Issue 38 Best of the North Georgia Mountains 11-14-18

ISSUE #38

Food, Music, Art, Events, Things To Do, Places To Go, Adventures, Local Writers, Humor...And Much More!

Y P AP S L I TRA !

U O Y TO

Conquering the world’s longest trail TURN TO PAGE 6

THE HOLIDAYS COME ALIVE WITH ‘WHAT CHRISTMAS IS FOR’ SEE PAGES 23-35

Publisher: Mitch Talley Publisher’s Boss: Cindy Talley Founder: Robb Newman Founder’s Boss: Thia Newman Distribution: Eddie Ash, O. Myback Issue Graphic Design: Mitch Nov. 14, 2018 Talley, Cray Ola Writers: Mitch Talley, (c) 2018 The Best of Robb Newman, Thia the North Georgia Mountains, Inc. Newman, Lora Bunch, Raland Patterson, Kathi Editorial submissions Hill, Kathi Chastain, encouraged; send to bestofnorthgamountains@ John Shivers, Patricia Kovsky-Dotson, Ted yahoo.com or mail to 312 Smith, Rebecca Strobl, Double Tree Drive SE, Calhoun, GA 30701.

Joe Cobb Crawford.

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To advertise or suggest a story idea, call Mitch Talley at 678-882-6741.

The tricks are over After 26 years of Halloweens, we’re finally done...sadly

When our son Drake was born in July 1992, we didn’t know we were beginning a run of 26 Halloweens in a row.

But along the way came his brother Christopher in 1999, sister Sophia in 2000, and finally his brother Jack in 2007 - all of whom have happily canvassed neighborhoods, downtowns, church trunks, and nursing homes looking for treats like Skittles and Kit Kats.

Fortunately for their dad, they didn’t always like what was dropped into their Halloween bags, and I was glad to take things like Butterfingers, Milky Ways, and Snickers off their hands.

But all that tricking and treating finally came to a close this year when our youngest, Jack, now 11, wavered back and forth about getting a costume and finally decided to stay home and play the current video game craze Fortnite.

By MITCH TALLEY Publisher If you haven’t heard about this game, then you must not have access to a fifth grade boy.

Fortunately, Jack told us that he wanted to hand out the treats and/or scare the beejeesus out of the little kids so we bought loads of candy for said kids (with the hope that there would be some left over for big kids like me). There was.

Now it’s on to Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Pass the pecan pie! Hope you have a great holiday season! See you again in 2019!

‘NEVER QUIT ON A BAD DAY’ That’s just some of the advice offered by area residents who have completed the 2,108mile Appalachian Trail, stretching from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine

Hiking is rapidly emerging as a favored pastime in this country. Fortunately for those in the best of these North Georgia mountains, the first steps on the southern end of one of the premier hiking challenges around begin right here, right outside their door.

The Appalachian Trail starts on Springer Mountain on the Gilmer / Fannin County line and ends more than 2,100 miles later at Mount Katahdin in Maine. According to the Appalachian

By JOHN SHIVERS

Trail Conservancy, 3,735 individuals completed a trek of the entire distance in 2017. The majority of those hikers were in the 39-49 age range.

Conservative estimates show that some 2 million individuals hike at least some portion of the Trail each year.

Some hikers begin in Maine and walk to Georgia, but those who make the north to south trek are drastically fewer in number. It’s best to begin a hike in the early spring, which allows one to finish before rough winter weather returns.

A thru-hike can take as many as five to seven or eight months to complete.

The daily pace of the hike determines the duration, and the average hiker’s pace is three miles per hour. A hiker averaging 10 miles per day, every day, would need a minimum of seven and

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Above are some of the scenes that hikers on the Appalachian Trail see in North Georgia, including this sign in Amicalola Falls State Park, noting the approach trail to the southern terminus of the Trail at Springer Mountain. At left, though, it’s goal realized for Larry and Angela Lapierre, who celebrate completing the Trail atop the official photo platform on Mt. Katahdin in Maine. (Photo courtesy Larry and Angela Lapierre) Robert Quillen: “If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.”

a half months. The record books reveal that a New Hampshire hiker, Andrew Thompson, logged an astounding 45 miles per day in order to complete the Trail in 47 days and a few hours.

As for cost, the Conservancy estimates average cost to be $1,000 per month. While there is no charge to hike the Appalachian Trail itself, in several states where the Trail runs through either state or federal park lands, there are permit fees and other related costs, plus equipment and supplies.

When it rains or snows, or is especially hot, things can get rough.

Some hikers choose to pitch a small tent each evening. Others spread their bedrolls in one of the rustic shelters that can be found, on average, every eight to nine miles.

These three-sided lean-to structures usually sleep six to eight individuals in very close proximity and are not closed to the weather. In times of especially inclement weather, these same shelters have been known to expand their walls to accommodate Privies of every architectural more warm bodies.

Answering Nature’s call is as simple style imaginable can also be as retiring to one of the many privies found along the Trail, giving located a number of yards off the Trail. hikers all the comforts of home with none of the ambi- There are no shower facilities on the ence. (Photo courtesy Appa- Trail itself, and body odor is a common phenomenon. All hikers soon smell lachian Trail Conservancy) pretty much the same, and it’s said that you become accustomed to the unique fragrance that identifies those who undertake this challenge.

It’s impossible to carry enough of even the most basic sources of food, so it’s necessary to restock frequently.

Many hikers use the need for food to abandon the Trail and hike into the nearest town for a brief but necessary return to civilization. Depending on the needs and the availability, they’ll buy supplies, wash clothes, shower, enjoy real food, and possibly even spend the night.

Any way you calculate it, life on the Appalachian Trail is far removed from a comfortable recliner, good bed, home cooking, and TV. So why, despite all the challenges, did 3,735 hikers make it the entire distance last year? Here are the stories of four different hikers who have, at various times in the past, taken the first step of a journey that would bestow upon them at the other end, the distinction “thru hiker.” Some people dream and some do. Some do both.

They hiked as a couple and never quit on a bad day Angela and Larry Lapierre hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2016 as an engaged couple, and still got married anyway.

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The hike of a lifetime begins with those first steps on an inviting mountain footpath.

(Photo by John Shivers)

Technology won’t be found on the Appalachian Trail. In fact, in many places, cell phone signals aren’t even available. Message posts such as this one convey needed information to hikers. (Photo by John Shivers)

John F. Kennedy: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”

“I knew I’d found my soulmate,” says Angela, whose trail name is Suds. The couple, who each had been married previously and have adult children, elected to pledge their vows in March 2017 on Springer Mountain, where their journey began, with biological and hiking family members as witnesses.

It was in 2001, when Larry, trail name Subman, took his first overnight backpacking trip.

Angela, on the other hand, grew up on a farm in the country and frequently took day hikes. It was a trip to Amicalola Falls in 2000 where Larry first heard about the Appalachian Trail. Later, a co-worker in southwest Florida, who was planning a post-retirement hike, began to stoke Larry’s interest. In 2003, he acted on that interest and many rugged but exhilarating days later, found himself atop Mt. Katadhin.

