Country Connections By James and Ellen Perry
Sittin’ on my front porch with a strong hangry (new woke terminology) to roll out my Suzuki Burgman and head north to Harrogate, turn south on highway 63. Then ride slowly south through the beautiful (hasn’t been spoiled by so-called development) Powell Valley to I-75 south to exit 122, turn north onto highway 61 and back to my front porch. This fall has been one of the prettiest color displays since the 1960s.
Here in East Tennessee our first frost occurred on October 6. We have had six frosts since then. Frost came about two weeks early with only a smattering of rain as the cold fronts passed through our beautiful God-given fall. All of nature came together to produce such a colorful fall kaleidoscope.
When driving during my fourth profession and seeing the fall displays in the subdivisions in Knox (pronounced K-nox) County I see things differently than most people. For instance, looking at a fall display which has pumpkins and corn stalks as most people would see, I see pumpkin pies and corn on the cob.
Seeing cows in the pastures, I see hamburgers with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onion slices, light mayo, and a Ball Park bun. I’ve never been too heavy in my life, but sometimes I think I gain weight by the way I see things.
I want to thank Governor Lee for reducing the cost of registering vehicles this year. I registered my Burgman this week and was pleasantly surprised as it cost only $5.25. Thank you, Governor Lee.
Thanksgiving is coming in a few weeks, and I hope everyone reading this newspaper has a great time with family and friends for Thanksgiving dinner. Remember others who are not as fortunate as you, some homeless because of drug abuse, alcoholism, some from constant memories of being in combat and seeing and experiencing and smelling mortality in war, some never being able to live a normal life.
The Salvation Army does a super job on Thanksgiving and every day, especially during disasters and never tooting their own horns. A donation of any size will be greatly appreciated. Another very worthy ministry to donate to is Angelic Ministries in Knoxville.
The days are getting shorter, the nights longer and colder as the sun is out for a shorter period. After Thanksgiving the continental and or polar cold fronts get closer together and colder. Plan ahead for heat and warm clothing. I see many elementary school children every morning dressed in shorts, short sleeve shirts and no coats. If the bus had a malfunction, there would be no heat and very cold children. Another thing, mothers and grandparents when buying shoes for your elementary age children, please buy shoes that light up when the kids step or walk. It doesn’t get daylight now until 7:15 am. It is almost impossible for a bus driver to see the small children when it is dark and for some reason most kids have black hoodies and black clothing. If the shoes light up as the kids move, the driver can see them in the dark early morning.
Another one bites the dust: In mid-October, radio station WNTT ceased operation in Tazewell. It had been on the air for nearly 70 years broadcasting local events, school closings due to weather, religious programs all day Sundays, obituaries for local funeral homes and advertising for businesses in five counties at low rates. I had a six hour show every Saturday playing music recorded from 1928 ’til present. It’s not good for local businesses or residents that are covered by a local radio station signal for that radio station to cease operation. The businesses covered by WNTT 1250 am will soon realize how beneficial their local station was when they price advertising from Knox County and Hamblen County, Tennessee, and Bell County, Kentucky, stations. Goodbye, WNTT 1250 AM.
It’s time now to light up the computer and bring on Kenny Vance with the Planetones singing, “Once Upon a Time.”
See y’all in December.