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TheTrue Citizen, Wednesday, December 30, 2009 — Page 5
Dixie Divas
By Ronda Rich
Unlike many people. I’m not
a maker of New Year’s resolu
tions. Mainly because when I
see the need
for change
or improve
ment, I re
solve to fix
it then, even
if it’s July
23rd or Oc
tober 1st. I
don’t wait
until the first of the year.
But I have discovered the
need for sweeping change in my
life, so large that I have spent
the past couple of months put
ting a strategic plan in place to
accomplish it.
I’m tired of being stretched
and stressed. It is rare to find an
empty day on my calendar and
at least 50 percent of those days
have me on the road. Usually,
I’m traveling for speaking en
gagements or other business.
When I do have a rare day or
two that finds me at home, I
have a peculiar idea that I can
get some work done. It even
occurs to me that I could do
what I get paid to do - write!
Sometimes I treat my writing as
though it’s a hobby not what
pays my bills and puts food in
Dixie Dew’s bowl.
Don’t ask me how and don’t
ask for particulars because I
can’t even remember but days
at home disappear quickly while
nothing productive profession
ally has been done. Mainly, be-
THE YEAR OF ME -
cause I have said "yes” every
time someone called and asked
a favor or invited me some
where. I just try to please ev
eryone and make them happy.
It’s wearing me out. And, worse
than that. I’m getting no work
done.
It’s important to be selfless
but sometimes you have to be
selfish. That’s why I’m pro
claiming, at least in my house
hold, that 2010 will be "The
Year of Me.”
Ask anyone who knows me
well, especially those related to
me, and they’ll probably say,
“What’s new about that? Her
life is always about her.”
Not true. Sometimes it’s about
Dixie Dew.
When I decided to pass on a
NEW YEAR’S 2010
trip that several family members
were taking, though they all
begged me to join them, I tried
to explain: I just didn’t want to
go. I had five solid reasons for
making that decision.
“But we want you to go.”
They sweetly begged, pleaded
and cajoled.
“I’m sorry.”
“Life is not always about
you,” someone said when it was
evident that I wasn’t changing
my mind. “Sometimes it’s about
what other people want.”
Ouch. I put forth much effort
and stress trying to ascertain that
others get everything they want
from me. Why bother if others
still think that my diligent effort
is not enough?
“That’s not fair,” I responded
in a level tone. “No one puts
their family first more than I do.
But sometimes, sometimes, I
have earned the right for it to
be about me.”
That’s when I got the bright
idea to make a whole year about
me. Not just a weekend. After
all, if folks think that I make my
life all about me anyway, why
not comply? Why not get the
pure joy out of it?
I’m starting to enjoy the
thought of all this. For instance,
the next time someone calls and
asks me to attend a fund raiser
that coincides with my hair ap
pointment - which due to the
limited amount of time my
sweet Sandy works is hard to
reschedule - I’ll say, “I’m so
sorry but I can’t. Since this is
the Year of Me, I can’t possibly
reschedule my hair appoint
ment.”
If any of you dear people
would like to contribute to the
Year of Me in some way, say
sending flowers, a housekeeper
or spa gift certificates, feel wel
comed. Even though it’s the
Year of Me, I’ll still send you a
thank you note.
Oh, this is sounding good.
Real good. Come to think about
it: this isn’t a resolution. It’s a
promise. The Year of Me. I’m
looking forward to it.
Ronda Rich is the author of
the best-selling What Southern
Women Know About Faith. Visit
www.rondarich.com to sign up
for her weekly newsletter.
Other Voices
SERVING THE SARDIS AREA
By F. Leslie Jenkins Jr.
Burke Banter Boy
January, 1,2010 will mark 79
years that the Jenkins family has
had the privilege of serving the
good folks in Sardis and the sur
rounding communities.
I was just six years old when
my father.F. L. Jenkins Sr.,
opened a grocery store here. For
79 years the business has been
in the continuous operation and
ownership of the Jenkins fam
ily.
The business has survived the
Great Depression, many reces
sions, a flood and a fire. It has
survived the inroads of much
competition and incredible
changes. I believe I can say that
we never had a year that we
didn’t make a profit. Some years
were very lean indeed, but we
managed to make a living.
All through the years it has
been our primary purpose to
give the best service and prices.
Many times we were undercut
in prices by a competitor, but we
survived and they didn’t. We
don’t think we have ever been
undercut when it comes to ser
vice and friendliness.
The big question suddenly
occurred to me - "How can we
ever thank all the thousands of
customers we have had over the
years?” Thank you, thank you,
thank you is all we can say and
we promise to give even better
service in the years ahead.