Years passed. Larry became divorced, he and Angela met, and he would reminisce with her about his 2003 adventure. She found herself becoming interested and in time, proposed that they undertake the same trip together. On Feb. 16, 2016, that trip began.

While their lifestyle preferences differed, Angela says much after the fact, “I cherish the time we had to be totally focused on each other and the closeness that

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developed.” Larry is an early riser, while Angela prefers to sleep in. Larry would bring hot coffee to her each morning to entice her to leave her bed so they could begin the day. She was responsible for packing up what was inside the tent. He took care of everything else and did all the cooking on the Trail.

“We hiked as one hiker,” Larry says, “because I was one with my future wife.”

While they both say they never considered bailing when things got hard, Angela confesses that Larry’s resolve was greater than her own. “We had snow and blowing winds at Standing Indian Shelter in North Carolina. I had everything on that I had with me and I couldn’t function. I told Sub I was calling Grambo (their hiking friend Marsha who was also babysitting their beloved Lab, Pepper).

Hikers are made of hardy stuff, a quality necessary to brave and withstand the many different types of weather encountered on the Trail. Larry and Angela, also known as Suds and Sub, respectively, are pictured above in snowy weather.

One interesting and longlasting part of a hike to Maine are the people you encounter.

Trail names, such as Dimples, Grunt, Squirts, and Liteshoe, are attached to those individuals and relationships that live long after the last step are the outcome. (Photo courtesy Larry and Angela Lapierre)

Robert Brault: “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”

I told him I was out. But Almost there. Larry and we made it through the Angela Lapierre stopped to night and hiked to the rest on the New Hampshire next gap, and Trail Chef / Maine state line. Note the was there with his warm last line on the sign: they’re car and hot chocolate. only 281.4 miles away from After a good night’s rest their destination. (Photo at his home and hot courtesy Larry and Angela showers, I was ready to Lapierre) go.”

“Never quit on a bad day,” she says, affirming that it’s sound philosophy for both the Appalachian Trail and everyday life. Both confess to receiving great blessings from their time together. Larry cites the joy of hiking with Angela, plus the 35 pounds he lost along the way. He believes he’s never been in better physical shape.

For Angela, she recalls standing on top of Mt. Katadhin and tearing up when she surveyed all the beauty. “I gained confidence and reaffirmed my spirituality. I also lost 55 pounds eating banana splits, but nothing tops that summit at the end of your hike.”

However, both agree that it was challenging at times whether it was the weather or the terrain, every day brought something

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new. “When you’re looking at a rock wall that’s supposed to be a trail and all you can say is ‘REALLY?’ it was challenging,” Angela explains.

“But I never thought it was an unwise choice to make the hike.”

They recall the many hikers they encountered along the way and the friendships that developed. Angela admits that she was initially nervous, but that soon passed. Larry has sold two landscaping businesses to both fund and allow time for hiking. Angela works as a laboratory technologist in Ellijay. But for these two who hiked as one, who are both still only in their 50s, Angela recalls the words of one of her sons while they were on the Trail. “You got this, Mom,” he said.

As one concession, they carried with them a GPS spot so that family could track their location. As encouragement for others wanting to follow in their footsteps, Larry says, “HYOK – Hike Your Own Hike – start out slowly and don’t try to compete with other hikers.” Angela adds, “The trail will get you in shape. Just listen to your body. The biggest thing to conquer is the thoughts inside your head.” Then she adds, “And never

Buddhist Proverb: “ ‘Enough’ is a feast.”

quit on a bad day.”

What did her parents think?

In retrospect, Alexis Pope says, getting a deferment from graduate school at the University of Georgia was more nerve-wracking than the act of hiking the Appalachian Trail. This Communication Sciences and Disorders student completed her journey on the Trail on June 23, 2018, at the age of 23.

The seed for this hike only took eight years to germinate. Her first introduction to the Trail came when she was a freshman in high school,

Because of the many approaches to the trail, even casual hikers can get on and walk until they’re ready to call it a day. Mitchell and Suzannah Thompson of Douglas, Ga., in the mountains for a weekend getaway, elected to do just that at the Aska Trailhead in Fannin County recently. (Photo by John Shivers)

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and the son of one of her teachers graduated early to make the hike. Her teacher kept the class updated on his progress, Alexis explains. That, combined with her love of the outdoors that came from camping often with her family growing up, caused her to set her sights on making that trek herself.

She had determined to qualify for the label “thruhiker.”

Bachelor’s degree in hand, she began making preparations. For one thing, she elected to begin her hike in Maine and take a break for the winter. She began her second leg in Georgia and hiked back to where she’d stopped. A book by Chris Cage proved to be a great resource; she Alexis Pope (left) shows her other went on a backpacking trip, side here at her graduation from the hiked extensively, did a University of Georgia. (Photo courtesy lot of online research, and Alexis Pope) picked the brains of others who had already made the journey.

Her trip began at Mt. Katahdin on July 22, 2017 and she took off for the winter months in Front Royal, Va., on Nov. 6, 2017. In April 2018, she resumed her hike on the Georgia end and finished some three months later.

Hiking south was interesting, because there were so few fellow hikers going that direction. On the second leg of her journey, she says, it was almost like hiker overload.

“It was everything I’d hoped for,” she says, of her first few days on the Trail. She cites the many fellow hikers she met along the way as one of the big dividends. “Everyone was very kind and excited to be there.”

Maine proved to be one of the most beautiful places she’d ever been, and it all just got better. “I was extremely thankful for the opportunity to live out my dream.”

“Hikers,” she explains, “form what are called ‘tramilies.’ ” These are the people who hike together a good bit of the time. The members of this group form relationships that make all the hardships worthwhile.

She does note with a bit of irony that as a woman, it was interesting how many people treated her differently from her male counterparts. Many expressed concern that she was hiking solo, and constantly, she fielded questions about how her parents felt about her journey.

Frank A. Clark: “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.”

Joe Gudger was 17 years old in 2009 when he first made it to the peak of Mt. Katahdin to begin his southern journey. (Photo courtesy Joe Gudger)

An unexpected reward came in the form of empowerment.

“Being able to conquer what you didn’t think was possible, or what was very difficult was exhilarating and empowering,” she says.

A typical day on the Trail meant waking with the sun, breakfast, break camp, hike. A few hours later pause for a snack, hike some more, eat lunch, probably with friends, then head for whatever point the tramily had selected as their destination for the day. They normally hiked

about 10 miles a day.

For a novice considering making this hike, Alexis has these words of wisdom.

“Anyone can do it! All you have to do is walk.” She recommends it to anyone who wants to break away from “regular” life.

Why does she endorse something so challenging with such enthusiasm? “It has given me more confidence and a way to center myself when I’m stressed. Whenever I feel like something is too difficult, I just remind myself of all that I’ve accomplished.”

Which is why more hikes are in her future.

It was way more fun than school

The experience of hiking the Appalachian Trail made Joe Gudger who he is today. “It is a huge part of who I am.”

