Volume 8 Issue 3 Kitchen Drawer Illustrated by Kitchen Drawer Illustrated

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ABOUT THE COVER This painting was done as a live art piece by Andrew Patrick Henry at the 2016 Doc Holliday Beer, Wine & Arts Festival in Griffin.

We’re printing 33% more copies of every issue. We’re increasing circulation, which means more people can get their hands on the latest issue. Tell your friends!

In the artist’s own words... “A gritty reminiscence of the Old West and American law on a moral fringe when men weren’t afraid to sweat, and justice sat at the end of a gun and gavel. This representation of Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday reminds us that good lies in men who appear somewhat crooked, and loyalty is priceless. It’s a reminder to connect to our past and look to the American future with the same determination and guts. Griffin – the hometown of Doc Holliday.” APHENRYTHEARTISAN@GMAIL.COM

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Staff Picks

(4)

Slow Exposures

(5)

The Agile Enterprise

(8)

Solitary Man

(12)

Griffin’s Fond Fairwell to Rectify (16) OUTDOORS: Fishing Companion Paparazzi

(22) (23, 43)

Legalizing Cannabis

(26)

SPORTS: Griffin’s Own Speed Racer

(32)

Mowing with a Meaning

(37)

Kitchen Table with Catherine Jarret

(39)

ARTIST PROFILE: Pearl Bottom Radio

(45)

RESTAURANT REVIEW: Kirby G’s

(49)

MOVIE REVIEW

(55)

Calendar Dogs

(58)

Songs from Sunny Land

(59)

VENT

(61)

Fiction Winner: Zero Visibility

(63)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SUMMER 2016

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STAFF PICKS What weirdly specific course would you teach in college?

Ashley: Business Email Rules & Etiquette Allison : How to Sweat the Small Stuff Ben : How to Draw an Owl

Michelle : Procrastinatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Guide to College: How to Put Forth Failing Effort for a Passing Grade Josh : Mediocrity in Disc Golf 101- Lessons from a Lifelong Beginner Nicole : How to Jump To Conclusions Jake : Decluttering 101

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Leveraging TV Reporting Skills to Jump Into Digital Communications

Film Music History 101

Turning Useless info Into Successful Party Conversation

Corporate Phone Etiquette 101

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OUTDOORS WRITER

HISTORY WRITER

SPORTS WRITER

Intro to Fangirling

Catching Bass After a Cold Front

The Andy Griffith Show in American Culture

The Science of RPG Dialogue

STAN

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w o l S

ExpoSurES

ARTICLE BY SANDRA SLIDER With less than a dozen storefronts and not a single stoplight for miles, Concord, Georgia, is unlikely to evoke the image of a typical artist’s haven; but when the third weekend in September rolls around, photographers and photography lovers from across the country will make their way to this picturesque town. In fact, SlowExposures, a juried photography exhibit celebrating the rural South, attracts hundreds of visitors to Pike County each fall.

ing, and looking out over the horse paddocks. It’s such a great way to meet new folks and see good friends.” Houck Medford, (houckmedford.com) a documentary artist from North Carolina, is also a SlowE fan. “My wife and I are lifelong veterans of festivals—sports, crafts, and photography—but never have we experienced such a warm environment for conversation, the opportunity for cross fertilization of ideas, and the native stimulation that the participating artists individually brought to this event.” Despite the show’s relative proximity to the bustle of metropolitan Atlanta, “the slow pacing of the four days facilitates a saturated absorption. The genuineness of this community provides healing time from the rapid pace of another life that everyone brought with them but left checked at the county line.”

SlowExposures, a 2015 recipient of the Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities, began as a grassroots effort to preserve the community. Now in its 14th year, "SlowE" is a nationally recognized exhibition drawing some of the best and brightest photographers, both amateur and professional, from around the country. Those jur"The genuineness ied into the show include a Pulitzer of this community Prize winner, photographers whose provides healing work is exhibited in the Tate Gallery time from the and the National Gallery of Art, as rapid pace of well as students just beginning their artistic journeys. Their works cap- another life that ture the essence of today’s South, everyone brought with them but whether in the faces of its residents left checked at or the beauty of its land.

In a demonstration of true Southern hospitality, many members of these communities open their homes to the visiting photographers. In May, for example, Brant Barrett of Surfside Beach, South Carolina, and Angela Wells of Ayden, North Carolina, spent a week as Artists in Resthe county line." idence in Pike County. Housed in Eliot Dudik (eliotdudik.com), one of the Elliot Helms Guest House, a renthis year’s jurors, first discovered SlowExposures about ovated 1910 bungalow, they rambled the countryside five years ago and has missed the show only once since. and were welcomed into homes and businesses across “I love that it is a fairly small, intimate gathering of the county. “Without a doubt, the most outstanding like-minded photographers [set] in the graceful land- quality of the community is the people themselves,” scape of western Georgia, during the most beautiful said Barrett. “Everywhere I went—and I drove about time of the year.” Dudik, who is a published author and 700 Pike County miles—the people were open, friendly, founder of the photography program at the College and very accommodating...Like eggs, people are better of William & Mary, has attended numerous photog- in the country.” These two artists will have their own raphy festivals, but suggests that SlowExposures has a PopUp Show during 2016 SlowExposures. unique feel. “It is run by some of the most passionate and generous people I’ve ever met. I don’t know of any The photographs of SlowE cover the gamut from emoother festivals that have a kickoff party in the front tionally charged images of individuals to the serenity yard of a charming farmhouse, trees lit, crickets chirp- of the land. In addition to the main show, this year’s

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Photo Credits: A. 2015 Hay Now: Pop-Up Show for SlowE by Michelle Cobb • B. Photo of SlowE Committee Member/SlowE Event Photographer Ellen Tew by Michelle Cobb • C. KD's Editor Allison Smyly & husband Steve Smyly speaking with Ellen Tew outside 2015 Hay Now: Pop-Up Show for SlowE by Michelle Cobb • D. SlowE curator Chris Curry discussing a photograph with a SlowE staff member by Michelle Cobb • E. "Thirsty" by Molena resident William Bishop • F. 2014 Humans of Pike installation on exhibit during SlowE; photo courtesy of SlowExposures Facebook page

