RRN Online Volume 301

March 09 '02

Volume 301

Adult Banquet FBC Fellowship

It happened last year, or so I'm told, that First Baptist Church held an Adult Valentine Banquet off church property. I had the privilege of attending the second such event a few weeks ago at the historic, renovated, Pontotoc Community House. Over the years, I have had numerous occasions to be at the Community House for such events as high school dances, reunions, wedding receptions, and have checked out a few library books back when the Community House also housed the County Library.

For its historical value, the old building is worth hanging onto, but for a meeting hall it's acoustics would discourage theater, musical performances, and political speeches. Scatter crowds of talkative and hungry people around groups of tables inside the building and you'll be fortunate if you can hear yourself think let alone understand the person speaking at the other end of the table, unless of course you're a lip reader. It is an experience best appreciated if it is endured only once in a lifetime, but I'm working on my second handful.

I'm still at a loss to explain why the church didn't want to use its own facility but would imagine a sinister plot such as promoting the need for a new Family Life Center by inferring there was not enough room in the present Fellowship Hall to accommodate the expected turnout. Oh, tell me to hush…all the other progressive Baptist Churches have a Family Life Center, so why not FBC? I won't answer that other than to say, "lemmings."

Let's see…an earlier trip to eat at The General Store and now we've eaten at a banquet. Hmm, that would be two outings already this year. My wife must think she's died and gone to Heaven.

Fellowship, it's all about fellowship. For the money, the food neither time was worth the amount charged, but the folks that were on hand made for a bargain. Some of the nicest people you'll find anywhere are members at FBC. Many of them, I count as close friends and am on good terms with the rest of them, or so I choose to believe.

Barbara and I didn't arrive late, but most of the seating was taken by the time we got there. We found an empty table and were soon joined by three other couples, John Edward and Mary Ellen Sewell, Alvin and Joyce Ashmore, and Danny and Linda Weatherly. I've known the Sewells since they lived near us on Montgomery Street when I was a lad. I'll forever remember John Edward didn't get mad or pitch a fit over us neighborhood kids breaking his car's windshield when an errant rock struck it. He laughed and told us not to worry, his insurance would take care of it.

The Ashmores came to Pontotoc shortly after Dad bought a grocery store. Mr. Ashmore was the pharmacist in the drug store next to Carter and Austin Grocery. Mr. Alvin has for many years been a pillar of the church, involved in civic activities, and is now semi-retired. Danny Weatherly was my high school hero, a popular student leader, athletic role model, and all around great guy. He and Linda were in a "Card Club" with Barbara and me back in the seventies. Danny Weatherly continues to inspire me with his positive attitude and cheerful disposition. As for Linda, ask her why I call her Dolly.

The evening's program was somewhat unusual for a Valentine's event. The church had invited a speaker from the community college in nearby Fulton, MS. She instructed us to take a personality test in hopes, once the results were analyzed, each couple would have a better understanding of his or her sweetheart.

The personality test involved circling any or all words in four separate columns that best describe one's behavior. I've taken enough such tests that I felt comfortable racing ahead of the instructor and had completed mine before she finished with the instructions. Then I heard her explain that the descriptions of the behavior she was interested in applied to us at home and not at work, as the sheet had indicated. That required me to retake the test, as I'm a different person at home than at work.

As an elementary student in Okolona, MS, I realized that I was better behaved at school than at home. I was more polite to other students than to family members. Had you known me in those days, you might have said I was an angel in the classroom, but a little devil once I got home. I didn’t get into trouble at school that required corporal punishment, but I had plenty of old-fashioned spankings at home for misbehaving. With regard to personality, I'm afraid I retain some of those childhood traits to this day.

The four columns on the test each contained ten words. The column that contained the greatest number of circled words marked one's major personality type. The test was called the DISC Personality Test, as DISC is an acronym for the four major personality types represented by the columns Dominant, Influential, Steady, Competent.

