WEDNESDAY’S LIST . . . of beans ’n greens ’n other things:
IN MY MEMORIES of my father I wrote about this past Sunday, one very tangible bit of him that I hold dear is his 13-ounce, steel-shafted, Bluegrass hammer.

For those of you who came in late and who also have hands that do not fit a hammer very well, Bluegrass made the hammers my dad (the carpenter) lived by. The 13-ouncer was his “trim” hammer, but he also had a 16-ounce Bluegrass for the heavy hitting, so to speak.

I had a bit of my dad’s talent in carpentry (was working with him by age 10) and I flat loved the little Bluegrass. As my dad aged toward the finish line (still working, though), it occurred to me that with his passing, my little brother would probably claim his tools before I could open my mouth.

So, one day I mentioned to Dad I’d love to have his little Bluegrass.

I got it, paying the price of a new Bluegrass “trimmer” in order to put the old one to rest . . . in my possession.

To this day, “little brother,” has not touched “my” 13-ounce Bluegrass trim hammer. ’Course I’m pretty sure he got the new one.

OK, so I’m a bit ticky . . .

*** IN CASE you missed it, Wright’s Dairy, just off U. S. 431 north of Anniston, is shutting down for two months, July 1 ’til Sept. 1.

Long-needed upgrades are in order.

It is where I go when I want cheese, especially a delightful bit of heat by the name of “Desert Storm.” Put that on a soda cracker or stick it inside a hamburger for grilling, and it’s to die for.

Which means, I have to make a run out that way and stock up.

*** I LIKE to tell people who live in the “good old days” that my “creed” can be found in an old Merle Haggard song:

“Back in the good old days when things were bad.”

Then I love to get in the pulpit and preach that message, that I’m a child of “right now” and I don’t want any part of “back then.”

But, just the other day, in addressing a letter, it occurred to me that I’m not being entirely honest. I still use the old abbreviations for the states, as in “Ala.” Instead of “AL.”

I don’t recall when the postal service changed the abbreviations, but do remember thinking it was just another way of jerking the South around. The new way put Alaska (AK) in front of “us” at AL.

Besides, where’s the music in TN as compared to Tenn., or MS lined up against Miss.? And OK isn’t near as pleasing to the eye as Okla. or DE for Delaware.

Man, can I ever be ticky, huh . . . and Son-And-Heir is telling more than a little truth when he says, “Dad doesn’t do change very well.”

*** QUOTABLE: “Lettin’ the cat out of the bag is a lot easier than puttin’ it back in.” – Old Farmer *** IF I WERE in business and needed someone to “meet the public,” so to speak, I’d have a young lady by the name of Debbie Montgomery near the top of my list.

I caught Debbie at a Walmart checkout (Lenlock) recently. Not only is she very nice, she’s from Ohatchee, I’m from Ohatchee, and we did visit a bit before people in line began to mutter.

*** SPECIAL LADY: On that list, put the name of Modena Ogle, who celebrates her 88th birthday Thursday . . . June 21.

The rest of the special story is Modena is an “Avon Lady” . . . and has been for 54 years. She’s still an “Avon Lady.” Add up 88 and 54 and that qualifies for special.

Happy birthday tomorrow, Modena . . .

*** BIRTHDAYS: June 17 – Jeff Jones; June 18 – Don Beaubout; June 23 – Patricia Waters; June 23 – Dalton Freeman.

*** DID YOU know that 47 percent of our sweet potatoes are grown in North Carolina?

I’m not sure just how much that enriches your life, but now you know.

George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5682 or e-mail: gsmith731@gmail.com