D. event will include an exhibit of Southern Icons, A to Z, featuring the works of different photographers and writers. ob Mc onald, one of the curators of this exhibit, says the goal is to demonstrate the “realities of the contemporary South, which is less conventionally ‘rural,’ for example, and more diverse in every way than would have been conceivable just a generation ago.” Pulitzer recipient and 2015 SlowExposures winner Preston Gannaway (prestongannaway. com will present a solo show at Strickland’s, and legendary New ork collector, lecturer, editor, and curator ohn Bennette will lead a tour of the op p Shows, offering his uni ue insight into the presented works. In addition to the wonderful photography, the locations housing the exhibits are a vital part of SlowE’s charm. The pictures ue Strickland Building, in downtown Concord, began as a general store; now lovingly restored, the building is listed on the National egister of istoric laces. The Whiskey Bonding Barn in Molena, home to the Southern Icons exhibit, is also on the National egister. op p Shows will be found in repurposed barns, tenant houses, and 19th century commercial buildings around ebulon, as well as in A Novel Experience, a charming indie bookstore on Zebulon’s courthouse s uare. The op p Shows turn ordinary locations into extraordinary experiences which celebrate life in today’s South. Operating under their parent organization, Pike Historic Preservation, SlowExposures provides a portion of each year’s profits to assist in the preservation of local landmark structures. As the group’s mission statement suggests, “ lace matters. Art matters. So does community. And, when the three are mixed together by the SlowExposures volunteers, both natives and immigrants to the American South, a peculiar alchemy occurs.” The result is an interesting mix of the expected and unexpected. This year’s show will run September 15 through 18, and then the entire main show will be transported to the Cochran Gallery in LaGrange for an extended exhibit.

SlowE 2016

Thursday, September 15 –thru–

Sunday, September 18 2016 JURORS David Carol and Eliot Dudik MAIN EXHIBITION R.F. Strickland Building 144 Main Street, Concord, GA

For more information, visit www.slowexposures.org. Follow the group on Facebook and on Twitter at #slowexposures.

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The Agile Enterprise BY JAKE GENTRY Starting a company and nurturing it to profitability takes wit, courage, and innumerable hours of hard work. Finally, the business seems to run itself—but the hard work isn’t over. At today’s pace of business, staying competitive means continually challenging the status quo to streamline processes and improve quality of service. And, as business moves faster and a company grows, communication becomes both more important and more challenging. Liberty Technology defines itself by just such a forward-thinking mindset. As a managed service provider (MSP), Liberty provides comprehensive IT services to keep their clients’ infrastructure running smoothly. So it’s only natural that they regularly evaluate their own ways of doing business to find ways they can add even more efficiency and value. For example, Liberty challenged the way service tickets were moving through the system. A ticket for a client’s problem would come in, go through a dispatcher, and be assigned to a single person; then it would be out of everyone else’s hands. There had to be a way to help the team work faster and more efficiently with the same amount of effort—they just needed a better way to manage their work. The first step was finding a management method that was the right fit for the business. For example, while manufacturers may benefit from precise, proven procedures that consistently yield the same product, problem-solving work like architecture requires some elbow room for creativity. MSPs deal with many different problems on a daily basis: physical hardware fails, a hacker attacks a client’s network, or a user accidentally breaks a program. Liberty needs to creatively adapt to changing circumstances and engage everyone on the team. Liberty found their answer in a business philosophy used in the software development industry. The Agile philosophy is a set of principles that fosters collaboration among team members. In short, the Agile enterprise focuses on rapid response to change. Liberty doesn’t develop software, but they have found success in implementing Agile processes and adapting the philosophy to managed services. Fullscale implementation of Agile is a long process, but there are plenty of techniques that everyone can use to improve the way they work.

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The traditional method of splitting up work is to assign each task to one person at a time. If a client is accidentally mishandled or if an assignment sits for too long, the blame is on an individual. Take a step

The first step was finding a management method that was the right fit for the business. back and you’ll see that’s not how customers view businesses from the outside. If a company doesn’t send your order, you don’t blame the person who put it in the wrong box; you blame the entire company. Small businesses can’t afford to lose customers to chance mishaps or fire every employee who makes a mistake. That’s why Agile’s focus on teamwork is critical. Now, when a ticket comes in to Liberty Technology, all team members can see it and anyone can pick it up. The entire team openly discusses all service tickets in a morning meeting, and everyone knows what’s on everyone else’s plate. These meetings, called stand-ups, can be whittled down to about 15 minutes, depending on the size of the team. Stand-ups foster accountability among team members, but more importantly, they create a stronger team dynamic. Stand-ups are a way for team members to communicate to the entire team at once about the work they do. As vital as stand-ups are, a team needs to be able to communicate more than once a day. Liberty Technology’s work is fluid and comes in at all hours. To ensure that teammates can communicate with one another as quickly as they can with friends and family, Liberty Technology uses the chat platform Slack. Slack is easy to install on a smartphone, and it has robust do-not-disturb features that let team members set boundaries while staying connected. Everyone at Liberty Technology can instantly access their teammates, and this open communication means customers’ problems get solved faster. Improved communication also fosters feedback, which, in turn, perpetuates improvement. To gain the most value from modern management techniques like Agile, it’s often best not to start with a comprehensive plan to implementation, because circumstances will have changed in the time it takes to develop a plan. The most successful business owners play it a little bit loose and change course when they need to. They communicate what they want to accomplish to their team members, ask for feedback, and address each concern with care. That’s how Liberty Technology has inspired their whole team to take action: everyone has a say in how work is accomplished. When people know that they’re heard, they feel empowered to make a difference.