At age 17, after years of living near the Springer Mountain end of the Trail, hiking with Boy Scouts and meeting and interacting with hikers he encountered, Joe flew to Maine in 2009 to start his journey south.

Sounds pretty cut and dried, but there was a lot of life sandwiched in those years beforehand. “From the time I was 12, I knew I wanted to do this,” he explains.

He really disliked school so much, he worked on his family’s farm to earn money and went to night school to get his diploma. As soon as he’d saved the $4,000 he estimates the journey cost, Joe was underway.

From Mt. Katadhin, he started walking home. From that trek, he learned several things. It was so foggy at the top, he wandered in the heavy mists until he actually ran into the “official” sign where every northbound hiker has a picture made. He hung out for a while, then began walking south. “I’d love to go back to see what the views look like up there,” he quips.

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Benton MacKaye

How the Appalachian Trail came to be The year was 1921, when Benton MacKaye (pronounced ma-KAI), an American forester, conceived the plan for a grand trail that would connect a series of farms and wilderness work/study camps for city dwellers. On Oct. 7, 1923, the first section of the trail was opened. After more than a decade of work, the year 1937 saw the completion of the entire Trail, snaking its way from Georgia, through North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

Today, roughly 40 percent of the Trail is on land owned and supervised by the National Park Service. Some 31 trail clubs and mutual partnerships work to maintain the Appalachian Trail, described by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy as the longest hiking-only trail in the world.

Along with the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail completes what’s known as the Triple Crown of Hiking in the United States.

Interestingly enough, while the Trail’s official end is in Maine, from there the International Appalachian Trail continues northeast, crossing into Canada, to Newfoundland, with sections continuing even into Greenland, through Europe and into Morocco. Other separate extensions continue the southern end of the Trail into Alabama and south into Florida, creating what is known as the Eastern Continental Trail.

Eckhart Tolle: “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.”

He also observed that it rained a lot during his journey, the mosquitos sucked, and all in all, it was a lot more fun than school. “I loved it,” he says, adding that he’d love to do it again. He talks about the friends he made, one in particular whom he calls “one of my best friends in life,” with whom he has remained close.

When asked what advice he’d share with others considering this hike, Joe says, “I’d tell them, don't make any plans. Don't give yourself a schedule, or a deadline. Don't make the journey a job. Read up on your guidebook daily, keep an eye on what food you have on hand, try to have a general idea on what the next 100 miles ahead of you looks like... and past that, go with the flow.”

He hesitates, then says, “I think this is the best piece of advice I can give. Do what feels right, and take opportunities as they’re presented to you. If you wake up and feel like swimming all day after only walking 7 miles, DO IT!!! If you have walked all day to get to the camp site you planned on staying at, but don't like the vibes, keep going. Enjoy the freedom as long as you can. Some of the greatest freedoms in life can be so fleeting, and you won’t realize it until those times are gone.”

Days on the Trail involved a lot of waking up, eating, walking, walking, walking, followed by sleeping hard. Joe would leave the Trail to go into town periodically to stock up. “If the town had a Chinese buffet, I went.”

When asked how much food he ate, he says, “So much food!” At night he either pitched a tent or slept in a shelter, and mountain streams were his bathtub most of the time.

Today he is a professional kayaker and owns and operates a kayaking school in Ocoee, Tenn. But there’s not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about that time when he literally found himself on the Appalachian Trail.

It becomes readily apparent in reading the accounts of these different hikers that while each had unique motivations for undertaking a walk on that long, long trail a-winding, each enjoyed similar experiences and felt that the very act of making the hike changed them in ways they might never have thought possible.

If you’re interested in hiking even a portion of the Appalachian Trail, check out http://www.appalachiantrail.org/ or https://www.fs.usda.gov/ recarea/conf/recarea/?recid=62815.

This crowded lot of cars on a rainy Saturday morning in Fannin County was full to capacity. The owners had abandoned vehicular transportation in favor of hiking. (Photo by John Shivers)

ADVENTURES A regular series spotlighting area fun inside & out

A VISIT TO POOLE’S MILL On a Saturday just as summer was ending and fall was beginning, a friend and I took a short ride over to Poole’s Mill in Ball Ground.

I had never been to this place before but had heard of it and had seen a few pictures. It had been a long time since I had seen them though, so I wasn’t sure it was the same place. The drive over is a nice one with lots of historic old homes and easy driving back roads.

When we arrived, the parking area was pretty bare with only a few vehicles and people getting out to head down. You can see a play area from where you park that has swings, slides, and other playground-type equipment children enjoy.

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You will also see a pavilion with a nice size area of picnic tables as well as well-kept bathrooms available on site.

Walking along the path there are some plaques that are memorials and informational about the area. I love to stop and read them to know the history of places and see the names of the people who loved the place so much that their loved ones dedicated a memorial to them there.

The nature of the area with the old trees and hiking trails is a beautiful sight, and I can only imagine that when the leaves change it would be a breathtaking sight.

Further down the path we came to a covered

By LORA BUNCH

Charles Schwab: “The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.”

bridge that was simply amazing like something you would see on an episode of “Little House on the Prairie.”

Upon reading the plaque I learned that the original bridge did not fare so well over the years and was destroyed so they rebuilt it for everyone to enjoy and know the history of.

There is also a picnic area with grills and tables next to the bridge that runs alongside of the river. It’s a quiet and peaceful place to sit and enjoy an outdoor meal.

When we got to the other side of the bridge we came to some trails and large rock formations. All I could think of was how much my Tristan would love to be climbing around on those big boulders. He really has a thing for rocks.

We followed the trail up to the top of the rocky waterfall the creek runs over. Only parts of it are covered in water so it’s perfect for climbing around on as well as splashing in the water. It’s a very big and gradual decline.

The trail also goes down the side and curios-

ity won so we headed down that way next. At the bottom we found many families with children enjoying the natural water slide on the smaller rocks and the pooled areas for swimming.

The pure natural beauty of the place was enough to convince me this was a place I needed to visit more often but watching the kids splash, play, and squeal with excitement was further motivation to share this place and experience with my children and hopefully one day my grandchildren.

As we were walking back out we stopped to swing a few minutes and just talk about and take in the beauty one last time before heading back home.

We saw a family come in all dressed up with a photographer along with them. It seems this is also a popular place to do photo shoots. I was not at all surprised with such an amazing background to work with.

I highly recommend you pack a picnic basket, cooler, and towel and head down to Poole’s Mill for a day packed full of memories and fun.

Expires 2-28-19

William Arthur Ward: “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”

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By Patricia Holden Kovsky-Dotson

OUR HOMEMADE CHRISTMAS TREE How did Daddy acquire these funny customs?

Cutting a pine tree for Christmas was Daddy's favorite activity. Most of the time it turned out to be the most difficult. One of the reasons was that he always waited on purpose until the last minute to seek this beauty.

We never knew how Daddy acquired these funny Christmas events. He was always a very outstanding man in our entire family, as well as on his job and in the community. When it came to Christmas, he went back to his old ways and his own way of doing things.

