Who is Next? What is Next?

I said yesterday that Betty Jo Stiles Garrett, 75, founder of Betty’s World Famous Hotdogs, now Brandi’s World Famous Hotdogs had died.

Two days ago James Lester Newsome, age 83 died. Mr. Newsome was my mechanical drawing teacher and shop teacher. He was also my coach on B-Team football.

As a student I watched him rule over unruly people and he let them know at the beginning he didn’t take any poo poo. He was as good as you wanted him to be or bad as you deserved.. Your choice.

I think he probably had almost as much hair as Willie B.., the Gorilla. His arms were covered wit hair and the base of his neck had the illusion of having about a bushel of hair forcing its way out from under the top of his shirt. He was a wiry man, small in statue, he reminded me of a comic book character named Aqua-man. They had a similar head shapes and piercing eyes.

One time at football practice he ran backwards in front of two fast players talking to them giving them pointers on how to run faster. That was impressive.

Mr. Newsome was from Alabama – which probably explains his thick southern accent.

I heard he died the same day he was put in hospice. I wouldn’t doubt if that was his will, going down with the ship, so to speak, instead of trying to keep the sinking vessel floating.

Within a couple of years my friend Paul and I were having lunch at Brandi’s World Famous Hotdogs and Paul looked over and said, “Look! There is Mr. Newsome!” He was sitting alone at a table eating. We picked up our hotdogs and Cokes and joined him. He was glad to see us.

He told us he was the president of a local bank or investing company, I forgot which. He gave us his card.

He looked as in top-notch physical shape as he did over 50 years. Little did we, or he, know his insides were rumblings with little cancer cells eating every thing in site up.

They say death comes in three’s. This time maybe the magic number three is revolving the hotdog eatery. Who is next? I hope no one I know is number three – In my eyes I couldn’t be number three because I am number One!

Another unrelated note – Yesterday, I had over 40 hits to my Brasstown Ball Postcard which was not anything very witty or informative or entertaining. Figure that one out?

What is next?