Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
The Braselton News
Page 5A
V
^
o
o
Opinion - Lifestyle
Savannah offers historical charm
By Loran Smith
SAVANNAH — The first trip
off the farm where I grew up in
middle Georgia came when I was
of pre-school age and joined a
group of rural folks in Johnson
County for a day trip to Tybee Is
land "to see the ocean."
It was something like a three-
hour ride on a groaning, old,
yellow school bus. My paternal
grandmother took me along on
the trip, the very first travel ad
venture of my fife.
Even today, I can remember
the overwhelming astonishment I
experienced by seeing the mighty
Atlantic, never once thinking that
I would someday cross this vast
ocean in an airplane.
The other impression that was
frequently pounded into my head
was that I should not venture
away from my grandmother and
run the risk of being entrapped by
the under tow.
"We might never see you
again,” my grandmother advised.
The culture in which I grew up
there was always an accentuation
of the negative. Provincial people
usually fear the worst. I can re
member a lady telling my Sunday
School Class, “Don’t never go in
water until you learn to swim." In
my precocious, provincial years I
never figured out how I was go
ing the accomplish that.
On that first travel adventure,
I remember hearing the ocean
roar. I saw its power and force
that became a reminder that I
would never be a sailor. Joining
the Coast Guard, which I did after
college, was a matter of conve
nience. That introduced me to sea
sickness which has kept me from
becoming an aficionado of ocean
cruises.
However, that first travel expe
rience would lead to a lifelong af
fection for this Georgia port city.
All excursions here bring about
elevated anticipation when I
make the drive down to Chatham
County, where I enjoy interacting
with friends and embracing the
city’s peculiar history. I am fas
cinated by the lore and legend of
Gen. James Edward Oglethorpe's
arrival to establish a colony in the
name of King George n.
There are many historical vi
gnettes related to the settling of
what would become the state of
Georgia. Joining Oglethorpe on
his second voyage to the colony
was John Wesley, the co-founder
of the Methodist Church. There
was a move by the great religious
icon to convert the legendary
Indian chief, Tomochichi, who
befriended the general, to Chris
tianity.
The wizened Indian chief de
murred, noting the hypocrisy that
often accompanies religion.
"Why talk Christian?" the
chief said in his fractured English.
“Christian at Savannah, Chris
tian at Frederica, Christian much
drunk. Christian tell lies. Devil is a
Christian, me no Christian."
Any trip to Savannah makes
you appreciative of the history of
the city and the interesting towns
and counties along the way, espe
cially if you take the back roads
via Greensboro, Sparta, Gibson,
Louisville, Millen, Guyton and
Bloomingdale.
You arrive here, and you renew
your abiding appreciation for the
memory of songwriter Johnny
Mercer, who had many credits to
his remarkable legacy. He was a
friend of Hollywood icons such
as Bing Crosby, Judy Garland,
George Gershwin and Cole Por
ter. He wrote lyrics to four Acad
emy Award-winning songs and is
buried at Bonaventure cemetery.
Mercer founded the Songwrit
ers Hall of Fame. He never forgot
his Savannah roots. I enjoy finding
my way to the Moon River Bridge
near here and immediately am
moved to recall his lyrics about
his hometown body of water.
“Moon River, wider that a mile.
“I’ll be crossing you in style...
someday.”
Talk about a person "having a
way with words,” Johnny Mercer
was one of the all-time greats. He
belongs at the top of the list of
those who have put pen to paper,
the extraordinary poets, elite com
posers and legendary American
writers.
Of course, you come here, you
want to put your hand in the paw
of Uga, the University of Georgia
mascot — a vigorous shake to
one of the best-known celebrities
associated with the great state
university. As it has been for more
than six decades, the Seiler fam
ily has raised and coddled all the
mascots, with the greatest of love
and affection.
No labors in any category have
been laced with more love than
that of the Seiler's for the Ugas.
They have never commercialized
the mascots and have always been
the most passionate of caretakers
with the most substantial of devo
tion. Tender loving care has been
the Seiler modus operandi with
the mascots, sharing them with
all University requests and sup
porting humane society events
and projects ad nauseam.
Such little things that the av
erage Georgia fan is unaware of
— like Charles Seiler taking his
lunch hour every day to go home
and walk Uga X. That is but one
of the little things that comes with
taking care of the most famous
mascot in the country.
The Ugas never suffer for at
tention when they travel on behalf
of the University of Georgia. It is
the same way at home.
