25th Bell Center Reunion, Marietta, Ga

Bell Reunion, Marietta, Ga, 2013

Tuba Skinny - Crazy Blues

When I was in the Navy, after lights out at 10pm, some of us enjoyed listening to Jean Sheppard on the radio.  He talked endlessly of his childhood memories.  By the way, the movie CHRISTMAS STORY was written by him.  He talked endlessly but at times he ran out of things to talk about and then he would pull out his kazoo and play it.  Then,  I thought, "I could do that.", which is more or less what I do with this blog.  And when I get writer's cramps,  I pull out a SKINNY TUBA video from Youtube.  They are my Kazoo.

The band is inside this time instead of on Royal Street in the French Quarters.  And was made August 19, 2014, just several weeks ago.

Small World

This is Doug Quarrels. He and I were pallbearers the other day. As far as I know we have never met. After the last graveside words were said we introduced ourselves to each other. With nothing else to say I said my uncle Dick Hunter was buried near that spot. Doug seemed to have lit up and he repeated his name. 
"Did you know Dick Hunter?" I asked.
He said, " He was my uncle's brother."
"Who is your uncle?" I asked.
"Doug" Hunter " Doug said.
Doug Quarrels is Doug's Hunter's nephew via Doug's wife Lologene Turner. I think Lologene and his mother are sisters. I think he was probably named after Doug Hunter. If so, he and I both were named after Frank and Minnie Tyson Hunter 's children. Small World.

Downton Marietta Sept 20, 2014

click on picture to make it larger and prettier.

Ray Duane Rubbles

Donna Mullinax and Jerry McBee, both deceased.   Next Saturday , Sept the 27th, is the 25 Annual Bell Center Reunion, noon, no covered dish, just bring your appetite and cash to cover whatever you are drinking.   It is at the American on Gresham Avenue, behind where the old Sears used to be.

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! Li'l Abner

by Al Capp, of course.  If he didn't draw it, he had it drawn and was published with his blessings.

When yo click to make the image larger, the first one might seem out of focus, but the others should be OK.

To be Continued

Bell Reunion 1 Week Away!

This is Charles Dawson, the lifeguard at Larry Bell Pool.  About a year ago I ran into him on his 80th birthday, I bet he can still jump into a pool and save someone's life and all the girls swoon.  The Bell Reunion is one week from today, Saturday, September the 27th, noon, at the Horace Orr American Legion.  Y'allcome.

First Cousins and a Sibling

I think this picture was taken about 1946/7.  Left to right,  Liz Crain, Casandra Hunter, Vickie Crain, Me, and in back, the oldest my sister Frances Hunter.  The three youngest girls are my first cousins.   Frances arm is on Casandra.  Her husband died this past week.  He made a career in the Army which included communications in the White House.  Our heart goes for his survivors.   

Leave 'Em Laughing

Today, my e-Trivia question of the day yesterday:

What was the doomed Marie Antoinette apologizing for when she told her executioner, “Pardon me, sir. I did not mean to do it”?

Answer:  She had stepped on his foot on her way to the guillotine. Her exact words, in French, were“Pardonnez-moi, monsieur. Je ne l’ai pas fait exprès.”

I think if it was me I would have said the same thing, but with a southern accent, I am humble and polite.  But also I would add: 

"If you have to go to the doctor, be sure and send me the bill."

The Bell Reunion, See Your Old Enemies

Vernon Dean. Back before I was a teenager in the summer time I went to the swimming pool and Larry Bell Park every day. Always hanging around outside the pool fenced in area was Vernon. There was a gang of kids there that always picked on a few of us and Vernon let the pack; he was the lead bully.

Once, he picked on my friend Frankie Hunter (no relation). Frank had a hot short temper. They had a fight on the slope behind the pool. Frank easily whipped Vernon. Being growing boys Frank and I had several scuffles together, and I always won. So! If I can whip Frankie and Frankie can whip Vernon, why was I taking shit off Vernon? The next day at outside the pool I stopped and stretched in front of Vernon who was sitting on the metal railing bars. My hands were fists. Vernon looked the other way. The next day, same thing. Our battle was over.

And now that we are grownups Vernon seems like a very nice guy. Bell Reunion, Saturday, Sept 27, noon. American Legion, food is part of the deal but you have to pay for your booze. And a message to you bullies: Us pickees do not forget, and might hold a grudge. 

Talking about Trash

Yesterday the company that picks up our garbage and recycling did not pick up either one.  If one or the other wasn't picked up I would half-way understand.  It would have probably meant a truck broke down or was in a wreck or something that threw them off schedule.   Or if just our garbage  wasn't picked up I would think it was just an oversight, believe me, if you are invisible, you learn to accept such things.   But on our walk this morning I saw that the whole neighborhood was skipped.  I called the company this morning and a nice young  lady told me our pick-up day has been changed From Wednesday to Monday.  She said someone was suppose to call and tell us.  I think whoever was supposed to call  thought, "Why bother, they will call us".  

Page two - We emailed and complained and they said they would send a truck right out.  We wrote back  and reminded them the neighbors garbage also.  They came and they did not forget the neighbors' garbage but they forgot ours. 

