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The True Citizen, Wednesday, September 29, 2021 — Page 5
Ronda Rich
THE WISDOM OF GHOSTS
It’s funny how a ghost from
one’s past, long forgotten, can
suddenly reappear.
Without warning or reason,
it jumps out from behind a
door and brings a memory
cloaked in wisdom.
I was halfway through col
lege and so smitten with a
boyfriend that I would awake
in the middle of the night and
pray feverishly, begging God
not to ever let the relationship
end.
But one night, after dinner
and a movie, end it did. He
had acted peculiar since he
appeared at the front door with
a gentle knock and a sweet
smile.
“Is something wrong?” I
kept asking.
“No,uh um,” he replied, his
blue eyes betraying the words.
When he took me home,
he got out of the car and
came around to open my door.
There, in our front yard, he
told me about her.
I cried for days. I lost weight
until my clothes hung on my
bones. When my sister saw
the polish peeling from my
fingernails, she had a sharp
talking to me.
“How could you let yourself
go like this? No boy is worth
what you’re doin’ to yourself.”
It straightened me up. Slow
ly, the wound began to heal
and, in a few months, I had
found my laughter again.
One night, six months after
that breakup, I ran into him at
a high school football game.
The air was crisp on an Octo
ber night, causing our breath
to rise like curls of steam as
we chatted, awkward at first,
then gently back to how it had
once been. His eyes twinkled
with the good humor he always
possessed and there, as my old
high school team beat the one
for whom he had played, we
talked and laughed merrily.
Four days later, he called. It
was always his good manners
to call on Tuesday night to ask
for a date on Friday or Satur
day. It wasn’t like it had once
been for I was cautious and he
was embarrassed at the mistake
he had made in breaking up. It
turned out that she hadn’t cared
that much for him.
“I’m sorry,” he said and it
was clear that he meant it. We
were back together.
One Sunday afternoon, he
called. “If you’re not doing
anything, I thought I’d come
by.”
“Sure. I’m studying Hamlet.
Shakespeare can wait.”
It’s odd how it happened. We
were talking about dreams and
plans. The future. I was study
ing journalism and broadcast
ing . I had certain plans to leave
our small town for the big city
and have the kind of life that I
had read about in books.
Since I was a little girl, I
had dreamed of leaving Rural
Route One.
He looked off in the distance
then asked, “Are you sure? You
don’t want to stay here?”
I shook my head firmly.
Sadly, he fiddled with his
fingers. “I’m a country boy. I’ll
never leave here. I plan to die
right where I am.”
So, it ended again. This
time, for good and this time,
a mutual decision. I stood on
the porch and watched as he
walked slowly to his car. He
was almost to the driver’s door
when he turned and looked
back, his eyes glistening. He
tried to smile.
“Bye,” he whispered.
Just as I said I’d do, I took
off for the bright lights and
rambled through four years of
adventure until homesickness
drove me back to the very place
I had wanted to escape.
The other day, I sat down
on the step of the porch from
which I had waved that last
good-bye. I could see him
vividly. That memory had not
crossed my mind in many years
but when this ghost returned,
it whispered how wise he had
been and how wrong I was.
He was smart enough to
knew he was country but it
took three big cities to teach
me that I am, too.
Ronda Rich is the best-sell
ing author of There’s A Better
Day A-Comin’. Visit www.
rondarich.com to sign up for
her free weekly newsletter.
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The CSBMG-Burke Co. Service Center 762 Old Millen Highway, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
announces the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Agriculture funded Child and Adult Care Food Program.
The same meals will be available at a free or reduced-price to children meeting the approved eligibility criteria
listed below.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations
and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering
USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, religious creed,
disability, age, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity
conducted or funded by USDA.
Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille,
large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they
applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA
through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made
available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form.
(English) or USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form (Spanish) This form (AD-3027) is found online
at: https://www.usda.aov/oascr/how-to-file-a-program-discrimination-complaint. and at any USDA office, or
write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To
request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by
mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; fax: (202) 6907442: or email: proqram.intake@usda.gov. This
institution is an equal opportunity provider.
For information regarding this program, contact Tammy Banks at 706-437-6854.
Community Service Board of Middle Georgia-Burke County Service Center
762 Old Millen Highway, Waynesboro, Georgia 30830
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, Child Nutrition Programs - Income Eligibility
Guidelines for free and reduced-price meals are used to determine each participants’ eligibility for free and
reduced-price meals in this program. Adult participants who benefit from SNAP or who are SSI or Medicaid
participants are automatically eligible to receive free meal benefits.
Income Eligibility Guidelines
(Effective from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022)
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-♦-324
Revised 1/2021
WITH A
na J
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TRUST.
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#N0W
A NNlog 1 Coo*eg $oMoo C»■>■«»
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COMPLETE
SYSTEM
DIAGNOSTICS
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502 West 6th Street
Waynesboro, GA 30830
PHONE (706) 554-2861
GENERAC
AUTHORIZED DEALER
RffiWELL
ELECTRIC CO.
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Commercial - Residential
Sales & Service
1040 Bethesda Church Road
Girard, GA
Mobile: 706-339-9343
ftb Hard Tk St tip A Thin*'
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Durable
Clean Air
Comfort Control
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First-Rate Warranties
Contractor
HIGHSMITH BUILDING SERVICES, INC.
constructing custom homes since 1991
JOHN A. HIGHSMITH
706-551-0248
Pet Grooming
Springwood
Boarding & Grooming
706-592-0444
3209 Old Waynesboro Road
Hephzibah, GA 30815
"Caring hands for your precious pet"
Insurance
Stacey L, Herrmann, LUTCF ■ Agency Mgr.
FARM
BUREAU
GEORGIA
Georgia Farm Bureau Insurance Services
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company
Office 706-554-2017 FAX: 706-554-7482
Email: slherrmann@gfbins.com
CLAIMS # 1-855-432-2567
P.O. Box 329 Waynesboro, GA 30830
Wrecker Service
706-551-3998
706-551-0876
TAYLOR BROTHERS
Wrecker Service
206 West 12th Street
Handyman and Lawn Services
PWN
HANDYMAN SERVICES
AND LAWN CAKE, LLC
all youR HANDYMAN and lawn care needs
NO JOB TOO SMALL!
INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR HOME REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENT
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762-212-2901 or 706-551-4098
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rcrow
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DFAIFR
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(HEATirVG,&^A»R L
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“Trust, Honor S Pride - Our Commitment To You"
346 Old Millen Hwy., Waynesboro, GA 30830
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Burke Memorial Funeral Home
www.burkcmemorial.com
“A Horn of Dependable Service’
842 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA
Family owned 8, operated
[ane and George DeLoach
706-833-9867 or 706-551-5100