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Viewpoints
Thanks, vets
This week, we take a few minutes from
our busy schedules to simply say thanks to
the millions of American veterans who
served our country. Because of them,
democracy is still a real, wonderful part of
our lives.
About this time last year, a delightful
poem made its way across the email con
nections of this country. A few days ago. It
resurfaced. Here's the poem.
Twas the night before Christmas.
He lived all alone,
In a one bedroom house made of
plaster and stone.
1 had come down the chimney
with presents to give.
And to see Just who
In this home did live.
1 looked all about,
a strange sight I did see.
No tinsel, no presents,
not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle,
just boots filled with sand,
On the wall hung pictures
of far distant lands.
With medals and badges,
awards of all kinds,
A sober thought
came through my mind.
For this house was different,
it was dark and dreary,
I found the home of a soldier, •
once I could see clearly.
the soldier lay sleeping,
silent, alone,
Curled up on the floor
in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle,
the room in such disorder,
Not how 1 pictured
a United States soldier.
Was this the hero
of whom I'd Just read?
Curled up on a poncho,
the floor for a bed?
I realized the families
that 1 saw this night.
Owed their lives to these soldiers
who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world,
the children would (day.
And grownups would celebrate
a bright Christmas Day.
They all enjoyed freedom
each month of the year.
Because of the soldiers,
like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder
how many lay alone.
On a cold Christmas Eve
In a land far from home.
The very thought
brought a tear to my eye,
1 dropped to my knees
and started to cry.
The soldier awakened
and I heard a rough voice,
"Santa don’t cry,
this life is my choice;
1 fight for freedom,
1 don't ask for more.
My life is my god,
my country, my corps."
The soldier rolled over
and drifted to sleep,
1 couldn’t control it
1 continued to weep.
1 kept watch for hours,
so silent and still
And we both shivered
from the cold night’s chill.
I didn't want to leave
on that cold, dark, night.
This guardian of honor
so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over,
with a voice soft and pure.
Whispered. "Carry on Santa.
It's Christmas Day. all Is secure.”
One look at my watch,
and 1 knew he was right.
"Merry Christmas my friend,
and to all a good night."
This poem was written bu a Marine sta
tioned in Okinawa Japan.
Thanks, veterans, for all you did to pre
serve our American life.
P.O. Drawer M • 807 Carrol St.
Peny, Ga. 31008
email hbmejrnOhom.net
(913) 987-1823 (voice)
(912) 988*1181 (Cue)
Bob Tribble President
J) Johnson... Editor and General Manager
Ellen T. Green -Advertising Director
Phil Clarit Sport*
Joan Dor sett
Torey Jolley New*
AlUne Kent Sports
Heath Williams—Another bright star passes our way
One of the fringe benefits of
being editor of a community
newspaper is getting to work
with some of the finest people
in the world.
Some of them I come in con
tact with through working on
either stories or business
needs. Others come into our
office and become part of our
extended newspaper family.
Among those have been some
very outstanding young people.
I’ve watched for the past 26
years as high school and college
students have passed through
the various newspaper offices
where I have labored. They’ve
all been great. Many have gone
on to great achievements.
One of those former workers
is Cathy Cox, Georgia’s Secre-
~Tne PtM/ur Onieny
K2/T
hjiwiiMuu, :>9
Alzheimer’s - good news for caregivers
Few diseases are more devas
tating.,exhausting and isolating
for families than Alzheimer's, so
it's very good news that a fine
evening seminar has been
planned to offer hope, informa
tion, and emotional support for
both families and professionals.
Dr. Allan Levey of Emory Uni
versity, who is on the cutting
edge of Alzheimer's research, will
be the keynote speaker for a spe
cial program co-sponsored by
Hospice of Houston County, the
Houston Healthcare Complex,
the Houston Medical Center Aux
iliary and Pfizer, Inc.
A copy of the book, "The 36-
Hour Day", considered the Bible
of Alzheimer's caregivers, will be
given to the first 148 caregivers
who attend. This gift has been
made possible by the Houston
Medical Center Auxiliary.
