Our population went down this week due to the exodus out of town caused by the school's fall break.  Several families headed to Florida, Gatlinburg or to grandma's.  My goal this week and next is to still unload boxes and clean one room a day due to my recent moving.  I plan to take one morning out of my housekeeping schedule and tell a story to the Head Start boys and girls.  Probably "The Tin Man." Also put Oct. 26 on your calendar for Head Start's Open House, 1-4 p.m.
Sympathy to Cathy Lester, Head Start director, in the death of her mother, Katherine Luvell in Michigan.  Also condolecenses to Donna Huffman Paris in the death of her mother, Jessie Fay Flory, last weekend.
Get-well wishes to Vera Bobbitt, Brenda Tramel, Eddie Sutton and to my cousin, Mary Elizabeth Cox in Panama City, on having surgery this week.
Last weekend Rev. Terry and Rosie Little headed to a small town, Huntersville, W. Virginia, for their annual Huntersville Tradition Day. They stayed in a B&B, The Carriage House.  The reason for the trip was that Rosie's great uncle was involved in the Civil War and buried in tha area.
There were 20 graves of soldiers in that cemetery but most of them had died from typhoid fever along with the battles.  Rev. Little had the prayer at the cemetery. Someone portrayed Gen. Lee and ladies dressed in that era costume. D.A.R ladies put a rose on each grave.  Rosie took some Tennessee dirt and sprinkled on her great uncle, Charles Callahan's grave. She has been doing research about her great uncles with priceless letters about their lives back then. They enjoyed supper the first evening at the little Methodist church there and a fashion show with the Civil War attire the next evening.  It was a nostalgia step back in time.
I gathered, along with famliar friends of Bill Lassiter's down at Webb's Drug Store last Friday.  Bill and his wife Sally were there to autograph his book, The Lonesome Goose and Other Stories.  I was the first to arrive on the scene while Annette was stirring around getting set up for him amidst all her latest arrival of Christmas merchandise.
Friends like Don Fuson, Dora Moore, Jerry Winfrey, Jerry lee Cantrell, Faye Fuqua, Sherry Bush began to come in and visit with Bill. I came home that evening, got engrossed in the book and read the whole 126 pages.
I told Sally that I was impressed with Bill's writings.  Couldn't believe that this was an ol' classmate that I knew back when. Bill was my classmate in first grade. One day he loaned me his earmuffs one cold day. When I came home with them, my mother put a guilt trip on me and said, "Poor Billy. If he had to walk home without them, his ears may freeze and fall off."  So the next day, I returned them.  My first boyfriend gift had to be returned!
Have you noticed the new facade of McDonald's?  It is even nicer inside with the contemporary art on the walls.  If you got the coupons, drop by and enjoy the new look.
My closing thought: "Being happy doesn't mean everything is perfect. It means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections."  Amen.