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Cobb Life December 2010 Volume 6, Issue 9 PUBLISHER
Otis A. Brumby, Jr.
GENERAL MANAGER
Otis Brumby III
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER V.P. OF SALES
Hearing Evaluations • Hearing Aids Hearing Aid Repair • Assistive Listening Devices Batteries & More!
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INDEX
Jay Whorton
Wade Stephens
EDITORIAL STAFF DIRECTOR OF MAGAZINES
Mark Wallace Maguire
75 Day Trial Period on Hearing Aids
CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Erin Gray
LAYOUT AND DESIGN
Stacey L. Evans, Mark Wallace Maguire
DR. LAURIE NELSON Audiologist 990 Whitlock Avenue, Suite D • Marietta, GA 30064 Under Whitlock’s Restaurant 770-427-3033 www.MariettaHearing.com
OF
A-1 Insurance Benefits 29 Absolute Pathways 77 Atlanta Lyric Theatre 76 Barnes Law Group 61 Bernards Bread Bakery 32 Big Shanty BBQ 42 Blackwells Jewelers 19 Body Proud - Mindy Casellanos 36 Carpet Dry Tech 87 Casual Image 13 Center for Allergy & Asthma 39 Childrens Health Care 5 Cobb Civic Center 89 Cobb Hardware 86 Cochran Shutters 77 Dance Stop 14 Dermatology Consultants 12 & 58 Dr. Boland McCamy 85 Emory Adventist 21 F.J. Lancaster 53 Fabric & Fringe 10 Fireplace Company 80 First Cherokee State Bank 15 Fresh N Fit 38 Gas South Broadway Series 83 Geico 38 Georgia Memorial Park 31 Golden Rugs 53 Halo Salon 11 Henry's Louisiana Grill 24 Inga's Spa & Salon 36 John Risso Photo 11 Johnson Ferry Baptist 28 Julep' Home Décor 30 Just Fired Pottery 64 Kennesaw Dental Care 24 Solaris 3 Kennesaw State Continuing Education 75
ADVERTISERS Law Office of Richard Merritt Leather Gallery Manders Dental Marietta Fish Market Marietta Hearing Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art Marlowes Mayes Ward - Dobbins Funeral Home Nanny On The Go New Times Culture Northside Hospital Northside Hospital Sleep Center Northside Hospital Spine Center Parc @ Piedmont Physicians Choice Piedmont Hospital Pinnacle Orthopaedics Plastic Surgery Center of the South Private Gallery Resurgens Roswell Street Baptist Rustique Sams BBQ 1 Sawyer Baily Salon Southern Polytechnic State University Spot On Cunsulting Sue Hilton Sundial Plumbing The Avenues The Bottoms Group The Framery The Walker School Tucci's United Community Bank Waldenbooks Wellstar White Rabbit Winnwood Retirement
42 14 68 55 4 73 51 71 78 20 9 60 37 44 64 91 65 43 18 25 10 30 82 32 49 88 78 81 92 7 84 18 20 33 45 2 59 69
CONTRIBUTORS Allen Bell, Laura Braddick, Joan Durbin, Donna Espy, Stacey L. Evans, Kevin Hazzard, Adam Miller, Meredith Pruden, Heather Teilhet, Michael Venezia PHOTOGRAPHY
Jennifer Carter, Nathan Self PROOFREADER
Sonja Heck
ADVERTISING STAFF COBB ADVERTISING MANAGER
Becky Opitz ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
Reneé Aghajanian, Stephanie deJarnette, Katie Berry, Carole Johnson, Dawne Edge, Paula Milton, Cheryl Myrick, Tamara Cuda, Melinda Young GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Caroline Brannen Beth Poirier, Jennifer Hall CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Leigh Hall
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Matt Heck
Cobb Life magazine is published nine times a year and distributed to more than 33,500 homes throughout Cobb County. ADVERTISING: To advertise, contact Wade Stephens at wstephens@cobblifemagazine.com or 770.795.3000 x500 SUBMISSIONS: Please send all editorial correspondence to mmaguire@cobblifemagazine.com or cobblife @cobblifemagazine.com www.cobblifemagazine.com
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CONTENTS
features 16 CLAUS AND EFFECT A day in the life of a Cobb Santa 22 NEED THAT FEELING? Our guide to spreading holiday cheer 26 A LIGHT IN WEST COBB Calvary Children’s Home a beacon of hope for local children 40 MOUNTAIN MAN Wheeler alum scales Everest and more 62 FAVE NEW YEAR’S MEMORIES 70 ANIMAL HOUSE Preview of the Humane Society benefit
departments
16 62
34 PULSE Your guide to a post-holiday chillout 46 SPICE Holiday desserts sans chocolate 56 HOME A hundred Santas can’t be wrong 66 WINE Reflecting on three decades
in every issue 8 FROM THE DIRECTOR 10 NEWS AND NOTEWORTHY
78 EDITORIAL CALENDAR 79 SCENE
72 FROM THE WEB 74 HIGHLIGHTS
90 SLICE OF COBB
ON THE COVER: A brown butter tart topped with cranberries and glazed figs from the chef at Canvas. For more on Canvas and other bakeries, see page 46
40
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FROM
THE
TEN
11/19/2010
10:27 AM
Page 8
DIRECTOR
‘10
thoughts on
“And always at my back I hear, Time’s winged chariot drawing near” – Andrew Marvell While these lines from the 17th century English poet may not be as familiar as “Tear down this wall” by Ronald Reagan or “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” by John F. Kennedy, it is a phrase I invoke often as I rush to work in the morning or eye a deadline looming on the calendar. It is also a phrase I muse on from a more relaxed viewpoint at the end of each year. 2010 has been quite the year for me, for us here at Cobb Life and for our world in general. Indulge me as I reflect on ten random reflections from the last 365 days. 1.Keeping the spirit alive: One of my favorite memories from this year was listening to my oldest son Patrick, then 3, continue to wish everyone a “Merry Christmas” all the way through March. Every time we went on a walk in the park, to the hardware store or just saw people at church, he belted out “Merry Christmas!” The kid just loves Christmas and being an indulgent father, I couldn’t bear correcting him. Finally, he realized when the leaves began emer ging from the trees again and his birthday was just around the corner it was no longer Christmas. Who knows how he will address the first few months of 201 1? By late September he was already singing about Thanksgiving and telling me what he was going to buy me for Christmas. (Which by the way is the same red pick-up truck he also said he would buy me for my birthday and for last Christmas. I have high hopes he will get it for me by the time I retire.) 2.Tomato Glory: The weather this year was beyond bizarre even by Southern standards: Three weeks of drought, then a drenching tropical rain for three days, beyond cold for a few months, then right into the 90s for several weeks straight, etc. etc. The one good thing, though, was the bountiful crop of cherry tomatoes I harvested from my garden. Thanks to the long summer and hot fall, I picked tomatoes from early May all the way to midNovember. 3.Stocked with talent: I continue to be impressed at the wealth of talent in the arts and cultural community here. We profile an artist in almost every issue and the breadth and scope of the work here is quite amazing. I was particularly knocked out by the paintings of William Entrekin. His Wyeth-like watercolors floored me. It is no wonder his work hangs in galleries across the country . 4.The elections are over: I love our nation and appreciate our privilege to vote. However, I must say — like the outcome or not — I’m glad the elections are done. For at least a little bit, we’re spared from the assault of TV ads. 5.Travis Tritt isn’t lazy: Cobb Life sponsored the Travis Tritt concert when he performed at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheatre in June. At this point in his career, I wouldn’t have
been surprised if he would have phoned it in. No way . The Cobb native played a strong show and pulled out all the stops. My only complaint was he didn’ t play enough guitar. Little known fact: The man is a phenomenal guitarist. 6.Slowly learning football: Any dad who follows a sport can’t wait until his child is old enough to watch a bit sitting beside him cheering. Finally this year , we crossed the threshold in my home where I can actually cheer and yell and my boys don’ t get frightened. Instead, my oldest son just tackles and mauls my youngest son while repeatedly yelling “Touchdown!” Then they both commence to knocking over drinks, eating chips of f of my plate and causing general mayhem during the game. They aren’t ready for me to explain pass interference yet, but this year did mark progress. I’ll chalk it up as a small victory. 7.Fair thee well: I had an opportunity to attend a media luncheon this year for the North Geor gia State Fair where I got to meet some of the board members of this annual tradition. For many readers, attending the fair is an event filled with the wafting smell of elephant ears, the spinning of ferris wheels and catching that first bite of fall in the night air. But, there is another side to the fair as well. The board members dedicate a lot of time and resources to charitable causes. In particular , they take one day during the fair ’s run and devote it to serving the special needs population of North Geor gia. They let the children ride free for five hours and then feed about 1,500 children. Keep up the good work guys. 8.It really is all about the food sometimes: I went the extra step in tailoring all my tailgating meals to the teams The Dawgs were playing this year. For example, for Colorado, I grilled bison. For Arkansas, I smoked a pork loin for about four hours. Problem was, by the end of the season I was out of ideas. With all due respect to my friends who are Auburn fans, what the heck do you cook with a War Eagle-Tiger-PlainsAlabama theme? 9.A Slice of Cobb: We’re glad to welcome Heather Teilhet aboard as our new back page columnist. Heather is an established member of the community and an occasional contributor to this magazine. Her columns bring heartfelt and humorous stories to the backpage. 10.Reeling in the big fish: Cobb continues to establish itself as an arts destination. My favorite event of the year was seeing one of America’s greatest storytellers Garrison Keillor visit the Cobb Ener gy Performing Arts Centre in late November. My dad is an avid listener of “Prairie Home Companion” and I have been hearing Garrison’s stories on Saturday nights for over 15 years. Seeing him in person was a real treat. And, to quote Garrison as we head into a New Year: Be well. Do good work. And keep in touch. Mark Wallace Maguire
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NEWS
&
11/19/2010
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NOTEWORTHY
Vinings’ Hor ford sewn up as Hawk Cobb resident Al Horford, who has been featured as one of our 20 rising stars under 40, just signed a five-year contract with the Atlanta Hawks. Horford has been a bright spot for the Hawks. Last year he was named to the NBA All-Star team and this year he is captain of the Hawks alongside Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. The 24-year-old’s contract will pay a whopping $60 million over the next five years. Here’s hoping the Hawks have a strong season.