Liberty Technology CEO Ben Johnson and COO Nathan Jones recognized the need for MSPs to reconsider how services are delivered and found success in applying principles from the Agile software development philosophy to their MSP business. They and other team members from Liberty Technology have formed The Agile MSP, an organization dedicated to helping MSPs and other businesses discover what implementing Agile practices can do to improve the way they work. For more information on how Agile practices can improve your business, visit www.theagilemsp.com.

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Kitchen Drawer

History

SOLITARY MAN BY STAN DEATON

BLESSED WITH A FOUR-DAY PASS OVER THE LAST WEEKEND IN FEBRUARY, I MADE TRACKS FOR THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH GEORGIA. RALPH WALDO EMERSON WROTE THAT “IN THE WOODS WE RETURN TO REASON AND FAITH. THERE I FEEL THAT NOTHING CAN BEFALL ME IN LIFE, NO DISGRACE, NO CALAMITY, WHICH NATURE CANNOT REPAIR.”

ouple that with fellow Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau’s dictum, “I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude,” and you will understand why the mountains are a constant destination. On that Saturday I awoke to a gloriously sunny latewinter day, so with bike in tow I drove over the Richard Russell Parkway to Smithgall Woods. If you’ve never been, you’re missing out on one of our state’s great natural treasures. I would say it’s a well-kept secret, but I’m not sure that’s true, and even if it were, here I am telling you about it. But it’s undoubtedly much less used than either Unicoi or Vogel, two nearby state parks that are more widely known. The official name of the park is Smithgall Woods —Dukes Creek Conservation Area. Its 5,664 acres (compared to 233 acres at Vogel and 1,050 at Unicoi) have their own charm, and unlike other state parks, if you don’t like being out in the woods, it’s probably not going to be your cup of tea. But if you agree with Emerson, it doesn’t get much better. Not to mention, a river runs through it. Or, to be more precise, the restorative waters of Dukes Creek.

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Smithgall Woods was acquired by the state of Georgia in 1994 from Charles A. Smithgall, Jr., and dedicated as a Heritage Preserve under the Georgia Heritage Act of 1975. Its five miles of trails and 18 miles of roads (paved and unpaved) are ideal for hikers or bikers. On my first trip there last August, I biked four miles in on Tsalaki Trail, all the way over to State Highway 75 outside Helen, and then back out again. It was quite strenuous. Downright lungbusting. Even on a somewhat cool and overcast August day I was a sweaty mess. The ups and downs of the hills were calorie burners, and though I’m in good cardio shape, it was still a tough workout for this lowcountry rider. Those kinds of hills—nay, any hills—simply don’t exist in Savannah. Six months later, with backpack, book, and journal strapped tight, I was simply looking for a great way to spend a beautiful winter afternoon outside. I found it. After huffing up the initial hill that leads away from the Visitor Center, I stopped first to say hello to

Kitchen Drawer

SMITHGALL WOODS the Smithgall bee farm. Even on a chilly afternoon, the little fellas were buzzing around in superior numbers, preventing me from moving in for a closer look, which was probably for the best. They didn’t mind posing for pictures, though. A little farther on I parked my bike by the side of a field that in August was bursting with blooming sunflowers but that now lay dormant. I spent a golden half hour writing in my journal, noting and describing the beauty all around me, listening to the rushing sound of Dukes Creek just beyond the meadow.

To paraphrase john muir, 'he who gains the blessings of one mountain day is rich forever. '

You don’t have to be a fisherman to enjoy it, either. I’m not, and I spent the better part of the day sitting on its banks listening, pondering, reading, watching, writing, thinking. Every so often I’d meet a fly fisherman wading through the waters, and we’d nod to each other. Some of them must have wondered what the guy on the bank was writing about in his notebook. I enjoyed their silent company and appreciated that each of us was ultimately there for the same reasons though doing different things. Thoreau told us it’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Sitting beside picturesque Bay’s Bridge as the cascading creek tumbled over rocks glinting in the lowering afternoon sun, I realized: I need to come back here, to these mountains, these woods, this water, in every season, for as long as I can. As a wise man once said, there may be more to learn from climbing one mountain 20 times than from climbing 20 different mountains. I’ll never be finished here. Yes, Stan, this is all lovely, but we’re busy people here. Is there anything really to do there? My answer is that it all depends on what you mean by “doing.” As writer Roger Cohen thoughtfully noted, “too often we confuse activity and movement with accomplishment and fulfillment. More may be gained through a pause.” This doctor’s advice: Take a moment sometime soon and visit a place like Smithgall Woods. If not there, someplace like it, near or far from where you live. Our state—indeed, our nation—has a wealth of such places set aside for us. To paraphrase John Muir, ‘he who gains the blessings of one mountain day is rich forever.’ Go collect your winnings.

Dukes Creek has been rated one of the top 100 trophy trout streams in the country, and its meandering waters lie at the heart of the park. I found myself stopping repeatedly on my bike ride to just sit beside it. It’s more like a river than a creek.

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GRIFFIN’S FOND FAREWELL TO

BY CLARK DOUGLAS

Quite a few films and television shows have been shot right here in Griffin in recent years, and given the film industry’s ever-expanding presence in the state of Georgia, there’s no doubt that we’ll see many others in the future. However, it’s doubtful that any show will ever capture the look, feel, and soul of Griffin quite as thoroughly (or as artfully) as SundanceTV’s superb television series Rectify. The show spotlights the life of Daniel Holden (played by Aden Young), an ex-convict trying to start a new life after spending 19 years on death row. The story mostly unfolds within the fictional city of Paulie, Georgia...a small, rural town with a population of about 12,000. Series creator Ray McKinnon—previously best known for his memorable acting turns in films and TV shows like Deadwood, Sons of Anarchy, and Mud—grew up in a small town in south Georgia, and his familiarity with the nuances of small-town life is evident throughout the series. There’s a real sense of place in Rectify that few television shows are capable of matching, and that’s partially due to the show’s commitment to finding precisely the right filming location. Photos by Curtis Baker and SundanceTV

