I Remember... Nice advice from Grandma
I had been feeding my bir ds watermelon rinds and other fruit leftovers, so I knew they were well fed.
My trophy chickens My mom still tells me about my first experience in the wonderful world of 4-H. I was not quite 4 years old when I became a 4-H Cloverbud and participated in my first poultry show. I was the youngest participant, but I wasn’t nervous or afraid as I stood proudly by my pen of chickens, calmly answering questions and talking to the judges. I believe Mom and Granddaddy were the nervous ones because she later told me that they had gotten jittery just looking at the other children’s birds. Granddaddy thought mine looked too small (he called them puny!). I could have told them not to worry because I had also been feeding my birds watermelon rinds and other fruit “leftovers,” so I already knew that my birds were well fed. Needless to say, we were all delighted when the judge announced my name as the Reserve Grand Champion. Mom and Granddaddy let out a huge sigh of relief. After the show, I relaxed with my Granddaddy and thought to myself, “All in a day’s work.” We sure were proud of my trophy. Prattsie Cunningham, Roxboro, Piedmont EMC
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Memories
We’ll pay $50 for those we publish in the maga zine. We can put even more on our Internet sites, but can’t pay for them . (If you don’t want them on the Internet, let us know.) Guidelines: 1. Approximately 200 words. 2. Digital photos must be at least 600kb or 1200 by 800 pixels. 3. No deadline, but only one entry per househ old per month. 4. Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want yours returned.
5. We pay $50 for each one published in the magazine. We retain reprint rights. 6. Include your name, mailing address and the name of your electric cooperative. 7. E-mail: iremember@carolinacountry.com Or by U.S. mail: I Remember, Carolina Countr y, 3400 Sumner Blvd., Raleigh, NC 27616
26 NOVEMBER 2011 Carolina Country
In the early 1950s, my brother Kermit was 7 years old and I was 5. We were playing outside our rural Alleghany County home discussing frogs and lightning bugs and other important topics. Our discussion led into some criticism of our sister, who did not share our love of frogs. Our grandmother, “Grandma,” who was no doubt watching us as we played in the yard, overheard our discussion and reminded us that when we couldn’t say something nice about someone we should say nothing. About that time we noticed John Doe (name changed for obvious reasons) staggering down the then unpaved road that ran in front of our house. Apparently in a drunken stupor, John whistled away as if he had not a care in the world. He was a local resident and was known for his harmless alcohol-induced escapades. My brother, being the wiser of the two of us — after all he was 7 — piped up, “Well, Grandma, what ‘nice’ could you say about John Doe?” Without missing a beat, Grandma responded, “You know he does whistle right nicely.” Today, several decades later, my grandmother has long since left this world, and my brother and I are retired men in our 60s. Even to this day, whenever Kermit and I are talking critically of another person, one of us will say to the other, “Remember John Doe.” Then we’ll smile to ourselves and remember Grandma and her sage advice and say nothing more. Allen Wood, Sparta, Blue Ridge Electric