Cobb becoming a gourmet frozen yogurt mecca
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10 COBB LIFE December
2010
We penned a blog about Pinkberry on our website, www.cobblifemagazine, when it opened its first Atlanta location at Cumberland several months ago. Then we ran a piece on Yogli Mogli and its location in East Cobb — photo above — in the October edition. A blurb on Menchie’s was in the November issue and now, lo and behold, another frozen yogurt store is coming to Cobb County. Pinkberry opened its second Cobb County location in East Cobb at 1281 Johnson Ferry Road. Why do Cobb countians have a penchant for frozen yogurt? Have an idea? Tell us about it on facebook!
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NEWS
&
11/19/2010
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NOTEWORTHY
Kennesaw Mountain alum lead Zelda marathon Here’s something you don’t read everyday. Four Kennesaw Mountain High School magnet program alums and current Georgia Tech students are going to play the video game ‘Legend of Zelda’ in a marathon match to get into the Guinness Book of World Records. The event takes place Dec. 20. Here is how it works: The four students will attempt to beat their previous record of playing the game for 41 hours. The event will be broadcast live online, and has previously attracted thousands of viewers from around the world to watch as the team of four plays through all the major releases in the Zelda series of video games, dating back to 1986. The quartet is also taking donations during the tourney to benefit Child's Play Charity, a nonprofit that provides toys, books, and games to patients of childrens' hospitals worldwide. “Zelda is one of the most recognizable names in gaming,” says Peter Sohl, event coordinator. “People of all ages have played and love the series, and something like The 4/48 Zelda Marathon is a great way for those individuals to interact with each other while raising money for a good cause.” Those who want to learn more about the event and donate to Child’s Play can do so at www.zelda448.com.
Pearlburg named chairman
at Merchant’s Walk
One
fabulous
way not to have a bad hair day.
Tile Shop opens here The Tile Shop opened a new location in Kennesaw last month. The shop offers dozens upon dozens of unique tiles for mosaics, backsplashes and just about everything else tile-related for your home. The store, at 162 Ernest Barrett Parkway, is The Tile Shop's first retail location in the metropolitan Atlanta area. Founded in 1984, The Tile Shop is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul and operates 50 stores in 19 states. For more information, visit www.tileshop.com.
Graham Webb
Patti Pearlberg, vice president of Asset Management, Coro Realty Advisors, LLC was recently named chairman of the board of trustees of The Georgia Ballet, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Marietta. Mrs. Pearlberg, wife of Marietta City councilman, Van Pearlberg, assumes the reins from Sam Hensley, Jr., son of the institution's founder, Iris Hensley. She has been a board member of the ballet since 2007 and has previously served on the fundraising committee of the High Museum and on the Board of Directors of Cobb Landmarks and Historic Society.
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COBB LIFE December
2010
11
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NEWS
&
11/19/2010
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NOTEWORTHY
dk Galler y celebrates two years One of the hottest local art galleries, dk Gallery recently celebrated its second year in business on the Marietta Square. Located at 25 West Park Square in Marietta, the gallery has become a major part of the local arts scene and been profiled in several local and national magazines, including this one. The gallery already has several big shows lined up for 2011. Congrats to owner Donna Kruege, left! Regular gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Information: www.dkgallery.us. 770.427.5377
Dermatology Consultants is pleased to welcome
Anjeli Laungani, MD as the newest member of our team.
Dr. Laungani offers dermatological care for the entire family. Dr. Laungani is a board-certified dermatologist with years of experience. She is a diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology.
DERMATOLOGY CONSULTANTS Richard L. Detlefs, M.D. | Candance K. Green, M.D. | Anna M. ParĂŠ, M.D. Benjamin J. Kelly, M.D. | Anjeli Laungani, M.D.
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www.dermatologyconsultants.org 12 COBB LIFE December
2010
Southern Museum extends hours The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History announced new hours. The facility will now be open Sundays from 1 to 5:30 p.m. A Smithsonian Institution affiliate, the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (www.southernmuseum.org) features collections of rare Civil War weapons, uniforms, and other personal items; an exciting exhibit about the Great Locomotive Chase, including the General locomotive; and a full-scale replica of a locomotive factory that helped rebuild the South after the war. The Jolley Education Center features a variety of hands-on exhibits to inspire a love of learning in children. Information: www.southernmuseum.org 770.427.2117
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NEWS
&
NOTEWORTHY
Arvid celebrates tenth anniversar y show Renowned painter and East Cobb resident Thomas Arvid recently celebrated his tenth annual homecoming with an exclusive one-man show and live painting performance at The Vinings Gallery. "Each year, the Arvid event ranks as one of our most exciting shows and something our patrons look forward to all year long,” said Vinings Gallery owner Gary Handler. “Thomas has a natural, unassuming ability to connect with collectors and engage art lovers who may be new to his work. His paintings, that embrace the exuberance of fine living and of loving wine, are riveting, and watching him paint live is a great thrill for everyone." The Vinings Gallery events kick off a month-long exhibition and sale of Arvid's work, which will run through Dec. 31. For more information about the Thomas Arvid show, call the Gallery at 404.794.7762. The Gallery is located at 4686 South Atlanta Road, Suite F, in Smyrna, Georgia.
VHPS forms new partnership The Vinings Historic Preservation Society recently announced it has formed a partnership with Saratoga Event Group to manage the special events at the Pace House and Old Pavilion. Saratoga Event Group is a full-service event company that provides award-winning cuisine, event design, professional beverage services and comprehensive event planning. Information: www.vinings.org
GOT ONE? If you’ve got an item for News & Noteworthy, email us at mmaguire @cobblife magazine.com
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Santa Claus
A peek into the life of the man inside the big red suit
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BY LAURA BRADDICK PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
T
Marietta resident Ted Jackson has been impersonating Santa for 15 years. Top, Santa Ted chuckles as he revs up the engine. L eft, Santa Ted takes his dogs for a walk around the neighbor hood. When out in public, he often gets stares and whispers as he passes.
ed Jackson snaps open the latches on his small black suitcase to reveal a colorful collage of loose items rolling around inside. His grandchildren, Gabriel, 2, and Rose, 8, look on as he rifles through the toppled assortment including a hairbrush, lint roller, book, tiny plastic toys, jingle bells and a bottle of aspirin to take out a case of bright pink rouge. He removes his white gloves, lifts the plastic lid and with his large fingers grasping the delicate brush generously applies the blushing powder to his fleshy cheeks. “Santa’s cheeks hurt by the end of the season,” he said, laughing as he snapped the blush closed and replaced his white gloves. Folded behind the copy of “The Night before Christmas” are letters written by kids to Santa Claus. “They often bring me notes like that and I always take them with me,” he said, gently unfolding a crayon drawing of a reindeer and Christmas tree. “To me that’s the kids’ hopes and dreams and I treat them with respect.” Jackson, a Marietta resident, never intended to become a full-time Santa, even though the Oakridge, Tenn. native and his wife Vicki had made a hobby of handcrafting wooden toys to sell at craft fairs a decade before he put on the suit for the first time.
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True to his Santa character, Ted Jackson loves to spend time with children, especially his grandchildren. Top lef t, he reads a stor y to Rose, 8 and Gabriel, 2. Top right, he shares a laugh with his wife Vicki as grandson Gabriel sits on his lap.
11/19/2010
10:39 AM
“I guess I got started in Santa’ s workshop,” he said. But in 1995, as a favor to his wife’ s boss, Jackson sealed his fate by agreeing to play Santa for a children’s holiday party at Cobb County-based American Adventures. “I went out to Eddie’s Trick Shop or somewhere like that and bought a cheap suit and beard,” said Jackson, recalling his first experience. “After that, I decided I really liked it and said ‘If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.’” So, the IT warehouse specialist found a nicer costume and quit shaving so he could grow a real beard.