We occasionally thought it might have been because of his poor upbringing back in the olden days, or maybe it was just his family traditions in the past. Well, too, he might have been too busy, or did not care for decorating in the first place. Whatever his secret reason was, he always waited until the last minute to get a tree, and certainly to do his Christmas shopping. I really believe after observing him, it was simply the thrill of the hunt.

First, let me say that I don't remember many Christmases as a kid, or maybe they all just ran together in my memory.

When I grew up, I turned just opposite and had everything in the house decorated along with a fabulous Christmas tree. It wasn't that I didn't like Daddy's idea of a tree back in the day nor were Christmases any better than his events, but I was a decorator at heart and began almost too early. This is why his events

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Our Christmas tree from long ago.

Epictetus: “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.�

are so precious to my heart each year as I go about decorating for Christmas.

Before I tell you his unusual ways, let me say that Daddy could have bought the greatest of all Christmas trees and could have bought everybody many things, but, bless his heart, this is how he did it.

Earlier in the month we would tell him that we wanted him to go get us a Christmas tree, only to hear him tell us it was too early.

It must have been the excitement that made waiting so special to him.

We always asked Daddy what was he getting us for Christmas, and certainly we told him what we wanted after we had studied the catalogs. Just Christmas talk with no

action! Daddy would listen and grin as we urged him.

I TOLD YOU IT WAS THE THRILL OF THE HUNT! Now, the first thing he went to get, after he finally decided to go, was that very special Christmas tree. He did this

Above, the author with a special gift.

Left, her father with a big present.

Gerald Good: “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.�

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through our growing up years and on until he was no longer physically able. This event was his pride and joy! He never considered an artificial tree for they weren't really “trees.”

It always had to be one he cut himself.

On a Saturday just before Christmas he would get his ax or hand saw, put it in the car or truck and head a few miles out the road to the farm. The first few years he found a selection of big, little, large and small trees from which to select.

Sometimes they were shaped fairly well, but many times were either too little or too big. It didn't matter to Daddy.

In latter years he had to do some woods and field searching to come up with almost any tree for he had already cut most of them. This was his exciting event most of these last years. After searching everywhere, he would finally come up on a pine tree growing in a distant field.

Oh, “Christmas Gift” were probably the words spoken out loud.

When he got to the tree, it turned out to be just a little ole scrub pine and wop-sided to boot. Well, he cut it, dragging it along to find one that would make a good back half!

Finally, after getting one, no matter if it was smaller or taller, he cut it down and headed for the house!

When he arrived there was Christmas jubilation everywhere until we saw his “Christmas Gift.”

they were his best Christmas offerings.

After completing this job, he simply walked out, and guess who got to decorate the tree? Have you ever tried to get ornaments to stay put on the sliding branches of a scrub white pine? How could we ever keep the icicles from falling all over the floor?

If it happened to be an ordinary pine, the branches were probably spread quite a bit apart and would leave a hole to fill. Oh, my goodness, when we got

that thing decorated, it was a special thing of beauty and would soon have gifts spread under it, probably with our names on them. I should not have used the word “soon!”

In his retirement years, and after all the trees on the farm had been harvested for Christmas, he decided he could not find one to cut, and late as usual, went to town to “hunt” a store-bought tree as a pitiful substitute.

MAKING IT BEAUTIFUL WAS DADDY'S FINAL TOUCH! Well, never mind, kids, Daddy knew what he was going to do.

After sawing the bottoms even and getting a brace made, he got wire and wired these two scrubs together! Now, he would not have liked for us to call them “scrubs,” for

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Fred De Witt Van Amburgh: “Gratitude is a currency that we can mint for ourselves, and spend without fear of bankruptcy.”

Civic organizations were selling a lot full of trees, so he would just get one. After being told that they had sold every tree already, he was told that there were a couple of “scrubs” piled down on the lot and he could have them if he could get through the fence.

He took his grandson to the lot, and sure enough, on the ground looked to be two pretty good selections. Not able to get in the fence, he lifted his grandson over it and he pitched the trees over the

top to Daddy. Wow, what a wonderful selection and he didn't have to cut one!

He went to pay for the trees, but they had already been discarded and so there was no charge, making this even more a “Christmas Gift.”

Dragging them home, it was the same story of making them into a tree! What excitement as he was teaching another generation how to do a Christmas tree!

When we were kids, we thought gifts with our names on them should be immediately put under the tree.

Oh, not so for awhile, for Daddy had another Christmas tradition that he strictly adhered to each year. Other than the Santa Claus gifts which were bought, other gifts had to wait until late in the day on Christmas Eve! Yes! After urging by the family that time was running out, he would wait until late on Christmas Eve to do his shopping. Many times after I was grown, I figured he did this just to hear us fuss at him, but really, as I say, it was the thrill of the hunt.

Hunt it most always was for there were very few things left to buy, and mercy, it was Christmas Eve night.

CHRISTMAS GIFTS, OH, CHRISTMAS GIFTS! Well, it was not a “Silent Night” around any of the family stores when they were about to close after a very busy day. Daddy would come in late and start his shopping.

He had no idea how tired the clerks were, or that it was closing time, or that they wanted to hurry home to their families. Daddy was “sot in his ways,” only at Christmas.

After he finally got “something” for everyone, and yes, had the store to wrap them, he was on his way home for a Merry Christmas. It didn't matter to him if it was what he originally wanted to give each one, but it was a gift. We always knew how Daddy was, and whatever we got, we cherished it, for it was from our Daddy.

Before I wish you a Merry Christmas, you need to know the story of his last Christmas tree which I bought for him before he died the next summer.

As usual, I began to urge my parents into getting their Christmas

William James: “The deepest craving of human nature is the need to be appreciated.”

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No matter what kind of decorations we have at Christmas, we must remember the reason for the season.

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tree. I had planned to decorate there, cook, and get everything ready for Christmas. Lo and behold, I could not do this without a tree to get me started.

Daddy realized he was no longer able to go cut or buy a tree and sent me on a mission to find one. Mind you, it was

almost the week of Christmas.

Setting out on this effort, I searched every tree lot in the county. No trees to buy!

Finally, I knew I had to get one and certainly I was not cutting a scrub at the farm. In my desperation, I stopped at a nursery which displayed many

green trees, and found a small balled and burlapped tree which I knew had to do.

Oh, when I got home, Daddy was not too pleased because I probably had paid too much for it, and what was I going to put it in, and what would I do with it after Christmas?

You'd think he would have loved it when I told him I was going to take it home and plant it in my lower back yard. He thought I would never do it, and it didn't look much like the trees he always cut.

Yes, I did. Before long it was about head high because I watered it and took care of it because I knew this was Daddy's last Christmas tree. When we started to build our swimming pool a few years later, the tree was right in the middle of where the nine-foot section would be! The builder took his “jaws of life” as I called it, and moved it on down below. Please don't die!

Through these almost 35 years it has grown much bigger and taller than any of my mighty oaks.

Many times I thought it was going to die, but how dare it, for it was a memorial to Daddy's strange ways at Christmas.

