A BADLY NEEDED RETURN TO THE BEACH-------Dropped Maggie off at her alma mater, Harvard, was very dissappointed on her conduct when she saw 2 handsome Yellow Labs undergoing training. The young lady has been raised in "convent like conditions" much more is expected of her.. Continued down U. S. 431 passing the hallowed farm lands of the legendary Ben Bowden and his beautifully elegant bride Mary Ann. The soybeans, peanuts,corn and cotton all seem to be standing in "deep green" attention to a fallen master.Shortly down the road on the right a primitively scribbled sign painted in red seems to say "Hey I'm Buck". Formal dress never required at Bucks. There are no doors to even suggest closing. Stopped for boiled peanuts once, Buck humbly dressed in bib overalls with one strap buckled, said as he handed me my purchase, " if you ever want anything and can't get me up just get what you need and put the money in that box". I often worry about Buck considering the way things are in the world today. Passing on through beautiful Eufaula I just hope to get through before someone ask where I'm from.. Gosh I come from a place where the local government even razes railroad depots, Eufaula has 3 that they have beautifully renovated, must be something in the water they drink. Leaving Eufaula I buy the biggest bag of warm, salty goobers at a vegetable stand on the outskirts. traveling on southward into Abbeville and Henry County, home of the late Dave Edwards and the colorful Jimmy Raine,the fella who has made a kilin off "yella wood". I have had the honor of meeting and shaking the hand of both. "Sheriff" Raine also holds a M.B.A. from Harvard I might add. Entering Dothan I pass the once heralded Ford Dealership" Bondys Ford on Traders Hill" that the legendary Farley Taylor would advertise each Saturday night as he beamed out real country music to Wiregrass families until the wee Sunday morning hours. Used Toyotas have since replaced Bondys' Fords .Pat Howard and I once took a bunch of mighty good Dixie Youth All Stars to Dothan, came within one game of going to the World Series, precious memories. formal evening dresses
. Around Ross Clark Circle I turn onto U. S. 231 in front of once infamous Dobbs Barbeque where all beach bound traffic was lured in by the aroma of pork roasting over hickory and oak with open pits bellowing smoky clouds mandating right turns before continuing to the beach. Somewhere along the way Mr Dobbs either made all the money he needed, or got lazy,the pits are gone along with the customers, everything is smoked, parking no problem.On down the road, listening to public radio wondering who Trump fired today my world is content as I enter Graceville and Marianna my cultured radio airwaves give way to the less than moral Rush Limbaugh advertising something called "noxatril". He refers to it as Viagra on steroids, suggesting that it is vital for my bedroom performance. I have no idea as to what he is talking about, I better not catch anyone performing in there.. He even goes as far as to suggest that taking more than the prescribed doseage may be hazardous to my mates ' health. I have never heard of such. Outside of Marianna my soul is saved as Limbaugh is squelched out giving way to angelic homecoming gospel melodies such as "Fishers of Men" and "Amazing Grace". My wretched soul has been redeemed from exposures to lhe likes of Rush Limbaugh and his flesh promoting advertisers. I am once again good with the master as I finish off my wonderful bag of Barbour County boiled and salty goober peas, poppin the shell with my teeth, suckin out the peanut and spittin the hull out the window. I can now envision the beach but now find myself perplexed at the thought, did the spittin of those salty hulls out the window constitute littering in the Lords eyes. Having to go back and pick up those hulls would constitute a difficult penance indeed. Let the Holy Church say Amen.