YES, I AM STILL HERE peeking out my window on Main Street, and when I learned of the death of Charles Brooks ‘Sarge’ Reese I suddenly felt much poorer.
I’d known him for quite a long time. When our paths crossed it seemed to me that he was holding back something amusing. Never saw him wearing a frown.
Over time I learned what a good man he was. It took time because he never talked about himself. I gradually learned about his care for people less fortunate. He didn’t brag about his military service. Actions showed his devotion to church.
I finally realized why he had that puzzling smile. It was something he couldn’t hold back. It was evidence of the pleasure he took from an upright life. I admired him from afar.
Pardon me, just thinking of him again made me feel much richer.
Peace to his family and thanks to the Almighty for putting such people among us.
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THE GOOD EARTH. I had to look back a couple of years to find mention of a plant which we notice this time of year.
Because I couldn’t remember the name I wrote about the “Something Something” plant which thrills us with colorful red blooms.
The actual name — research in old newspaper columns reveals — is Flowering Quince. The odd thing about the plant is that sometime after the lovely red blooms have dropped off, the green leaves follow. It’s due to some fungus, I’ve heard.
I planted a Flowering Quince in my side yard after doing a bit of research. Because it is so hardy even without green leaves, the plant was once a favorite to be put near a loved one’s grave.
The late Jimmy Dale shared my affection for Flowering Quince and, in fact, he furnished me the correct name after I had called it something else. Now I can’t even remember what I called it erroneously.
So, nowadays if I forget the name of anything I just call it “Something-Something.”
Also nowadays I look for Flowering Quince when I pass old cemeteries and frequently spot the plant thriving beside an old grave. It’s usually spread out and looks as if it just sprung up there naturally.
Also nowadays instead of planting Flowering Quince beside a grave people are more likely to plant a solar light.
That’s okay, too, only it won’t last as long as that Quince.
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ANIMAL CRACKERS. I’ve heard from a few other folks who look forward to the arrival of certain bird species each year at this time.
I do love birds, almost all varieties, but ……
What I REALLY want to write about today is ……
STINKBUGS!
An article in one of my fave online publications — ‘Birds & Booms’ — brags that it can tell you how to get rid of Stinkbugs.
First of all, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is different from the Green Stink Bug in that the former is more invasive. Came from Asia in a shipping container. It does a lot more damage to our vegetable gardens and fruit orchards than the Green Stink Bug does.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug hungrily chews away on tomato plants and plum trees in 47 states, including Arkansas. It survives winter and keeps on going.
Guess how it gets its name?
And the e-magazine has a tip to hold down proliferation of the species in your garden or orchard.
This is real important.
The tip: Don’t get them in the first place.
How’s that for helpful?
Marmorated refers to the ‘marbled’ appearance of their body’s protective shell which — if the bug is crushed accidentally or on purpose — emits a foul odor. You will be sorry if you crush a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. So will a lot of people who are nearby.
The Green Stink Bug will also give off an offensive odor, just not as bad.
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BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. In this issue of the newspaper there is also an obituary for Rosa McCauley DeLoney of Conway, formerly of Mineral Springs. Rosa was more than a casual acquaintance, we worked together at the old ‘Nashville News.’ She was a Linotype operator, essentially setting every word of the newspaper in the hot metal process of ‘letterpress’ printing days of newspapering.
Ironically, one other operator in those days was the late Bernice Cowling, also of Mineral Springs. Two fine ladies with wonderful families.
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THINGS I LEARNED from opening e-mail: “Half the people you know are below average.”
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WORD GAMES. Those rivalrous siblings: Petted and Pampered. “Momma always liked you best,” Pampered hissed at Petted. Hair-pulling ensued.
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HE SAID: “My wife’s jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was.” Rodney Dangerfield, comic
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SHE SAID: “I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” Rosa Parks, civil rights activist
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SWEET DREAMS, Baby
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
