Pender-Topsail Post & Voice
Opinion Thursday, July 8, 2021, Page 3A
Lori’s Stories
Lori Kirkpatrick Two girls are left without a mother, and members of the small town of Atkinson are wounded emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. As healing from this tragedy begins, we are forced to acknowledge the prevalence of an issue that no one wants to admit. It was an unspeakable crime, and it happened right here in our backyard. The recent tragic death of Brandy Lynn Price has brought the topic of domestic violence (DV), also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), to the forefront of local conversations. We cannot make sense of it, and we cannot change what happened to Brandy. All we can do is learn from the experience and try to prevent future IPV homicides from occurring. We can start by educating ourselves about domestic violence, and by seeing all DV victims as potential homicide victims. We know that domestic abuse is more likely when a potential perpetrator is unemployed, experiences isolation from other people, participates in heavy alcohol or drug use, or is depressed — all of which have increased during the last year. According to NCCADV (NC Coalition Against Domestic Violence), there were 61 domestic violence homicides in North Carolina in 2020. 22 of those were murder-suicides. Intimate partner violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime and 19 percent of domestic violence involves a weapon. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV) reports that one in four women and one in seven men have been victims of severe physical violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime. One in seven women and one in 18 men have been stalked by an intimate partner during their lifetime to the point in which they felt very fearful or believed that they or someone close to them would be harmed or killed. More than 40 percent of LGBTQ+ college students report that they have experienced IPV in their current relationships. On a typical day, there are more than 20,000 phone calls placed to domestic violence hotlines nationwide. So how can we provide support to a loved one who we suspect or know is in an abusive relationship? If you worry someone you care about is in an abusive relationship, there are steps you can take to help. However, it is important to proceed carefully when approaching them. First, be sure to approach the person at a time and place that is safe and confidential. You can start by expressing concern with something like, “I am concerned someone may be hurting you,” or “I am worried about your safety.” Take the time to listen, and believe what your loved one tells you. Communicate that you care Continued on page 4A
Jefferson Weaver
Broody chickens and demon trucks I should have realized that the truck was possessed when I found the stash of switches in the glove compartment. The salesman assured me they were all old switches, that everything had been replaced. I really liked the ugly little truck, and figured it just needed some tender loving care. I had precisely enough cash to buy the truck and get the tags. So the Mighty Mouse came home — and soon began to smell like a rendering house rat. The truck had two undented fenders when I bought it, and a crack in the windshield that I was promised would pass inspection. The windows decided not to close. That really wasn’t an issue, since the front brakes locked up at 60 miles an hour on U.S. 74 one day. They released after a few minutes of screaming, burning and swerving, and I crept on into town. I called a friend with a tow truck, but he couldn’t hear me over the rusted tin can of a muffler (not to mention the roar of the windows that wouldn’t close). When I got stopped, I called my friend again, who dispatched a wrecker. He promised to call me with an estimate that he figured it was “maybe” two or three hundred bucks. It turned out the Mouse now had a box of stripped gears where it had once had a transmission. The level of repair was beyond my friend’s, so his mechanic suggested a specialist at the other end of the county. I made contact with the gentleman, who was kind of dour, who said he could handle the work for a price that sounded reasonable. Now, there were two things my beloved Miss Rhonda liked about that truck — the stereo system which was likely worth more than the truck, and the sunroof. When I arrived at the dour gentleman’s garage, the sunroof was shattered, and rain had poured into the cab. He said it arrived in that condition. The wrecker driver swore it was intact when he left it. The stereo was ruined, of course. Several months later, I was told that the replacement transmission couldn’t be found closer than California, and which would cost an additional “five or six hundred” dollars. No, the money that I had already paid down couldn’t be refunded. No, he didn’t want to buy the truck. So began a series of misadventures; I would stop by his shop every few days and rearrange the tarp (which was stolen) to protect what was left of the interior. I fixed the window switches, but the battery was stolen — twice. I am fairly sure that had automobiles been invented when Dante wrote The Inferno, there would have been a level of Hell
