BOY'S CAMP OUT WAS FIASCO!

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Adolescence is sort of an in-between time of life, a time when many young persons feel at loose ends. At times they feel like and behave as adults. At other times they swing back to childhood feelings and activities. I was reminded of that when son Barry was 14-years- old and had an experience that proved to me that a person doesn't become an adult overnight, that it is a gradual process.

Barry and a friend, having a few leisure hours from a rather busy summer schedule, were sitting around wondering what they could do. They discussed camping out. But, they knew that since it was a week day an adult couldn't take them to the woods to camp. "But, why not build a tent and camp out in the backyard?"
Yeah, that was a keen idea. And, they became more excited by the minute as they started gathering up- old sheets and blankets, etc... and constructed their super tent. They took time out to earn some money by mowing a neighbor's lawn so they could buy food for their camping expedition. Then, they decided it would be more fun if a couple of other friends joined them.

During their cook-out in the backyard they were still having a ball despite Barry stepping, barefoot, on a red, hot charcoal briquette, and despite the cats swiping some of their charcoal broiled hamburgers. During the dusky evening they continued to collect things they would need, so they thought--a radio,
games, pillows, more blankets, etc... until the tent was about filled. And, when I returned home later in the evening from a meeting, they were still having a great time. They complimented themselves upon the great job they'd done building the tent and getting everything ready for the night's outing.

Finally, they were ready to settle down and go to sleep. Barry's dad and I cautioned them to keep down the noise as after all they were camping in town, not out in the woods. Somehow, I went to sleep about 12:30 but was awakened at 2 a.m. by voices, giggles. and noises coming from Barry's room. Upon investigation, I learned-- the tent was too small to sleep four people; and, anyway, that super tent had collapsed on them; and besides, the cats had insisted sleeping with them. So, they decided, considering, to spend the rest of the night in Barry's room. Thirty minutes later, after getting them bedded down, and working out decisions as to who was going to sleep where, I returned to bed. As I drifted off to sleep I could still hear whispers and giggles. Maybe they'll sleep late in the morning. Wistful thinking. They were up early, eating in the kitchen, returning to Barry's room to watch television.

All day, I moped around, half asleep. But, being young, the boys were still going strong and went swimming in the afternoon and palled around until dark that night. But, Barry didn't put up a fuss about going to bed that night. And not one of them mentioned the rest of the summer about camping out again, I suspect they learned something we all do sooner or later-often the anticipation of an event is more exciting than the event itself.

See you next time.

WE ARE INVOLVED IN DAILY WORLD

By OLIVENE GODFREY

I suppose all of us at one time or another harbor thoughts of becoming a hermit, isolating ourselves from the world But, whether we want to be or not, we're all involved in the great events of our time. We are a part of humanity, in what is happening, and we can't dissociate our self from the world around us. John Donne reminded us that, "No man is an island, entire of itself..." And, if our involvement isn't physical or active it is a spiritual involvement.

But, say a public official in your community behaves in a way that you think is wrong. You start thinking critically about him and his actions. Eventually, you may vote against him. And, so you have become involved in the world around you. If you don't vote against the official you are also acting, in a negative way,and you are actually condoning what he is doing.
The extent of our involvement in any situation is up to each of us individually. If we choose to be physically involved, we can try to act in constructive ways and try to change what we believe is wrong.

If we don't choose to be physically involved, we often only criticize or condemn. This is easy to do. Some people say to criticize is only human. But, actually it's just an acquired habit that too many don't try to break. Now, in many cases criticism is helpful and needed. But, it's difficult to be able to criticize in a constructive manner. There seems to be much truth in the old adage, " you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar."

While some people spend all of their time fault-finding, there is another extreme--that is to waste your talent of praise. If you go around complimenting everyone indiscriminately
your compliments will be of little value. You can bless and praise without reservation about most human beings. Most people aren't all bad or all good. Actually, the spreading of good will and harmony is a chain-reaction process. One person who does have love in his heart can change the life of one other person or persons. And they will, in turn, affect a few more and so on, in ever widening circles of good will.

What ever happens in our community, our state, our nation. in the world, will produce some reaction within your mind and heart. And it's really up to each of us, what kind of world we will have tomorrow. Solving problems positively, you involve yourself in what happens, to day, tomorrow, and every day.

See you next time.

BY OLIVENE GODFREY

AND THE HEAT GOES ON & ON & ON....

There doesn't seem to be any relief in sight from this oppressive heat wave here in North Georgia, according to weather reports. Son Barry and I have been eating easy to prepare light meals, partly to keep from heating up the kitchen and because Barry is so tired after working long hours in a building without AC.
We've had some rain showers and the rain and sunshine have the patio plants and flowers exploding with growth.

The Impatiens plant and petunias and marigolds are all looking so pretty now. The Impatiens plant was looking puny for awhile but Barry re-potted it in a larger pot filled with Miracle Grow soil and it has doubled its size. The purple plant is wandering all over the place and is beautiful. The plants inside are thriving in front of the big window with sunshine and the AC. The Peace Lily has four or five white blooms on it. Barry also used his re-potting technique and green thumb on it and the plant has been blooming for several months. For years, I tried to induce Peace Lily plants to bloom with no avail.

