Newspaper Page Text
The True Citizen, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 — Page 5A
Dixie Divas
A CHRISTMAS GIFT
By Ronda Rich
Last year’s best present was
from neither friend nor loved
one. It was
gifted to me
by life. One
of those rare
lessons that
grows more
beautiful in
memory as
time passes.
But when
life tried to give it to me. I threw
a bit of a tantrum. I did not want
it. I stomped my feet, sniffed
hard, determined not to cry
though I wanted to. and did ev
erything within my power to
keep from taking it. But life per
sisted. She was insistent that I
accept it and when, at last. I did,
I was amazed by its gorgeous
ness then stunned by how close,
due to my stubbornness, I came
to missing it.
It was an unusually busy No
vember and December, with lots
of work and much travel. I had
one more business trip to make
before Christmas then I could
come home, settle down and
enjoy the holidays.
I anticipated that with eager
ness. A few days before Christ
mas, I flew to New York to
lunch with a buyer from the
nation’s largest chain of book
stores.
She had already made a big
commitment to support my up
coming book and wanted me to
shoot some video for their
website. I also planned to dine
with my agent, spend the night
then grab an early morning
flight home.
With a couple of free hours
to spend, I pulled my hat down
over my ears, wrapped my
throat from the cold in a color
ful scarf and marched over to
the New York Times to see
Winnie, a childhood friend, who
is now a high-ranking editor
there.
She thrilled me by inviting me
to sit in on the “front page”
meeting then graciously toured
me around the newspaper. She
walked me out and commented
on the growing dark grayness of
the skies.
“There’s a big snow storm
coming in. They’re already
closed my children’s school for
tomorrow.”
I whirled around. My mouth
dropped. This was breaking
news that I had somehow
missed. "What!” I exclaimed.
“When? Are you sure?”
She smiled and nodded. "You
may be stuck here for a couple
of days. Call if need me.”
That’s what happened. When
I returned to my hotel from din
ner with my agent, the airline
called, announced the cancella
tion of my flight - 14 hours be
fore the first snowflake fell -
and rescheduled me for three
days later. I desperately wanted
to leave. I did everything pos
sible to find a way home -
plane, train, car — but to no
avail. I accepted not my fate
with good cheer.
My publisher called and
beautifully rose to the occasion.
They moved me to the best ho
tel in town and said, “See a
Broadway play, anything you
want and send us the bill. Just
be comfortable and have a good
time.”
Resigned finally to my im
prisonment in NYC, I headed
down to Macy’s in the blowing
snow, bought a pair of snow
boots and settled in to enjoy my
capture by the Yankees. Once I
got my attitude right, it became
one of the sweetest times of my
life.
Those few days showed me
Manhattan at its best: Wrapped
in snow, Christmas lights, big
red bows and lots of cheer. In a
city of diversity, signs blinked
“Merry Christmas” and “Happy
Hanukkah” and I was warmed
from the wet chill by repeated
kindnesses from strangers.
Early on Saturday morning, I
quietly absorbed the beauty of
Rockefeller Center, watching a
few ice skaters, admiring the
huge, lighted tree and 20-foot
toy soldiers. Over the loud
speakers, Bing Crosby crooned
" White Christmas ” followed by
"Silver Bells”. I softly sang
along, “It’s Christmastime in the
city.”
Again, I looked at the as
tounding beauty around me, my
eyes opened reluctantly to it.
"Thank you, Lord,” I whis
pered. "This is a wonderful
present. I’m sorry I was so un
gracious.”
I hated to go home.
Ronda Rich is the best-selling
author of What Southern Women
Know About Faith. Visit
www.rondarich.com to sign up
for her newsletter.
Other Voices
By F. Leslie Jenkins Jr.
Burke Banter Boy
I was only five years old and
really excited about Christmas
and Santa Claus coming. I don’t
remember what I asked Santa to
bring me that Christmas, nor do
I remember what I got under the
tree that year. I do know it was
the first time I remember riding
on a train. I believe I had rid
den a train a time or two before,
but I was too young to remem
ber the adventure.
In any event, riding a train
was not an everyday affair for
me. Neither was train riding a
frequent happening for the
people closest to me. In fact,
walking was my family’s main
way of getting from one place
to another, for we didn’t own an
automobile. We weren’t alone.