Jefferson Weaver where a truck owner had to keep fighting with tarp and battery thieves, whilst being flogged by a mechanic. Eventually I paid my penance and my bill, and we headed happily home, once again a two-car family. Miss Rhonda and I spent a Saturday making and installing a metal replacement for the sunroof, and managed to get the windows to roll up. That was a major blessing, since the next week, her car had to go in the shop, and I had to drive her to work. The second or third day, we were caught in a thunderstorm that produced a tornado that seemed to follow us most of the way home. That was when we discovered that the patch wasn’t exactly sealed, and the roof collected rainwater. The water would spill out when the truck turned hard right. Unfortunately, the water had a tendency to pour on whomever happened to be in the passenger seat. My wife didn’t like me very much for a few days. That thunderstorm preceded a tropical storm, during which one of the rear wheels flew off. In the dark. In the middle of nowhere. We later limped the truck (minus all but two lugs on the runaway wheel) to our farm, where a slow but meticulous friend replaced the lugs. That was after the auto parts store, 20-plus miles away, finally gave us the right lugs. On the second trip. During the time the truck was lame, two chickens made their nests inside, and went broody. Why they could defend their eggs so viciously against humans yet allow a coon to eat them is beyond me, I am confident that the demon residing in the truck had something do with the demise of the
Roadside assistance for older drivers Dear Savvy Senior, I would like to get my wife and I set up with some type of roadside assistance service in case we get a flat tire or our battery conks out. Can you recommend some good and affordable services for retirees on a budget? Too Old to Fix a Flat Dear Too Old, Getting set up with a roadside assistance service you can call on day or night if your vehicle breaks down is a smart idea, and can provide you and your wife some real peace of mind. Here are some different options to look into that help you find a plan. Already covered For years, auto clubs like AAA were the only option drivers had when it came to roadside assistance, but today you have lots of choices. Most roadside assistance plans provide services like towing, flat-tire changes, jump-starting a battery, lostkey or lockout services, fuel delivery and help with stuck vehicles. Before you start shopping for a roadside assistance plan, you first need to find out if you already have coverage, or have access to inexpensive coverage that you’re not aware of. For example, if you drive a vehicle that is still under war ranty, there’s a good chance you’re already covered. Most auto manufacturers now include comprehensive roadside assistance coverage for free when you buy a new or certified used car. This typically lasts as long as the basic warranty, but not always. Be sure you
check. Also check your auto insurance provider, your credit card issuers and cell phone service providers. Many of these services provide different variations of roadside assistance as add-on plans that cost only a few dollars per year, or they’re free. But be aware that many of these services are limited in what they cover. When investigating these options, find out the benefit details including: Who’s covered (individuals and vehicles); how many roadside-assistance calls are allowed each year (three or four is typical); the average response time per service call; and the towing rules on where they will tow (to the nearest repair shop, or one that you choose) and how far (about 5 miles for basic plan is common, although some plans might cap the amount they pay for a tow at $100 or less). Auto clubs If you find that you aren’t covered, or you want a better roadside plan than what’s currently available to you, you’ ll want to check out auto/motor clubs. Most of these clubs offer two or more levels of membership depending on how much roadside assistance you want and are willing to pay for, and they often provide a variety of discounts on things like
hotels, rental cars and other services. One of the best known and longest running clubs, AAA (aaa.com) offers comprehensive services and has an extensive network of more than 40,000 roadside assistance providers, which usually means fast response times. Costs vary widely from $48 to $162 per year depending on where you live and the plan you choose, plus an additional fee for adding a family member. Some other clubs to consider that may be a little less expensive include Allstate Motor Club (allstatemotorclub.com); AARP Roadside Assistance (aarproadside. com) for AARP members only; Better World Club (betterworldclub.com); BP Motor Club (www.bpmotorclub.com); Good Sam (goodsamroadside.com); and GM Motor Club (gmmotorclub. com). On-demand assistance Another new money saving option to consider is pay-on-demand roadside assistance services like Urgently (urgent.ly) and Honk (honkforhelp.com). If you use a smartphone and live in their service area, these non-membership app-based services will let you call for help via smartphone, and will only charge you for the assistance you need at a low price. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
