Well, it’s back to school time. It was so crazy in Spartanburg, Saturday. Did everyone wait until the last week to buy school clothes and supplies?

Of course in the high school they’re having the kids wait until after school starts to tell them what they need. That helps in not having wasteful things laying around that you’ll never use. I remember my daughter’s first at Carolina, she was given a list of books she needed, and you know the books are over $100 apiece, and that’s used. Then when she went to some classes, the books were never touched because it was all lectured. So the next year she waited and bought only what the teacher said she needed. All homework was done on computers, at certain labs, in buildings assigned just for that class homework. And you had to wait until all the classes were over. Now these buildings had nothing to do with what you were doing anyway. I’ll bet that today you can do everything on your own computer in your own room at your time.

Back in the old days (isn’t that what we say). We signed up for our classes the school year before, and on the first day of school, we carried a notebook with filler paper, and sections marked off for each class, pencils and an eraser. We smelled of new clothes and shoes, and excitement for the unknown. We didn’t pay to go to school, I guess our tax money took care of that. It gets tight when you have a lot of kids, and you have to pay a fee just to enroll them. Times and economy have changed, and will continue. But everyone has to have an education now to get a job.

I need to find my diploma, I’ve never had to use it, but if it comes to that day, I think how do I prove that I graduated, since I’m not from here, so who do I call. I’m so ancient that anyone over me is dead.

Sewer Lines Being Installed

If you see workers around town, I just want you to know that a company is starting to install new sewer lines that we got a grant for. Now some of you have asked, why you’re not getting it. Well, we have to take the lowest bid, and it was close to our grant, so we had to cut out Mill Hill, up at the top of Summit Drive, and North 3rd (my place). So my understanding, it starts at N.1st. on Lockhart Drive and goes up to Summit Drive over to N. 2nd. Is this greed or just this costly? Well, after this we can ask for another grant to do the next phase. Slowly but surely we are improving our little town.

Employment

Chuck is now employed! Third shift, seven days a week. He called last Friday to see what plans we had for Saturday. I told him he had to sleep because he had to work that Saturday. He said he still had to eat. I never thought of that, I just figured if you work that many days, all you did was work and sleep. I guess, well I don’t know what I guessed!

Lost Keys

Remember my $200 and something key that I flushed. Well I thought I was going to buy another. Monday I couldn’t find my car key, and didn’t look too good at that time, because I thought the cat was sleeping on it.

Well, I walked to the post office, six blocks away, and for what, a piece of junk mail and a magazine telling me the great places to retire to (if you are a millionaire)!

Went to town hall to put my two cents in. Walked home, and needed another shower. Had to borrow my daughter’s key and went to Greenville. When I came home at 10:30 p.m., I started tearing the living room apart. Pulled out the furniture, looked under everything, put my hands down in all the cracks in the couch. Pulled the washer and dryer out, looked to see if I washed it, and hoped not. At midnight I gave up, I even checked in the pocket of the pants that I wore on Sunday. When I went to my room I noticed a pair of knee pants that I had put on early in the morning, but didn’t keep on, and they were heavy, KEYS!

Gina says that I need to go to the doctor, she says there is something wrong with me, but my keys are the only thing I lose, always!

Bridges

It looks like you’ll have to detour Old River Road again to get to Carlisle. They are building a new bridge somewhere on that road. I believe that our bridge over Broad River has been put off again. But at least they know which way they are going now.

Vacation Bible School

Lockhart Freewill just finished their Vacation Bible School, had a terrific turnout, and I heard the scenery was outstanding.

New Addition

By now the Tony Lawson family should have added another boy to their family. Congratulations!

Birthdays

Happy Birthday, first off to me, today, and I want to thank my friends for the very funny cards that I received (17th). Mary Sybil Allen on the 21st. You can go by Dr. Wilkins’ office and sing to Mary Sybil. Also on the 21st are Brian Stalmaker and Amanda Grady. Betty Melton on the 22nd. Happy Birthday to Cameron Gill on the 23rd. Sally Palmer is on the 19th.

The Olympics

I really enjoyed the Summer Olympics, but I don’t think I could swim another lap, or run another mile, and my legs and arms could not hold up to anymore gymnastics. I really tried to help touch that wall in the swimming. USA did good. And I had to watch the USA volleyball team play in the sand. USA did great this summer. My daughter likes the Winter Olympics better, she ‘s into curling, or something like that. You know, where you sweep a disc down the icy floor. She’ll do that in her next life.

The Internet’s Predecessor

Prior to the Internet, the last technology that had any real effect on the way people sat down and talked together was the dinner table.

Sandals

I was dining in Georgia and a tourist stopped by my table.

“Excuse me,” he said. “But my wife loves you sandals. Did you buy them locally?”

“Yes just down the street,” I said.

“May I ask how much they cost?”

“They were $77.”

“Thank you”

He then hollered to his wife, “Honey, she got them in Florida.”

Until next week, good night. 545-6652