I started reading some Nora Roberts fiction, “Hideaway” and the first page sent me a feeling of peace! (I’m very glad our library is now open, by the way.) The calming words were about a family sitting around a campfire, and hearing the soft voice of their mother singing. It made me smile  as I remembered camping in the back yard, on Second Street in Jackson, Ga. There’s now a pizza restaurant there and I bet the diners wonder where the warm feelings come from as they eat at The Brickery. I’m so glad that I grew up in that peaceful, and safe time. I know I’ve told about being gone on our bikes for hours at the time, but after hearing the town clock strike at noon we pedaled home as fast as we could to eat something from the garden. I liked hanging from a tree limb, skating on the sidewalks, and watching my brothers shoot bats out of our trees with their BB guns. 

  I loved going to Indian Springs, swimming in their pond over by the swings and slides, and then later in the public pool where I eventually was an assistant life guard. I discovered Fresh Air BBQ and enjoyed dining there when we had a family reunion meal with my Dad’s brothers and sisters. We had fun at Jackson Lake, on Wednesday afternoons, when all the stores closed and we could go fishing with our parents. We’d come home, put away the fishing gear and Mom would fix some grilled cheese sandwiches and Campbell’s tomato soup for supper. We did enjoy the occasional joy of eating something out of a can! 

  I always loved going to the wonderful new car displays every September as the dealerships handed out brochures and let us sit in their demos. Of course we’d have already watched a recording of the latest Chevrolet vehicles so our dad would be familiar with the new upgrades. I’m glad I grew up riding along with him to help stranded drivers because this helped teach me what was wrong, and how to do the repairs too.  

  I loved our summer trips to Washington, Ga., to visit my Dad’s parents; then on to Crawfordville to enjoy some time with my Mom’s parents. I liked seeing all the antebellum homes in Washington, and think it’s neat I can now look them up on the internet! I enjoyed going to the state park near Crawfordville for picnic outings with my mom’s family too. We still had to go by the rule back then that we couldn’t swim for an hour after eating.  I loved the public pool in Washington, too and I’m so glad I could swim by age four. 

  We had more fun as my children came along and I got to take them to Indian Springs, High Falls, and the McDonough public pool too. Later on we discovered Dauset Trails, Noah’s Ark, the Flea Market, the Atlanta Zoo with my grandkids, and of course KOA’s neat pool near Jodeco. I swam at the Baptist Inn, Davis Brothers and Holiday Inn too.  I was one lucky lady!

  Now I’m polishing these memories so I can ignore the politics, plus all the harsh political commercials. I just take out my library book, leave the radio tuned to 92.1 and smile as they play some favorites, teach me something new and bring me up to date on the latest weather and what happened on this day years ago. I love hearing some of the Sunday services  on the radio, but I’m still missing our Sunday in-person worshipping at Mt. Bethel. This has been a year like none other and I pray 2021 is calmer, happier, and that we have the right people elected too. I expect them all to do their best for the USA and hopefully send out happy news!

  Beverly Wittler has four children, eight grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. She lives in McDonough with her husband.