No matter what kind of decorations we have at Christmas, we must remember the reason for the season. Back then we did, and now with my elaborate décor, I still do. Without Christ's birth we have no need for fancy decorations, a beautiful tree, nice gifts, or even an ole scrub homemade tree!

Now, like I always told Daddy, get the Spirit of Christmas early and get that tree and gifts ready. Have a very Merry Christmas, even if you, too, wait until the last minute to put up your tree. After all, it is “the reason for the season” that we decorate and celebrate, even if it is with an ole scrub homemade Christmas tree, the best of all memories!

G.K. Chesterton: “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

Get your holidays in order 23

When I was a child, holidays had a certain order. You had Halloween and nothing was thought about other holidays till it was over, then you began to see things regarding Thanksgiving. After all, that holiday was almost a month away at that time. And after Thanksgiving, Christmas became front and center and was that way every day for over a month.

Isn’t that enough?

I’m not talking about the religious aspect of Christmas; in fact you know exactly what it is I’m talking about.

Commercialism.

Don’t get me wrong - church was in a flurry of activity, too. We were getting ready for the choir’s Christmas cantata, as well as the Christmas play. At that time, Santa did not visit church, nor was there a tree put up in the sanctuary. In fact, I remember being shocked the first time I saw a Christmas tree in a church sanctuary.

Everyone I hear says Thanksgiving decorations should be banned till the day after Halloween, Christmas decorations should be banned till the day after Thanksgiving.

Maybe we could get the government in on this, and they’d quit causing such a stink about everything else. Nah. Not controversial enough.

Anyway, when I was a kid, November activities revolved around Thanksgiving. At school, we learned about pilgrims and Indians, our spelling words were all Thanksgiving related, our play was about those same pilgrims and Indians, our reading assignments were about the first Thanksgiving as were our history lessons. Geography was about guess what?

And then we got out of school for the holiday and were tortured by the smells coming from our grandmother’s and mother’s kitchens.

Have mercy!

If you are on a diet, you might want to stop reading. I’m getting hungry just writing about it.

Of course, there was the turkey, with dressing and giblet gravy.

Mashed potatoes, green beans, green peas, creamed corn, sliced

raw veggies, green onions, slaw, coconut cake, pumpkin pie, chocolate pie, etc.

It seems we took turns having the meal at each set of grandparent’s and then as they aged, it was at my parents’. Except for one Thanksgiving since, we’ve had it at my Mother and Daddy’s, which turned into just Mother’s some years ago.

Christmas really didn’t become the center of my attention (unless I was looking at the Sears & Roebuck catalog toy section) until that Thanksgiving evening.

We began to think about where all the Christmas decorations were stored, and if Daddy would go the next day and get our tree.

This was always a matter of great discussion. Of course, I wanted the tree purchased immediately.

In fact, I could hardly wait for daybreak. Mother, on the other hand, wanted to wait at least another week. She had some silly notion about dead pine needles falling and having nothing but a big brown stick with decorations on it by Christmas Eve if we got the tree too early.

And even though I whined and promised to water it every day, (not that that made much difference, we had a giant Seigler oil heater about 10 feet from where the tree stood, you might as well have roasted that poor tree at 350 in the oven) it was usually a no go until Dec. 10 or so.

I was allowed, however, to get out the mantel decorations and start

Ralph Waldo Emerson: You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.”

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there. By the time I was 9 or so, I was tall enough to do this by myself and was already showing a knack for decorating.

Our decorations weren’t much, but I put a plastic manger scene together on one end, candles in the middle, and a plastic Santa and reindeer on the other end. With a little fake holly I must say I did a pretty good job.

Today my Christmas decorating extends far beyond mantel and tree, but I must admit, gets less the older I get.

I was never a snoop. It never entered my mind to look for stuff, or rattle presents or anything like that. I wanted to be surprised. I wasn’t crazy about the stocking aspect, though. Usually fruit with maybe one surprise, like a watch one year, and Barbie doll clothes one year.

And by the time Santa was getting a little, um, old, (or maybe it was me getting old) my parents up and had twin boys on Dec. 1. I was 10.

That gave Christmas a whole new meaning that year, and for the years remaining of my childhood. Then as I came into my teen years and became a very busy babysitter, some things changed again.

Take for instance the year I was 15. My boyfriend, who lived elsewhere, was visiting family here over Christmas holidays. He got to my house early. I wasn’t supposed to have Boy Company unless one parent was home.

Daddy had just left to pick Mother up from work, and I was alone with the twins. I couldn’t just let the boyfriend stay outside - it was cold! And

42

my parents would be home shortly, and we only had a few minutes to visit, because his parents expected him back for supper. What was I to do? I figured letting him in for a few minutes wouldn’t hurt, right?

Ha. He hadn’t been there five minutes when the hellions I called brothers knocked down the 6-foot-tall Christmas tree. Christmas balls rolled from one end of the living room to the other, icicles flew in the air like silver confetti, ornaments landed all over furniture.

And Mother was right: those dead pine needles did not stay on the tree. We stood, looking at the mess in horror, while the twins ran to hide under the bed. Then my boyfriend went into gales of laughter. He had three younger brothers. He loved it.

I would have slapped his cheeks to bring him back to his senses, but he was way over 6 feet tall and I couldn’t reach them. It’s the closest I’ve ever come to a panic attack, but he was calm, after the laughing subsided.

He hoisted the tree up and started flinging icicles back on it. I ran and got the broom and swept up broken ornaments and pine needles while he stuck the surviving ornaments, higgledy piggledy, back on the tree.

He left about one minute before my parents pulled up into the driveway. I promised not to kill my brothers if they kept their mouth shut.

Which, as far as I know, as of today, they have.

Hope your holidays are wonderful!

John Wooden: “Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out.”

HOW TO CHOOSE A Pet Groomer

A dirty pet with unkempt hair can throw off your whole home with unpleasant smells. In addition, forgoing proper grooming for your furry friend can be bad for its health.

If your pet is in need of a haircut and a good bath, you may want to check out a local pet grooming service.

Here’s how to pick the best one for your pet.

Get Referrals Family and friends should be your first stop. They might know of a good pet groomer in your area. Referrals are a large part of any business. Most groomers make an extra effort to make sure their customers are satisfied. If you are coming to a groomer via a recommendation, tell the person. The groomer will be happy to know that their business has a great reputation. It is likely they will go the extra mile to make sure you are pleased with their services.

Groomers are most often found in large pet stores, veterinary offices and stand-alone storefronts. You can find them through your local newspaper, Yellow Pages or online. Make a list of groomers that are conveniently located near your home or business. You will drop your pet off and picking them up later in the day.

Visit and Ask Questions Visit groomers on your list and inspect their shops. Check for cleanliness and professionalism. The service area should smell fresh and clean. The pet waiting room should also be free from debris and chemicals.

Observe how the groomer and staff interact with animals and customers. Nothing can be more difficult than a slick, wiggly pet. But a groomer should be gentle. He should never yell or jerk a pet around.

