reunion on Saturday night. Most of our class had siblings in one, or both, of the other classes—or at least cousins. Brother Terry was a member of the ‘57 group and we have a cousin in the Class of ‘56 who was almost like a brother. Can’t wait to see who all attends—doesn’t really matter though, we’ll have fun if just two of us get there.

  Back to the reason for all this explaination. Closed the office  Wednesday afternoon (had David’s permission) and Jimmie and I went to Tupelo. Sorry I forgot to put a sign on the door. Our casual table clothes have seen their better days and we decided this was a good time to replace them. We have, in addition to the reunion, Mom’s birthday party and a few more occasions in the next few weeks. For casual clothes we buy material and make our own. So it was off to Huntington Fabrics. Looked at everything in the sample bins and found nothing we really liked and certainly nothing we could afford. However, a very accomodating young lady says, “We have closeouts where you may find something, since you don’t need large amounts.”   We like bargains, so we says, “Show us to them!” She did and remained with us digging through the partial rolls for hours. We found one that we really liked and she pulled out several  bolts which finally netted the yardage we needed. Then we spotted another pattern that we really liked. She says, “I think I can find you enough” and she began digging again. Didn’t find enough of this one, but we did find a cordinating material, which we’ll use for the serving tables. After all that work she say, “Which one do you want?” “Both,” I answered, “I would not have made you do all that work if we had not intended to buy.”  Think she was pleased to get rid of some of their surplus material. She told us that this material does not move rapidly, so we promised to come dig some more when we have time—It does take a while.

  After accomplishing the purpose of our trip, we were then off to check out all the bargains in our other favorite Tupelo shopping places—didn’t find much—so we ate supper and headed home.

  On the way over Jimmie had brought me up to date on two of our long time friends, Rosemary Hubbard and James Yelton, telling me they both were very ill. Both died the next day and sympathy is extended to the families. I remembered that James was with us the night our dad died almost 46 years ago.  I was in the kitchen, making coffee and other food as it was requested, while watching dad who was in the ajoining room. Every few minutes James would come in and say, “Do you need anything Betty, you know I can run get it for you, or if you need help I’m right out here.”  I knew that he would have done anything I asked and that was very comforting. He was a great friend.  Rosemary was always a pillar in the Pope Baptist Church, teaching and filling many other positions through the years. Know she’s happy though, she has gone to be with her beloved Herman Lee.

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  For the past few weeks Jimmie had put her house renovations on hold to help me. Friday, time came for pay back. She was wallpapering the rec-room bath. Now the Cole house has a semi-basement, which houses two bedrooms, a rec-room, a pantry, which we use as a mini-kitchen. All of this is completely underground, except the rec-room, which has glass doors across the southern side. Ventilation is very poor in the bath. I was cutting and pasting and she was hanging the paper. It was going pretty good, until I knocked a hole in one piece that had already been expertly hung. This was replaced and she continued around the wall. Then a piece decided to just fall down, even though it had been glued securely. Replaed this and finally, well past ten, the chore was completed. Several times during the afternoon and evening, Jimmie had to come down off her ladder, stating, “I feel really dizzy.”  And over in the night I developed a spliting headache, and I never have headaches. Task completed, we went upstairs, enjoyed some tea and pie, then got ready for bed. Knew we had an early morning. While breakfast was cooking, we ran downstairs to see if the paper was still hanging—I could just visualize it all in pile on the floor.  It looked great, but immediately we knew why she had been dizzy and why I had a headache. It was glue sniffing. We’ve been warned about this for years, but I really never knew it was so bad until Friday. If you use glue, be sure your area is well ventilated, take breaks and go out to breath fresh air. Both our sinuses were a mess all day Saturday and I didn’t get rid of my headache until after arriving at Mom’s, where I remarked that I had one. She  says, “Take a couple of asprin.” I did and in a short time it went away. At almost  93, Mom still has the answers to my problems.

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  Things are going well. We think we have most of our postal problems worked out. At the house, Lynn has completed the painting and Mitchell Stough came to measure for flooring on Thursday. It’s ordered and hopefully will be installed before Watermelon Carnival Weekend. Larry Brown is sealing the driveway today. Flowers are still alive at the office and at home. We’re all reasonable healthy. Mel had a problem with something she ate. Missed work yesterday (Monday) but she has not called today, so hopefully she’s O.K.

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  Political agenda for the primaries is fast winding down. Read the ads, listen to the speeches, pray a lot, and then go to the polls and vote for the person you feel is best qualified to do the job.

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