It was a humble beginning my
father made back in 1932. His
first store was located in Old
Sardis on the comer across from
where the old Ira Black store is
now. The size of the building
was about 500 square feet. My
Dad stocked it with $75.00, and
good credit with local wholesal
ers. That small amount of
money would have bought
stock worth $1000.00 or
$1500.00 at today’s prices. With
fat back meat at only 3 cents a
pound, and 24 lbs. of flour only
50 cents, one could amass quite
a sizable stock with $75.00.
Coca Colas were 5 cents and
there was even a 3 cents drink.
Big fat oil sausages, or pickled
pig feet were speared with
sharpened stick from huge jars.
It took a whole nickel to buy one
of them. For those few souls
who could afford it, round steak
was 15 cents a pound. Soon he
moved from Old Sardis to New
Sardis. The bank had gone
broke so he rented that build
ing and vended his goods from
there.
Oh! How times change!
Thirty-five years later, I made
the decision to expand the busi
ness at a cost of $50,000.00.
Prices had increased. Fat back
meat was then 15 cents a pound,
but we were still selling frying
size chickens for as little as 19
cents a pound. A loaf of bread
was as cheap as 19 cents, and
Cokes were only dime.
But then in 1999, my son Les
III decided more expansion was
needed. The cost of this venture
proved to be considerably
greater. From a stock of $75 in
1932, to a stock of almost
$200,000 was the difference
brought about by inflation.
When the cost of the building
and equipment was added, it
turned out to be a substantial
investment. Sorry to say, there
is no more 19 cents bread or 15
cents a pound steak-guess those
days are gone forever.
While prices continue to rise
through the years, folks are
making more money. There are
many more choices available,
so better life styles exist now
than ever before.
Gone is the 5 cent Coke, but
the variety of drinks now a days
is endless. No more 19 cents a
pound fryers, but chicken now
come in all sorts of cuts and
packages ready for the pan.
We have come a long way,
Baby. From weighing out sugar,
rice, peas and many other com
modities and spearing oil sau
sages, we have become more
sanitary. I have a feeling that
along with all this effort at
cleaner and safer practices, in
many products we have lost the
true enriched flavor of those
bygone days.
In drawing this tale to a close,
I don’t want to neglect in any
way those thousands of patrons
living and dead who have been
the recipents of our service
through the years. So now, I
extend the heartfelt thanks of
the Jenkins’ of three generations
who have had the honored privi
lege of serving these communi
ties of such fine and gracious
people. May our association
continue on for another 79
years. Fes says come to see him.
You can reach F. Leslie
Jenkins Jr., Burke Banter Boy,
by email: f291@bellsouth.net
Letters to the Editor
Seeking forgiveness
To my dear friends, neigh
bors, and acquaintances,
It is with tremendous remorse
and regret that I pen this letter.
Many of you are aware that on
December 18, I was arrested
and charged with pandering. In
a moment of weakness, I al
lowed the devil a foothold in my
heart, which led to wrong moral
choices and the ensuing arrest.
I have broken a trust and I am
sure this was a tremendous dis
appointment to many of you,
but most of all; this was sin in
the eyes of Almighty God.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:27,
28; Ye have heard that it was
said by them of old time, Thou
shalt not commit adultery: 28 But
I say unto you, That whosoever
looketh on a woman to lust af
ter her hath committed adultery
with her already in his heart.
According to these verses, I
am guilty of sin. Someone once
said; “Sin will take you farther
than you want to go, keep you
longer than you want to stay,
and cost you more than you
want to pay.” I am here to tes
tify that this statement is entirely
and absolutely true. I believe
that God in his mercy and grace
allowed me to be arrested so that
I would not enter into physical
immorality and I praise Him for
that.
God’s Word also says in II
Peter 3:9; The Lord is not slack
concerning his promise, as
some men count slackness; but
is longsuffering to us-ward, not
willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to re
pentance.
I am thankful that God, in his
mercy and grace, has given me
the opportunity to repent and to
seek His forgiveness, as well as
the forgiveness of my wife, my
family, and my church family. I
have experienced the cleansing
and forgiveness of God and the
forgiveness of my loving and
caring wife, family, and church
family. I am now asking for
your forgiveness as well.
My prayer is that this experi
ence, painful as it may be, will
deter someone else from going
down the same path of wrong
moral choices.
I want to thank each of you
Real Estate News
Burke County property transfers for June 29-July 17, 2009.
The date indicates when the transfer was recorded in the Burke
County Clerk’s office.