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“We took the four quadrants of Atlanta, and we drove all over the place looking,” says Executive Producer Marshall Persinger, who was responsible for finding ideal locations to present to McKinnon. “We thought Cartersville was really cool—there was a bridge that overlooked a small town, and we were looking for this small-town Georgia feel...a small town with a downtown, with a square, and where some of the stores are closed.” “As you read Ray’s script...his south Georgia hometown was probably what he had in mind,” Persinger says. “So, it was unbelievable to drive into every one of these small towns.” One town they looked at was Jackson, which is where the prison is located in the story, but the real prison located there—Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison—wouldn’t permit filming there. “Every single town we looked at had the sort of layout that was described in the story,” Persinger notes. “Griffin didn’t have the town square, per se, but it did have a Main Street. The town for the story was supposed to have about 12,000 people, and Griffin was about 25,000, but it was more savvy for production to have a bigger town that we could make seem smaller.”

I tell McKinnon that, for me, watching the show feels akin to reading a novel, with each episode feeling more like a chapter of a book than a traditional episode of television. As the search continued, it became increasingly clear that Griffin was the best option. “It had to be around Atlanta,” says McKinnon. “So we looked around the perimeter. Now the metropolitan area is so big that a lot of the small towns are gentrified, and I wanted a place that feels more like you’re further away from the city. I wanted the beauty, and the ugly, and the disrepair, and the evolution of strip malls. You know, the 30-year-old strip malls and the 20-yearold ones. So it offered a lot of that. I said, ‘I want to film whatever’s real.’ There’s Georgia architecture, there’s Dollar General, it’s all of the above.” The relationship between the citizens of Griffin and the show has largely been a happy one, and everyone involved with the show has worked hard to keep it that way. Persinger reflected on the show’s early days in the city: “Ray, from the beginning, at every production meeting, at every cast read-through, would say, ‘I just want to

remind everyone that we’re guests here. We’re guests in this town, and you should have manners and take care of it, just as if it were your own.’ I think that that’s been a philosophy throughout the whole production.” The show’s presence has certainly had a positive economic impact on the city: owners of shooting locations are given location fees, the hundreds of cast and crew members staying in Griffin make plenty of local purchases, and the producers make an effort to support local businesses when they’re looking for set dressing and props. “Every set is dressed with many items that have either been bought or rented from here, so you know that is a valuable contribution,” Persinger says. “And we procure it locally. Bank Street, I would think, has had a really good run, as has 6th Street Pier. I think many vendors have been happy.” Location manager Steve Dirkes agrees: “We have a good impact, we really do. I took over this department just this year, and I haven’t come across anybody who’s been unhappy at all. They’ve been extremely helpful. If they don’t want to have us, it’s usually for a reason, like somebody was sick or something, but most people are excited to have filming in their home. It used to be that way in Atlanta, when I started 20 years ago, but now it’s getting more like L.A., where it’s getting increasingly difficult and expensive.” Currie Pierce, who runs Hill’s Tire & Auto (which doubles as “Paulie Tire” on Rectify), enjoys watching the show film in his business despite some occasional inconveniences. “It’s been fun...it’s definitely been a different experience,” he says. “They can come in here and turn our shop around in less than a week and it looks totally different. It’s all been positive. The only downside to it is sometimes customers need tires fixed real quick and we’re not able to do it, so they have to go somewhere else.” Still, he’s quick to note that the show’s presence has boosted the business in general. He says that customers often come in and talk about the show, and notes one scene in particular they tend to focus on: “Obviously, a lot of people remember the coffee grinds scene,” he laughs, referring to a bizarre moment from the end of the first season. (Trust me: if you’ve seen it, you’ll remember it.) “A lot of people come in and say, ‘Is this where the coffee grinds thing happened?’ and they’ll point to the exact spot. I know that’s kind of a strange one for people to remember, but that’s the scene everyone talks about.” The bulk of Rectify is shot on location: each episode takes seven days to film, and typically, only two of those days are devoted to shooting in the studios the production team has set up in local warehouses owned by American Tanning and Leather (a local alligator and crocodile skin tannery). Christy Plott, the tannery co-owner, takes great pleasure in giving everyone involved with the Continued on pg. 20

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Continued from pg. 17 show a tour of the facilities and has even made some close friendships as a result of the show’s presence. (She went on a Cuban vacation with one of the show’s producers, and affectionately refers to lead actress Abigail Spencer—who stays with Plott when she’s in town—as “my roommate.”) “It’s been a really good thing for the community in general,” she says. “I get a check from them every month, so that’s nice, but they do everything they can to spend money locally. It helps everybody out.” Walking through the studios on Plott’s property is a surreal experience: one minute you’re on death row in a Georgia penitentiary, then you’re in an apartment looking at a Nashville skyline, and then you’re in a dimly-lit psychiatrist’s office. Meanwhile, dozens of hard-working crew members scurry around adjusting lights, moving cables, setting up props, and taking care of countless other tasks. “It’s cool, right?” Plott marvels. “It’s awesome. I remember when they first moved in and set up the teenager’s bedroom, and I was like, oh my God, this could be my nephew’s room, and it’s right here in my warehouse!” The rest of the week, the show is moving all over town: they might be at Hill’s Tire & Auto for one scene, Murphy’s Restaurant for another, and at a local residence for another. I ask Dirkes if shooting in a small town like Griffin makes a big difference in terms of being able to move from location to location over the course of a day. “Absolutely. Everything is easier, less expensive, and more enjoyable,” he says. “If you’re shooting inside the Atlanta perimeter, like the last several movies I did, you’re almost driving an hour in traffic just to get there. Just to get to different locations in Atlanta, you’re always driving a minimum of 30, 45 minutes just to get between locations. Here, you’re driving 5-10 minutes to get between locations.” Since it began airing in the spring of 2013, Rectify has earned lavish critical acclaim: The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Time, The Hollywood Reporter, The Huffington Post, and many other distinguished publications have dubbed it one of the best shows on television. Variety declared that the show is “a master class in nuance—in small looks and pauses that say more than pages of dialogue.” Even so, the show has never drawn a particularly large audience, which is unsurprising given the show’s languid pace, quiet tone, and resolute lack of needless sensationalism. I tell McKinnon that, for me, watching the show feels akin to reading a novel, with each episode feeling more like a chapter of a book than a traditional episode of television. “That’s a kind way of saying it’s really slow,” he quips. To be sure, “slow” is a descriptor casual viewers might throw at Rectify, but that’s largely due to the frantic pace modern television has trained us to accept. McKinnon agrees with this notion. “Recently, I watched some of the procedural shows, or at least pieces of them,” he says. “When I was a kid, I would watch all three stations, and I would change channels during the hour of procedural cop shows,

