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DECEMBER 31, 2002 Lessons - x I Irene Hamer I guess it’s my advancing age that has turned the New Year’s holidays from a period of anticipation and celebration into one of near melancholy. What has changed for me is the way my thoughts turn to the dear friends and relatives that we celebrated with in years gone by who are no longer with us. The people we shared parts of our life with, who taught us so many things. Those friends who became outstanding examples of leadership and those who did not. Each taught us something we need ed to learn to make our life and the part of the world we inhabited a better place. The friends who loved us enough to tell us when we were on the right track and when we had strayed from the path. The ones we laughed with, argued with and solved the world’s problems with are the same the ones with whom we dreamed our big dreams. Dreams that mostly didn’t happen, but that really doesn’t matter in the long run. These are the people that remain in our memories and who are always missed, but more so when we remember a time shared or when we’ve accom plished something that would have made them say, “Well done.” Find U/hat IjOU need in ®ffe Houston plome journal Place qour Classified Ad in Todai| to get results! SAVE MONEY TODAY on Home and Auto Insurance Call for a “No Hassle Quote” “For your Best Insurance Value” www.walker-insuranceagency.com V^Hfalker ( f Insurance Agency, Inc. dr 906 Ball Street • Perry, GA Answers to Tliesday’s puzzles COSMETICS \K\ /t/G/R E A S\gypy\l N T) (g E & N A s 1 A 1 1 pR^l p 1 E I A 1 c7 E 'mwTATcToW A ~ L B A c£ii f Ho AAA AHA A A AHA AA W_H E_N PILGRIM ITHiR H A Pis O D Y n E 'dJHHg A o s AjMßjLi e j^_a_ ■HNGi A A jm T E N >j A ■ <-. p jrafc a|s|a b aHs i p irpMWB E_ _L_ _E_ N AjBlE A AJH"p~ A r l t l E D w | HAT _L _A F■! T _l_ TfsJHHpF A R THpD A A D I P| L O M A T TTcHd e[e~ ~mJT[d S E L M Ro N oMr' O O mPBBPBdTe n t e M p a O RJT O F M ujs I cToT I A A AAjJpHBAA f AHA A A AjAtHHi AAA N ~e~Hs hTeTTHTTn tang i 1b l e RAN ■fT Y K TB—N_Ta TT E aIBAAA D 1 ~pJt hey pJI a TMt o TH~e~ late HjHHTT a l ~e~Bß~a v aTIIo nHm e a g e r AA A A L AM© A A AAJBHIA A D "yHIHb roe cTHo 11 i iJHM 11 11 i 11 11 HMM i ~e s c hJe w a lßp l y m o u AAA AA A s e~ XHcT eneHseno 'FHTT e i f e r r m a d a Their ages were immaterial as was their gender, creed, race or status. The only requi site seemed to be that they enjoyed life, were interesting and we could laugh together. Several were considered eccen tric; others just a bit strange and a few were simply every day folks. As one friend who, thank goodness, still dwells on this earth said one day, “You have the strangest friends.” I just looked at her until it dawned on her that she was among this group and started to laugh. It hasn’t mattered that we were scattered the world over and met infrequently, the friendships endured and, when we were together, the conversation began where it left off, perhaps years before. Some of the friends that are still with us have been along for the ride through life for more than 50 years, some have just jumped on the roller coaster with us and they are all valued beyond imagining. We have been inordinately lucky to have many whom I call true friends, those that live a thousand miles away and tell you that if you need anything, call and they’ll be here in 12 hours and the ones who live near, that drop every thing when called and are there in 15 minutes. Those who are ready to party at the drop of a hat or sit and listen to the current tale of woe. Who also listen when you tell them of the ones that have passed on and commiserate with you even though they didn’t know them. I find I have learned another lesson from these friends as I sit and write about them; first and foremost is to take the time to appreciate all of them, be grateful for so many won Larry Walker (478) 987-8000 solution 7 •g| 2.1 / \z T ±_/__LJL_ JL .2 _/_ JT.2 Jo_ 14| 7 | 9 | Bp2 "QlJplaustim Whistle-blower or tattletale? “Tattletale, tattletale, hang your britches on a nail.” Many of you remember that, don’t you? Many of you have chanted that, haven’t you? And, how many times have you heard or said: “Don’t be a tat tletale.” Was anyone at school more disliked than the tattletale? Well, maybe the bully - but you could let the tattletale know you disliked him/her, whereas you couldn’t say anything to the bully. But, to the tattletale: “Tattletale, tattletale, hang your britches on a nail” Memories of tattletales were rekindled when I saw the news that three women had been selected (named, chosen, whatever) as Time magazine’s “Persons of the Year.” It used to be “Man of the Year”, and then “Person of The Year”, and now, “Persons of The Year.” Why were these women selected? For being the biggest, most prominent tattletales in America. Actually, they are called “whistleblowers” which is just a fancy name for “tat tletales.” But, instead of being S£ette/ts < xJo Qditoit Uttar As we celebrate Christmas and prepare for the New Year, let us remember that Christmas is the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember also that there are somewho will not be able to cele brate. They are the ones who are innocent and imprisoned due to the sham