John Thomas Kitchens to Shirley Smiley, 131 Fegion Drive,
Waynesboro, July 10, tax $78
Gary D. Crews to Bunnie Prescott Jr., map and parcel #
118A 44 in Sardis, July 8, tax $8
Franklin R. Scanlon to Danny J. Mobley, map and parcel #
014-052 in Midville, July 16, tax $120
Danny J. Mobley to Raymond L. Edenfield, map and par
cel # 014-053 in Midville, July 17, $100
Shelby Jean Junkins et al to Sherry Jones, map and parcel
# M01-102 in Midville, June 29, tax $18
Helena Chemical Company to William Steve Bailey, four
acres, map #9, parcel 30A, July 1, tax $100
Robert Walker Sr. to Karen W. Braddy, map and parcel #
053A-005, July 1, tax $85
Estate of John C. Hall to Timothy W. Stills, map and parcel
# 083A-015F, June 30, tax $18.50
Roy Thomas Black to Daniel R. Williams Sr., 21.43 acres
in 62 nd GM district, July 1, tax $275
who have responded with your
love, care, concern, and prayers,
as we go thru this difficult and
painful experience.
Sincerely,
Nathan Goering, Keysville
Super Speeder Fines
begin Jan. 1
Editor:
New Year’s tradition requires
that every 365 days we should
make resolutions for self im
provement to kick-start our lives
for the next year. So as the clock
strikes midnight on December
31st, we’ll make our annual
commitments to make change.
It’s never too late to kick bad
habits, learn new skills, or pol
ish up the old ones.
Unfortunately, some of our
most common resolutions are
among the hardest to keep: to
stop smoking, lose weight, man
age debt or save money all come
to mind. But this year there’s a
commitment all Georgians
should make to become better,
safer drivers. And it’s a resolu
tion we can actually keep by
simply making a conscious ef
fort to slow down as we drive.
And unlike those other reso
lutions we list each year and
promptly forget, observing safe
speeds is a good driving habit
we can renew each time we’re
behind the wheel. It’s a self-im
provement we can practice ev
ery day on the way to work, to
church, and the supermarket.
And there’s something else
about your commitment to re
duce speed that will make it dif
ferent from all those same old
New Year’s resolutions.. It
saves lives. Three Hundred and
eighty-four Georgians were
killed in speed-related crashes
here in 2007. That’s more than
a speeding death a day.
That makes speeding a ha
bitual disaster just waiting to
happen. But it’s one of life’s bad
habits that can and should be
kicked. Because nearly a quar
ter of Georgia crash fatalities
involve motorists who continue
to drive at deadly excessive
speeds. These ‘Super Speeders’
who think they cause no harm
aren’t just wrong, they’re dead
wrong!
So with the start of the New
Year, Georgia’s new ‘Super
Speeder’ Law punishes high-
risk drivers with additional
$200.00 state fines designed to
reform their high-risk behavior
behind the wheel. Governor
Sonny Perdue’s ‘Super Speeder’
measure will now help us save
precious lives and reduce seri
ous injury on Georgia road
ways.
HB 160 will target the worst
of Georgia’s Super Speeders -
Drivers who rocket along at 75
mph or more on your hometown
two-lane rural roads like a trag
edy looking for a place to hap
pen.. Or those dangerous driv
ers convicted of treating any
road like a race track at speeds
of 85 mph or more.
January 1 st , 2010 is a date
Georgia drivers should mark on
their calendars and write on a
sticky note next to their keys.
It’s the day the new state ‘Su
per Speeder’ Law goes into ef
fect. And any high-risk drivers
who make a habit of ignoring
posted speed limits will be the
first to feel the pinch of higher
state fines on their wallets.
So this New Year’s, resolve to
become a better, safer driver.
The difference may save a life.
At the very least it will save you
a $200.00 state fine and an offi
cial ‘Super Speeder’ label on
your license.
Bob Dallas, Director
Georgia Governor’s Office
of Highway Safety
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Earl Saxon
Val Prescott
locally owned and operated
220 E. 6th Street • Waynesboro, GA 30830
706-554-7999 • www.joineranderson.com
We accept transfers from
any other funeral home.
Over the past decade, many funeral homes
in the area have changed ownership and
the way they are operated.
However, we are committed to remaining
locally and family-owned. Part of that
commitment is helping families who may
wish to transfer their prearrangements from
another funeral home to ours. Our experience
has shown that when families transfer their
prearrangements to us from another funeral
home, many times they will see a substantial
savings in funeral costs.
Call us at any time if you have questions
about costs, transferring your arrangements
from another funeral home, or if we
can be of assistance in any way.
We consider it a privilege.