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and I’d try to figure them out. But, when I watched these [new shows], all the subtext is being spoken, all the information about how people are feeling is being spoken, and it’s just exposition. I’m watching it and I think: ‘This is like pornography.’ But I’m not used to it. Not having seen that in so long, it’s shocking how explicit everything is now. And I understand it, because you have to have things where you can triple-task and also follow the story. With this show...Mad Men was the inspiration, because with that show, you f---ing had to pay attention. I’m not always wanting to watch Mad Men. I don’t always want to have to pay attention. But I’m glad that the ten or twenty thousand who watch [Rectify] see the art of it.” He’s joking about that figure, of course, but the real numbers are still low in contrast to many other hour-long dramas. I ask McKinnon if he’s been gratified by the fact that critics have continued to champion the show and raise its profile. He chuckles: “Let’s think about this: if nobody’s watching and you have a negative critical response, you’re probably not gonna be on the air very long. I’m exaggerating, but had it not been for the critical response, I’m not sure we would have stayed on the air. Look, you’re reflecting your skewed view of the world through your art, and you hope somebody gets it. And some of these guys have, and it’s sustained the show.” Rectify’s upcoming fourth season will be its last (a decision made mutually by the network and McKinnon), and McKinnon hasn’t decided what his next step might be. However, he’s grateful for the opportunity to have told this story on his own terms, without being asked to make any compromises: “One reason it’s shocking that it ever got made is that this is what it was. It’s what it was always meant to be. And I knew that it was a long shot. It was a wild time in television, and serialized storytelling—which so many people were doing—and Sundance decided to take a chance on it. I don’t know that a show like this could be made now. Things have changed, and that little window is over.” McKinnon speaks warmly of Griffin, noting that his encounters with local residents have been consistently positive and smiling as he recalls the joy of sinking his teeth into a hamburger from Griffith’s Drive-In. As we talk about the fact that his grand project is nearly completed, he grows reflective. “I wrote this story because I wanted to know what happened to this character that was inside my head,” he says. “I really just wanted to see, so I did that. Flash-forward five, six years later, and I’m back in my home state with all these people helping to tell this story. You need all these people to help tell this story because you want to reach a certain level of professionalism and artfulness. But the thing that I didn’t really think about...it wasn’t until I was here and I saw the local boys and the teamsters and the girls doing makeup and all the different ethnic groups that I thought, ‘You know, they’re making a living. They’re making a living wage doing something that, on some level, matters—as much as anything matters—and they’re feeling good about it.’ And that makes me feel really good.” The fourth and final season of Rectify will air on SundanceTV in the fall of 2016.

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Merlin was a dog-pound dog. In the summer of 1974 Linda and I had been talking about getting a pet dog. We lived at Grandview Apartments and they allowed pets. That summer we spent about a month visiting her parents in Salisbury, Maryland, where I enjoyed catching summer flounder off the bridge going out to Ocean City. The day in early July before we left to head back to Griffin, we decided to visit the local dog pound just to get an idea of what kind of process was involved. Our plan was to get a dog from the local pound when we got home. That morning at the pound there were dozens of dogs in cages, all yapping for attention. One cage had about eight fur balls in it, small brown and white puppies. All but one jumped and pawed at the wire, seeming to say “Take me!” But one sat back looking at us with an expression that seemed to say “I’m the one you need and want.” Even after they scared us by telling us the puppy was some kind of St. Bernard mix when we wanted a small dog, and even though we found out she was female when we wanted a male, we adopted her. Both of us were already in love with her. Fortunately, she turned out to be about 90 percent border collie, very smart and just the right size. Linda was reading a book about Merlin the magician at the time, and “Merlin” seemed to fit the puppy since she had worked magic by stealing our hearts, so that was her name. That day started fourteen-and-a-half years of joy with her. Although only about six to eight weeks old, Merlin slept in a cardboard box by our bed at Linda’s parents’ house that night and never whined, made a mess, or woke us. The next day we loaded all our stuff into our Cutlass Supreme convertible, with Merlin at Linda’s feet on the passenger side, for our 14½-hour drive to Griffin. We really didn’t know what to expect but had a roll of paper towels handy. On that whole trip she never made a mess, even though we stopped for a break only about three times. She was paper trained almost as soon as we got home, and within a short time she learned to go to the door when she needed to go out. If we left her alone, no matter whether we were just walking down the driveway for the mail or going to work for eight hours, she greeted us at the door when we returned, jumping up and down and whining like we had been gone for weeks. Although most of my memories are very good, some were borderline, like the first time I took Merlin fishing. A few days after we got home with her, I took her to Jackson Lake. My 1974 Ar-

