SCENE IN PASSING
MARIE WHITEHEAD herald@mediactr.com
Thank you very much for letting me hear that you enjoyed the words in this space last week, written by granddaughter Lauren. She is a biology major, but she could specialize in marine biology, vet school or even bat science. She loves life and no, she has not given up her love of music. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, she is a joy to watch.

This past week recorded some good, good news. Opal Fitts had staples removed from recent back surgery. That has got to make her feel better. Margaret Parrish is flying over the operating room, looking for an opening, if she decides surgery is the solution. Meanwhile, spouse Buz just keeps on buzzing, not fully recovered from his surgery several weeks ago. And thank the Lord, Dottie McClure Norton is getting better medical reports. Her problem (Crohn's disease) is not totally curable, but...it can be brought to a state of remission. Hubby Ronnie is moving along in his recovery from the injury to his foot-leg by way of a gonewild bullet. Wrong place, wrong time. We never know when bad luck is going to have a seat in our lap.

Charles Davis and his sweet wife, Joni, are quite a team. He, the patient; she, the nurse. She must pass a test on her knowledge of his home health care before he can be released for home following a liver transplant. They should be in a hotel next to the hospital by now. Adriene and Jason Stanaland are the parents of a tiny, baby boy. His sister, Marylyn Metzig, is quite excited, too. So are the Rusk grandparents, Fay and Lester Hughes, Aunt Cynthia Campbell and then there's Uncle John Birkelbach and Aunt Pauline plus several cousins. He is named Cooper Voyde (a family name) and will be called Cooper. Right now, he's just Baby. He weighed one pound six ounces and will remain in the specialized unit of the hospital in Shreveport for several months. It was a stressful situation for all the family, but everything is going well now for the newborn, parents and grandparents.

Another small one arrived in Houston July 5. Shelby Ann Dawson is the daughter of Leigh Ann and Kyle Dawson of Richmond, near Houston. The parents work for the Astros. She will have an exciting life. Grandparents are Mary Ann and Ronny Perry. Great Grandmother is Mary B. Hassell. Of course, there's Weida, Anita Ruth and Sonny who are proud aunts/uncle and a host of cousins who are eager to greet the newest addition to the family of the late Leahmon Hassell. Weida and her mom, Mary B., drove to Houston over the weekend for a visit at the hospital. Leigh Ann had been hospitalized for a month before a c-section was performed July 5. Little Shelby Ann weighed three pounds, eight ounces and measured 17-1/2 inches. Her grandmom says that they are all doing very well.

It was a joyous moment last week when friend Anne Rogers called from Georgia. She wanted us to know about young Tommy Rogers, now serving in the military. He has been in Baghdad about two weeks, and his family are all hoping that he can spend Christmas at home. He has served for years in the U.S. Navy, but while here, he was an active member of our church, the choir and youth program. He has always received family-like treatment from his Methodist family. Anne is trying to work in a visit to Alto and surrounding area in the near future.

Well, this covers what I have in notes to myself. All except the rainfall in two days on Bonner Street. Thursday was 2.93 inches and Friday was 2.97, That's rounds off to six inches, don't you think? Goodness gracious. Is anybody out there cutting hay?

And finally, the fenderbender at the TSR around Jarvis Switch, near Maydelle Friday, was a stutter moment. I couldn't get words out, I was so flabbergasted. So far, so good. No injuries. The highly qualified, resourceful staff at TSR lost no time in assessing the situation and making adjustments. There is good in all things. I try very hard to believe this. But in some situations, I confess that I am still looking. Some thoughts or conclusions take longer than others.

Anyway, life is good. Keep smiling. Yours may be the only one I see today. (I think I have lost mine.)