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But Jackson found that his mane did not magically grow out white like good old Chris Cringle’s, a problem solved each autumn with a ritual bleaching. “People will often ask me about my beard and I tell them I play Santa Claus,” the 56year old said. “Most of the time they say ‘Hey, that’s neat. What mall do you work at?’ You get used to it.” In his 15 years of playing Santa, Jackson has been through 14 suits and about the same number of boots. He keeps a stash of gloves in his closet that range from white and furry to thick black leather. He currently rotates through three different suits and
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18 COBB LIFE December
2010
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Santa takes a minute to chow down on his favorite meal, cookies and milk, but grandson Gabriel, 2, swoops in and steals some.
makes weekly dry-cleaning trips during December. Beginning the day after Thanksgiving, he straps on his boots and buttons his velvety coat for at least one event every day until after Christmas Eve. He is usually booked before Halloween with private parties, of fice parties, community gatherings, in-home photography sessions and nonprofit work. He rarely works the mall circuit. “Working malls are long hours,” he said. “A few years ago I did a mall in Albuquerque. I left the day after Thanksgiving and landed in Atlanta and was at home in
COBB LIFE December
2010
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my chair on Christmas Eve. I didn’ t see anything but the inside of the mall and my hotel room for nearly 30 days.” Because of his busy schedule and conspicuous appearance, Jackson misses out on one of the more stressful aspects of the holidays. “I don’t do Christmas shopping,” he laughed. “I try to avoid malls during that time. I don’ t want to confuse kids.” Much like a celebrity, when Jackson goes out in public, strangers stare and whisper behind his back as he passes. Even without the signature getup of black boots and red suit or the entourage of elves, his round cheeks, long frilly beard and jolly presence reminds people of the iconic S t. Nicholas. At home watching college football and cheering for the Vols, he is “Dad” to his daughter S tephanie and son Joseph. In his Pigeon Forge chalet on a last-minute mountain getaway he is “Teddy” to his wife. He is “Papaw” when he puts his grand kids on each knee to read them a bedtime story every night, but to all the rest of the world as well as his family he is Santa Claus. “One time, not during the holidays, my wife and I were walking through the mall and there’s a child just screaming bloody murder and crying — until he saw me. I went right up to him and said ‘I’ve been checking on you. You better be good,’” said Jackson, pointing a stern but gentle finger . “He shut his mouth and just stared at me. As we walked away the parents said ‘Thank you, Santa! See you at Christmas!’” Information: visit www.atlantassantas.com.
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2010
P rett Bar P kw y. N W
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It’s that time of year. The time when we celebrate and, yet at the same time, can get lost in the flurry of activ ity. It is a time when we are supposed to be celebrating peace on earth and goodwill to all, but, instead we usually, well, forget. We get busy. We get overwhelmed. In a cliché, we forget the reason for the season.
You may not have the time or energy to don a red hat and spread good tidings like good ol’ St. Nick, but we thought of five simple ways you can
spread Christmas cheer 22 COBB LIFE December
2010
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ff
ta TO: Office S
ding on ST: Depen ing A F K A E R B BRING IN ork, co-workers bring t or w u o y ly trea re e h w her a month d, during it e is t s fa k in brea . Grante find occurrence an annual baked goods tend to y s the holiday e of fice more than an at e th b the way to year. But this year, lks f fo o e e th m t for other ti in breakfas on it. te o T . h s note the ru ith. W rite a you work w Wish them well. . Serve them
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TO: Local H e
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WRITE A T YOUR FIR HANK YOU NOTE T E unapprecia STATION: Talk ab O o ted. Thes e men and ut women w ork tireles sly in dan conditions gerous fo few minute r little money. Tak ea s and write you note. And, of co them a thankurse, a th you note m an ig a gif t certif ht be served best kw icate to a local bake ith a p an of b ry or rownies.
FROM: A T
hankful Citiz
en
TO: Elderly Neighbors WORK ON SOMEONE’S LAWN: The old, the shut-ins and the disabled don’t have the energy or the facility to get their lawn always looking tidy. Take a few hours one af ternoon and devote yourself to helping someone get their lawn in shape. Rake it. W eed it. Plant a few pansies. Whatever it takes.
FROM: Your Neighbor
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TO: The Least of These ST: The ill…the VISIT THOSE WHO NEED IT MO l…those in pita hos ’s lonely…kids in the children t of these. leas the are ly real jail…Fact is, these Christmas up Set . visit go and rs Take a few hou e som say caroling in a local nursing home, some of give just or es prayers, bring in candy can ent. gem your time and encoura
FROM: Someone Who Cares TO: Person in Line at a Dr ive-th
ru
PAY FOR COFFEE AT A DRIVE-THRU: There’s not hing like random act s of kindness from a stranger to brighten anyone’ s day. Paying for a cup of cof fee or fast-food order of the in line behind you at a dri person ve-thru will surely put a sm ile on their face and perhap s touch the m enough so they p ay it for ward, and give a random act of kindness to another person .
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Beyond -
cliches
and
BY ADAM MILLER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
clenched fists
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C.J. Mar tin, above, walks with his son, Jackson and wife, Amanda on the grounds. C.J. was once a resident of the home and now ser ves as a house parent. Opposite page: K aela shows off her room she helped decorate.
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The parking lot is full of chatter and soon will be deserted by teens headed to a football game at Hillgrove High School in Powder Springs. It is early fall
and an 18-passenger van is parked with the doors open, awaiting the stragglers to finish their primping and don their new outfits as they head to one of the South’s oldest traditions. But this isn’t a church parking lot, a random meeting place or a booster club loading up from a school campus. Instead, this scene takes place at Calvary Children’ s Home, a nonprofit faith-based campus for children beset by death of parents, abuse or extreme poverty . Located in West Cobb on a bucolic 25 acres, the home has been caring for and nurturing children since 1966. Founded by late Rev. Ben F. Turner, Calvary Children’s Home started form humble beginnings with only six children and one building in Smyrna. Now , Turner’s 63-year-old son, Snyder, heads the home which has dozens of children enrolled. Through generous donations, especially from the late Mr. and Mrs. Dwight Vaughn, the home relocated to the West Cobb campus in 1997 where it has been able to expand its services and features several homes, a playground, a cafeteria and more.
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From lef t, Calvary Children’s Home Executive Director Rev. C. Snyder Turner plays a game ot football with the children on a fall afternoon.
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3894 Due West Road #245 • Marietta, GA 30064 770-422-7500 • www.julepshomedecor.com 30 COBB LIFE December
2010
Director of Calvar y Children’s Home Rev. Snyder Turner and wife Marsha hold a por trait of the home’s founder and Snyder ’s father, the late Rev. Ben Turner.
The work at the home defines the cliché, labor of love. “We nearly had to help rebuild some of these kids from the ground up,” said Turner. But if you’re looking for sad stories riddled with despair, look somewhere else. While every story that comes out of Calvary is not decorated with gold, there is more success here than the average observer would guess. Take C.J. Martin for example. He moved to Calvary when he was eight-years-old with his brothers Jeremy and Brandon. For years, C.J. said, he walked around with clenched fists. The memory of his real dad would haunt him in his dreams. “I was an angry child,” he says. “I think I still hold the record for the number of fist fights at Varner Elementary.” But through the love, compassion and help of house parents Brian and Melita Busby he was able to turn things around. He graduated high school, pursued a degree from Tennessee Temple University, got married and now, in a strange, yet beautiful turn of events is one of the house parents at the home. “You can’t change the past, but you can learn to accept it,” C.J. says. The other Martin brothers have done well. Jeremy is a decorated Iraq War veteran living in south Geor gia. Brandon still lives at Calvary while enrolled in college locally.
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Children play on the playground, but also work hard in school. Volunteers from the community devote their time to such activities as tutoring. Here, lef t, Michael Hadely helps Charles with his homework.
THE STRENGTH OF CALVARY is that it seeks to keep families together by keeping siblings together and by trying to encourage parents and family to interact with kids as much as possible. “When my dad [the late Rev. Ben F. Turner] started the home back in 1966, he did it partly because he didn’ t want to see kids separated from their brothers and sisters,” says Turner. “A couple had died in a car accident and he watched the kids spread among grandparents and aunts and uncles. They not only lost their parents but they lost their siblings, too.” “Some kids say ‘Why did God put me here?’” says Turner. “We always remind them that God didn’t put the kids here. He put us here for the kids so we could help them see that while they can’ t change their pasts, they could see a different future. That the way things were is not the way things have to be. Choices have consequences. You tell me what you want to happen, and we’ll tell you what you have to do to get there.” The 63-year-old Turner, who also serves as pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Smyrna, shares his father ’s passion for second chances, for rebuilding lives and for hope. A tall man with
Georgia Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, serving the metro area for over fifty years, is devoted to delivering the highest level of service and satisfaction possible to families. We are committed to excellence daily by each member of our staff. As an honored Dignity Memorial™ provider, we are empowered to create a meaningful service. Contact us to find out how a Dignity Memorial Provider can be of benefit to your family and receive a valuable Personal Planning Guide.
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Paula Kirchhofer - Sales Manager
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a warm manner and an easy laugh, he has nurtured relationships with the home’s children that have lasted far beyond their stay here. Through the years, Snyder has continued to play a role in the lives of former home residents. He’ s been invited to graduate school graduations, to perform weddings, or many times just to meet the growing families of former Calvary residents who have moved into futures outshining dark and distant pasts. THE EARLY FALL EVENING RECEDES TO DARK and C.J plops down in a recliner . One of the children at the house is quietly watching the big screen TV. Another listens to music in a distant room. “One thing I offer these kids is my experience,” says C.J. “When they come in from the bus stop crying or they sit at the table and are silent for no apparent reason, I know where they’re coming from, because I was that kid. But like we constantly constantly tell these kids, ‘You can’t change the past. You can only learn to accept it.’ And our job as house parents to help them see that we really love them and more importantly that God really loves them and that we’ve all been brought [to Calvary] for a specific purpose.”
want to help? Calvary Children’s Home subsists solely on donations. No federal or government funds cover the home’s expenses, which include salaries for house parents and staff, maintenance of the organization’s four brick homes and nearly any expense characteristic of this type of facility. The Home is Evangelical Christian with an emphasis on the Christian Gospel’s role in drawing kids out of difficult pasts. More than 400 children have been a part of Calvary Children’s Home since it was founded.
www.calvarykids.org 770.794.1500 Calvary Children's Home 1430 Lost Mountain Rd. Powder Springs, GA 30127
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Recover from the holidays with an after-Christmas
chill ut
You’ve said goodbye to your last guests, placed the last piece of wrapping paper in the recycling bin and given your child his 1,000th push on a shiny new bicycle. After almost two months of planning, hosting and toasting, it’s no surprise you may be worn out by sundown on Christmas Day. And you’re expected to be ready to party again just six days later. To ensure you’re ringing in the New Year stress-free and relaxed, take a day to yourself to recover, relax and replenish. You deserve a break.
