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2C ♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2006 Mama’s good life is full of love Mama said the most wonderful thing recently. What she said is something I wish I could hear from the mouths of everyone I care about. “I’ve had the best life,” she commented in an out of-the-blue statement. She smiled sweetly. “I know my time on earth is dwindling down but I wouldn’t change one iota about my life. It’s exactly what I wanted.” Now Mama’s life, on any scale of measurement, has not been grand. It has been as a simple as a cotton gingham dress. There have been few vaca tions, store-bought clothes or new cars. Her memories, unlike mine, don’t include any his torical moments or out-of WH ' v - - ' ' ' MB #8 v fl i§L w fm Contributed Six boys from Cub Scout Pack 419 received the highest achievement in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light. Their cere mony took place at Crossroads United Methodist Church in November. From left, Luke Rabon, Russell Bugg, Brandon Webb, Josh Plested, Zachary Holton and Austin Woody. Their den leaders are Jimmy and Jann Rabon. New eagle scout .&&.<* Mmn : . ■ %y^Mfe' l ': - ♦| ll j fci -* - ■ * Contributed Christian Riddiemoser, a home-schooled sophomore, received the Boy Scout’s highest award, the rank of Eagle Scout, at a ceremony at Christ United Methodist Church on Nov. 12. The son of Patricia and Tom Riddiemoser of Warner Robins, Christian is a member of Troop 550, spon sored by Christ United Methodist Church. Riddiemoser earned 31 merit badges and served as patrol leader of Troop 55. He planned and executed a service project at the Ga. Academy for the Blind in Macon, leading about 20 scouts and friends in improving the rounds, plant ing new shrubs and rose bushes and installing tree and ground bird feeders. Riddiemoser and his parents are members of Central Georgia Christian Home Educators and is a volunteer at the Academy for the Blind, at the Trinity UMC food bank and at Heroes and Villains Comic Book Store. \JoMEN\ 4 Mew and Gently Used Apparel and Accessories S| BRAND NAMES WE CARRY: Lp~Jj Ralph Lauren * Ann Taylor • Brighton mm ljM • Coach • Dooney & Bourke • Saks sth5 th Ave Jjj / M • Hollister * American Eagle • Abercrombie• Liz, and More 1 Blvd. (behind Chick-fil-a) (478) 328-2041 the-ordinary adventures. It has been as mundane of an existence as any woman of the rural South could ever know. Still, she has loved it and prized it mightily. What more can you ask? She’s had abundance of what everyone who lives the happiest lives have - she has known love as mighty as the Mississippi and as strong as the four winds that blow in unison. “I married the love of my life and had him for 56 years. No woman has ever been loved more than me,” she continued. “I know I ain’t had no fancy life but I’ve had exactly all I wanted. I just wanted to be a wife and a mama and that’s what the Good Lord allowed me to Top honors be. I’ve been blessed.” It brought me up short and reminded me that con tentment lies in the heart and can be found in the simplest of lives. 1 m proud for the life you have and proud of my lit tle girl’s success,” P she said. “But you couldn’t be one bit happier than I’ve been all these years. And you know me. Basically, I just stayed at home and took care of things around there except for church on Sunday.” cMew c jYzma/s Noah Crawford Holcomb Chuck and Zandra Crawford Holcomb of Perry announce the birth of a son, Noah Crawford Holcomb, at Houston Medical Center Nov. 20. Grandparents of the baby are Noah Holcomb of Centerville, and Pat and Clifford Crawford of Marshallville. Jon Wesley Culver Monty and Heather Hanebuth Culver of Warner Robins announce the birth of a son, Jon Wesley Culver, at Houston Medical Center Nov. 20. Grandparents of the baby are Harvey Hanebuth of Warner Robins, John and Gloria Culver of Killeen, TX, and Susan Hill of Roscoe, IL. Liliana Marie Fowler Subscribe today Call 987-1823 Thank You for a Wonderful Year! We Wish You a Merry Christmas! C s dT/ie Store J A Division oi Sou:hen,! Flectricai Supply f' a 926 Carroll St. • Perry, GA 31069 478-224-8888 T-F 9am-spm SAI loam-2pm —w. j LIFESTYLE A while back, a long-time friend passed away. I had visited with him on his ter race shortly before death had plucked at his ear and summoned him. By accounts of earth ly measurement, he was impeccably successful. His career had been stellar and he had shared generously with those around him. But as death eased with certainty toward him, he had regrets. “I’ve made a lot of money,” he said with a shrug. “Now, I’m leaving it for the vul tures to fight over. All that money can’t heal my body or bring forth the peace of a satisfied man.” My eyes watered as I studied the regret and disappoint ment in his faded eyes. I Ronda Rich Columnist William, 111 and Kathleen Erb Fowler of Kathleen announce the birth of a daughter, Elliana Marie Fowler, at Houston Medical Center Nov. 19. Grandparents of the baby are Art and Rita Fowler of Cashiers, NC, and Ronald and Janet Erb of Bart, PA. Charlton Kori Gordon Kimberly Whitehead and Charles Gordon of Centerville announce the birth of a son, Charlton Kori Gordon, at Houston Medical Center Nov. 19. Grandparents of the baby are Corinithia