Inquire about their services. Do they groom both cats and dogs? Is there a separate waiting area for the two types of pets? Can you choose the shampoo?

Are nail clippings and anal gland expressions part of the package, or do these services cost extra?

Checking about these things ahead of time will spare you the shock and disappointment when you bring your pet home. Some groomers do not perform these services. It’s important to know what you can expect.

Also, be sure to ask about medical services. What happens if your pet has an emergency while they are at the groomer? Does the groomer have a relationship with the local veterinarian?

Bringing Your Pet Prior to scheduling an appointment, bring your pet to their office.

Observe the relationship between your pet and the groomer. Are they comfortable with each other?

Tell your groomer if your dog is sensitive to having his or her nails trimmed or ears cleaned. Some dogs are terrified of the hair dryer. Mentioning it to your groomer will help the situation be more successful and less stressful.

Tell your groomer of former injuries, lumps, bumps or allergies. Let your groomer know of any medical conditions or any other special needs. Choose which services you need before your arrival.

A music interview with...

CONCEPT OF CREATURES James Miller is a talented musician and family man whom I have known since he was a baby. His mother and I are friends of many years. It’s been such a pleasure to see him grow in his talent and continue to add to his life in so many ways.

He is soulfully married to Savannah, and together they have two beautiful children. They play, sing and write music as a family. Their music is inspirational and healing. I know you will enjoy getting to know them and their music.

Lora: Where are you from?

James: I was born in West Virginia but didn’t live there for long.

Lora: Are you married?

Have any children?

James: I am spiritually married and have a son and daughter.

Lora: Do you remember the first song you wrote?

What was it if so?

James: I started writing my own music in elementary school, but can’t recall the song.

Lora: Do you recall a time when you just knew

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that music was something you had to do in life?

James: I have always had a passion for music and how it positively affects people. I have always dreamed of singing in front of people ever since I was 6 years old with a broom as my guitar.

Lora: Do you play any instruments?

James: I doodle around with a couple different instruments, but guitar is my outlet.

Lora: How old were you when you started singing and playing music?

James: I was really able to start comprehending music around 13.

Lora: What places have you been doing shows?

James: Recently I have been performing at I Love NY Pizza and Bar in Jasper.

Lora: Tell me about your original songs.

James: It is music that is purely intended for healing. I hope to bring people to a feeling of peace with my songs.

By LORA BUNCH

‘(Our music) comes from the source; it’s all heart with good intentions out of love.’

Willie Nelson: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.”

- JAMES MILLER

Lora: Is your family involved in your career?

James: Family is my number one support and motivation.

Lora: What’s your favorite song of yours?

James: My most recent song called “The Moon.”

Lora: Who is your biggest musical inspiration?

James: Kurt Cobain Lora: Where can we find your music?

James: YouTube as “The Concept of Creatures,” although recording ventures are in the works.

Lora: Where is a place you have not performed that you would like to?

James: A stage in front of multitudes.

Lora: What would you like to see in the future for your music?

James: I really want to bring joy to others, to raise the vibration of positivity, and evolve.

Lora: What are three things (not people) you cannot live without?

James: Spirit, The Moon, Birds Lora: What are the top songs on your playlist right now?

James: “Peace of Mind” - Blue, “Gimme Shelter” - The Rolling Stones, “Purple Haze” - Jimi Hendrix

Lora: Who are the members of your band?

James: Savannah and I Lora: How did you come up with your band name, The Concept of Creatures?

James: While experiencing the young days before children…. the name really just came to me one day.

Lora: Do you have a job outside of music?

James: Road construction - operator Lora: What hobbies do you have outside of music?

James: Spirituality, hiking, writing Lora: What would you like people to know about you and your music?

James: It comes from the source; it’s all heart with good intentions out of love.

James and Savannah perform most weekends in Jasper and are currently looking for more opportunities to play and share their music.

You can find them on social media pages as well as YouTube. If you are looking for some meaningful and soul-filled music you will not be disappointed upon treating your ears to their healing sounds.

It’s always an honor for me to have the chance to get to know new people and hear amazing music but more especially when that music comes from a place of the heart while spreading a positive message in life.

An interview with an author...

NICK DENMON

I came to know the work of Nick Denmon through social media where we have a few friends in common through the arts and writing.

I have admired his work for some time now and one day decided to approach him for an interview. He was receptive to the idea and enthusiastic about the chance to tell my readers more about him and his writings.

Nick is from Buffalo, N.Y., originally but now resides in sunny Tampa, Fla. He still travels back and forth between the two quite a bit and enjoys other travels as well.

He is an entrepreneur who has his hands in many areas of business that is only propelled forward more so by his immense talents. Nick is a writer of poetry and novels. He lives life fully, and I hope you all enjoy getting a glimpse into his life and work so much that you find him on social media and read his books as well.

Lora: What does being creative mean to you?

Nick: Creating worlds or a story as a novel to entertain people and getting them to feel something that prompts an emotional connection that inspires them to think. I want to influence hearts and minds.

Lora: Do you remember the first piece you wrote?

Nick: I started writing stories in the second grade. I would make

By LORA BUNCH

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Anne Morrow Lindbergh: “One can never pay in gratitude; one can only pay ‘in kind’ somewhere else in life.”

up stories to entertain fellow students. I remember one of them was a version of Knights of the Round Table I made up about my classmates.

I wrote my first novel in 2011, and when I first started putting my work on social media was when Myspace was popular. That’s when I started getting serious about poetry.

Lora: Do you remember when you realized that creating and writing was a need for you?

Nick: I would say it was around that early age of second grade. I started to realize it then and through the years other events kind of synched it up for me. I had a teacher in third grade, Ms. Gray, who gave me a notebook with about 20 or 30 quotes in the front of it and 30 or 40 empty pages in the back that she said for me to fill up with my own quotes. That was a really inspiring thing in my life, and I am thankful for her and her encouragement.

Lora: What kind of creative routines or rituals do you have?

Nick: When I am writing novels my routine is to make a sound track with about 10 to 20 songs that fit the mood for what I am writing and open a Diet Coke to drink. When I am writing poetry I sometimes listen to music but mostly I try to put myself into the shoes of who I am writing about or meditate back to a time that I felt certain powerful emotions.

Lora: If you could do a reading anywhere then where would it be?

Nick: I would pick Trinity Library in Dublin. I have never been there, but the pictures I have seen are amazing. It is on my bucket list to visit and what better place to do a reading than in a library so full of history and beauty.

Lora: What is your favorite creation of yours?

Nick: I would have to say it is always my most recent works. I feel like I improve with each one making the newest my favorite. Currently it is my novel, “The 100 Heartbreaks of Harlan Halifax,” which is a coming of age book in rural India. My favorite poem of mine is “Live Well, Love Hard, and Be OK with Leaving Footprints That Wash Away.” I think it says a lot who I am and that what we do is permanent and we need to be OK with that because we live well and love hard.

Lora: Who is your biggest writer inspiration?

Nick: Hunter S. Thompson has been the most inspirational to me. He captured my interest because he is super zany. I am also inspired more now by G. R. Martin and Dennis Lane.