Here’s our idea of a perfect day of relaxation. BY STACEY L. EVANS PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
Hour 1: Go back to bed. It’s your day off. You can sleep in at least one extra hour . Hour 2: Usually start the morning with a quick shower before work? Today take the time to pamper your skin and ease your mind with a bath soak. Truly pamper yourself with one of Marietta company La Dolce Diva’s divine bath spa products. The Bath Spa Take Out package includes a body wash, lotion, Trevi Fountain Bath Coin and soy candle, for $28. You can find the products at local boutiques or online at www.ladolcedivainc.com. Don’t forget to press play on a soothing sounds CD before you step in the tub. 34 COBB LIFE December
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You can also soak up some serenity with scr umptious scr ubs and soaks sold at Whole Foods by the ounce. Try the soothing Pacific Mist, which contains rosemary, grapefr uit frankincense among its ingredients or the Seaweed Scr ub, which contains lavender, lemon and oat bran.
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Hours 3 and 4: Watch an old black and white movie. There’s nothing like an old black and white film to take you back to a slower pace of life. As opposed to say, a modern action film that will hype you up, an old classic will calm you with its monotone colors, tones and slow, even dialogue. You can truly get lost in these films. Enjoy your film with a glass of red wine and bite of dark chocolate. Both are great tonics for reducing stress. Chocolate contains tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the production of serotonin, a natural stress-reducer. If you’re not a wine drinker , herbal tea such as chamomile will do the trick. Purchase tea leaves from Seven Springs Tea Room in Powder Springs. For lunch, gorge on the stockpiles of leftovers in the fridge.
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Hour 5: Breathe in some fresh air and enjoy nature. Take a short walk in your neighborhood, sit out on your patio and bird watch or better yet, hike a trail in the Chattahoochee forest with a friend. Reconnecting with nature can do wonders for inner peace and serenity.
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Hour 6: Now that you’ve gotten some exercise in, it’s time to take a nap. Napping A herbal rice pillow, is great for also known as a the body, yet “dream pillow ” , adults rarely indulge. Spray shown above, can also aid in having a some lavender peaceful sleep. The spray on your lavender-infused pilpillow for a low can be war med. soothing Find them at a local sleep. The health store or mak e one on your own. smell of lavender has a calming effect and boosts the brain’s production of serotonin. You can get lavender products from Whole Foods or Miss Scarlet’s Emporium in Acworth.
Tingshas are of ten used to prepare for meditation. The vibration of the chimes and clear sound produced when str uck together is said to help focus the mind.
Hour 7: Wake up from your nap and refresh with an hour of yoga and meditation. In addition to making you feel calm and peaceful, yoga poses and breathing techniques actually rejuvenate and energize your body and mind. You can stream an online yoga video from www.thepostureproject yoga.com or take a class at a local studio. COBB LIFE December
2010
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WEST COBB EAST COBB CUMBERLAND/VININGS SMYRNA ACWORTH CARTERSVILLE HIRAM
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11:23 PM
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Hour 8: Spend some time with your pet. If you don’t have one, try bird watching or even watching Animal Planet (only shows of the cute, cuddly variety— beware of shows like River Monsters). S tudies have shown animals tend to have a calming ef fect on people and pets make people feel better. Hour 9: Enough with the leftover holiday food and cooking. For dinner, order in from a local restaurant, and enjoy having your food delivered to you while you relax in comfy pajamas. Top Spice at Akers Mill makes a mean Pad Thai and the Tom Kha soup is deliciously smooth and comforting. Craving something that doesn’t deliver in your area? Why not splurge a bit and order from www.food-shuttle.com, a food delivery service that will get food from any restaurant in Cobb, Atlanta or Gwinnett and bring it right to you for $15. Hour 10: and more: After a day to yourself, an evening cuddled up with your loved ones, watching classic comedies, your favorite TV shows, or playing board games is the perfect way to end the day. And a little more wine and chocolate won’t hurt either.
Au t o • H o m e • B o a t • C yc l e 2100 Roswell Road NE • Marietta • 770-565-9696
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BY KEVIN HAZZARD PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMITTED BY RYAN WATERS
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alking away is not easy. To do so
W
is to accept that harshest of human preoccupations: failure. Above 8,000 meters, however, failure must compete for your attention.
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42 COBB LIFE December
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Oxygen deprivation, frostbite, avalanches. The quiet but ever-present threat of death from exposure. It is respect for these competing forces – along with the superlative competency that keeps mountaineers alive – that has Ryan Waters rooted in place. It’s mid-August 2006 and Waters, an experienced high-altitude climber, guide and Wheeler graduate, is at Camp 3 on K2. At 8,611 meters, K2 is the world’s second tallest mountain and arguably the most difficult to climb. Waters and his team have long trained for this moment and now find themselves one day away from a push to the summit. But nothing is going right.
After an assault of Broad Peak, another of Pakistan’s 8,000-plus-meter peaks, the team is exhausted. During the climb of Broad Peak, they reached the summit ridge before deciding they could go no further. In one of the most poignant moments of his career, Waters decided to push on. Alone. Hours later he stood on top of one of the world’s great peaks, a young man in complete control of his element. Such exuberance, however, must be tempered. Those who know say mountaineers either grow bold or grow old, but not both. That fortunes can change is something Waters knows all too well. In 2005, after two previous successful summits of Everest, he was forced of f the world’s tallest mountain by a severe respiratory infection. To spend five days walking away from a trip that had dominated months of his life was more than a stinging slap. And therein lies the crux of high-altitude climbing: tempering the audacity to push ahead with the wisdom to walk away when defeat comes calling. Because sooner or later it will. As such, K2 perfectly sums up the dizzying, oxygen-depleted world of high-altitude climbing. Despite its highly-technical and challenging final stages, it remains unknown to the world atlarge.
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As attention and accolades are heaped on its slightly taller but less challenging cousin, Everest, K2 waits for the unsuspecting, the unprepared. K2 has the patience of Job and a voice from hell itself can be heard in the winds whistling off its peak. Underestimate me, it croons, at your own peril. The decision to turn back or push on is never easy and, after a tortuous night, Waters and his team decide to continue. Ignoring their screaming muscles and seared lungs, they make a run at Camp 4. But extreme conditions rarely send subtle signs and shortly after they get underway a falling rock tumbles toward them, smashing into Waters’ knee. Still, it’s never an easy decision. “There is always a piece of you that says ‘what if’,” Waters says. “But you gotta be able to walk away.” And so, under the mountain’s indifferent glare, the team descends. They are beaten but not broken. K2 will always be there. Waters will move on to other mountains, other feats. He and a friend will complete the first unassisted ski traverse of Antarctica. But the allure of the unconquered is strong and in 2008 members of the failed expedition, minus Waters, will make a second challenge of K2. Once again things will go horribly wrong and, after spending two nights above 8,000 meters – the fabled death zone – some of them will die. Acknowledging the tragedy has cast a shadow over the mountain, he adds, “but it’s certainly a risk I have accepted.” Risk, reward, failure, death. These are the constants of high-altitude mountaineering. They are truths to be accepted and, for the bold, they are rewarded with gifts that time or loss cannot tarnish. But those rewards, in mountaineering as in life, can be collected only by those with the wisdom, on occasion, to walk away.
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RYAN WATERS and his climbing: - 1992 Wheeler grad - Grew up in Sibley Forest off of Paper Mill Road - Graduated from Ole Miss with a BS in Geology - Founder and Guide for Colorado-based Mountain Professionals - Spends half of his time in Stavanger, Norway ice climbing - Has climbed in the Himalayas, Nepal, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Tibet, Pakistan, Mexico, Russia, Tanzania, Greenland, Antarctica, and all over the U.S. - Waters has climbed the highest peak in each of the seven continents except for Mount Vinson in Antarctica, which he will attempt in winter 2011 - Mt. Everest named for Sir George Everest, Surveyor General of India from 1830 to 1843 - In 1952, Tenzing Norgay and Sir Edmund Hillary complete the first summit of Everest - Height of Everest: 29,035 feet - K2: 28,251 feet - K2 is part of the Karakoram Range - First successful summit of K2 made by Italian expedition in 1954 - K2 is the second deadliest peak in the world
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Town Center at Cobb 770.427.7810
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YUMMY
BY JOAN DURBIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
YULETIDE
We asked four Cobb chefs to give us fresh ideas for holiday desserts — no chocolate allowed. Pumpkin pie, fudge, Yule logs, gingerbread and sugar cookies with colorful sprinkles and frosting all make appearances at my house this time of year . Even fruitcake does a command performance, since I am one of those rare individuals who adore it. These classics are always welcomed by friends and family. But this year, I was searching for something a bit dif ferent to add to the traditional roster. With so many outstanding bakeries in Cobb, I decided to contact a few and ask
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their pastry chefs to guide me to a sweet treat that was elegant enough for Christmas and Hanukkah celebrations, but without chocolate of any kind. That caveat was important, as it’s easy to find spectacular chocolate desserts any time of the year. For the holidays, I wanted to serve a confection less commonplace. The desserts the chefs spotlighted for me are either already offered in their shops on a regular basis or are available by special order a day or so in advance of pick-up.
