Sunday morning drive time ...

* * * THE REST of the story on “Peanut.”

A few days back I told you about visiting with William “Bill” Scott who was coming up on his 100th birthday. If you were with me, you saw a photo of Bill along with his lap dog “Peanut.”

Renae Williams, who has been Bill’s caretaker for eight years, found the small dog wandering along Rocky Hollow on her way to work one morning.

“It was a cold morning,” says Renae, “I got out, picked up the little dog, and went door-to-door looking for the owner. I finally found a small boy who said it was his dog, but he couldn’t keep him. Seems the landlord had a ban on pets so I took the dog with me to Mr. Bill’s.

“It was love for both from the beginning. For years I had been trying to talk Mr. Bill into getting a pet and he would always say no. That afternoon, when I started home, Mr. Bill wouldn’t let me take him.

“It’s been wonderful and I’m convinced Peanut — he looks like a peanut — was a Godsend for Mr. Bill.”

Good story, huh?

^^^ DR. SAM CRABTREE, who died this past Friday at 93, was one of the really good guys in our town. While I was never one of his patients, there is a long ago relationship I’d like to pass along.

In my sports writing years, I am in Augusta, Ga., covering the Masters Golf Tournament.

Headed down the second fairway, pain stabs into my right foot and up my leg. I make it to a pine tree and sit … and then I hear:

“What’s the matter, George?”

It’s Dr. Crabtree. When I explain my problem, he kneels down, removes my shoe and sock and does a bit of wiggling here and there. Pain hits again.

“You’ve got a pinched nerve between your toes. It’ll have to be cut out.”

Maybe that doesn’t sound like a big deal, but to me it sure meant a lot. Sometimes just the comfort of a familiar face can help.

Like I said, he was one of the good guys.

^^^ SO WHAT’S for Thanksgiving dinner Thursday?

The guys out at Saks Baptist Church will be more than glad to help you out.

Beginning Monday, they will be smoking Boston butts, hams, turkey breasts, and chicken. Just head out U.S. 431 North and look for a a tent and smoke before you get to the church.

Slow cooking starts before daylight Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The meat is ready along about 3:30 p.m. ‘til it runs out. That’s three days only.

Proceeds are used for the church youth . . . and the food is really out of sight. Had a Boston butt myself last year.

^^^ QUOTABLE: “A man is already halfway in love with any woman who listens to him.” — Brendan Francis ^^^ BEFORE GOING, I’d like to bow to the people who were staffing Five West at Regional Medical during my time there.

An infection that could not be treated orally required intravenous treatment … you know, “drip-drip-drip.”

People who care for the ailing really are special … if you’ll stay out of the way and let them do their jobs.

Mostly, I don’t think we fully appreciate the medical profession nor the facilities that call our town home.

Thanks, people … to all of you.

^^^ IS IT JUST me or has a promising autumn of color gone just a wee bit flat?

A week or so ago, on the driving over Bain’s Gap Road, I just knew we had a good one going.

Now, I’m not so sure …

Anyway, thanks for visiting.

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George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.