NEWS STORY EVOKES PAINFUL CHILDHOOD MEMORY & MORE

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I read in the paper last week that the local school board
had decided to stop the sale of carbonated drinks in our
county schools and to improve the nutrition of the lunch
meals. As I read the story, a childhood memory rushed
back into my mind.

In the 1930s, I attended a Chattanooga elementary school.
Several close friends who lived in our neighborhood were
my classmates. I was a tiny, shy child and a well-behaved
student at school and I had a loving family. So, my life
was good.

There were no carbonated drinks at our schools and only milk was served in the cafeteria. Being a finicky eater, I did enjoy the school lunches. Talking in the cafeteria line was not
allowed and a teacher monitored the students. Then, on The
Awful Day, when I was seven or eight, the girl standing in
line behind me asked a question in a soft voice. I turned around
and answered her and in the next instant I felt strong hands
grasp my tiny shoulders. The teacher shook me while reading
the riot act about talking in line. When she left me, I felt
my lips tremble as I fought back the tears. I had never been
scolded at school and not very often at home. I realized
the teacher didn't love me as everyone else did in my world.
After that, I was still innocent and vulnerable but a crack
had been made in my rosy world. And, I was never again so trusting as I had been before The Awful Day.

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Feeling rested and better than usual, son, Barry , and I decided
to drive over to Dalton this past Sunday and eat lunch at the
Western Sizzling. The food was delectable and I ate more
than I should have despite my good intentions. I will have
to watch my diet this week. I wore my new coral top of crinkle
fabric and lime green pants and felt stylish wearing the
"IN" colors.

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We haven't had much rain this summer and the air quality
isn't very good some days with hazy conditions. We may get some rain today and we need it as the lawn has turned from the
early spring green to brown and there seems to be dust
in the air here. We are praying and hoping for some rain
today. Some of the weather experts are predicting a drought
here this year and I hope they are wrong. The sunshine and hot temps and Barry's watering has the patio plants thriving.
And inside, by the picture window in the den. the Christmas
poinsettia still has red leaves with new green leaves just
exploding with growth. Barry has transplanted it into a
larger pot and is determined to keep it alive until this
coming Christmas. I think the plant's location is ideal
for it plus Barry's watering of one five ounce Dixie cup
of water daily.

See you next time.