The program, "Alzheimer's
Care: The Search for Hope”,
which will be presented from 7 to
9 p.m. on Nov. 16. at the Middle
Georgia Technical Institute. For
more information on this pro
gram, and to pre-register, call
Health Source at 923-9771.
HAPrT BntTHDAY, PSBJRY
Perry's 175th birthday cele
bration is coining up Nov. 19,
with some great plans at City
Hall. The festivities will begin at 2
p.m. Gov. Roy Barnes will be
here and will cut the birthday
cake.
Now, for all you history buffs
here’s a question. Do you know
Pauline Lewis Lifestyles
Rob Mead News and Circulation
Charlotte Perkins.. News and Composition
Antty Stuckey Classified
Susan R Thomas Bookkeeping
Paula Zimmerman Bookkeeping
Our Policies
Unsigned editorials appearing In larger
type on this page under the label Our Views
reflect the position of the Houston Home
Journal. Signed columns and letters on
this page (and elsewhere In this newspaper)
reflect the opinions of the writers and not
necessarily those of this newspaper.
Page 4A
JJ
Johnson
Home
Journal
Editor
tary of State. Another is Linton
Johnson, editor and publisher
of the Elberton Star-Examiner.
Among the recent teen-aged
workers was Heath Williams,
who completed his high school
work at Westfield during the
early 19905.
From there. Heath attended
first Georgia College and then the
" We had this last millennium."
who was president when Perry
Charlotte
Perkins
Home
Journal
Staff
was founded? The answer is
below.
In the pecan grove
Members of Andrew United
Methodist Church are hard at
work, getting ready for their
Pecan Festival, which will be held
Nov. 20, starting at 8:30 a.m.
In, addition to the pecans for
sale, there’ll be puppets, ponies,
clowns, games, prizes, and all
sorts of neat things (old and new)
to buy. And you can eat break
fast or lunch or both while you’re
there. Besides, if you haven’t
been out there already, you’ll get
a chance to see the the church,
which has an unusual and very
pretty interior.
Proceeds will go to Houston
County Habitat for Humanity
and the church’s Kenya Mission.
All tou can eat
Last week, Joan Dorsett
reported in “Just Visitin’" that
tickets to the Mennonite benefit
supper in Macon County were $7
Signed letters to the editor are wel
comed. Please limit letters to 300 words
and Include addresses and a telephone
number for verification purposes. Letters
are not published without verification. Let
ters should be sent to P.O. Drawer M.
Perry, Ga.. 31069 or brought to the news
paper office at 807 Carroll St., Perry.
Our liability for an error will not exceed
the cost of space occupied by the error.
We cannot be responsible for the return of
pictures or submitted materials unless a
stamped, return address envelope Is included.
Our Goal
A Jvs/ U?
Wed., Ost. ao. 1990
| . J 1 11 ■
W j. I
Houston Horn Journal
University of Georgia. His par
ents, Linda and Butch Williams,
were sure to keep me up to date
on Heath’s success story.
From time to time I would see
Heath, most often at a Westfield
athletic event. Just a year ago,
as I was watching the WestfieTd-
Athens Christian game in
Athens, Heath tapped me on
the back and proudly
announced he was almost
through with his law degree.
*1 was delighted with this
news. Heath introduced me to
the John Grisham books about
the legal profession several
years ago. He talked of nothing
else than completing his educa
tion and becoming an attorney.
A few days ago, Linda called
the office. Heath was to be
and I reported that they were $6.
Joan was right. I didn’t realize
that the cost had gone up.
It’s still a good deal. Children
2-10 get in for $3.50, and under
five, they get in free. A bunch of
us are going from the Home Jour
nal. Hope we see some other
Perry folks there.
Christmas shopping for special
kids
Toys 'R Us has a neat little
publication called “Toy Guide for
Differently Abled Kids." This cat
alog, was put together in collabo
ration with the National Lekotek
Center, a non-profit organization
concerned with play opportuni
ties for children with disabilities.