Persons whose personality types are Dominant or Competent are extroverts and "task oriented." Persons whose personality types are Influential or Steady are introverts and "people oriented." When I had taken the test under the assumption I was gauging my personality at work I scored a 10 under the Steady column and a 2 under the Dominant column. After retaking the test to reflect my personality at home, I still figured a 10 in the Steady column, but this time I scored a 6 in the Dominant column.

My wife gave me high marks in the Dominant column, too, as did a couple of other folks I talked to. Ruth McCullough told me she definitely thought both her husband Floyd and I were Dominant personality types. I can't fully disagree, because I am some of both and again it depends upon my environment. Can I help it if I'm a complex individual?

I'll share the basic strengths, weaknesses, and needs of the Dominant and the Steady personality type, then perhaps you can decide which best describe this writer:

Type Strengths Weaknesses Needs

Problem Solver Finds Fault Control

Dominant Decision Maker Lacks Caution Authority

Goal Achiever Runs Over People Prestige

Type

Strengths

Weaknesses

Needs

Loyal Overly Possessive Appreciation

Steady Listener Avoids Risk-Taking Security

Patient Avoids Conflicts Time to Decide

After the program, we were preparing to leave for the evening, while taking time to visit with other friends we had not spoken to earlier. Among those we greeted were Joel and Shirley Hale.

As I shook Joel's hand, he grinned and said, "Well, I was going to take Shirley to The General Store, until I read your review in your newsletter."

Then, he laughed as only Joel can. It's a hardy laugh, robust, and full bodied. It's magnetic in that it draws you into it, giving the feeling of personal, surround sound. If Joel ever stops finding ways to pick at me, I'll know our friendship is over. I might have felt badly over his comment, had I taken him seriously.

Shirley let me know right away that Joel is not one to eat out.

"He'd rather I gave him a mayonnaise sandwich for supper than go out to eat. I can hardly get him out of the house," she confided.

I remember telling her that she and Barbara should get together and Joel and I could stay home and eat mayonnaise sandwiches. Unfortunately, that's not likely to happen.

Lighthouse Update At Peggy's Point

Some readers express amazement at the varied articles that surface in this newsletter during a typical year. I'm amazed myself, but more as to what the varied readership of RRN find interesting. I keep churning out articles on subjects that interest me, seldom hearing how others may regard my thoughts or opinions. Occasionally, a friend or two will respond to something I've written, but that's rarer than one might imagine.

Sheila Hess is the only "lighthouse" person I could have named at the time I selected some business cards with a lighthouse on them. However, a couple of days after writing about the business cards, George Rutledge sent me an email comment on the shared interest he and his wife Judy have concerning lighthouses and their history. George and/or Judy recognized the lighthouse on the business card as the one found at Peggy's Point Nova Scotia. The following is an excerpt from the historical information George sent.

"While no doubt the most well known lighthouse in Canada and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world, the history of the light at Peggy's Cove is little known. Various versions account for the name. Peggy is the nickname for Margaret and the community may have acquired the name from nearby Saint Margaret's Bay, especially as the point marks the eastern entrance to the bay. Other accounts suggest Peggy was an early settler. A popular romantic version says a woman named Peggy was the only survivor of a shipwreck and there are even American families that even claim descent from the shipwrecked Peggy.

In any case, it was decided to erect a light to mark the eastern entrance to St. Margaret's Bay in 1868. While best known as "the Peggy's Cove Lighthouse", it was and remains, officially known as the Peggy's Point Lighthouse as its purpose is to mark the point, not the cove. The cove has its own small light on the government wharf. The first lighthouse was a wooden tower, built atop a keeper's dwelling at the point. It was a red light and used a catoptric reflector (a round silver-plated mirror) to magnify the kerosene oil lamp.

