You never know who will drop in on Hwy. 441

If we didn't know any better you would think that spring had come!  But... we do know better.  Walking around in the yard this week I found that the bridal spirea and the forsythia were almost in full bud and some branches even had a sparse bloom or two.  Bulbs are also beginning to shoot up.  Winter is not near over, but it  is good to have a break.

On Sunday we went down to Mama and Daddy's for homemade soup and sandwiches; we were the only ones there.  Marty and Connie had gone to Bowman to visit Connie's mother, Mildred Rucker, and other family members.  When we were leaving and going back up the road we came upon two bicyclists up around Larry Bruces’ house.  They had on their bright bicycle riding clothing and you could see what looked like backpacks on the side of the bikes; they looked like they were traveling somewhere, not just out for the exercise.  A little while after we got home, the phone rang and it was Mama.  She sort of laughed and said, "You and the  family are probably going to do something to me when you find out who is sitting at the kitchen table eating soup."  I said, "What do you mean... who??"  She went on to tell me, "Well, I was out in the yard just walking around and two boys on bicycles just pulled in off the highway.  Of course, I made conversation with them and I asked them did they want some lunch and they were happy to come in and eat. They are two Korean boys."   I, on the other end of the phone, with my mouth dropping open said, "Uhhh, you asked them in??  Well, I hope they don't have a gun in their backpack, you better be careful!"  Mama said, "Oh Rachel, they do not have a gun in their backpack!"  I told her that I was going to call back in a little while to be sure they were still all right.  Of course, I did, and Mama said they were very nice young men and that they lived in Korea where they went to college.  They had flown in to L.A. in Calif. and had biked all the way across the United States and were on their way (still by bikes) to Miami where they would fly back to Korea.  They need to be back in their homes in Korea by March in order to be back in college.  One was majoring in journalism and the other one in electronics.  After lunch they went out and took pictures of the cows, the pigs, and the chickens.  When I called back again to check on things, lo and behold, Mama and Daddy had given them the OK to set up their tents in the front yards to spend the night and Mama was cooking them a frozen pizza for supper!  Mama and Daddy were thoroughly enjoying them; Daddy was tickled to death to have them, they had some wonderful conversations.   As my daughter said, "Well, they picked the right house to stop at!"   If that had been me, I am pretty sure, they would have had to go on down the road; I guess I have just watched too much TV to trust anybody hardly anybody, then I think of what cultural opportunities I might miss!   Blanche and Jake will not have missed anything!  They once entertained another hobo years ago who ended up staying and painting their house!  I believe Marty was still at home then.  There is never a dull moment in these parts.   An update:  the boys asked if they could sleep inside in their sleeping bags on the rug in the living room; they were afraid it might rain.  They did!  Mama did say after they were laying in the bed last night, Daddy let out, "They are getting closer aren't they?!!"  After a good breakfast, Mama and Daddy watched them top the hill into Putnam County biking on down the road.  They told Daddy they try to cover 60 miles a day.  Mama and Daddy really enjoyed their adventure!  You never know when you are entertaining angels unawares...

I must apologize for omitting some Christmas news these past weeks.  With early deadlines and then my computer on the blink last weekend, I have been completely discombobulated as Sally is would say!  It's a pretty good description of my life!
The family of the late Martha Sue Harper all gathered on Christmas Eve in Hartwell, for their annual Christmas get-together.  It was held at Patricia and Tom Chaffin's Georgia home, which was Tom's family home and of which they have added on and completely remodeled.  Jill says it is absolutely beautiful!    Patricia and Tom Chaffin of Virginia along with their two boys, Lee and James and their family, Louise and Kendall Marett with their daughter, Deann and her family, Joan Harper, Jill and Gerry Penn, and Jane and John White with their little girl, along with Beth and Bobby Bishop and their two girls were all there for the gathering.
Something else I need to correct is when the other week I told about Bill and Sue Hodges having their Christmas open-house as a fundraiser for a lady who is very sick in their community.  The lady  is  Bitsy Robbins, who is the daughter of Violet Alford Harris, formerly of the Buckhead community.  Violet was the daughter of the Emmett Alford's of Buckhead.  Violet's husband is the pastor of Sewell Methodist Church, not the Oasis Baptist Church that I wrote.  I'm sorry about getting it wrong;  I sure have been lax lately; I will try to do better!

The Bethany community was shocked and saddened when we heard that Steffen Thomas, Jr. died unexpectedly on last Tuesday.  Steffen and his wife Betty have lived here for several years where he enjoyed working on his farm and he and his family also ran the Steffen Thomas Museum where his late father's artwork is displayed.  We all certainly extend our deepest sympathy as well as our thoughts and prayers to his wife, Betty, his two daughters and his sisters and all of their families.
We also extend our sympathy to the family of Rev. Jim Ross and his family in the homegoing of his mother in Mississippi this past week.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them during their time of loss.

Raegan Wilkins, our granddaughter, competed in her first meet this season up at Woodstock ; Winter Blast 2013.  Raegan came away with first place in all events, vault, beam, floor exercise, and bars.  She was also the high overall scorer and her team came in first place for their level 5!  A big congratulations go out to her.  As you can imagine, we are very, very proud of her!
She didn't get this from her grandma, but she may have gotten it from her great-granddaddy, DaDa.  My sister, Bertie reminded me that Daddy used to hang upside down on the swing set at home to straighten out his back.  I think I remember him hanging from the stainless steel pipes that used to be in the dairy barn, too.  All that stooping over washing and putting the milkers on cows was hard on his back.  (The milking parlor was and is a wonderful invention!) It could also come from her great-Aunt Bertie; she used to swing, flip, and hang upside down on the swings, too!

We're glad to report that Hazel Jordan was able to come home from Transitional Care and is now at her son, Larry and Maudie Jordan's house where she will continue to recuperate.  The many friends of Neta Peppers are also sad to learn that she has been moved to a hospice facility in Athens after suffering a severe stroke.  Our prayers go out to her and her family during this time.
Franklin and Stacy Eaton with their two daughters, Sabrina and Sophia spent Saturday with the Frank Eaton's.  Mary reports that Sophia who is 11 months is walking everywhere trying to keep up with her older sister!  She said they are two busy granddaughters.

Tim and Esther Curry entertained  some young couples of  Antioch Baptist Church with their families on Sunday before last at their home on Eatonton Road at a covered dish potluck lunch.  She said the children had a good time climbing and jumping from haybales and chasing chickens while the adults visited!

Printed in the January 17, 2013, edition.