Today was a very nice day – cool, not too hot. Just a great day to sit under the shade tree and reminisce. Not a lot of talking, just reminiscing about yesteryear. As I sat in my yard, I was surrounded by white cotton fields in full bloom. I could remember when I used to pick cotton by hand. I would try to pack the cotton tight and pick hard while the dew was on the field. Then, when I emptied my sack on the sheet, you could pack it down. I could pick a good 300 pound bag in a day. You’d better not “snag” it, or you would have to go back and scrap the cotton. Boy, that was a good day’s work.

There’s a lot going on in Garland these days. The Rotary Fair, this past weekend, was wonderful. We really enjoyed the parade. My husband even drove the truck that hauled our float! We hope to be able to provide a better float for our Seniors next year.

Hopefully, in a few days, you will see a new face lift at the Garland Center, as we are in the process of getting some work done on our front porch. Our seniors like to sit outside so we’re hoping for a new, “long” porch. Then, maybe we’ll be blessed with some new white rocking chairs. (Hint. Hint.)

Don’t you forget – Carolina Foot Care will be at the Garland Center on Oct. 13 at 10 a.m. If you need your toe nails trimmed, bunions checked or dry skin shaved from your feet, then come on out and get on the list. Remember to bring your Medicaid or private insurance card. Carolina Foot Care will also be at Butler Court, in Clinton, on Oct. 19. Call Butler Court for more information.

The weatherization folks will also be here on Oct. 15 and a representative of the Social Security office will be here on Oct. 20. Anna Peele will be at the center on Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. She will be discussing Medicare, Part D.

Allison Bradshaw did a great presentation on Oct. 1. The topic was wills, living wills, and power of attorney. Great information! She has agreed to come back and provide additional free counseling in these areas. She really educated our seniors about how important it is to make sure that our last will and testament is written down on paper. This will save your family a lot of money, aggravation and family feuds.

We had a wonderful experience at the Center last Friday. As we were finishing up a day’s work, when a couple drove up, and asked to use the bathroom. We honored their request and they ended up staying to visit with us for a while. We shared a lot of stories under the old shade tree. It was soon learned that the couple was driving through the area looking for old friends, when they suddenly needed to use the bathroom. The lady said that her husband said they might be able to find a McDonald’s in the area. She quickly told him, “Not hardly in Garland!” The couple was Susan and Ed Manning from Kinston. Susan had been reared in Ingold. Her father owned a store there in the curve at Ingold. She left the area when she was a child. So, as they were driving, they just whipped onto a side street that ran in front of the center. They really enjoyed their visit. I knew the folks they were looking for – Franklin and Edna Lamb. It just happens that I was born on the farm of the Edna Davis family. Sadly, I had to inform them that the folks they were looking for had passed away. On a happier note, when the couple left, they made a donation of coffee, cream, sugar and other goodies. It’s amazing how you can be having a bad day and God can just place someone in your life out of the blue – someone who can really bless you.

Now tell me how do you measure the worth of a person’s life? To me, it’s not how you die, but how you live. Remember to have compassion for others.

Congratulations to Richard Carr and Staci Powell. They married on Oct.10. They will be on their honeymoon when you read this. They are a great couple! Richard is our weekly exercise instructor. He’s a really wonderful person.

Now, lets’ look at some more remedies that I found in the “Woman’s World” Magazine. I read that you can ease razor burn by taking a cool tea bag and placing it on the area that is razor burned. Another remedy I found in “Woman’s Day” is to use dried out white tea leaves to absorb odors in a cat box. The next remedy is from my Mama’s (Eloise Brewington) kitchen. I think I shared it before, but here it is again. As we enter the cold and flu season, remember to keep a jar filled with honey, lemon juice and a pinch of butter. Heat the mixture up and pour in a little whiskey. When I say a little, I mean a teaspoon! Remember, my Mama is a holy woman – so she won’t get you drunk off this remedy! Believe me, we live by this remedy. It will clear up a cold, laryngitis, and much more. Before I forget – I tried one of the remedies I recommended a few weeks ago and it worked. I rubbed a little non-gel toothpaste onto a spot on my clothes. It worked better than store bought stain remover.

Lately, I’ve been reading a lot about older folks volunteering. I found that folks who volunteer get along much better. Helping others helps you fee more optimistic and a lot happier. So, we should all think about ways we can volunteer our time. There are so many opportunities – not just at the Senior Center. The list goes on and on – church, day care, adult day care, shut-ins, nursing facilities, hospice and much more. If you’re feeling bored – reach out and help others!

Until next time, keep sending me recipes, remedies and anything you think is worth sharing. My email address is: gcenadmin@intrstar.net. I sure do treasure “shade tree memories”. You’d be surprised at the kinds of memories that are so valuable when shared with others. If you don’t share, people will never know about you and your experiences. Remember “Hop Scotch”, “Red Rover,” and “Hide and Go Seek”? These are old timey games we used to play. Share these games with your children, grandchildren and great grand children. These are games that don’t cost a family a lot and they are fun! I just love memories. Don’t you?