What do most people know about October? It is the 10th month in our calendar but the eighth month in the Roman calendar. From the time of Julius Caesar, it has had 31 days.  In the North Temperate Zone, the first frost usually occurs in October. Poets have written about the changing of leaves to brillant crimson, russet and gold and the Indian summer days.  The football season dominates the sport world. On Oct. 12, schools and various organizations celebrate Oct. 12 as Columbus Day.  Now the fall school break occurs in October.  An outstanding tree at the Evins Park across from the post office is a beautiful, colorful tree to observe. Notice it next time you're down that road.  Why go to Gatlinburg when we have the beauty of the trees in our area?  The gem for this month is the opal.
Speaking of October, happy birthday for the first half of this month to Matthew Cooper, Sandra Wall, Maurice Braswell, Joe Loring, Rachel Cripps McCarter, Joseph Greek in New York, Miranda Waggoner, Tom Theriaque, Faye Iverlett, Anita Puckett, Caroline McCarter, Jean Meyers, Russell Oliver, Pauline Cantrell, Juanita Hooper, Claudette Lasser, Mike Clendenen, and Gail Bishop.
The Senior Angels who hang out at First Methodist will be going to the Fall Festival in quaint Granville this Saturday. They are meeting at the church at 9 a.m. and are carpooling to this small village town for the day.  Anyone who is not a Senior Angel can go.  Just join the caravan in your own car.  Rose and Paul Dillen will be leading the group there.  Call Becky at First Methodist for further information.
Also that weekend, there will be a dedication service at Beersheba Springs (just above Mcminnville) for the new windows in the chapel on Sunday, Oct. 7 at 3 p.m.  My husband, Rev. Clff Ingram, will be memoralized on one of the windows. The Bishop will be there. A reception will be held in the lobby of the historic hotel afterwards. Everyone is invited.
Mary Weaver has returned to her home in Michigan after being the guest of Becky Roberts and Suzanne Prater. Carolyn Williams and I motored over to Gainesboro last Tuesday to attend the funeral of Cortis Craighead, former director of Upper Cumberland Electric System there.  I was invited to present a eulogy for him which was my eighth eulogy in the past five years.  They were good friends of mine.
Get-well wishes and belated happy birhday to Alan Webb, pharmacist at Webb's Drug Store, after undergoing surgery last week.  He even made it out to church Sunday.  Also get well wishes to Hoyt Odom after knee surgery.
Sympathy to the families of Jack Evins, former Smithvillian, and to Joanna Moore's family.  Joanna, a beautiful woman, was a longtime friend of my parents.
Did you know that Lisa Spencer, meterologist on Channel 4, will be at the new county complex this Thursday, Oct. 4?  I heard her announce it last week when she was giving the weather.
I want to send some compliments to our police force and EMT staff. Last Wednesday afternoon, I was standing out in my front yard on Sparta Highway visiting with some McMinnville friends when a white SUV left the highway and was heading our way.  We all jumped out of the way and the car landed sideways in our front ditch.  My friend called 911 and a policeman and ambulance were there in less than 10 minutes. There was a mother and little boy in the car.  Fortunately, they were not hurt. I was proud of our emergency workers, Hoyt, for on,e whom I knew.
Remember the Bazaar at the Christian Fellowbuilding on Church Street on Nov. 2.  Vendors who make crafts are invited to set up a table on that day.  Call Becky at 597-4961 for further information.
My closing thought from John Barwick,  “The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts. The safest place to be is in someone's prayers. And the best place to be is in God's hands.”  Amen.