I will miss that smile!!

Bob and his wife live in Wisconsin. One winter morning while listening to the radio, they hear the announcer say,"We're going to have 4-6 inches of snow today. ou must park your car on the even numbered side of the street so rhe snowplow can get through."Bob's wife goes out and moves her car. A week later while they are eating breakfast, the radio announcer says,"we are expecting 6-8 inches of snow today, You must park your car on the odd numbered side ofthe street or the snowplow can't get through. Bob's wife goes out and moves her car again. The next week they are having breakfast again when the radio announcer says, "We are expecting 8-10 inches of snow today, you must park-----------" " then the electricity went off. Bob's wife is very upset, and with a worried look on her face she says,"honey, I don't know what to do. Which side of the street do I need to park so the snow plow can get through?" With the love and understanding in his voice like all men who are married to blondes exhibit, Bob says, "Why don't you just leave it in the garage this time?"


Random acts of kindness just bless us when we are down. I was in a Dollar Store here in OKC. I had stopped on the way home after shopping all afternoon. The traffic on the OKC streets was bumper to bumper and I was tired and very stressed out. I had my hands full of merchandise and was standing in line to check out. This elderly lady(probably ablut my age!) had a basket and as she got by my side she asks would I like her basket. I thank her and said I was O.K. She looked at the man that was with her and said "I could always get another basket for myself."Now that is kind!!

My husband went to another neurologist Monday. This Dr. seems to think Fred isstill having mini strokes, but still no medication. Go figure!! Fred goes back Friday for a check up that will include his heart and lungs.

Sunday as I attended my former church, I was asked to teach the ladies' class the 31st.I am so excited about this because there are several ladies in the class that were in my former Sunday School class here at Mayridge. On the 24th there will not be a regular service--instead you can come and participate in a silent Lord's Supper. If you have never done that, it is really a worshipful time.

Maggie and Thomas Sullivan will be visiting Maggie's twin, Marie, and her husband, Brehman Herrin, in Tulsa the 1st.Maggie e-mailed me that I can ride back to Ar. with them. So Russell will take me the 3rd to Tulsa and I can ride to Russellville with Maggie and Tom and probably Kathy can pick me up at Russellville and bring me back to Gravelly. I will be back in time to play the piano for an Eastern Star in another town that some of our Eastern Star members in Gravellty have been asked to help them in an initiation.

Betty Jones of Wing, relayed the fact that our Rover Baptist Church had their Christmas program last Sunday. Betty said the program was excellent and we are so thankful for Melanie Sawyer who put it all together. I'm so sorry to have missed the performance. Melanie did an excellent job last year, so I am sure this year was great, also.

Frieda Banning took Loucinda Buford to the Dardanelle Club for Loucinda's birthday. Loucinda's birthday is Christmas Day.

My Aunt Syble Copoeland died Tuesday at the Waldron Nursing Home. I thought she might make it to her 100th birthday but that will be celebrated in Heaven.My Aunt Syble was a wonderful wife and mother. She and my Uncle Willie Copeland had 5 children of which 2 boys and 2 girls are still living. Aunt Syble loved music and loved to sing. When times were hard she still had a smile and was cheerful. She loved her Lord and lived faithfully for Him. I will miss that smile!!

Loucinda Buford will host a New Year's Eve party at her home in Wing. Her guests will include Dennus and June Castleberry, Dr. Shelly Tippin and her two children, Frieda Banning, O.L. Briggs, Scott Buford and perhaps Loucinda's friend, Diane. I was sure hoping to be there but we never know what tomorrow has for us.

Remember on Christmas Day, these words,"For Unto Us is born, today, in the city of David,a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

Pray that something can be done.

Gravelly news by Glenna Goodson

To understand this joke,you must know that the 10th commandment is "Thou Shalt Not Covet."To enlarge on the commandment, God told Moses,"Thou Shalt Not COVET Thy Neighbot's Wife." A Sunday School class of first graders had been studying the 10 commandments. The Sunday School teacher asked the class did anyone know the 10th commandment. Little Amy raised her hand,stood up andsaid,"Thou Shalt Not COVER up thy neighbor's wife."

Kathy came and got me after their Mulberry FWBC services Sunday.They were having a dinner at the church andKathy invited me to eat with them.The dinner was very good and I enjoyed visiting with Gary and Sheila Garner, Beatrice Garner Yeats, Bambi Jones, Mary and Boots Rhoades, Ray and Charlotte Rhoades andthe pastor and his wife. They always make me feel at home.