The wooden tower, built atop a keeper's dwelling was replaced in 1915 by the present tower, a pleasing and stout concrete octagon 50 feet west of the original light. The keeper's dwelling remained for many years nearby, as did a tall flagpole displaying coded black cones and balls to warn of bad weather approaching. The new lighthouse showed a white light from a dioptric lens, a series of glass prisms, to magnify the light. Several color and character changes followed, the most recent being the change from white to green in 1979. Another very visible change was in 1969 when the iron lantern on top of the tower was changed from white paint to red paint."

In addition to George’s informative note, I received request from readers as far away as Germany asking for business cards. I was happy to comply. RRN does not yet circle the globe, but it may one day. It’s amazing how far a little light from Pontotoc actually shines.

Another Layoff A Third RRN Reader

I am not suggesting that any of my fellow employees of Supervalu who read this newsletter refrain from doing so, because of possible bad luck, but in light of the recent layoffs, it might be a prudent consideration. Slightly more than a week ago, a third RRN reader fell victim to the efforts of Supervalu to control expenses by workforce reductions. Rodger Carmichael was abruptly terminated on February 22^nd, ending a successful career with Supervalu that included his managing corporate retail stores. Rodger once served as our primary contact with the now defunct Jitney Jungle Stores, and most recently worked as a Retail Business Consultant for the Marketing Department.

The unnerving aspect of the recent layoffs has been the lack of consistent guidelines for termination. It would make sense to terminate persons with the least seniority or even to persons whose job performance was lackluster, but the recent layoffs have defied explanation based upon conventional wisdom, and explanations as to what methods guided the decision making process have not been forthcoming. The best information provided by the "head cutters" is that the decision for termination was not based upon job performance.

On the bright side, I suppose it’s good that we don’t know how such decisions are made. At least those of us who are still employed don’t have to worry about doing anything different. We seem to be at no greater risk one way or another and may be comforted in knowing that should further layoffs be necessary we may very well survive by the luck of the draw.

Rodger’s wife Janis lost her job with Supervalu, several years ago when Supervalu consolidated thirty-six divisions into six regional offices, with jobs in Indianola moving to Atlanta.

I will miss Rodger as a coworker but hope to keep in touch through this newsletter and other means. Good luck and best wishes my friend.

Bodock Beau Hallmark Rejects

Hallmark has long associated itself with "the very best." A casual reading will quickly reveal why the following greetings were not chosen.

Rejected Hallmark Greetings

"My tire was thumping. I thought it was flat. then I looked at the tire. I noticed your cat. Sorry! "

"You had your bladder removed and you're on the mend. Here's a bouquet of flowers and a box of Depends. "

"How could two people as beautiful as you have such an ugly baby?"

"As the days go by, I think of how lucky I am that you're not here to ruin it for me."

"As you grow older, Mum, I think of all the gifts you've given me. Like the need for therapy..."

"Someday I hope to get married, but not to you."

"Happy Birthday! You look great for your age... Almost Lifelike!

"When we were together, you always said you'd die for me. Now that we've broke up, I think it's time you kept your promise."

"We have been friends for a very long time, what say we call it quits."

"I'm so miserable without you, it's almost like you're here."

"Congratulations on your new bundle of joy. Did you ever find out who the father was?"

"Your friends and I wanted to do something special for your birthday-so we're having you put to sleep."

Contributed by Dena Kimbrell

Answered Prayer

A lady goes to her priest one day and tells him, "Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots, but they only know how to say one thing."

"What do they say?" the priest inquired.

They say, "Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?"

"That's obscene!" the priest exclaimed, then he thought for a moment. "You know, I may have a solution to your problem. I have two male talking parrots, which I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house, and we'll put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship, and your parrots are sure to stop saying...that phrase...in no time."

"Thank you," the woman responded, "this may very well be the solution."

The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house. As he ushered her in, she saw that his two male parrots were inside their cage holding rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them.

After a few minutes, the female parrots cried out in unison: "Hi, we're hookers! Do you want to have some fun?"

There was stunned silence. Shocked, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and exclaimed, "Put the beads away, Frank. Our prayers have been answered!"

Contributed by Dena Kimbrell

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