Not many folks owned autos
during the depression.
As the year was approaching
its end, my father was trying to
eke out a living by running a
small grocery store in Hiltonia,
Ga. My mother, who was still a
very young lady, since she mar
ried at sixteen, was anxiously
awaiting Christmas.
She had missed but one
Christmas at her family’s home.
She was determined not to miss
another. Before Christmas Day
she and Dad talked about how
we would get to Sardis where
her parents lived. Dad finally
suggested that Mom and I take
the train to Sardis. He would
follow later by hitch-hiking.
Then Christmas Day arrived.
Mom got us ready. We had a few
bundles of gifts. The S. and A.
Train Station was not far from
where we lived, so we made our
way there on foot. The baggage
man helped with our packages
and helped us get on the train.
The train was scheduled to
leave Hiltonia at ten that morn
ing. At nine-thirty, we were
waiting in the station. We
boarded the train at ten minutes
till ten. Right on time at ten, the
whistle blew and the train be
gan to move.
We were on our way. It was
the thrill of thrills for a little five
year old boy. As the train began
picking up speed, the conduc
tor came into the passenger car
collecting tickets. He was as
surprised to see us as we were
to see him. You see, he was my
uncle. My Dad’s sister’s hus
band. He lived in Savannah, so
he would be missing Christmas
Day with his family. However,
his parents lived in Wrens, GA,
so he would get to spend part of
the day with them.
From Hiltonia to Sardis,
Uncle Russell took good care of
us. The trip was only nine or ten
miles, but it took about an hour
to get to Sardis. We had one
brief stop at Millhaven Planta
tion, but all that was part of the
great adventure this five year
old was enjoying. It was neces
sary for the train to back into the
station at Millhaven.
The engineer drove the train
past a ‘ Y’ that ran from the main
line across Brier Creek and into
the village of Millhaven. Then
he backed the train across the
high trestle over the creek. This
was all watched closely through
the fascinated eyes of this young
lad. What great stuff to tell my
cousins about when I got to my
grandparents home.
We pulled out of Millhaven
and headed for Sardis. No more
stops until we got to Sardis. It
seemed as if we were flying as
we breezed past the woods and
fields. We sped past Murray Hill
because there would be no stop
ping there today. Then, across a
trestle past Vestal Lumber Com
pany, and into the big city of
RFD
From Page 4A
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them
into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let us now go
even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass,
which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and
the babe lying in a manger.
And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the say
ing which was told them concerning this child.
And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were
told them by the shepherds.
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for
all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto
them.
Looking Back From Page 4A
Commission candidates included Judson Thompson and George
Perkins.
Fullback Gary Glover and tackle Jack Cox were among 46
University of Georgia freshmen who received red numeral sweat
ers.
75 years ago: December 21,1934
First National Bank was completing renovations totaling more
than $5,000 that would give the institution “some of the most
modern banking facilities in the area.”
Commissioner Zack Cravey said that land owners did not need
licenses to hunt on their own property.
Local businesses extending Christmas greetings included White
Way Cafe, W.M. Fulcher Insurance, Dixie Dry Cleaners, Lewis
Hardware and Dixie Undertaking Co.
MY 1930 CHRISTMAS
Sardis.
Even at that tender age, I
loved Sardis and considered it
my home even while living else
where. My Mom, I am sure, felt
the same way-we were home. At
the Sardis Depot, we ran into
some of Mom’s friends and they
were happy to transport us to my
grandparents’ house. As we
drove up to my Mother’s former
home, Papa met us. “I sent Joe
to Hiltonia to pick yall up”. Joe
was Mothers’ younger brother.
“We rode the train up here”. A
few minutes later Joe drove up
with my Dad in the car with
him. Everything works out!
Mama and Pop, that’s what I
called my grandparents, lived
on a hill. Now, there are few
hills of any great size in Sardis,
but theirs was a nice hill. They
owned lots that encompassed
half a block. Behind their lot
were acres and acres of wooded
land ready to be explored. On
their half block, they had oodles
of chickens and one cow. There
was a barn to hold the cow and
bales of peanut hay for the cow
to munch on. So, one can
readily see that Mama and Pop’s
place was a virtual playground
for kids.