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A lemon meringue tar t topped with lemons and fresh raspber ries at Sugar Cakes Patisserie. Left, a brown butter tart topped with cranber ries and glazed figs from Canvas Bak ery.
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Crispy ginger cookies topped with glazed crabapples and a vanilla panna cotta, at Canvas.
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Canvas
724 Cherokee Street Marietta (678) 213-2268 www.canvasfoods.com
Anna Gatti met her husband, Chris, when they were students at the Culinary Institute of America, the gold standard for U.S. cooking schools. Together they now own and operate Canvas, with Chris as executive chef and Anna supplying all the sweet treats. Not content to limit her recommendations to just one, Anna created three desserts with fruit as a theme. First up was panna cotta with fresh-sliced crabapples glaceed in a sugar syrup imbued with orange juice and natural vanilla bean. The tartness of the crabapples is softened by the glaze and is a good counterpoint to the silky panna cotta, which in Italian means “cooked cream.”
11/17/2010
To top a fresh-baked sweet-crusted tart filled with brown butter cake, Anna dusted fresh figs with sugar, bruleéd them and mixed them with cranberries cooked with lemon, orange and vanilla bean. Last but by no means least, she constructed a luscious cranberry cassata cake. A traditional Sicilian dessert, it’s composed of layers of sponge cake alternated with sweetened ricotta cheese and cranberries. In Italy, the cake layers normally would be soaked in liqueur, but to make it family friendly, Anna skipped the alcohol in favor of cranberry syrup. Other special order holiday desserts at Canvas include croquembouche, which is a holiday wreath of profiteroles filled with pastry cream festooned with candy canes, and hand-decorated Christmas tree ornaments made of gingerbread.
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Canvas owner and pastr y chef Anna Gatti serves up a cranberry sponge cake.
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A Souther n pecan tar t, at Sugar Cakes Patisserie.
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Sugar Cakes Patisserie 101 N. Park Square NE, Marietta (770) 218-9994 www.sugarcakespatisserie.com
Chef T ed Arpon of Sugar Cak es Patisserie mix es ingredients for a lemon meringue tar t topped with fresh raspber ries and blackberries, top right.
With the French word for bakery a part of its name, you might think Sugar Cakes is helmed by a French-born pastry chef. That’s why Ted Arpon is such a pleasant surprise. Born in Bangkok, Thailand, where his mother used to have a bakery, Ted grew up in the food industry. Nineteen when he immigrated to the U.S., Ted studied international business in college, but gravitated to restaurant cooking as a career. His path took him to the French Pastry School in Chicago and a stint as pastry chef at the Buckhead Ritz Carlton before he and his wife Judy opened Sugar Cakes on the Marietta Square five years ago. Ted’s European-style pastries have plenty of butter, sugar and cream to make them rich and luxuriant. Chocolate mousses are one of his specialties, but around holiday time, customers clamor for his lemon meringue tart. The filling for the tart is very traditional, which means the lemon curd has a sparkling piquancy that is just sweet enough to complement the citrus. The curd is simply egg yolks, sugar and, butter, simmered with plenty of fresh lemon juice until thick and creamy. To bump up the lemony flavor even more, Ted adds some of the citrus zest to the mixture. The balance between tangy and sweet is perfect. Other big seasonal sellers at Sugar Cakes are pumpkin cheesecake and Southern pecan tart.
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A bourbon pound cake with orange glaze at Theo’s Brother ’s Bakery.
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Theo’s Brother’s
3625 Dallas Highway SW, Marietta (770) 419-0345 www.knowwheretogogh.com/ theos_cobb.html
Aisha Cheeks, a bak er at Theo’s Brother ’s, mak es mini bourbon cakes, right, and seasonal cobblers, above, for the holidays.
Created to provide breads and other baked goods for the Sedgwick Restaurant Group, which among others owns Aspens Steak House in northeast Cobb, Theo’s Brother’s Bakery in Avenue West Cobb is a wonderland of cookies, pastries, bars, sweet rolls and breads. Aisha Cheeks, a poised young woman with a warm smile, presides over the baking of all of the sweet treats. Her original passion was cake decorating, but as she learned more about the art of pastry making she discovered she had a knack with dough. She’s been a pastry chef for 15 years, the last three of them at Theo’s. For a holiday treat, Aisha recommended bourbon pound cake. Minidesserts are very popular, she said,
and these little cakes are baked in small Bundt cups for single servings. The vanilla-infused batter contains pecans and a smattering of orange juice and bourbon, just half a cup of the liquor for three dozen of the cakes. It’s enough to impart rich flavor without being overwhelming. Before she poured the batter into the pans, she sprinkled cinnamon sugar on the bottom to fuse with the cake. Hot out of the oven, Aisha brushed on an orange glaze. Moist and deeply satisfying on their own, these mini cakes would be terrific dressed up with fresh fruit and vanilla ice cream. Aisha also makes seasonal cobblers, and at the holidays she uses Granny Smith apples for a mouthwatering apple crisp version.
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Café Paris
1100 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta 770-977-4945 www.thecafeparis.net
Chef Chris Buckman of Cafe P aris makes a treat with one of his favorite fruits, figs, which are in season during the holidays. Left, his ginger ale tempura-battered and deep-fried figs with raspberry coulis. Top, bread pudding with raisins and pecans, topped with vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.
C
hris Buckman, the creative culinary force at this cozy café in the Publix shopping center, never intended to make his living as a chef. Though he worked in professional kitchens while going to college, Chris spent a few years in the mortgage industry before culinary school beckoned. Now in charge of his own kitchen, Chris does the desserts as well as the lunch and dinner entrees. Not formally trained as a pastry chef, he’s picked up techniques that serve him well. This time of year, figs are in season, and they are one of his favorite fruits. Inspired by some opulent Brown Turkey figs, a quintessentially Southern variety, Chris whipped up a tempura batter-laced with ginger ale and coated the figs
54 COBB LIFE December
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with it before dropping them into hot oil to flash fry. Biting into one of these while it was still warm was a very pleasurable experience. The pale red, almost buttery interior of the fig contrasts with the slight crunch of the tempura for a balanced textual experience. The hint of ginger in the coating played nicely with the natural sugar in the fruit. To ramp up the subtle sweetness, Chris served the fried figs with raspberry coulis. For a heartier dessert, Chris of fered bread pudding with raisins and nuts. Cubes of French baguettes are baked in heavy cream, sugar , egg yolks, vanilla and Southern Comfort. Chris’s house-made caramel sauce completes this decadent treat.
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3185 Canton Road • Marietta, GA 30066
Fish Market CHOOSE FROM
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Marietta resident Kim Gresh at home with her dog Chancey. Each year she fills her home with over 700 Santas and much more Christmas decor.
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Marietta resident’s eyes twinkle in
a house full of Christmas BY DONNA ESPY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIKE JACOBY AND ERIN GRAY
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Many of the trees and rooms in Kim Gresh’s home have themes. L eft, Gresh shows one of the Christmas edition Barbies displayed near the Barbie tree. Above, the “cooking” tree.
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www.dermatologyconsultants.org 58 COBB LIFE December
2010
There’s a twinkle in the eyes of children at Christmastime. If you look closely, you’ll see that same twinkle in the eyes of Cobb resident Kim Gresh.
Gresh has a wonderful fascination with one aspect of Christmas – Santa Claus. She annually displays 700 dif ferent Santas throughout her 55-year-old Marietta home, and then sits back and watches as visitors take in the sights and sounds of that jolly old elf. “It started with an office party and has grown into a ten-day event with a tent outside and parties all week long,” says Gresh, president of S.A. White Oil Company in Marietta. She is the third president of the company, which was started in 1926 by her grandfather and later led by her father, Wally Gresh. The holiday decorating process begins for Gresh in late October when a temperature-controlled storage container arrives at her home with all of the Santas inside. She gives herself a Dec. 1 deadline to clean off her shelves and walls and replace her décor with Santas and 13 tall, individually themed Christmas trees. Gresh said she found just one tree “boring” and began adding trees with themed ornaments — Santa, Barbie, fishing, dogs, kitchen, cars — you get the idea. But it’s the Santa collection that steals the show, she says.
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“One more Santa and I could go over the edge to tacky,” says Gresh with a chuckle, adding she loves to watch the faces of kids and adults alike when they visit her home. “I love the whole process, but I enjoy everyone else enjoying it.” And then there are the parties for nonprofit community organizations. Last year, with the help of Carriage Catering, she hosted eight gatherings in all, including the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, the YWCA of Northwest Georgia, MUST Ministries, the WellStar Foundation and the Marietta-Metro Rotary Club. It’s her way of giving back to her community, she says. “This community has been very good to me,” says Gresh, whose grandmother was a Cobb native as well. “I want to leave it better than it was before.” And she knows about community. She was named Marietta’s 2007 “Citizen of the Year,” a Cobb Life magazine Power Woman and the YWCA of Northwest Georgia’s 2009 “Woman of the Year.” She is on the board of the YWCA and the Earl Smith Strand Theatre and is chair of the Board of Trustees of the WellStar Foundation. Gresh admits that this “Ho-Ho-Ho” home couldn’t happen without the help of her husband, George Hartzog. He helps unpack the Santas and stands all 13 of the trees. “Then he’ll say, ‘Do you need anything else? If not, I’m going to Ellijay ,’” says Gresh. He then travels to the couple’s second home in the foothills of north Georgia until the decorating is complete. Is the Ellijay homestead a holiday wonderland as well? No, says Gresh, with that twinkle in her eye. It is sans Santas and Christmas trees, and that’s the way husband George wants it. “I’m not allowed to have anything up there — that’s our deal.”