Loran Smith is a columnist
for Mainstreet Newspapers and
a University of Georgia sports
radio announcer. He can be
reached at loransmith@sports.
uga.edu.
My raising
By Ronda Rich
“Did you have any raising at all?"
Tink asked jokingly. This question
comes up fairly regularly.
He truly was teasing because he of
ten expresses admiration for my parents
whom he never met and often says, “I
can’t wait to get to heaven and meet
Ralph and Bonelle.”
He is correct, though. The rules of my
raising were loose and mostly non-exis
tent. But I always had an inner compass
of sorts that kept me well behaved and
mindful of how I should act.
The rules — if you want to call them
that — consisted of clean underwear
daily, church any time the doors were
open, out of bed in the morning the first
time Mama came to the door, respectful
manners (children are to be seen and not
heard), and good grades.
Other than that. I pretty much roamed
freely.
This was probably owing to the fact
that I was what they called in those
days “a change of life baby.” I was un
expected but joyful news. They always
said that with warm conviction. Oddly,
Daddy and both of his sisters all had
“late in life” babies. One sister, in fact,
was hospitalized with what the doctors
woefully called “a big tumor" when all
a-sudden. she delivered a baby boy and
stunned them all.
By the time I came along, Mama and
Daddy were practically through with
raising three children so they cast their
lot with the good Lord and let me run
as I saw fit. They trusted Him to see me
through.
This all entertains Tink tremendously.
It was rarely before 11 p.m. that I went
to bed even when I was 8 or 9. That's
why I can recite for you the entire TV
schedule on all three networks from
8 p.m. until the late news came on and
the announcer asked solemnly. “It's
11 p.m. Do you know where your chil
dren are?”
We might be a lot better off today if
the newscasters still asked that.
I turned the record player on in my
room and they gamely endured my loud
singing. I knew every word to “Don't
Come Home A-Drinkin’ (With Lovin’
On Your Mind)’’ and “When You’re Hot,
You’re Hot.”
Tink finds this puzzling.
I do remember Mama putting her foot
down firmly one time to my great dis
pleasure. I had just started dating. The
phone rang. Mama and I were in the
kitchen. I said, “If that’s Robbie, tell
him I’m not here.”
Mama answered the beige-colored
phone that hung on the wall, listened for
a second, cut her eyes over to me and
said, “Yes, she is. Just a moment.”
With a no-nonsense look, she handed
me the phone. It was Robbie. I was curt
with him and mad at Mama.
“Why," I asked when I practically
slammed down the phone, “did you not
tell him I wasn’t here?”
She looked me levelly in the eye. “I’m
not gonna lie for you."
Nice example for a lesson that needed
to be learned.
There was no hassle over my study
ing. I loved books and was drawn to
ward learning. This did not include
math but I learned to add and subtract
enough that I’ve given more than one
Hollywood studio a run for their money
when they made a miscalculation on a
contract of Tink’s.
Not long ago, I was in a doctor’s office
with a doctor who is a devout follower
of my writings. She smiled. “A couple
of years ago, I had one of your teachers
in here. She said that you were one of
the brightest students she ever taught.”
Too bad that HIPPA rules prevented
her from telling me who.
But all in all, Mama's and Daddy’s ca
sual parenting style and the good Lord
saw me through. I never pitched a tan
trum in the middle of the grocery store
and I always wore clean underwear.
Thank you to Mama, Daddy and the
good Lord.
Ronda Rich is the author of Mark My
Words. Visit www.rondarich.com to sign
up for her free weekly newsletter.
LEADING CARE
IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
With a strong network of practices and services, compassionate, trusted expertise is
within your reach. Our team of dedicated physicians provides patient-centered care to fit
your unique health needs. Experience the power of Northside in your neighborhood.
Schedule your virtual or in-person visit today.
NORTHSIDE
HOSPITAL
Our Locations
Northeast Georgia
Diagnostic Clinic
1270 Friendship Road, Suite 100
Braselton, GA 30517
770-536-9864
ngdc.com
Northside Hospital
Cardiovascular Institute
1255 Friendship Road, Suite 120
Braselton, GA 30517
404-962-6000
northsidecvi.com
Arthritis and
Total Joint Specialists
1255 Friendship Road, Suite 200
Braselton, GA 30517
770-292-6500
arthritisandtotaljoint.com
Suburban Hemotology -
□neology Associates
2098 Teron Trace, Suites 400-500
Dacuia, GA 30019
678-722-3940
gwinnettcancercare.com