Georgia Indigent Defense System. Their poorly paid, overworked and inadequate lawyers told them to plead guilty. Let us give them and the 80 % of defendants who must use a public defender a gift. Encourage your state senators and representatives to enact the recommendations of the state Supreme Court Commission. The Commission, composed of 26 members, included lawyers, judges and business leaders who spent two years on the study. The study ordered by the Supreme Court was to find what is wrong with the existing system and rec ommend a fix. Today the state pays approximately 12% of thecost for indigent defense with the coun ties bearing the rest. The study recommends that the state fully fund the indigent defense system and have a board to oversee it. While shifting thefunding to the State may cost us a few dollars in taxes, what is that compared to sending an innocent man to prison? James W. Tumipseed, Jr. Warner Robins Wednesday night brought a sinking feeling of defeat as I gazed out over a sea of boxes we had laid out to give to the 410 families this season. Project Agape Love seemed doomed to fail. We had collected so* little food for so many boxes. Moneys were down, Vought was closed and peo ple just didn’t seem to be giving this year. I went to Bible study that night heavy hearted asking every one to pray for a Loaves and Fishes miracle. Only God could save Christmas. The way God chose to redeem the season will always bring a tedr to my eyes. There was only one place we hadn’t picked up from - Perry Primary. Those little ones are my heros. They doubled the food we had collected from the high school, ele mentary schools, Christmas at the Crossroad, and the Boy Scout food drive. Those little four, five and six year olds saved Christmas and renewed the true spirit of Christmas in my heart. So for every child who brought in a canned good this sea son I want you to know how much Every Day Is Super Savings At &imutlev- qKmm Q^mlen When you think about Strauther Harris Jewelers, you think about High Quality Jewelry... 50% OFF On Loose Diamonds And Everyday A Different Department Is Featured! Gtlleria Mall * Ceitemlie, 8A > 478-953*21 ijL .. • L. II Larry Waiter Columnist lwalker@whgbc.com exhorted to hang their lower body garment covers on nails, they are chosen to grace the cover of Time. Now, I am not making light of the importance of the contributions these tattlers have made to the wel fare of our country. But it does con cern me that there is only a short jump between positive disclosures and sinister snitching. Especially does this concern me in a time when we seemed to be obsessed with security - “Homeland it really meant to us. Thank you. Yours truly, Bethany Swem Perry Project Agape Love MUiTHgfIiIifiRWSMBW f mmrnm M . ~~ M 1 Vv—- i3osx 1819 Watson Blvd. (Next To Gold’s Gym) 11.701 non oei e M Warner Robins 14/oJ 914*0313 k Bring Your W-Z We Will File Your Taxes For You ' Down Payment! - ‘9O Acura ‘97 Dodge Stratus 1856 Watson Blvd. 922-2444 We Have Many Other Cars To Choose From Too! Security” or whatever. Especially does it concern me when our gov ernment seems to be encouraging, at every turn, its citizens to watch and report. Remember Nazi Germany? And the KGB in Russia? We don’t need to go there. Let me give you a more recent and concrete example of what we absolutely must guard against. I have a client who is now a U.S. citizen, but is a native of Vietnam. He has been in this country some 10 to 15 years. He was in my office, recently, and was telling me what the government officials do in his native country. According to my friend, the government encourages the school age children to tell what their parents do and report their activities. And, according to him, “the children almost always tell the truth” - even if it gets their parents in great trouble. Perhaps Time’s women whistleblowers are to be commended. But, questioning chil dren at school about the activities of ■ j (Left) Colin Jackson helps! So does Conner Swem. Both are from Perry Primary who came to help sort and put out canned goods for PAL. Southern LINC Antlrorizecl Denier SI, SCO ... 4 £3osx UU ™ K £ PHONES AND V H B U GET ■ ■ Bl *with SL value plan activation of phones. • We Are Your Southern LINC and Nextel Phone Accessory Superstore! ‘97 BUICK SKYLARK ‘95 Chrysler Lebaron Credit On Your Bill* 5 59 Savings For You! _ their parents must be condemned. There is not much difference in the words “commend” and “condemn.” There is not much difference in tat tletales and whistleblowers. The last spanking I got from my father was the result of a big mouthed ciy baby telling on me. Yes, I used a bad word and, yes, “we” threatened to “take his pants off” I probably deserved the pun ishment. But, I still think we should have removed his pants and made him hang them on a nail because he was just a tattletale. Despite my efforts herein, I believe that former North Carolina Senator, Sam Ervin, said it best when discussing Constitutional rights as follows: “When people fear surveillance, whether it exists or not, when they grow afraid to speak their minds and hearts freely to their government or anyone else, then we shall cease to be a free soci ety.” Amen. v-"<- ■ ■ ■ HHr ‘9l HONDA ACCORD ‘9B Plymouth Neon PAGE 5A