SCENE IN PASSING
MARIE WHITEHEAD herald@mediactr.com
Maybe it's age, but I believe that the time change is not as difficult this time. I wish we could agree on one time and stick with it. Guess it's not time itself, but what we do with it that matters.

Leave the clock alone for a minute and look at the calendar. How about this beautiful fall? We've seen more color in years past, but this is lovely.

Football fans have teams for which they cheer. Some win, some lose. We join all the sports fans of the Alto Yellowjackets. They are to be commended for a season of non-stop victories. Not many teams get to reach for the championship ring every season. The losing and winning provides a great opportunity for growing, learning, character building. Fall down, get up, try again.

Our gratitude is offered to all veterans in recent days. It is always a pleasure to work with friend Frank Bowden and the members of the VFW of our area. Frank is a great writer and it is a privilege to have him as a guest columnist. This may be one of the most celebrated Veterans Day many of us recall. Certainly, it is a topic that all of us can relate to - either we served or have a member of the family who did. And collectively they have made our nation what it is - the most desirable place on Earth to live. Freedom is a blessing. We fail to remember the price paid for us to be here today.

Our beloved veteran was a Navy-man. That's the branch where a special young man from Rusk serves today. He is Tommy Rogers. He has been chosen by his Alma Mater, if you will, Boy Scout Troop 405 for special recognition this Christmas. According to their longtime leader, Bobbie Burch, her young Scouts are preparing a holiday package to mail to Tommy. If you have special attachment to this young man, they will allow you to participate in their project. But time is running out. Get your offer in immediately. Tommy is in the Middle East. What an opportunity for the young Scouts to log in a history lesson through this project. And what a project of love and concern this will present to our own Tommy Rogers. He is nearing the end of his higher ed degree and that makes all of us who know him feel so proud. We have a good number of men and women with ties to this area serving in the armed forces. Local churches keep prayer lists on a regular basis for these special, "future" veterans. May our Creator be with us all.

If you haven't already heard, a movie will be released just before Christmas. "The Great Debaters" includes several scenes shot at the Palestine Depot. The film stars Denzel Washington. We hope that you will hear more good news of the TSR in the not too distant future. These past weeks, since Aug. 31, have been a challenge to keep the train on track and rolling toward a promising future. We hope good news will be announced soon.

Dovie Curtis shared her happy news with us. She has a new great-grandbaby. He is Thomas Liam Gustavson, the son of Jennifer and Matthew Gustavson of Edison, N.J. The young man weighed 11 pounds, 14 ounces and measured 22 inches in length. He was born Nov. 8. Other Rusk relatives include grandparents, Bill and Jane Curtis. He has two sisters, Samantha and Charlotte. Thomas and Betty Gustavson of Smithville are also grandparents. This is the couple who used to live in Bastrop. "Mama" Dovie enjoyed so much her visits with them. Bastrop was her home before Rusk.

I will mention one more time in this space that a huge contingency of sawmill workers with their families moved to Rusk from Bastrop. This was the start of the Edwards Bros. Lumber Co. in Rusk. I can't remember all of them, but they comprise a substantial segment of this community. Bob Edwards no longer lives here, but this is his family, parents and grandparents. Maybe he will return home one day. He has maintained his ties through friends and business.

Most folks who are on the need-to-get-better list really are better. Neighbors Jim Turner, Ike Daniel and after last week's surgery, Dorothy McClure is home again. It was a short stay to unblock an artery. Now her blood can run as fast as she can. Everyone wishes the best in great health to those in pain. Best wishes to Catherine Thedford who also had recent surgery.

A closing thought for all of you caregivers: "The heart is the happiest when it beats for others." Keep smiling. Thanksgiving is next week.