Rawls of Perry, and Dorothy Whitehead of Macon. knew he had spent years chasing success as a way of covering up for the personal happiness he neglected. “What’s your biggest regret?” I asked because we were close enough that I knew he’d tell me. In fact, I felt he needed to get it off his chest. He swallowed hard and looked away, focusing on a hawk that coasted lazily through the blue sky. He sighed and I could hear the heartbreak in that deep breath. “I let the woman I love get away. Pretended it didn’t matter. That as long as I could make money, I could have anything I wanted on earth and be happy.” He shook his head. “What a fool was I.” I wanted to cry but for The kids and the tree We have a new game at our house. It’s called pull an orna ment off the Christmas tree and throw it back into the middle of the green branch es to see if it sticks. This game was invented by my 21-month old son, and is played with much gusto by h i m despite m y attempts to con vince him that it is a “no-no.” In fact, he has heard IBir la. • Igraf Sherri Martin The Front Porch that phrase so much that he thinks the name of the Christmas tree is “No-No- No!” much like the cartoon dog who told his canine pal, “My name is ‘No, No, Bad Dog.’ What’s yours?” The glee with which my son plays this game is in direct correlation to how many ornaments are on the floor. Because despite his many attempts, the ornaments just won’t stick in the bushy branches and instead obey the laws of gravity all the way down to the floor. This leaves the top two-thirds of our tree decorated - with the breakable ornaments of course - and the bottom third with plenty of gaps where ornaments used to be. Martha Stewart would not approve. My older son and I periodically pick up the ornaments that litter the floor and hang them back in the empty spots. This just provides more bait for the master redeco rator. However he is rather innovative in finding other ways to use the ornaments besides for developing his pitching arm. He loves anything with wheels, as most boys do, and is very adept at making $150,000,000 Georgia Power Company Insured Quarterly Notes due Dec. 15, 2040* Georgia Power Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Southern Company, is a regulated public utility engaged in the generation, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy within an approximately 59,200 square mile service area comprising most of the State of Georgia. • Expected Yield: 5.55% - 5.65% • AAA rated by Standard & Poor’s • Aaa rated by Moody's Edward D. Jones & Co., L.R is pleased to be the managing underwriter for this offering. For further information and a copy of the prospectus, call or stop by today. ‘Callable at 100.00% on or after 12/15/11 These notes are offered only by the prospectus. This ad shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualifica tion under the securities laws of such state. Subject to availability and price change. R. Chris Kinnas, Jr. 913 Main Street Perry, GA 31069 478-988-7915 www.edwardjoneß.com Edward Jones Member SIPC Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL his down trodden sake, I didn’t. He turned his eyes to me. “Now you listen to me: don’t let that happen to you. Nothing’s more important than love. No amount of money or success can equal it.” Funny, but that’s exactly what Mama, in her own way, said, too. While my friend couldn’t take his money to the grave, Mama will take that love with her. And, she’ll find more of it waiting for her on the other side. Good choice, Mama. Ronda Rich is the best selling author of What Southern Woman Know (That Every Woman Should) and The Town That Came A-Courtin ’. the “vroom-vroom” sound most boys seem instinctive ly to know. Several of the ornaments at the bottom of the tree have wheels - Santa on a bike, a choo-choo train, a little tractor. So what that they’re attached to a branch? He just pulls the ornament to the floor, bending the branch down, and “vrooms” away. He also recently discov ered that there is actually water in that big green thing at the bottom of the tree. I sometimes wonder what he’s thinking. “Mom and Dad have already lost it by bringing a tree inside the house, and now they’ve put a bunch of water right at floor level where I can reach it? This is too cool!” So far, things are actually going better than I expect ed. The tree is still upright, no ornaments have been broken, and a few of them sprinkled around on the floor is no big deal to me. Of course I have yet to put any presents under the tree. I think I’m subcon sciously avoiding wrapping them because I have a feel ing he will quickly develop the game of “how fast can this paper be torn off this big box?” I’ve considered just wrapping the presents and leaving the bows off until the very last minute. I well remember how his big brother, at nearly the same age, developed an interest in one bow on one certain present. I had to tell my brother-in-law that his gift was unadorned thanks to his nephew. Perhaps little brother would stick to just one present as well. Or maybe I should wrap a present and put wheels on it. Then he could “vroom” it around the tree, leaving the other presents and the ornaments alone for the rest of the season. Now that would be a Christmas miracle. || 41865