row Glass bass boat had a raised front deck and she was too little to get up on it, so I would pick her up so she could stand by me. That foggy morning, I was fishing with Merlin at my feet, as we would hundreds of times over the next few years, when I heard a splash. I looked down into the water and all I could see was the tip of her nose and two little front paws trying to keep her above water. It almost scared me to death. I reached down and grabbed her. She shook and got right back on the edge of the boat where she had been standing. The dip didn’t bother her at all. My dad did not like dogs in the house, but he tolerated Merlin when we visited. She always seemed to be on her best behavior when there. One Thanksgiving I went hunting in the morning, taking her with me. I shot a rabbit and field dressed it without realizing that Merlin was feasting on the guts. That night at our big Thanksgiving dinner Merlin was under the table at my feet. Suddenly we all heard the unmistakable sound of her throwing up. All the rabbit guts were now on the floor. Daddy didn’t say a word; he just got up and went into the living room. We cleaned up the mess, Daddy rejoined us at the table, and we continued with dinner. He never mentioned that incident. Another messy time was at Clarks Hill. Linda, Merlin, and I were fishing off an island in Little River and decided to go out and explore. Apparently some critter had dug a tunnel in a red clay bank and Merlin tried to dig it out. She was red from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail. We washed as much off as possible in the lake before letting her back in the boat, but the carpet still had some red clay stains in it when I sold that boat a few years later. I went on few fishing trips without Merlin over the years. She loved to ride in the van and on the boat. My Arrow Glass had a 70-horsepower motor and would run only about 35 miles per hour. Merlin would stand right on the front tip of the boat with her ears blowing in the wind. When I stepped up to a boat with a 115-horsepower motor that would run close to 50 miles per hour, Merlin did not like it the first time I went that fast with her riding up front. She quickly got down and gave me a dirty look, saying “Slow down!” When Merlin was 14, she started having hip problems, and I had to build a ramp over the steps she had been bounding up for years. It got worse and worse, and she had a hard time even getting up off the floor. One day when I got home from a fishing trip, Linda told me Merlin could not get up at all that morning. Linda had taken her to Memorial Drive Veterinary Clinic, where they had put her down. I buried Merlin under the pear tree in the back yard. I think digging the hole was easier because the ground was wet with my tears.

Read more from Ronnie at http://fishing-about.com. w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

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Legalizing

CANNABIS

Why Some Georgia Families Are Stirring the Pot

A slender girl in a black swimsuit, her bright blonde hair still damp from the pool, runs up and hugs her mom, Sarabeth, around the waist. Ava Fowler squints up into the sun with bright blue eyes at her mom’s question, “So, Ava, what’s your favorite thing to do?”

By Laurie Cochrane

“Riding horses,” she responds, “and playing with my brother… and my chickens! ” Legalizing CANNABIS —Why Some Georgia Families Are Stirring the Pot Ava just turned 10. Recess is her favorite part of the school day. She has friends and sleepovers—all pretty routine for most 10-year-old girls. But Ava was diagnosed with epilepsy at age 3, so up until a few months ago, her routine involved multiple seizures per day. During a two-week hospital stay at Duke University, EEGs showed Ava was experiencing seizures in her brain, even when physical seizing wasn’t evident. Doctors told her parents that there was a less than 5 percent chance she would ever outgrow her seizures. She would always experience side effects, either from the seizures or from the drugs used to suppress them. Ava was withdrawn and functioned poorly in school. She didn’t play with other children; instead, she sat with the teachers at recess. Pictured: Ava Fowler and her mother Sarabeth

Sarabeth had heard about families enjoying near-miraculous results from the use of medical cannabis oil to treat seizures. Still, she hesitated to try it because of the dubious legal ground surrounding its use. “I’m a severe rule follower,” she says. “Like, if I’m driving in an empty church parking lot in the middle of the night, and there are white arrows painted on the ground telling you which way to go, I’m following the white arrows. I’m such a rule-follower that I did not use the oil at all until we were legal, and then after we tried it my only regret was— why didn’t we do this years ago?” That’s the funny thing about Georgia’s medical cannabis oil law. If you meet the qualifications, you can have the oil; you just can’t get it. Georgia state law allows possession of the oil under strict guidelines, but cultivation, production, and distribution are not

yet legal. Even in Colorado, where sale of the oil is legal, you must be a resident of the state to purchase it. For this reason, some Georgia families have left their homes and moved to Colorado in order to treat their children legally with medical cannabis oil. Other parents, those who can afford it, must travel to buy recreational marijuana and try to cook up the oil in a motel room before coming home, or risk bringing the plants across state lines. What’s more, with homemade oil there is no way to test the THC or CBD levels (the “active ingredients” in cannabis oil) or test for any foreign substances that might be mixed in. Like Sarabeth, most people can’t imagine a situation that would find them conducting interstate “drug deals” or searching YouTube for instructional videos on cooking up an illegal, Schedule 1-classified narcotic

in their kitchen. Yet, hundreds of parents find themselves in precisely that surreal position, because they are caregivers of children who are suffering. Understandably, fear causes the majority of people to stick with prescribed pharmaceuticals, despite the mounting empirical evidence of cannabis oil’s effectiveness. This is particularly the case for those dealing with conditions not on the state registry of approved conditions, such as children with autism or veterans with PTSD. Before she began treating Ava with cannabis oil, Sarabeth, along with Dale Jackson (See “Meeting the Challenges of Autism” in KD Issue 8.1) had already been actively advocating the legalization of cannabis oil for medical use in Georgia. They began an organization called Hope United and have attended every session of the state

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Pictured: Parents Sarabeth Fowler and Dale Jackson receiving press coverage at Georgia’s Capitol in the fight to legalize medicinal cannabis oil legislature for the past two years. So, when possession of the oil became legal, Sarabeth decided they couldn’t wait any longer to get their hands on it. Today, the only way to do that is by means of a sort of “underground railroad” between states like Colorado or California and Georgia. “Some people find what they need to ma e the oil, she explains, “and others have it ‘magically’ show up at their house.” Sarabeth is convinced the resulting freedom that children like Ava experience is well worth any risk. “We started on this strain of cannabis oil in December,” she relates. “Two months ago we had a 72-hour EEG, and it was our first-ever clear o sei ure activity whatsoever. Our neurologist had been against the oil and wouldn’t sign or it ow we ve had such ama ing results that she approved weaning Ava off all seizure medications.” Sarabeth has told her story many times, ut she still has trou le fighting ac the emotion as she relates, “It’s a hard thing to explain that I met my child for the first time at years old She was in such a fog. But she has a personality now – just a regular kid.” Sarabeth and Dale willingly spend much of their time educating others and trying to overcome years of stigmatization of cannabis. They would like to see people begin viewing cannabis oil legalization, not as a social issue, but as a health issue.