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Kim Gresh and her husband George Har tzog. George helps unpack all the Santas and stands the trees, but gets out of town while the decorating frenzy commences.
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SANTA SUPERSIZED: Kim Gresh has a total of 13 themed Christmas trees, but it’s the 700 Santas that gar ner the most attention. Clockwise from far lef t: A lifesize Santa welcomes visitors into the Gresh home. Gresh adds an or nament to the Santa tree. The Santa in the tub always gets smiles.
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Three
readers
January 1, 1981 Georgia vs. Notre Dame We’ve got the tail back and you’ve got the Hunchback!!! The battle for the National Championship in New Orleans! Georgia had an undefeated season going into the Sugar Bowl game and would be battling against the storied Irish from Notre Dame. Several hundred Bulldogs, including me, took the train from Atlanta to New Orleans to support the Dawgs in the Sugar Bowl which took place on New Year’s Day 1981. That train stopped in every town and hamlet between Atlanta and the Crescent City. By the time the train arrived, the Bulldog Nation was ready to party and to throw itself into the life of the French Quarter. We joined masses of the Red & Black who were already on hand to experience the City as only Bulldogs can.
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their
By game time, I had worked myself into a nervous frenzy, which only Imodium could settle. Early in the game the Dawgs led by taking advantage of some Irish miscues. However as the battle went on, Georgia struggled offensively and first downs were hard to come by. During the heat of the battle, a nun, sitting in my row, pulling for Ol’ Notre Dame, and shaking her pom poms, was starting to annoy me. Finally, I had to yell at her to SHUT UP! Because of this act, I am pretty nervous about the outcome when I arrive at the Pearly Gates one day in the future. However, my reprimand worked and Georgia pulled away to eventually beat Notre Dame 17-10 and be crowned as Undefeated & Undisputed National Champions! The train ride back to Atlanta was a sweet one — you can’t spell S-U-GA-R without UGA!!! - as told to Cobb Life
favor ites
KIT TRENSCH Southern Polytechnic State University Director of Development
Smyrna’s GAY LOWRY Executive Director Pickron Orthodontic Care There is no better way to celebrate holidays than with close friends. Some years ago we had the pleasure of spending the New Years holiday weekend at Brasstown Valley with three other couples. The weekend began with a marvelous time of fellowship on New Year’s Eve and a most delightful evening with dinner and dancing until the stroke of midnight. New Year’s Day began with brunch and more fellowship and laughter. To this day, I have photos of that memorable weekend in my office as a daily reminder of the value of friendship. - as told to Cobb Life
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RUPERT RAINES Marietta For Marietta’s Rupert Raines, it was a sort of homecoming for his favorite New Year’s Eve memory. Just three years ago Raines’ longtime friend and local music legend Billy Joe Royal came to The Earl Smith Strand Theatre to perform a New Year’s Eve show to help raise funds for the facility. “I went out and started selling tickets. It was a complete sellout. He put on a great performance. It was a great time.” What made the evening extra special for Raines was he recalled the first time he saw Royal at The Strand – a night in the late 1950s. The theatre will host Royal again this year when he performs on New Year’s Eve. The performance is rumored to be Royal’s last as his retirement is expected soon therafter.
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Michael Venezia 30 YEARS ON THE WINE R OAD
s t o h s p a sn During the past three decades I have traveled the world’s wine road, tasted thousands of examples of this fascinating beverage and met countless extraordinary people whose passion and dedication to the vine, wine and Mother Nature is played out through the rhythm of the seasons. Each vintage offers the unique opportunity to craft from grapes an expression of creation different from all those which come before, rooted in the earth with the promise of another vintage in the future. As we approach 2011, new wine adventures await, but before the year comes to a close, I’d like to share some memorable vinous experiences of 2010. For me it clearly brings into focus that the next fine wine is just a glass away. January
February
A passionate and committed group of East Cobbers begin the journey of seeing, swirling, sipping and savoring an international selection of wines with the goal of increasing their knowledge and expertise. As their drill instructor they embrace my regime with dedication and enthusiasm.
As a guest of the Israeli Trade commission an international team of wine professionals visit the Judean Hills, Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights to taste the wines of this ancient land. The agenda takes me to Jerusalem, Masada, the Dead Sea and Tel Aviv. The land, the people, the food and the wines are extraordinary .
Boot Camp for Wine Lovers — Paper Mill Grill
Israwine Expo
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Wine guru Michael Venezia has logged 30 years traveling near and far to sample thousands of wines. Here he shares his memorable moments from 2010, including a trip to Israel, where he took this photo of men playing chess and enjoyed a bottle of Teperberg Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, at left.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
March
April
The wine world comes to Atlanta. Celebrating its 18th year I am honored to conduct a tasting at the St. Regis Atlanta with Alessia Antinori, the 26 th generation of this renowned Tuscan family. From renaissance Florence to 21 st Century Atlanta, wine connects in time and space.
Completed the 7th year of my tenure as a member of the faculty of this dynamic hospitality program. Introducing my students to wine as well as spirits, beer and the business of managing beverages in the industry is very rewarding. One class and one glass at a time!
High Museum of Ar t Atlanta Wine Auction
Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration J Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University
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May California Dreaming
Accompany former Lt. Gov. Mark Taylor and his wife Sacha on a behind-the-scenes tour of selected Napa Valley Vineyards and wineries. Mark and Sacha were the last paddle standing at the 2009 Jeffrey Fashion Cares benefit with proceeds going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Some of the most generous people I know are wine lovers.
June Atlanta Braves Foundation Diamond Gala
A Sunday celebration and Las Vegas night held at the Loews Atlanta Hotel in midtown. Talk wine with John Schuerholz, Braves president, Mike Plant, Braves executive vice president and member of the 1980 U.S./Olympic speed skating team. Play Blackjack with Brian Snitker, 3 rd base coach and meet my favorite Brave All-Star catcher, Brian McCann.
The Bobby Cox commemorative bottle.
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July Bobby Cox commemorative bottle approved for production A three liter etched bottle depicting Braves manager and East Cobb resident Bobby Cox commissioned by the Atlanta Braves. Produced by Trinchero Family Estates of Napa Valley, Calif., 50 bottles were blended exclusively for the team and given to Bobby as well as player and coach associates on October 2 nd, 2010 during Bobby Cox’s Day at Turner Field. A fitting tribute to a great baseball gentleman, wine lover and friend.
Bobby Cox and Michae
l Venezia.
August Field Trip to Eastern Washington
Visits to Northstar, Col Solare, Canoe Ridge and Columbia Crest Vineyards with a group of United Distributors, Inc. associates. After flying from Seattle over the Cascade Mountains to Walla Walla tour, taste and enjoy the dramatically beautiful and viticultural landscape of Eastern Washington. Trip ends in Seattle with a morning stroll through Pike Place Market and an evening concert at Chateau Ste. Michelle winery with snow capped Mount Rainer looming on the horizon.
September Napa Valley Calling
To Napa for pre-harvest tour of Opus One, S tags’ Leap Winery and lunch with friends at Antica Napa, the mountain estate of Marchese Piero Antinori atop Atlas Peak. Enjoyed their chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon from Montalcino in Tuscany the Brunello from the Pian delle Vigne. A contrast of old-world tradition and new-world innovation.
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Hosted 125 techies for a “thinking outside the barrel” featuring wines from Portugal, Greece, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina and Spain. Engineers, rocket scientists, and PhDs are wine lovers too.
November “A Meal to Remember”
Enjoyed the 23rd annual Meal to Remember , a benefit for senior citizens and the Meals on Wheels program Atlanta. More than $350,000 was raised for this important community service. An international team of culinary art, the S t. Regis Hotel staff and wines and spirits selected to accompany this exciting menu was truly a meal to remember .
December Merry Christmas to all and to all a good wine!
Planning time with family and friends, a glass or two of fine wine, a few days vacation, cooking meals at home with my wife Patti and a glance into the crystal ball for a happy and healthy 2011. A toast to health and happiness! Michael A. Venezia MA, CSW, CSS is Corporate Director of Education of United Distributors, Inc. and Adjunct Professor of Hospitality at Georgia State University.
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GLITZY GALA
Humane Society’s ‘Hearts & Dreams’ benefit waltzes into The Strand with 20s-era theme BY MEREDITH PRUDEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
I
t’s that time again Cobb County. Break out your top hats, bow ties and best black-tie apparel because the third annual Hearts & Dreams Gala, benefitting the Humane Society of Cobb County, is back this February 12 at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre. This year’s event, called Puttin’ on the Ritz, brings back all the elements of the variety show and black-tie optional gala you’ve come to love, including the local talent showcase featuring Dance Stop Studios and Pebblebrook High School students. There will also be food courtesy of Carriage House Catering and a cash bar. But this year, the event’s founder, Steve Imler, has upped the ante with the more formal theme, which perfectly encapsulates the upscale 1920s, 30s and 40s. “We like to see this event as the focus of the winter season,” Imler said. “It’s an interesting intersection of two things I’m involved with, so it’s great to see things come together for a good cause. Imler, who is on the board of both The Strand and the Humane Society, said the event is about awareness and bringing the two already beloved institutions into the spotlight for another year. Earl Reece, executive director of The Strand and local philanthropist, is emceeing the event again this year. “Earl has been a great colleague,” Imler said. “I hope he’ll participate for years to come.” For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit www.earlsmithstrand.org.