Lora: Where can we find your books?

Nick: Honestly you can find them anywhere. They are in most all bookstores in the U.S. and abroad as well as on Amazon.

Lora: What do you see in the future for yourself?

Nick: If I could make a wish it would be that my work would be turned

into television material especially my mafia novels. I would love to see them turned into a Netflix or Amazon series. I want people to keep reading my work and to keep being able to connect with more people.

Lora: Do you have another job and what is something you would like to pursue but haven’t?

Nick: I have several jobs. I am an entrepreneur, I own my own businesses, I write, act, and do marketing and consulting. The main thing I want to pursue but haven’t is screenplay writing and television.

Lora: What are three things (not people) that you cannot live without?

Nick: The beach - it is my happy place where I find inspiration, my laptop, and a special pen that was given to me by a family member that has become a treasure and keepsake. It is silver with the thinking man on it.

Lora: What hobbies do you have outside of writing?

Nick: I am a fitness freak. I work out, watch football, and hang out with family and friends which is the most important thing to me.

Lora: Are you a music lover and what are the top songs on your playlist right now?

Nick: I am a huge music lover and have over 17,000 songs on iTunes. Ryan Adams is one of my favorites. He does cover songs and has some originals too. Tom Petty is my all-time favorite, and my dad bought me my first album by him.

Lora: What advice would you give to beginning writers?

Nick: First, write daily! Stop aspiring to be a writer and write because if you are writing then you are a writer. Take the time to learn about marketing and to connect with people.

Lora: What book are you reading now?

Nick: “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” I like to find wisdom and keep growing.

Lora: Name one entity that has encouraged and supported you outside of family and friends.

Nick: The people who read and share my writings. Without those people I couldn’t reach people and accomplish a fraction of what I do.

Lora: What have you learned from writing your books and poems?

Nick: How it affects people and about life experiences. I am a different person from the beginning of each book than I am at the end.

I truly enjoyed talking with Nick and learning more about him and his works. It is always nice to put not only a face but a person himself with the writings that I enjoy reading, and he did not disappoint.

I asked Nick if he had anything more he wanted to say to my readers, and he said the following: “I appreciate people who care enough to read my writings, and it is important that they know I believe that everyone has at least one story to tell in them. I hope eventually every one of them tell their story because by doing so we all get better.”

It is my hope that you all look up Nick Denmon and enjoy his writings, wisdom, and overall positive energy he puts into the world.

John E. Southard: “The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you.”

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JOE COBB CRAWFORD

ESKIMO’S ETERNAL PARADISE Christmas was coming and the weather was getting colder. Fleeing both, Susan and I flew down to South Florida last week. We went there to visit our son and daughter-in-law. I wanted to get away from the wonderful world of words. Susan just wanted a break from the same old same old.

They live in "Boca Grande"—Sounds like an uppity place, doesn't it?

Lots of things when spoken in Spanish sound glamorous and highfalutin.

For example, you take the Spanish word "La Cucaracha"... "La-Cu-cara-cha"... Rolls off the tongue easy. Know what it means? It means Cockroach...

Cockroach!

"Boca Grande," where my son lives, means "Big Mouth." That is all it means - "Big Mouth." The name is in reference to "Port Charlotte Harbor." Port Charlotte was once the largest shipping harbor in Florida.

So what was the first thing we did when we got to Florida? You guessed right—we went out to eat at a seafood place. It was an "Old Florida" type place—way off the beaten path. It was where the locals dine. "Sea Water Grill" I think it was called, and it was one of those places that serves up fresh seafood and live entertainment, a solo guitarist/singer with a mullet hair cut and a bad nasally voice. He was a Jimmie Buffet wanna-be and totally destroyed many of Buffet's songs, including my son Jeff's requested favorite, "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

Still our dining experience had great entertainment value. But the real entertainment was provided by our waiter. He was a young Eskimo. I was immediately intrigued by this portly, dark skinned fellow. I'd noticed his Alaska car plates in the parking lot. He wore a Panama Jack shirt.

It fit him like he'd borrowed it from his big brother. My curiosity got the best of me. What was an Eskimo from one of the coldest

48

and most sun-deprived places in the world doing in Florida, "The Sunshine State"?

So, I motioned him over to our table. We talked briefly. In no uncertain terms sprinkled with a few familiar "Chicken Catcher" words he explained how he hated snow and cold weather. He said that escaping the snow and cold was why he moved away from Alaska. The youngster said he first worked in the back of the Sea Water Grill as a fry cook. Said he hated that job but had persevered. Later the lad asked his boss to be moved out of the kitchen.

He now worked in the front where greeting customers and waiting tables was his job.

I had one personal question for the Eskimo. Sunburns and skin surgery have been problems for me all my life. I asked him if all the sunshine in South Florida caused him to get sunburned. He told me he had experienced absolutely no problems at all. Said the sunshine was wonderful and that he truly loved living in Florida. My son listened quietly. Then he asked him a question: “How long have you lived down here in South Florida?”

The youthful Eskimo's serious answer: "It will be three weeks tomorrow.”

Joe Cobb Crawford, a native of Fannin County, is a contributing writer for The Best of the North Georgia Mountains and self-publishes his books through The Poetry Company. This story is excerpted from “What the Bookman Saw.”

Neal A. Maxwell: “We should certainly count our blessings, but we should also make our blessings count.”

JOE COBB CRAWFORD

CHRISTMAS BLACK SWAN PHENOMENA While researching material for a short story, I stumbled across a picture of an Easter play that was performed by school children in the spring of 1958. Their school was McCaysville Elementary located across from “Tater Hill” in the northern part of Fannin County.

As the crow flies, it’s about three miles from the farm where I was born. Some of the young thespians in the picture were from the third grade, which numbered less than 100 students. So, what’s so unusual about that? Nothing.

What is unusual is that there were three sets of twins in that same third grade class at McCaysville Elementary. Each set of twins was from Fannin County, and each set was born within one year of each other.

They are: Twin Set #1: Dionne and Denise Sission born Christmas Day 1948 Twin Set #2: Martha and Bill Stewart born Christmas Eve 1949 Twin Set #3: Jane and Joan Weaver born before Christmas Day 1949 The first set of twins will celebrate their 70th birthdays on Christmas Day of this year. If you see them, wish them a Happy Birthday and a

Merry Christmas. Tell all these twins, that besides being a twin, they are unique individuals for yet another reason. Here is why: Based on data collected since the beginning of the 20th century, this triple occurrence of twins is extremely unlikely. The odds that 100 random parents would have three individual sets of twins born within any given year was less than one in 100,000. It was more likely that one of those six parents would have been struck by lightning or have been audited by the IRS than for this multiple twin event to have occurred.

Maybe something was in the water in McCaysville. Or, maybe it was just one of those once in a lifetime, perfect storm, Black Swan Phenomena events. For certain, where childbirth is concerned, something very mysterious and rare was going on in Fannin County during the latter years of the 1940s.

Joe Cobb Crawford is a contributing writer for The Best of the North Georgia Mountains and self-publishes his books through The Poetry Company. He’s a native of Fannin County.