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Dale believes that information and education are key: “Most people start out thinking that we’re literally smoking a joint and blowing it in our kid’s face,” says Dale. “That’s our starting point, and all it ta es is a fiveminute conversation to get past that.” Sarabeth adds, “And meeting our kids who aren’t high. Just seeing that we’re rational, professional adults.” Hope United is now working toward in-state cultivation, production, and lab testing of medical cannabis oil. House Bill 722 as originally introduced would have legalized in-state medical marijuana cultivation for two to six licensed producers. But the cultivation provision of HB 722 was removed in committee hearings. HB 722 passed the house and moved to the Senate with the modifications, ut was illed by Senator Renee Unterman (R – Sugar Hill/Buford), chair of the Senate Health & Human Services Committee and full-time insurance company executive, who denied the bill a hearing. The bill was revamped and received a favorable vote in the House, then returned to the Senate or a final vote on the last day of session on March 25, 2016. This version, however, presented cannabis oil advocates with a tough choice: They would have to give up having autism added to the list of approved illnesses, or they would have to agree to lowering the legal THC level to 3 percent. Either of these options

HB 1.

“The Rules” HaleigH’s HoPe act You can’t be prosecuted for possessing medical cannabis oil in Georgia if you meet all the following conditions: • A licensed physician has approved use of the oil for one of eight qualifying illnesses: severe or end-stage cancer, ALS, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, or sickle cell disease; as well as seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease and Mitochondrial disease. • You are registered with the Georgia Department of Public Health and have the registration card on your person to prove it. • You are also carrying a card that designates you as caregiver, if the patient is under 18. • The oil contains no more than 5% THC and CBD in equal or greater concentration than the THC. • The oil is in a pharmaceutical container with the THC level clearly stated. • You are found in possession of no more than 20 fluid ounces of the oil.

T/F cannabis Fact & Fiction FICTION: Kids are getting high on cannabis oil. FACT: Ironically, it was Ava’s rescue seizure medication, Klonopin (clonazepam), that made her high. When her school had to administer it, they’d call Sarabeth to come pick up Ava early, since any focusing was over.

FICTION: Advocates for cannabis oil legalization are hippie stoners. FACT: Some of the strongest advocates for legalization of medical cannabis oil would identify themselves as political and religious conservative professionals. FICTION: Cannabis has always been classified as a dangerous narcotic. FACT: Cannabis was widely used in over-the-counter medicines until the Mexican Revolution in 1910, when the term “marijuana” and its recreational use entered the U.S. with Mexican immigrants. Marijuana then became closely linked with fear and prejudice. In 1970, marijuana was defined in federal law, the Controlled Substances Act, as a Schedule 1 drug – defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. (Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD and “ecstasy.”) In 1986, the Anti-Drug Abuse Act required life sentences without parole for repeat drug offenders and provided for the death penalty for “drug kingpins.”

FICTION: Prescription opiates are safer than cannabis. FACT: According to the CDC, overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999. In 2014, nearly 2 million Americans abused or were dependent on prescription opioids. There has never been a confirmed case of a person dying from ingesting or smoking too much cannabis.

leave autistic children out in the cold, as the strain of cannabis oil effective for autism requires a higher THC level than those for seizure disorders. Under the current law, termed Haleigh’s Hope Act (HB 1—See sidebar “The Rules”), some of these families had moved back from Colorado because their kids could now receive a THC level over 3 percent. It was close to midnight on the last day of session when a group of senators called Dale down to the floor. They wanted him to have the final say on how they voted on the amendment. Dale was told that he had 15 seconds to decide. ighting ac tears, ale told the senators to vote o he Republican caucus then voted down the amendment in their private caucus meeting, and it never came up for a recorded vote that night on the floor. After the fact, Dale and the others found out that the amendment, authored by Unterman, provided for only severe cases of autism where extreme selfharm behaviors are present. If the amendment had passed, Dale’s son Colin wouldn’t have been covered anyway. It’s easy to see the motivation behind keeping full legalization at bay. A safe, effective medication that can replace prescription medications and potentially be produced in someone’s kitchen is naturally a serious threat to Big Pharma. And legalizing cannabis would cost Georgia law en orcement millions o dollars in fines, “I want other confiscated property, and imprisonments people to live $$$

the difference

The “upside” of current legislation is that I’m living.” families who need medical cannabis oil can usually afford it at $140-$180/month. Under the bill that nearly passed, the price per month would have gone up to etween nce there s a legal means to obtain the oil, then it will be regulated and taxed, and there will be prosecution against anyone who operates outside those parameters. Also, unless the oil becomes FDA-approved, insurance won’t cover the cost. So legislation is tricky. he current situation is ust fine or those who don t mind orging ahead, despite the laws. But many parents won’t risk it. If they’re prosecuted and imprisoned, they might reason, who will take care of their ill child? In the meantime, Hope United is working with others in another state to create oil that is safe, lab tested, and effective for the citizens of Georgia. They are then helping those families learn how to access it. “Colin’s Voice” is one of the strains that Dale consulted on to help his son and others with autism. Being of real assistance to other families who need solutions has become a huge part of Dale’s and Sarabeth’s lives out last night, says Sara eth, got a call rom someone whose mother has Stage 4 breast cancer that has spread to her spine. I get calls every week. It’s been a blessing to me to be able to lead them to get help.” And, at the writing of this article, Ava has been completely off pharmaceuticals for 11 days, completely seizure-free. “I’m not afraid anymore,” says Sarabeth. “I want other people to live the difference I’m living.” !