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Steve Imler, a board member of the Humane Society and founder of the event, stands with Earl R eece, executive director of The Strand, who will be emceeing the event.
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FROM
THE
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WEB
Our Web site, www.cobblifemagazine.com
is always open for readers to post their photos, comments and stories. We also feature SCENE photos that didn’t make it in the magazine and exclusive video and blogs.
From the blogs: Online reader KristenDodd posted this article. More than 300 Girl Scouts in Cobb Count y’s Chattahoochee Service Unit mark ed going back to school by giving back to the community. Troops primarily from Timber Ridge Elm, Mount Bethel Elm, Dickerson and Dodgen Middle schools spent August and September collecting school supplies to support Faithbridge F oster Care progr am in Mariet ta. In October, Junior Troop 2292 and Brownie Troop 2045 (pictured) sorted, deliv ered, and stock ed shelv es with items including o ver 300 notebooks, 14 backpacks and 124 boxes of crayons
From the photo gallery: Cobb Life photographer Erin Gray went behind the scenes as the Atlanta Ballet prepared for their performance of “Moulin Rouge” at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.
From facebook: See what we’re up to and get updates on upcoming issues of the magazine, new stories and more by ‘liking’ us on facebook. Cobb Life Magazine How is it mid-October and we picked tomatoes from our garden last night? Louanne Wirth Rozek One of the luxuries of living in the S outh!
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H ig h lights
A closer look at events and activities throughout Cobb County in December
ATLANTA BALLET'S NUTCRACKER It features exquisite fairies, handsome princes, and dancing snowflakes. It is the magic of the holiday season, alive again at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. Share the tradition and experience the joy of the holiday extravaganza that’s been enchanting audiences for over 50 years. Choreographed by John McFall, performances of Atlanta Ballet’s “Nutcracker” are Nov. 27 through Dec. 26. Performance times vary. Ticket prices range from $29.55 to $103.75. Information: 404.873.5811 or www.atlantaballet.com STRAIGHT NO CHASER Recording group Straight No Chaser recently released a new album “With a Twist,” which debuted at 29 on the Billboard charts. After celebrating the release of their album with an appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” the group is on three-month national concert tour. Straight No Chaser performs Dec. 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the John A. Williams Theatre at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Ticket prices range from $40 to $45. Information: 770.916.2800 or www.cobbenergycentre.com SANDERS FAMILY CHRISTMAS Back again for the twelfth holiday season, the ever-loving, sunnyvoiced Sanders clan once again celebrates the joyous season with some of the best-loved music around. The show is family-friendly for ages 10 and up. Written by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray, “Sanders Family Christmas” is directed by Karen Howell and Alan Kilpatrick. Performances are Nov. 23 through Jan. 2. Performance times are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Wednesday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., with a special Christmas Eve show at 2:30 p.m. and a New Year’s Eve show at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Information: 770.422.8369 or www.theatreinthesquare.com
LOUIS C.K. With more than twenty years as a stand-up comedian, Louis C.K. is one of the most honest and respected comedic voices of his generation, finding success in television and film, as well as the live stage. Louis’ new FX series, “Louie,” premiered to rave reviews. The series is based on his life as a stand-up comic and single father of two living in New York City. Louis’ stand-up concert film, “Louis C.K.: Hilarious,” premiered at The Sundance Film Festival in January as the first stand-up concert film presented at Sundance. In July, Louis was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Special for his second hour special, “Louis C.K.: Chewed Up.” Louis recently starred in the film, “The Invention of Lying,” alongside Ricky Gervais and Jennifer Garner and was seen in a recurring role on the NBC series, “Parks & Recreation.” Louis C.K. performs on Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. in the John A. Williams Theatre at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Tickets are $32.50. Information: 770.916.2800 or www.cobbenergycentre.com
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A TUNA CHRISTMAS A remount of last season's holiday hit, the play tells the story of two radio announcers who portray with loving care and hilarious effectiveness the many characters of quirky Tuna, Texas, as they try to sort through the mystery of the Christmas Phantom. Recommended for ages 16 and up due to language. “A Tuna Christmas” stars William S. Murphey and Bryan Mercer. Performance dates are Nov. 16 through Jan. 2, Tuesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m., with a special Christmas Eve show at 2:30 p.m. Ticket prices vary. Information: 770.422.8369 or www.theatreinthesquare.com MARIETTA/COBB MUSEUM OF ART The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art presents two exhibitions this fall. “Parallax” features work created by oil painter Katherine Taylor from 2001 to 2010. Taylor is an Assistant Professor of Studio Art at Kennesaw State University. Her work is exhibited and collected nationally and her paintings have been displayed in museum exhibitions in Georgia and Florida. “Parallax” is on display through Dec. 19. Also this fall, the museum presents an exhibit of work by the Portrait Society of Atlanta from through Dec. 18. The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art is located in downtown Marietta at 30 Atlanta Street. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 am to 5 pm, and Saturday, 11 am to 4 pm. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, free for children younger than six years old, and free for members. Information: 770.528.1444 or www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH BILLY JOE ROYAL Spend New Year’s Eve with Billy Joe Royal at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre on the evening of Dec. 31. The band Paradocs opens at 8 p.m. Billy Joe Royal plays from 10 p.m. until midnight to bring in the New Year. Ticket prices range from $35 to $45. Information: 770.293.0080 or www.earlsmithstrand.org
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H ig h lights RUSSELL PETERS – THE GREEN CARD TOUR As much a humorist as a comedian, Russell doesn’t really tell jokes. Rather, he uses his wry observations on the subjects of race, class and culture to illuminate our human shortcomings with the sizzling accuracy of a well-aimed laser. His quick wit and ability to mimic language and accents allows Russell to create characters of all races and cultures and forge an immediate bond with his audiences, regardless of their racial and cultural background. His comedy album “Outsourced” has gone eleven times Platinum in his home country of Canada. He's performed sold-out tours of China, South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Jamaica, St. Marten, Trinidad, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, and in 2007 was the first North American comic to tour India. Russell Peters performs on Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. in the John A. Williams Theatre at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Ticket prices range from $45 to $60. Information: 770.916.2800 or www.cobbenergycentre.com A RADIO DAYS CHRISTMAS “A Radio Days Christmas” features the Big Chicken Chorus & Quartets, as well as special guests Savannah Storm Youth Barbershop Chorus & Santa Clause. They perform on Dec. 11 at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. in the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at 548 South Marietta Parkway in Marietta. Ticket prices are $17 for adults, $15 for students and seniors Information: 770.438.6283 or www.bigchickenchorus.org
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DRUMLINE LIVE! “Drumline Live!” is a show-stopping attraction created by the music team behind the hit movie “Drumline.” The show brings show-style marching bands to the theatrical stage with a 39-member cast of high-energy performers. The live show presents the rousing and rhythmic sounds of the great brass past including Earth, Wind, and Fire and Tower of Power side by side with the hottest contemporary hip hop and R&B. The stirring sound of trumpets, explosive choreography, and incredible feats of athleticism from the steppers and dancers will bring the audience to its feet. “Drumline Live!” will appear on January 12 at 8 p.m. in the John A. Williams Theatre at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Ticket prices range from $13 to $63. Information: 770.916.2800 or www.cobbenergycentre.com HOLIDAY ICE SPECTACULAR “Holiday Ice Spectacular” is a fun-filled, joyous journey into the winter holidays, with something to fulfill everyone’s holiday entertainment wishes. It’s a combination of music, skating, dance, and comedy – all presented in the context of a warm, humorous story that the whole family will enjoy. And the fact that it’s performed on ice gives it a special, thrilling edge. “Holiday Ice Spectacular” is Dec. 16 through 24 in the John A. Williams Theatre at Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. Performance times vary. Ticket prices range from $20 to $69. Information: 770.916.2800 or
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NBC’S LAST COMIC STANDING LIVE TOUR Enjoy an evening of great stand-up comedy, featuring the five finalists from NBC's popular laughfest "Last Comic Standing." Performers include Roy Wood, Jr., Tommy Johnagin, Myq Kaplan, Felipe Esparza and Mike DeStefano, as the official NBC tour comes to the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre on Dec. 31 at 8 pm. Ticket prices range from $25 to $47. Information: 770.916.2800 or www.cobbenergycentre.com
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS “Home for the Holidays” is a holiday show for the entire family, with beautiful costumes, outstanding and creative choreography, plus outstanding holiday music. A show you definitely do not want to miss, you will leave with a wonderful holiday feeling. “Home for the Holidays” is Dec. 17 and 18 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 19 at 3 p.m. in the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at 548 South Marietta Parkway in Marietta. Ticket prices are $15. Information: 770.528.8490 or prca.cobbcountyga.gov/anderson_theatre.htm 42ND STREET Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents “42nd Street” from Dec. 3 through 19 at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre. Performance times vary. Ticket prices range from $28 to $49. Information: 404.377.9948 or www.atlantalyrictheatre.com WHITE CHRISTMAS After WWII, Army veterans Bob Wallace and Phil Davis team up to become a top song-and-dance act in “White Christmas.” Davis plays matchmaker and introduces Wallace to a pair of beautiful sisters who also have a stage act. When Betty and Judy travel to a Vermont lodge for a Christmas show, Wallace and Davis follow, only to find their former commander, General Waverly, owns the lodge. A series of romantic mix-ups ensue. “White Christmas” is Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. in The Earl Smith Strand Theatre. A live organ pops variety show and sing-along will precede the show at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children, students, and seniors. Information: 770.293.0080 or www.earlsmithstrand.org
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2010
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editorial calendar
W
e’ve got another exciting year planned for Cobb Life in 2011. Here is a quick look ahead at some of the features we have coming up. If you have an article idea, scene event or just want to say hello, email us at mmaguire@cobblifemagazine.com
JAN/FEB.