I saw Roy Austin in the Nola strore this week.Roy can always tell good strories and he told me one that I must share with you. Many years ago, Alec and John Ingle in Little Texas found a bear cub andsince it had no mother and was so cute and little, John took it home with them. Of course the cub grew and pretty soon it was a big bear. John would put it outside every morning as he and Alec went to work.They really hoped it would run away but it never did.One day ,theycame home andthe bear had torn the front door off its hinges and got into the house.The former cute cub had torn into the flour and into the syrup and flour and syrup was everywhere and the whole house was a wreck!! John had a game warden come and get the bear!!

I talked to my cousin Billy Highfill this week. He had gone by to see Brehman Herrin of Tulsa.Seems just like yesterday Brehman's Dad, Vess Herrin, had one ofthe mercantile stores at Gravelly--where Rosetta Hunnicutt's flea market is now. Brehman and my cousin ,Dalton Highfill, were always looking for themselves a girl friend at the Gravelly movie.But when Brehman met Marie Parish, he lost his heart. Marie and her twin, Maggie, both got married when we were seniors.
Marie and Brehman married at semester, and Maggie and John Henry Cathey got married our graduation night.Billy says Brehman keeps up with our valley by reading the Yell CountyRecord. Billy said Brehman said he especially enjoyed my jokes.

Fred received bad news concerning his MRI . The test showed his lack of vision is caused by the results of a stroke.The neurologist does not have much hope that his sight will get better but Fred has an appointment with a stroke" doctor, next Monday.Pray that something can be done.

I talked to Ezell Jones while at the Gravelly post office last week.Ezell says"Today is myt birthday"and ofcourse we want to know how old he is and Iwas surprised that he was 82 that day.Ezell gets around really well, carries on a goodconversation, andhasa goodsense of humor. When I was a teenager, I would go to the Jones" to see Callie Mae, Ezell's sister. There I had only one brother and Callie Mae had a house full!!Ezell was always a lot of fun!!

When the new gym at FV was built, the pavement that had the names of our seniors, were dug up. A lot of us were really sad about this but decided they were gone forever.Well, Wayne Rhoades and Dr. O'Reilly found them in a dumpster container at the school. The reunion committee and others, are going to try to come up withsome plan to preserve our names and have them placed where they can be seen by everyone.

A young man ,that will remain nameless, pointed out to me that there were a lot of mistakes in the Yell County Record--especially in grammar and spelling. I pointed out that all newspapers have mistakes--if you go looking for them.I know I have spelled names incorrectly and even that should not have been because Ishould have checked the spelling.You know, just because I live in the country and I guess you could call me a country writer, doesn't mean I should be ignorant when it comes to writing correctly. We should know our weakness and work on that area. Miss Jessie Buford had a hard time at FV teaching me the difference in the way you use the words GOOD and WELL, but I got it!!Something tastes GOOD but a person is dong WELL after surgery. "He is doing WELL." See, I got it!!But when you hear the President of the United States in a speech to the nation, say,"I have talked to the DEAD families," makes me realize we all make mistakes. But that was a big mistake by the leader of our nation. He needed Miss Jessie for an English teacher!!

I heard Paul Harvey 's radio broadcast one day this week. He told of a man that has a car with one million miles on it. It's still running WELL. Gee, I have hope for my Camry because Iam getting close to 200,000 miles.

What exactly is in Possum Pie?

Gravelly News by Glkenna Goodson

The day finally arrived. Forrest Gump dies and goes to Heaven.He is at the Pearly Gates, met by St. Peter himself. However the gates are closed, and Forrest approaches the gatekeeper. St. Peter said,"Well, Forrest, it is certainly good tosee you. We have heard a lot about you. I must tell you ,though, thatthe place if filling up fast, and we have been administering an entrance exam for everyone. The test is short, but you have to pass it before you can get into Heaven."FGorrest responds,:"It sure is good to be here, St. Peter, sir. But nobody ever told me about an entrance exam. I sure hope that the test ain't too hard. Life was a big enough test as it was." t. Peter continued,"Yes I know, Forrest, butthe test is only three questions. First: What two days of the week begin with the letter T? Second:How many seconds are there in a year? Third : what is God's first name?" Forrest leaves to think to think the questions over. e returns the next day andsees St. Peter, who waves him up, andsays,now that you have had a chance to think the questions over, tell me your answers." Forrest replied,"Well the first on--which two days in the week begin with the letter "T"? Shucks, that one is easy. hat would be Today and Tomorrow." Peter's eyes opened wide and he exclaimed,"Forrest, that is not what I was thinking, but you do have a point, and I guess I did not specify, so I will give you credit for that answer. How aboutthe next one?" asked St. Peter. "How many seconds in a year?" Now that one is harder,"replied Forrest, bu I thunk and thunk about that, andI guess the only answer can be thelve."Astounded, Peter says,"Twelve,? Twelve? Forrest how in Heaven's name could you come up with twelve seconds in a year?" Forrest replies, there's got to be twelve:January 2nd, February 2nd, March 2nd---"Hold it,"interrupts St. Peter."I see where you are going with this, and I see your point, though that was not quite what I had in mind---but I will have to give you credit for that one too. Let us go on with the third and final question. Can you tell me God's first name"? Sure, replied Forrest, it's Andy.:" "Andy?"exclaimed an exasperated and frustrated St. Peter. "OK, I can understand how you came up with your answers to my first 2 questions, but just how in the world did you come up with the name Andy as the first name of God?" "Shucks, that was the easiest one of all,"Forrest replied. "I learned it from the song,"ANDY WALKS WITH ME,ANDY TALKS WITH ME,ANDY TELLS ME I AM HIS OWN." St. Peter opens the Pearly Gates, and said,"Run, Forrest, run."