Charles Dickens: “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

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50

Act like a duck

My wife Ann keeps a picture on the refrigerator with the following caption: “Always behave like a duck. Keep calm and unruffled on the surface, but paddle like the devil underneath.”

I can think of several people this advice applies to, but the first person who came to mind was my Dad. My first memory of Dad behaving like a duck occurred in the summer of 1958. I was a member of the FFA (Future Farmers of America). In our chapter, each new member was given a 10-week-old piglet to raise. The requirement was to show the pig at the county fair, and when the pig had a litter we were to give one of the piglets to the next new member.

This task seems simple enough, but many people are not aware of a pig’s intelligence. Along with their intelligence comes considerable stubbornness.

My pig (Betty Ann) did not like staying in her pen. She would break out at least once a month. My youngest sister was thrilled to tell me that my pig was out and needed to be put back in the pig lot.

One hot August day, Betty Ann escaped by digging under the fence. My little sister did nothing to stop her but was quick to let me know when it happened.

The chase began. You would be surprised just how fast a pig can run. Betty Ann cut through a small blackberry patch with me right behind her. When I cleared the last briar something stung me near my temple.

I took off the green cap I was wearing, and it immediately turned to bright yellow. Miss Betty Ann had just led me through a yellow jacket nest. My legs were completely covered. I raked my hands over my legs killing a hundred at a time. Escaping this area seemed to be the appropriate approach. I ran to the house shedding my clothes as I ran.

Standing inside in just my jockey shorts, I tried to explain to Mom why I had so many stings. She became hysterical because the nearest hospital was 20 miles away.

Dad heard the uproar and came out to see what all the commotion was about. He took one quick look and went to the tool shed. He brought me a garden hoe and pointed to the lower part of our garden. “Go hoe the last two rows of corn, and make sure you cut all of the weeds.”

His reaction took me completely by surprise. I stomped off down to the field and began hoeing and talking to myself. “He hates me. I am going to die from all these stings, and all my Dad wants is his corn taken care of.” The more I hoed the madder I got, and the madder I got, the harder I worked.

Soon I began to sweat. The more I sweated the less the stings hurt. Within an hour all of the pain and soreness was gone.

Of course, I must have been a sight to see hoeing the corn in my jockey shorts. Years later Dad told me he nearly panicked when he saw me with all of those stings, knowing the hospital was so far away.

However, sweating had once helped him with a couple of stings so he thought it would work for me. His approach and appeal to me illustrate calm guidance. I did not see his inner panicky feeling as he started paddling like the devil.

Bob Hope: “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.”

‘Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit’ A late aunt of mine kept a flour bin in her long periods of time, they were portable. kitchen. It was the size of a small barrel, made of During the Civil War, some biscuits soldiers ate were left over from the Mexican heavy cardboard with a metal lid. Inside it were flour and a shallow wooden bowl. Three times a War (1846-48). If the 3 by 3 flat biscuits had weevils or insect larvae in them, the day for years and years she used that bin to perMarion T. "Ted" Smith is the author of a new book, “Life in the Park: A Novel.” It form a magic act. soldiers would simply dunk them in coffee is available on Amazon and at Barnes & She would use the bowl to scoop out some until the bugs rose to the top, skim them off Noble. flour and then put the bowl on the table. Then she and start eating. would scoop out a gob of Crisco and mix it in with No kidding. some of the flour. When she was satisfied with the texture of the ball she In a naval museum in Denmark there is a seabiscuit or hard biscuit had formed in the middle of the bowl, she would punch down the center for sailors on display that is said to date from 1852. It still looks perfectly of it with her fist and fill the depression with milk. edible.

Then she would begin to mix the milk with the flour and grease, drawEgyptian soldiers carried a form of biscuit in their gear, as did the Roing more flour from the sides of the bowl as needed. When that process mans, and the Crusaders. Out of this, cooks derived hardtack or seabiswas complete she would take small portions of the mixture in her hand cuit, which was baked up to four times for long sea voyages, savory and begin forming biscuits and placing them in a large, flat pan. biscuits or crackers, sweet biscuits or cookies, and leavened biscuits As if by magic, she would use all of the dough to fill the pan, with no such as the Southern biscuit which were and still are in some quarters place for another biscuit and no dough left in the bowl. She was carrying either a survival food or a complimentary food depending on how poor on a long tradition. the family is.

The noble biscuit was for over a century after the Civil War a staple If all you have to eat is a plain biscuit, you are very poor. of every Southern household, but Southern biscuits come in several forms, today a good, authentic Southern During the Civil War, some biscuits sol- most notably cathead biscuits, or gravy biscuit is getting harder to find. sopping biscuits as we used to call them. diers ate were left over from the MexiLearning to bake a good bisThe name apparently comes from their size, and they always have more dough cuit was long part of crossing the can War (1846-48). If the 3 by 3 flat threshold to adulthood for Southern than crust so they are perfect for soaking biscuits had weevils or insect larvae in girls, and women (and men) who up gravy or syrup. They are the source could bake a great biscuit achieved of a Southernism of endearment: Girl (or them, the soldiers would simply dunk boy) you look so good I want to put you on local renown. them in coffee until the bugs rose to the a plate and sop you up with a biscuit.

The problem was not the recipe.

It is simple as can be: flour with But equally if not more popular are top, skim them off and start eating. biscuits that are flatter, increasing the ratio baking powder if it is not self rising, lard, grease or oil, and milk (preferof crust to dough. They can range from fairly small to about hoecake size (6 diameter). Flatter biscuits makes ably buttermilk).

The problem is mixing them in the right proportions, since the amount them perfect as a complimentary food, which leads to a huge variety of biscuits in the form of biscuits-and-something-else ranging from butof moisture in flour can vary. Too much flour and the top will crack and be chalky, too little grease and the biscuit will be crumbly. Making a great tered biscuits (fresh cow butter is best) to all sorts of meats (tenderloin is biscuit is an art form, and my aunt was a master. wonderful), egg, cheese, tomato (from the garden) and jelly alone or in And while Southerners might think the biscuit is the epitome of region- almost any combination. al cuisine, it is probably as old as agriculture or war. It is, after all, just a “Beaten biscuits” were also common once in the South, so named besmall loaf of bread. cause the dough was savagely beaten for 15 minutes or more, no doubt The earliest biscuits looked more like what Americans call crackers al- saving the life of more than one husband.

What are not Southern biscuits are canned biscuits, which are a sin though the Brits would call them biscuits. They were unleavened, made and an abomination. And the young woman who claims to be Southern only of flour of some kind, salt, and water and often baked twice so they and knows biscuits in the old Taco Bell commercials in which she comwere very hard.

The word biscuit literally means twice baked, and showed up in the pares their breakfast burrito to a Southern biscuit obviously has sold her Middle Ages. Not only were they durable and so could be stored for long, soul to the devil.

By Ted Smith

Norman Vincent Peale: “Christmas waves a magic wand over the world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.”

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Burton Hillis: “The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.