Smoke Signals and other news
It’s hard to believe that baby (Olivia), who I retired to keep, turns ten this week. We spent hours together through some great adventures-scary times, illnesses, Mother’s Day Out, Kindergarten, trips to Goodwill (one of her favorite adventures), meals at her favorite restaurants (Perkins and Seafood Junction), working to overcome some medical issues, always going with Grammie and Poppa to doctors where she sweetly held my hand for shots, blood draws-or anything she thought would be painful for me. She had her first ice cream cone given to her by Poppa Doug. She learned to drink from a straw at Perkins, and she learned how to make a crayon mark on paper there also. She had her birthday party on Saturday in Ga., with with the threat of another hurricane headed their way. I could not be there. At the end of the day, she called me to share her day’s excitement. As usual, mom went all out with the party. She was so excited about her presents and had to make pictures of all for me to see. She loves to “craft” and received so many craft projects. I will never regret retiring two years early to spend those precious days with her. We have a bond that will last as long as I am on this earth.
She also picked up her first “job” this weekend when the neighbors had to go out of town and asked her to feed their cats. She always feeds my animals when she visits. She is a natural caregiver for both people and animals. She took this responsibility so seriously.
The week has been busy. After suffering for a couple of weeks with neck and shoulder pain and headaches stemming from that, I finally took the time to visit my chiropractor, Dr. Owen Stubbs in Holly Springs. Be assured you have a treasure there. I have been to my share of chiropractors since I was about 18 and he is among the best I have used. The pain in my neck and shoulders is basically gone along with the headaches. I have felt better in the last few days than I have since my surgery in February. I am going to do my best to see him again this week to enhance the healing process.
Soccer continues in Byhalia. I had to add another team due to the many requests. The kids and parents are having a great time. I am learning the rules of soccer. While we are not playing “competitive” soccer and are not being overly strict on penalties, the atmosphere remains competitive, especially for the older teams. Since adding another team, we discovered that Hurricane Helene has far reaches as most of our uniforms are shipped from Augusta, GA. Our warehouse was unable to fill the order, and we had to switch to another supplier.
It is a minor inconvenience for us but tells the story of widespread damage not only in North Carolina, but also Tennessee, and Georgia.
The news that continues to come in from that area is devastating. Entire towns simply gone, homes and businesses destroyed, people dead and missing, infrastructure nonexistent, food and water supplies scarce. Then there are the acts of kindness and heroism as is often the case in such a disaster.
There are so many volunteers and military personnel deployed to try to get to the areas in greatest need. Some areas can be reached only by air and mule trains, or people searching on horseback. The requests for cadaver dogs and body bags is overwhelming. This type of flooding and the disaster that has followed has not been seen in the lifetime of those alive today.
Our area has several disaster relief trucks/trailers taking items to the area. If you want to help, that is one way you can do so.
Please share your news with me either at jchwagg@gmail.com or text or call 901 246-8843. You can message me on FB as Clair Wagg.