The crape myrtle outside our dining room window is gorgeous now and is in full bloom, just loaded with rosy blossoms.
The crape myrtle was planted in memory of my late mother when she died 10 years ago. My sister-in-law, Joyce, gave me a check to buy a memorial plant for my mother. We have the bush professionally pruned once a year and it is a pretty shape.

Barry recently had lab work and the report was fine, the doctor told him, but his potassium was a little high. Barry told her of the many Gatorades he had been drinking in this hot weather and she suggested he drink cold bottled water. Barry also tried to drink green tea. He had read of the many benefits of the tea since ancient times. He bought a pack of 16 bottles but he couldn't stand the taste. Neither could I. We agreed it might be that particular brand. Barry took the drinks to work at his shop and some of his co-workers liked it and some didn't.
When Barry bought groceries today, he stocked up on Propel, the flavored water, which he likes.

I badly need a haircut but don't know when I will feel like venturing outside in this horrendous hot weather.

See you next time.

BEAUTIFUL RAINS CAME & REFRESHED THE PARCHED EARTH & BROUGHT COOLER WEATHER TO NORTH GEORGIA

BY OLIVENE GODFREY

We here in Northwest Georgia had a couple of pleasant days before the oppressive hot weather came again. I hadn't been out of the house for several weeks until Barry drove me to Calhoun, GA last week for my monthly booster shot. I was only outside in the hot weather for the few minutes it took to walk from the car to the blood doctor's clinic. And, I believe that if I had to stay outside in that heat, it would kill me. And I don't know how Barry has been able to work in his shop which doesn't have AC and was a 100 degrees inside the shop one day last week.

And, then the beautiful rains came and refreshed the parched earth and brought us blessed cooler weather today and I hope it will last a while before another heat wave hits us. It is early in the summer so we can expect more oppressive hot weather until the fall.

We had a quiet July 4th holiday. That night I listened to a CD of patriotic songs performed by a symphony. As I listened, my thoughts turned to Barry when he was eight or nine years old. He liked classical music so I took him to an Atlanta Symphony performance. Later, I took him twice to performances by the Chattanooga symphony which he enjoyed very much.

Barry also likes blues music. He and a friend played in a blues band when they were younger. Now, often on weekends they have a jam session in his den. Barry is knowledgeable about many kinds of music. He and I both dislike the new country music.
I like and I think Barry likes the instrumentals on cable RFD/TV Marty Stewart Show which features traditional country music.

I was fortunate to attend schools when I was growing up that had strong music programs. I studied piano and accordion for six years which instilled a lifetime of enjoying good music within me.

Last week, Barry cleaned the front porch and discovered that the white columns need to be painted. We also had new shingles installed on the front of our house's roof in the spring. Since we live in an area which has been designated as Windy Gap by the forestry service it's easy to understand the wind damages.
Our road has also been designated as a Scenic Road and is a nice place to live.

See you next time.

THOUGHTS ON A PLEASANT SUMMER DAY

By OLIVENE GODFREY

Many thinkers deny there is any such thing as chance. They say chance is merely an expression of our ignorance of the course of events. They claim that when we don't know why something happens we ascribe it to chance. While its my belief that chance plays only a small role in our lives, many who have achieved prominence often admit that luck seemed to have had a lot to do with their success.

The saddest people are the unfulfilled, with no self-respect, little courage, the ones who continue to drift into wrong and difficult situations. Perhaps the best prescription for a fulfilled life is to honestly recognize all of our emotions, not denying any of them, but feeling them through to the end, a task no one ever quite completes in a lifetime.

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During one of my cold sweat and passing out episodes, son Barry gave me a bottle of Gatorade to drink. After gulping down some of the drink, my mind began to clear almost instantly. Barry keeps a large supply of Gatorade on hand to carry to his shop to drink and I drink when I feel an IBS attack coming on. I've read that Gatorade's quick hydration plus salt and electrolytes in it really helps. Recently, when I was having a bad IBS spell, Barry called the Home Health nurse and she recommended that he give me some Gatorade. Because of the sugar content, Barry buys Gatorade's low calorie, G2, for me to drink.

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Barry has been extra busy recently, working long hours at his shop and doing housework, cooking, etc...here, besides working in the yard. When he works outdoors, the chiggers play havoc with him, causing him discomfort. Since I rarely go outdoors, I have escaped the chiggers and mosquitoes and poison oak that lurks around the yard. Barry also has been cleaning one or two of our many windows in the house on weekends and they look so pretty and shiny. Yes, I know Barry is a jewel and I am so fortunate to have him for a son.

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My friend, Annie, who lives now in her home country, England, recently sent us beautiful photographs of England scenery and historical sites. She also wrote the text for the pictures. She says she has a lot to learn but we think she is an excellent photographer. She is an artist-she paints and writes- and can now add photography to her long list of accomplishments.

See you next time.