At that time I was an only
child. It would be sixteen years
before my mother gave birth to
my sister. Mother’s older sister
had five children, so I had
plenty of playmates on Christ
mas Day. The first few minutes
after arriving were devoted to
telling what Santa had brought
us and some light playing
around the house. We wanted to
be close when the call for din
ner came.
Soon the call came. We young
ones were seated at a big table
on the back screened-in porch.
Mama had prepared a grand
meal. There were so many dif
ferent dishes that a plate would
not even hold a spoon full of
each of those gourmet delights.
A feast was set before us, and
feast we did. Though only five
I ate my fair share of those deli
cious morsels.
After the meal came to an
end, it was time to exchange
gifts. So again our young hearts
were gladdened by new gifts to
open. We played with our new
toys a few minutes, but we were
anxious to explore the hidden
delights in the woods. Off we
went, adventurers, brave and
true.
No one was told of our dis
coveries for we swore each
other to absolute secrecy. We
continued to play and explore
until we heard the calls of our
mothers that ended our adven
tures. As darkness fell on that
long ago Christmas Day, the
adults began shooting firecrack
ers, roman candles and such. We
ii
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Wimberly House
Ministries, Inc.
521 S. Liberty St., Waynesboro *706-554-6644
706-794-2567 • Nancy Minyard
Monday-Friday, 3-5:30 p.m.
• Jamie Taylor After School Program,
grades K-5,
(during school year for latchkey children)
Mondays & Tuesdays, 9
a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Counseling Services - Carole Meek,
M.Ed., N.C.C., L.P.C.
By appointment, 706-439-8900 or
706-554-6644
Mondays, 4 - 5:30 p.m.
■ Cub Scouts
Mondays, 7:00 p.m.
• Alcoholics Anonymous •Al-Anon
Tuesdays, 11 a.m.
•Parenting Classes — Infant First Aid
•Women’s Health
■Parenting Young Children -Drug
Awareness for Parents (By Appointment)
2nd Tuesdays, 6 p.m.
• Breast Cancer Support Group -
Louise Fortson, 706-554-2854
Thursday, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
■ Girl Scouts - Daisies & Brownies
Fridays, 7 p.m.
• A Ieoh olios Anonymous
Saturdays, 9 a.m.
• Overeaters Anonymous
•24 Hours a Day
•Rape Crisis & Sexual Assault
Services •706-437-8500
For appointments & information
contact:
Nancy Minyard, Executive Director
at 706-554-6644 or 706-551-0526
Wimberly House Ministries, Inc. is a non-profit, non-denominational ecumenical outreach desiring to
provide help and hope to people in this community. Scholarships are available on the basis of need.
kids were handed sparklers to
wave in the air and light the
night.
What a day for a five year old
boy! Wake up to Santa Claus’
visit, take a glorious train ride,
play with my cousins, partake
of the feast of feasts, get more
gifts and play in the woods. But
I’ll never forget that S. and A.
Train ride.
You can reach F. Leslie
Jenkins Jr., Burke Banter Boy,
via email: f291@bellsouth.net
Burke Happenings
NAACP
The Burke County branch of the NAACP will hold its annual
Jubilee Day celebration 11 a.m., Friday, January 1, at Thomas
Grove Baptist Church, located at 426 West Sixth Street,
Waynesboro.
The speaker will be Vincent Brown.
Christmas Party
A Christmas party will be held 9 p.m.-until, Friday, Dec. 25, at
American Legion Post #270, located on Highway 80.
OPEN
Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings
Sardis Baptist Church
Sardis, GA
Thursday: 8 PM
Saturday: 8 AM
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS
Monday and Friday at 7 p.m. at the Wimberly House at
521 S. Liberty St., Waynesboro. These meetings are
open and anyone can attend. AA already has...
Step Study: Tuesdays (Open Meetings) - 8:00 p.m.
Thursdays (ClosedMeetings) - 8:00 p.m.
at Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Hwy. 24 South - Waynesboro
ALANON
Open Meeting-Monday - 8 p.m.
at Wimberly House
521 S. Liberty St., Waynesboro
eed Signs or Banners?
Magnetic Signs?
romotional Products
for your business?
Printing?
11 Bonnie, 706-554-2111.
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