The toys are not different from
those other kids would like, but
are selected for both play value
and learning. There's lots of
information about encouraging
the development of specific men
tal and physical skills through
play.
It also has nice photos of kids
in wheel chairs and kids with
Down Syndrome as models,
which is good to see for a change.
If you have a special needs kid
to buy Christmas presents for ,
you might want to pick up a copy
at the service desk at the Warner
Robins Toys ’R Us.
The answer
Andrew Jackson (AKA "Old
Hickory") was president when
Perry was founded.
The Houston Home Journal is pub
lished proudly for the citizens of Houston
and adjoining counties by Houston Publi
cations Inc., Perry. Ga. Our goal Is to pro
duce quality, profitable, community-orient
ed newspapers that you. our readers, are
proud of. we will reach this goal through
hard work, teamwork, loyalty and a strong
dedication toward printing the truth.
Member of Georgia Press Association
and National Newspaper Association.
“Congress shall make no law respecting
an establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise thereof; or abridging the
freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the
sworn in by Judge George
Nunn in the Houston County
Courtroom, could I come?
I did, and with a big smile.
Heath, accompanied by a host
of friends and relatives, was
sworn in Nov. 5. I was proud to
be there and witness the occa
sion. It’s always a happy
moment when one of our for
mer co-workers goes on to great
things and wonderful accom
plishments.
Heath begins work Nov. 15 in
the Coweta Judicial District as
an assistant district attorney
assigned to Meriwether County.
He’s excited. His parents are
excited.
I know Heath will do well.
He’s already proven he’s top
quality.
Torey
Jolley
Home
Journal
Staff
If it weren’t for
bad luck ...
Ever watched “Hee Haw?”
Remember the song, “If it
weren’t for bad luck, I’d have
no luck at all?" Last week, that
was my theme song.
I was gearing up to get away
for the weekend when WHAM!
Bad Luck struck. My kitchen,
dining room, and living room
was ankle deep in water. How?
A small pipe thing under the
kitchen sink worked its way
loose.
With the help of my friend,
we got the water stopped. We
swept, mopped, and towel
dried the floor. Wiped up the
cabinet under the sink. With
out her help, I am not sure I
could have done it alone. It was
a real mess.
The insurance company sent
over a company to dry the car
pets three days of loud fans
blowing 24 hours a day. They
did spray the carpet so the
mold and mildew wouldn’t take
hold, or the smell would have
taken our breath away. The
carpet cleaning company
pulled up the carpet, ripped
away the wet foam padding
underneath, and set the fans
up to blow under the carpet
drying the carpet bottom to
top.
We are still waiting for the
insurance company to look at
the damage and decide if clean
ing it or replacing it is called
for. So nothing is in its place.
Lamps are on tables in other
rooms, sofas are moved to one
side and chairs have been
placed elsewhere.
I am a creature of habit and
love things in their proper
places. This mess makes me
nervous. Plus, I keep running
into things. I have so many
bruises on my legs from bump
ing into chairs and tables.
Now that should have been
enough to drive a sane woman
up the wall, but I had more
things happen.
My brother needed surgery
for an abscess on his leg bone.
The surgery was done in Dal
las, Texas. Since it was sched
uled for Nov. 8, I worried all
week about the possibility of it
being cancer. (No one knew
whether or not it was cancer.)
OK, my imagination runs
wild with me, but since the
doctors were unsure about just
what the problem was, I could
n’t help but worry. The worries
over his health drained me
See JOLLEY, Page 5A
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redress of grievances." Your right to read
this newspaper Is protected by the First
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tion.
The Houston Home Journal (ÜBPB
000471) la published weekly for $21.40
per year (Including sales tax) by Houston
Publications Inc.. 807 Carroll St., Perry.
Ga.. 31069. Periodicals Class Postage
paid at Perry. Ga. POSTMASTER : Send
address changes to the Houston Home
Journal, P.O. Drawer M. Perry, Ga.
31080. ISSN; 1070-1874.