Brothers at Bell Reunions

Remember, this year's 25th Bell Center Reunion will be Saturday the 27th, noon, at Marietta Horace Orr's American Legion.

On this Date in history in 1787 the US Constitution was adopted by the Philadelphia Convention.  It is very well written and when it was written had great foresight of possible upheavals or challenges  of the law.

However, parts of it apparently is general or vague.  It is said the  conservative and liberal scholars can sometimes use the same sentences to back up opposing views.  The same can be said about the Bible.

Saint James Episcopalian Church in Marietta will ring its bell 13 times at special times throughout today.  It will be sort of like singing out "Cheers!"

Horace Armfield  and the girl with the green shirt have accusing fingers.    Duck!  The 25th Bell Reunion, Saturday, September the 27th, at the American Legion on Gresham Avenue, around noon.   Come as you are.

Thyself Be True - or at least, Try

There is a country cooking buffet all-you-can eat type of restaurant in Marietta, well, actually several of them, ran by Korean families.   They have learned how to duplicate the down home country southern cuisine. My mother-in-law loves to go to a certain one.  We try to take her about once a week.

Sometimes her grandchildren and nephews give her a gift certificate  for that restaurant because they know that is where she prefers to eat.

When I pay at the register the Korean cashier always try to say something personal.  Last week my mother-in-law had a gift certificate that she relayed over to me to pay at the register.  I didn't look much like a gift certificate , it looked more like a cheap birthday day card with the value amount written on it with some initials.  I wasn't sure they would take it or not.  The cashier took it and said it was purchased from their Cartersville Store.

This week when paying the cashier smiled and asked me did I have another  gift certificate - she was joking.  It was the way she pronounced "certificate" that took me off guard.  I had to refocus and zoom in to know what she was saying.  It was like the "cert" was almost silent, the "tifi" was building up, and the "cate" came out long and plane.  you would have to have been there to fully understand - or not understand.

Then I said, her nephews and grandchildren know she loves their restaurant.  She said, "They live in Cartersville?"

I said, "No, her nephew works in Cartersville."

She nodded that she understood.

About an hour later it occurred to me that I did not tell the truth, but didn't realize it.  My mother-in-law has a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter that live in Cartersville.  

Not that made any difference in the cashier and my business transaction, I felt the urge  to correct myself - she would think I was a complete nut if I stopped by and ran in and told her that actually she has a daughter-in-law and granddaughter that lives in Cartersville.... I could call her  and admit I was wrong and correct myself, but she would think I am even a bigger nutjob.

Things get complicated when you try to live a truthful life and try to correct your accidental non-truths.

Bell Reunion tick tot, tick tot..

The Late Bill Rampley.  Bill one time made a TV pilot show of sort of a National Geographic's, southern style, I think the proposed name was to be SOUTHERN COMFORT. 

25 Annual Bell Center Reunion, Saturday, September the 27th at the Horace Orr American Legion Post at noon. 

The Rogers of Roger's Ferry

This is a copy we have of Anna's ancestor on her mother's mother's side, William C. "Buck" Jones (1846-1944) and his mule crossing the Chattahoochee River on Rogers Ferry.  Buck was a successful farmer and large land owner in the Alpharetta - Milton area. 

I did not know until this past week where Roger's Ferry was.  I am reading the book  A NORTH GEORGIA JOURNAL OF HISTORY, Volume I, compiled by Olin Jackson, off and on of short history essays of families in north Georgia.

Many people have contributed articles to the books but the one this is about was written by the compiler Olin Jackson, The Cherokee Homes of John & William Rogers.  The jest of the article is that John and William Rogers were high ranking Cherokee Indians and operated Rogers Ferry.  They lived in what was known as the "Shakerag"  Community, which was across the Chattahoochee River from present day Suwanee, Georgia.   Nearer to town was McGinnis Ferry.  John and William endured the "Trail of Tears" and returned and somehow got their land back, which members of the family still live on it today (published in 1991).

Now I know.

I remember that another Cherokee Indian of high rank, John Ross owned Ross's Ferry in Rossville/Chattanooga area that was a step in the Cherokees' Trail of Tears.

Bell Reunion count down

Ivanell & Paul Roper and Arnold Guest at a Bell Reunion.  The next Bell Reunion is almost here.  It is Saturday, September the 27th, at the Horace Orr American Legion, starts at noon and eats will be about 2pm.  And the drunken brawls will be later in the afternoon.

SUNDAY FUNNIES!! TARZ*N THE APE MAN!

I am reading TARZAN by Edgar Rice Boroughs.  I am about 1/3 thorough it  and, well have TARZAN on my mind, living like a wild animal most of his formative years...... walk like a duck, quack like a duck... but in this case walk like an ape, grunt like an ape....you might be human.

  

I pulled this out of my HELP! collection.   It was written by editor Harvey Kurtzman and drawn by Will Elder.  Interesting, Harvey Kurtzman named his African tribe the OOKABOLLANs - the same as he named wild tribes of Indians and African natives in MAD.  Also, I noticed one of the apes is named Tantor - which proves he read the book TARZAN. While you read/look  it, study the details.... the details are Will Elder's doors to his zany Marx Brothers frame  of mind.

Click on each page to make it readable, thus understandable.