Birthdays (2013)
As published in the White River Current - Thursday March 28, 2013
Well, I have made a last minute executive decision. Because of several important issues that need to be discussed, I am moving my baseball story to the next issue (in two weeks). I guess politicians would call that “kicking the can.” It’s not really just a baseball story and I wrote it several months ago. Anyway, in two weeks, I promise. I am writing this present article on my birthday which will be about eight days ago (March 20) by the time it goes to press in the Current (March 28). I started the day by attending the funeral of a friend and long-time Calico Rock resident, Floyd. He died on his birthday (March 17) at the age of 96. He and Flora had been married for 75 years when she proceeded Floyd in death by a few months. Another sign that I am getting older is that I remember Floyd’s mom and dad very well. We had the annual birthday meeting of the OFC on March 14 with five of the six members attending along with the spouses that could make it. Five of the six members and two wives have March birthdays. Anita prepared my birthday lunch (March 20) as I requested: Ham and beans with corn bread and ice tea. Yummie! I’ve been trying to back off of the sweets and otherwise unhealthy foods. Now if I can just get myself disciplined to do some more exercising and walking. Hard to do but I’m trying. By the way, did you attend the Bootlegger Daze festival on Saturday, March 9th? The Current had several good photos in the March 14 edition. I almost dropped my glass of unsweetened ice tea when I saw the photo on the back page. It featured Marshal-For-The-Day, Fred, escorting a very unruly “Town- Drunk-For-The-Day,” who bore a remarkable resemblance to Tom*, to the local Judge-For-The- Day for sentencing. I swear I heard this loud, tenor voice yelling my name wanting to borrow $50 to pay his fine. You could have knocked me over with a Wild Turkey feather. Yes that is the same Tom* who has a column Tom’s Tantruming …oops! I meant Tenoring, on alternate weeks with the Ramblings. After the OFC luncheon, I was driving Shelby on a tour of the city to show him where he used to live when we spotted Tom* painting a picnic table down by the museum parking lot. We, of course, assumed that he was working off his fine but he insisted it was a 20/20 project and we didn’t push the issue. I failed to mention that today (March 28) is Shelby’s birthday, so Happy Birthday, Shelby. Harold’s big day is Saturday. Now, turn back to the “town drunk” issue. When I was a boy in 1938, if you were twenty one years of age or older, you could legally purchase alcoholic beverages in Calico Rock and Izard County. That ended by a vote of the people and is still true today. However, I would not at all be surprised if that ban ends in the very near future. Did you make note of the big outcry in the nation when a company reduced the alcoholic content of a popular bourbon from 90 proof to 84 proof? Red wine is considered good for your health if taken in moderation.
I’m not a “drinking” person but I haven’t made up my mind how I would vote if the wet/dry issue is on the ballot. Probably NO in honor of my mother who I accompanied several times when she went door-to-door carrying a petition to give the citizens a voting opportunity in the late 1930s. I think the vote will be close. Some say whiskey is the devil’s brew; others say it is the “oil of conversation” that brings people together. What do you think? Getting in over my head here in the Queen City, this is Reed. Bye, Bye for now.
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