I thought i'd be back in OKC by now but Russ called andsaidthey were iced in so he suggested I wait until next week to travel.

Fred had an MRI done in OKC the 29th.He will not know the results for a few days andhe hasanother appointment with the doctor, the 11th of Dec. I hope to be there by the 11th. Fred says I can't do any good there except maybe scratch his back.I bet Russ will be glad to see me so I can cook.

Our older son, Ellis, will fly into OKC from the LA airport, the 22nd. He will have to return the 26th, but we will be together during Christmas.

Mycousin, Mary Lee Highfill Sams, hada successful knee replacement surgery last week. She is recuperating at her son's home in Tulsa. Also, Sue Ann Highfill Cheatam's daughter, Terri, had her radiation treatment for her brain tumor. The doctors believe this one treatment destroyed the tumor andTerri will be fine now.

We, of the Gravelly and Nola community, are saddened at the death of Ray Ledbetter. We will miss him.

Last Wednesday, I went with Loucinda to Ft. Smith. We arrived in Ft. Smith just at noon time so we ate at I-Hop. We then shopped at Kohls. Loucinda had an appointment so I shopped at D illards while I waited for her. On the way home, we stopped at Belleville at a wonderful little cafe called Memory Lane. One of their desserts listed, was Possum Pie. Loucinda asked the waitress "What exactly is in Possum Pie?"A fellow spoke up and said ,"All of the Possum except the tail." Loucinda and I shared a piece of that delicious pie andI really don't think possum tastes that good!

As I was going to Dardanelle from Ola a couple of wees ago, I saw a sign outside a place of business with flashing lights. Below the flashing lights, there was a lady's name andthe words "Hot Checks." Now boys and girls, THAT is COLD.

Mr. Workman of Gravelly, is not only selling merchandise, he is cooking a couple of times a day. I ate some of his delicious home made stew this week.

Julie Keeling of Lincare ,brought my CPAP machine last Monday. She showed me how to operate it and how to put on the head gear. I hada terriable time that night with the head gear andI just gave up. Tuesday andWednesday nights my sister, Kathy, came down and fixed it on my head. I thought i could do it then but she had to come down Thursday night to show me again. Just maybe I can do it now.After two nights,I felt so much better and did not get sleepy driving--just as Julie told me would happen--Hurrah!!

I went to the basket ball gamesat FV Friday night. Our Junior girl's game was very exciting. Our girls won against Academics Plus by a score of 37 to 27..All of the girls played well but I was especially proud of Eriks Burchard. She made a total of 22 points.That girl received more free throws then I believe I have ever seen in a basketball game.The senior girl's game was harder for FV to win, but our team won 55 to 50. Our senior boys were so far ahead, that at the beginning ofthe third quarter, i came home. Katrhy said FV won by over 20 points. One thing that is so neat is the Little Indian Cheerleaders--little kids from about 4 years of age to 6 or 7. Our cheerleaders came out with them and led them with Cheers.

I was glad to talk with Sandra Ornsbey at the ball game. She is my favorite guy, Toby Morrison's, mom. She told me about the the home school program she is using called Alpha and Omega. Sounds like a very good program andshe says Toby is doing really well with this computer educational program. I am so glad to hear that.

Whileat the Dardanelle Wal-mart last week, I asked one of the workers where the snack anddrink bar was. I was going in the opposite direction andshe said I had just walked by it. She came up, put her arm around me andsaid"You even get lost in Wal-mart." Loucinda just cracked up andsaid "she's someone that reads your column and knows how yu get lost." I found out later it was Clark Smith's wife of FV.

I saw G. Spenser in the Plainview restaurant thisweek. I always enjoy talking with this lady. She doessuch interesting things in her life, andsince both of us are retired school teachers, we have a lot in common.We were both so proud ofthe Plainview Library and were glad that they are there in Plainview to be of service to the people there and beyond.She told me that she cuts out my column each week andwhen she gets a little down in the dumps, she goes back and reads one of my jokes.How nice!!!

You guys remember this--- Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.