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Columns

  • Sign up to put an end to dirty word

    I had the privilege of attending the Special Olympics event at East Gadsden High School last week. It was cold and it was super windy, but it was awesome.

    It’s been a while since I attended a Special Olympics event, and I had forgotten just how inspiring it is.

    I was particularly captivated by this one young man who looked to be between 8 and 10 years old, who was using a walker to compete in a foot race. He didn’t have far to run/walk, but he was working as hard as he could, teeth gritted together, to make his way to the finish line.

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  • Take care of your own in this life...and after

    I go to Sunnyvale Cemetery at the end of South Stewart Street fairly often. My parents and my oldest brother are there, side by side. It may sound morbid to some people but it gives me great pleasure to "visit" them. I feel a sense of relief when I walk away.

    Sunday was a beautiful day and while I was doing much needed housework, I decided to go to the cemetery. I needed to tell them all of the good things that have been going on in my life. I also needed to say out loud some of the things I am reluctant to talk about to anyone.

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  • Keep an eye out for local jaywalkers

    Anyone driving at night on West Jefferson Street in Quincy should use extra care. For the past few months I have noticed an increase in the number of pedestrians who want to cross the street in places that are not well lit. Just this past week I was approaching the light at the Pat Thomas Parkway intersection when a man wearing dark clothing crossed the street near the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant parking lot.

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  • I see dead dust bunnies

    Our office is mostly populated with women, therefore we are prone to some subject matter during our “hen parties” that you might not find in more diverse offices.

    The other day, we were discussing our mothers, and the funny things they say and do, and I recounted the story of how I once (only once) told my mother that I could tell her eyesight wasn’t what it once was because I could see dust in her house. She quickly told me to get up off my “duff” and grab a dust rag and have at it.

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  • When the time comes, send me a professional

    My niece, Monica, sent me a photo of her son going up for a rebound during a recent basketball game. I looked at the picture and memories of him  as a little boy came flooding back. I remember anxiously sitting by the telephone waiting for his birth and driving down to Fort Lauderdale to see him a few weeks after his arrival.

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  • You can learn a lot from a mud puddle

    The other day I was standing at my kitchen window, watching it rain. And I was enjoying it. I love rainy days...when I don't have to go anywhere. I love to sit on the porch, with a good book, and just listen to the rain fall. I even like the sound of people driving through the puddles.

    As I stood there, I began to look at the puddles in my yard. There was one particularly large one, and I watched as raindrops landed in it. Each raindrop seem to ripple only so far. None of the ripples from any drops made it all the way to the edge of the puddle.

    This got me to thinking.

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  • Where's my justice?

    On May 5, 2009, while I was at work, a young man decided he wanted to kick in my front door. Once inside, he ransacked my bedroom and took jewelry. The jewelry, including my deceased mother's ring, was sold for a pittance and quickly melted down at a local establishment.

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  • Good things are happening

    It’s funny how things go sometimes. In recent months, the Times has been congratulated for its coverage of some controversial subject matter, yet kicked in the teeth for the same coverage. We’ve received positive comments from those who like that our Web site, www.gadcotimes.com, is the best local source for breaking news in the county. Yet we hear commentary from those who are upset that our print coverage is sometimes not as current.

    So I wanted to take the time to explain why this is.

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  • Serving others is way better than a nap

    It's funny how sometimes things never seem to work out the way I've planned but almost always end up better.

    Like everyone in the area I had paid strict attention to the weather reports all week. I monitored each report on television, radio and the Internet. It was going to be bone-chilling cold and I was thinking all week that I was finally going to get the weekend I began longing for several months ago.

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  • No really...pun intended

    I get a kick out of puns. Good ones. Not the really sad attempts that are just plain dumb. I like the clever ones that you have to think about a bit.

    So I thought this week, I’d share some of my favorites. Please...to enjoy.

    • The famous general died and his ashes were to be taken to Arlington National Cemetery. All the air lines were booked and there were no other planes available. Someone came up with the idea of using a helicopter. It arrived at 5 a.m. The newspapers reported the incident with "the whirly bird gets the urn."

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