Best Of Issue
MARCH 20 rising stars under 40 APRIL
Home and Garden E AND GARDEN
IN APRIL! HOM
Multi-Millon Dollar Producer
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Visit my website @ www.suehilton.com An Independent Member Broker
78 COBB LIFE December
2010
(678) 631-1700
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SCENE Mistletoe Market Preview Party
1
he Junior League of Cobb-Marietta held its annual Preview Party for the Mistletoe Market, a shopping event which raises funds for charities the league supports. The event took place at the Cobb Civic Center.
T
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY 1. Alison and Tammy Brannon of Smyrna. 2. Rachel and Deb Hettinger of Marietta. 3. From left, Nikita Lynn of Atlanta with Marietta residents Kappy Lawandales and Pendy Linter. 4. From left, Kendall Andrews of Marietta, Angie Green of Marietta and Amy Cowart of Dallas. 5. From left, Haley Kelly of Marietta, Laurie Cates of Marietta and Acworth resident Diane Bolen.
3
2
5 4
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6. Marietta residents Judi Curtis and Taya Danz. 7. From left, Kathy and Adrienne Summer of Mobile, Ala. with Shannon Bridges of Marietta. 8. From left, Cary Richardson of Marietta, Jennifer Johnson-Lynch of Kennesaw and Mary Koronkowski of East Cobb. 9. From left, Karen Whaley of Alpharetta, Caroline Whaley of Marietta and Beth Simpson of Birmingham, Ala.
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9
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SCENE The Youth Museum BBQ
1
he Cobb County Youth Museum celebrated its 40th anniversary with its annual BBQ and Silent Auction. The fundraiser was held at the museum in Marietta and featured live music, food from Dave Poe’s BBQ and a silent auction.
T
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY 1. From left, Mark Elsberry of Marietta with Chloe, Terri and Randal Couvrette of Marietta.
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SCENE The Youth Museum BBQ
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2. From left, Executive Director of the Cobb County Youth Museum Anita Barton, of Marietta, and Youth Museum President Juvenile Court Judge Joanne Elsey of Marietta. 3. Sheriff Neil Warren and wife, Youth Museum Board Member Penny Warren of West Cobb. 4. Chris Bethel and Dr. Carrie Friedewald of Marietta. 5. President-Elect of Cobb-Marietta Junior League Caroline Whaley with husband Adam of East Cobb. 6. Cobb Superior Court Judge Jim Bodiford and wife Nancy of Marietta.
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2010
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SCENE The Youth Museum BBQ
7. Chris and Sarah Hobson of Acworth. 2. Cobb County Superior Court Judge Mary Staley with husband Chuck Clark, along with their dog Bandit, of Marietta. 3. From left, Katherine Watson of Marietta, with Youth Museum Administrative Assistant Eleanor Watson and her husband Ferrell of Acworth.
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SCENE Martinis & Music
1
2
artinis & Music is held one Friday night each month at the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. Patrons enjoy cocktails and music while mingling and viewing the museum’s art.
M
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER CARTER
3
1. From left, Sam Lengen of Marietta, Kathy Lengen of Canton and Mazi Mazloom of Marietta. 2. Smyrna residents David and Pat Mackay. 3. Kennesaw residents Craig and Jane Shoemaker.
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SCENE Martinis & Music
4 ON THE LOOKOUT
5
4. From left, Marietta residents Thomas Wold and Bert Reeves. 5. Marietta residents Dean and Sheila Wilson.
Statewide
C A M P A I G N
Got a SCENE event? Let us know. Email us at cobblifemagazine@ cobblifemagazine.com. And you can always post photos on our website www.cobblifemagazine. com or on our facebook page.
T.V. Actor Dr. Bo and Model Olivia Co-chaired a Committee responsible for encouraging citizens to vote in the November 2nd Election. COBB LIFE December
2010
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SCENE Martinis & Music
7 6. Marietta residents Collin Cash and Lynda Gramlin. 7. Marietta residents Pat Garrett and Marcy Griffin.
6
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2010
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SCENE Rock-N-Horror
1
2
he Earl Smith Strand Theatre was host to the Rock-N-Horror Music Show benefitting the Humane Society of Cobb County. the event was part masquerade party and part music show featuring the band Prime.
T 1. Karen Pinner of Marietta and Susie Cone of Woodstock. 2. Charles Coleman of Kennesaw with Gail Evilsizor of Marietta.
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SCENE Rock-N-Horror
3 3. Lauren Tinker of Woodstock with Emory Peacock of Kennesaw. 2. Kennesaw residents Jordan Wilson and Branden Hollifield. 3. Ryan and Pamela Ingram of Acworth. 4. Betty Rutledge of Canton with Bill Crowe of Marietta.
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5
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SCENE Role Models Fashion Show
he Earl Smith Strand Theatre and Town Center Mall worked together to produce the second annual Role Models Fashion Show, a fundraiser that highlights professionals involved in the com-
T munity.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ERIN GRAY
Jennie T. Anderson Theatre PRESENTS
1
Dec. 17th & 18th • 8pm ~ Dec. 19th • 3pm Cobb County Civic Center
2
Encore Series January 27-30 ............Pebblebrook Musical
3
February 3-6 ..............Pebblebrook Musical February 12..............................The Four Lads March 5 ............................Chubby Checker March 19 ................................Lorrie Morgan April 2 ..........................................Brenda Lee April 16 ....Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers CALL
1. Marietta residents Janet Salisbury and Dutch Krair. 2. Will Goodman with daughter Katie of Marietta.3. Marietta residents Roland Castellanos and Debbie Ponder.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
770.528.8490
548 S. M ARIETTA PARKWAY • MARIETTA, GA 30060 COBB LIFE December
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slice of cobb by Heather Teilhet
Lessons from the produce aisle I’m applying some advice from my two-year-old to the holidays this year.
Scheduling, shopping, decorating, cooking. This year, I’m going to keep my daughter’s produce aisle wisdom fresh in my mind. In fact, she may have saved the holidays for us. It happened a few months back, during our weekly grocery shopping trip. Many of the moms reading this will recognize this outing as the routinely harrowing experience of dragging your kids down aisles of food, candy and toys while saying “No” at least 40 times. The Vinings Publix really tries to make shopping easy for Mom, and enjoyable for kids. And they’re almost successful. The free cookie, a balloon and the race-car shaped shopping cart usually get us at least two-thirds of the way through the store before the melt down happens. But for several weeks prior to this visit, we escaped the inevitable produce-aisle melt down. We were rescued by a new friend. A produce worker, with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous grin. Week after week this man had captivated my twin toddler duo. He is always behind the counter cutting fresh fruit when he spots us. My nerves are usually fried. I’m prying an apple we haven’t paid for yet from my daughter ’s teeth or trying to u-turn our enormous cart without hitting the garlic display. He always spears a couple of watermelon bites on two forks and delivers them to my girls, quelling the twoyear-old barbarians who, by that point, are uniting to embarrass me as we barrel toward the vegetables. Over the weeks, bit by bit, he shared with us in his heavy accent that he also is a twin. He misses his identical twin brother who still lives in South Africa. He told my girls how he loved to eat that very same fruit with his brother many years ago. That particular week it appeared that our South African friend was in a meeting with his supervisor when we rounded the produce aisle. My girls started leaning out of the cart. They were straining to catch the attention
90 COBB LIFE December
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of their produce aisle friend. Although I was (as usual) in a hurry, and (too often) slightly annoyed, I slowed the cart so the girls could say hello. With his supervisor watching, he stole away to pat the girls on the head and send us off with forks piled high with pineapple slices. That’s when she started. “Mama….” “Just a minute, honey. We need some broccoli.”
“Mamma, the man.” “Hmmmm? Yes, just a minute baby. Let me get Diet Cokes for your daddy.” “Maaaamaaaa. The man, that man….” “Shoot. I forgot detergent. Hold on girls, we gotta turn around.” At the checkout aisle I finally stopped long enough to listen to her. “The man. That man. He is good. That man is good,” she smiled. As I unloaded our cart, I pondered the simple and pure thoughts of a happy two-year-old with pineapple juice running down her chin. She was right. That man is good. My toddler twins invoked thoughts of his own family thousands of miles away. He remembered us week after week. He was cheerful. He shared fruit. He made my children happy . I guess if you try, a lot of things can be that simple. A quiet house with napping toddlers. Sleepy smiles when they wake up. A thoughtful gift that makes someone happy. The generosity of a stranger. This Christmas, I’m going to try to be like my twoyear-old. I’m going to try not to be irritated by slowing down. I’m going to lean and strain to catch the eye of someone I like. And I’m going to notice and stop to appreciate the people, places, and things around me that are simple and good.
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