chicks-to-be. When we moved, the truck developed not one but two flat tires en route. Thankfully they were slow leaks, and with the application of several expensive cans of Fix-a-flat, we made our destination just before the radiator blew. The Mouse was allowed to sit to one side and brood, planning its next move. One lovely spring day, I whimsically decided to see if I could get the Mouse started. I had visions of using it to run around Valhallasboro, hauling hay and logs, fixing fence while Disney-esque birds, dogs and horses sang happy songs to encourage my work, while my overalls stayed immaculate. A new battery, a little starting fluid, and some fresh fuel, and the Mouse roared back to life. I was fairly sure there was a bluebird on my shoulder as I cheerfully drove around the pasture with the windows down, loosening up things that had set idle for entirely too long. Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, indeed, with some yee-haw for good measure. Then the truck wouldn’t stop. There was zero brake pressure. I had adjusted the idle screw too far, too, so there was no slowing down. I kept turning circles in the pasture, frightening the horses, the ducks, and even the geese, which is quite an accomplishment. Finally, I aimed the truck at a little rise that I was sure would cause it to slow down enough for me to wreck that gold-plated transmission. The Mouse roared over the rise like one of those offload commercials — except in this case, the truck wasn’t blasting through the wide open spaces, but toward a grove of mature oaks and pines. Somehow, I got the truck to slow down enough that it just barely bumped the largest of the trees. And there the truck sat for two years, home to chickens, cats and the occasional possum. I finally pulled it out the other day, intent on moving it to the back of the barn for repairs or an exorcism, whichever came first. It promptly stopped crossways in the driveway, blocking everything. With the application of multiple tow straps, a chain, four-wheel-drive and a sacrificial chicken, I finally got the Mouse moving again — and it ran directly into the compost barrel, but at least it stopped. One of these days, I might try swapping a battery from another vehicle, pumping up the tires, cleaning out the pine straw, and seeing if the old girl can finally be turned into a utility vehicle. But for now — I’m content to let sleeping trucks lie, especially since we have a broody hen in need of a nest.
My Spin
Tom Campbell
Who will bag the ice? The owner of a popular bait and tackle sport shop was bagging ice in his store one day when a friend came in. “What is the owner of the store, doing bagging ice,” the friend asked incredulously? “We’ve got a guy who is supposed to come in before we open, to bag ice for early anglers and hunters,” the owner responded. “But this guy likes to drink. Sometimes a lot. More and more frequently he gets so hung over he either doesn’t show up or is late coming in.” “Why do you put up with that,” the friend asked? Why don’t you just fire him?” “Don’t think I haven’t thought about it,” the owner admitted. But then who will bag the ice?” Indeed. That’s the question more and more employers are asking these days. Finding help has gotten increasingly hard. We heard about a popular seafood restaurant on our coast paying $100 just for potential employees to come
in for an interview. Another was paying $30 per hour for line cooks. I laughed at the CEO of Morgan Stanley, James Gorman, who recently issued an ultimatum to his employees: Be back in the office by September or else. Or else what? Our legislature is convinced workers will flood back to work if they end the $300 weekly federal unemployment benefits workers are receiving on top of state benefits. I’m not so sure. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports more Americans quit their jobs in April than in any month since they started keeping records. Five out of every 100 employees in hotels, restaurants, bars and retail reportedly quit. And it’s not just low-paying jobs. “More than 700,000 workers in the bureau’s mostly whitecollar category of ‘professional and business services’ left their jobs – the highest monthly number ever. Across all sectors and occupations, four in 10 employees now say they’ve considered peacing out of their current place of work,” says Derek Thompson in The Atlantic. Listen closely. I’m hearing the old 1977 Johnny Paycheck song, “Take this job and shove it. I ain’t workin’ here no more.” Is this a real worker revolution or just a post-pandemic anomaly? COVID changed things. Many of us lost family members, friends or co-workers to COVID, realize how fragile life is and want more balance in our lives. We got a taste of life without the stresses and pressures, without unreasonable bosses and abusive customers, uncomfortable work environments, daily commutes and childcare costs. Folks loved working in Continued on page 4A