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By Taylor Gantt

onathan Anderson may be the fastest man in the storied history of Griffin, Georgia.

And no, we’re not talking good ol’ fashioned footracing. Jonathan’s passion lies squarely behind the wheel of a supercharged drag racer. “My family’s always done it,” Anderson said. “My father and two of my uncles raced. My uncle, David Simmons, was a former champion and one of the best there was around the Southeast.” The 35-year-old drag racer has made a big splash in the National Hot Rod Association this season, racking up a huge points lead with only a few races remaining. “It’s not over till it’s over,” Anderson said with a laugh. “But yeah, I’m ahead by a pretty huge amount.” Jonathan has put together an impressive 23-2 record so far this year, with only a handful of races to go before the champion is crowned. Anderson competes in the NHRA’s Division 2, a group that includes racers from all across the Southeast.

His passion for drag racing was cultivated at a young age. Jonathan began dabbling in the automotive arts at age 18. “We used to take our cars out to the local tracks, beat them up a little bit, and have a good time!” Now, Anderson is parlaying that boyhood pastime into a burgeoning career on the track. He chose drag racing above all other forms of competition because of the pure simplicity it offers. “Anybody can get into it. You can use your own car, take it to the track, and compete for money. You can’t really take your own car over to Atlanta Motor Speedway and start racing there! In drag racing, it’s just you and one other person on the track.” But despite his scintillating success in the NHRA, Jonathan still hasn’t left his old life or career behind. He and his father operate a pair of automotive shops in Griffin. Anderson takes time away from his day job to pursue his passion, but he doesn’t look at racing as an escape to stardom. “Things are different than the way they used to be,” he said. “A few people can do it full time for a living, but you need pretty big corporate sponsorships to make that happen. You used to be able to do it with just your [race winnings], but everything is so expensive nowadays.” Despite his pragmatic approach, Jonathan’s star continues to shine. He’s been chosen to represent Division 2 in an All-Star event in July. And if he stays on track and becomes the 2016 Southeastern Champion, his reputtion will only continue to grow.

“Drag racing is really the only sport out there that gives the average person the chance to win big money,” Anderson said. “It’s way better odds than playing the lottery!” When asked about some of the people who helped him make it to where he is today, two special family members came to Jonathan’s mind. “My wife,” he said, without hesitation. “We’ve been together since high school, so definitely her. And I have to also say my dad, ever since we moved to Griffin nearly 31 years ago.” If you want to catch a glimpse of Griffin’s own Jonathan Anderson, you can find him at various NHRA events around Georgia and the rest of the country. Or just hang out on 19-41 until you see a red blur shoot past you—whichever comes first.

Photos courtesy of Jonathan Anderson

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Mowing WITH A

Meaning By Rachel Conort

It’s easy to take for granted being able to bring out the lawn mower or rake up that pile of leaves on a day off. When someone is diagnosed with cancer, those days off tend to disappear, replaced by hospital visits, treatments, or much-needed sleep. The necessary chores of life can turn into heavy burdens and become constant reminders of the toll cancer is taking on those with no time or energy to complete them. Families and loved ones often try to take on these tasks, but between juggling their own lives and wanting to spend time with their loved one, some jobs can be overlooked. Statistics show that almost 40 percent of the people in the USA will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life. In 2012, there were more than 45,000 cases of cancer reported in Georgia alone. As a nation, we have poured millions into finding a cure for cancer, but as we strive to achieve that

goal, we sometimes forget about the emotional, mental, and physical effects that cancer is having on individuals right at this moment. Mowing with a Meaning is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Griffin that seeks to reduce some of the day-to-day burdens of those with cancer. Services provided at no cost to the individual include lawn care and maintenance, ramp installation and removal, minor home repairs, and grocery deliveries. At the heart of Mowing with a Meaning is an ambitious staff determined to make the experience of having cancer easier on individuals and their loved ones. Mowing with a Meaning connects with caseworkers at cancer treatment hospitals such as Northside, Emory, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to get in touch with individuals diagnosed with cancer and then join them in their fight.

It’s a survivor’s journey—we just want to assist where we can. Mowing with a Meaning relies on the support of the community and partnership with local businesses. For more information, visit www.mowingwithameaning.com or call 770.652.4601. w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

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KITCHEN TABLE Catherine Jarret of ButterAndBrie.com

A Georgia summer is upon us, and that means hot grills and cool desserts! If you’re firing up the grill this season, try out these sweet and savory dishes, all cooked over an open flame. Created by Catherine Jarret of ButterAndBrie.com, these recipes feature undertones of maple and bourbon and are great on their own or prepared together as an incredibly delicious family meal.

Maple Butter Corn 4 ears of corn, shucked ½ cup butter at room temperature 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup Salt and pepper to taste Mix together softened butter, maple syrup, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Liberally spread butter mixture all over corn. Wrap each ear tightly in aluminum foil, sealing ends well. Grill wrapped corn on a medium grill for about 20 minutes or until tender. Remove the foil and grill the corn directly on the grates for 3-5 minutes to char. Serve with any leftover maple butter and salt and pepper.

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Sweet Bourbon BBQ Chicken Skewers with Bacon makes 4-5 skewers 8 ounces BBQ sauce 2 Tbsp bourbon 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1” pieces 4-5 skewers 8-12 slices of bacon (If you prefer crispy bacon, use precooked slices.) 1½ Tbsp packed brown sugar 1½ Tbsp smoked paprika (regular works okay, too) 1 tsp salt ½ tsp pepper ¼ tsp onion powder ¼ tsp garlic powder 1 Tbsp maple syrup 2 tsp bourbon 2 Tbsp water 39

Grilled Peaches and Cherries With Ice Cream and Maple & Brown Sugar Syrup In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce and bourbon; set aside. Put chicken pieces into a gallon-sized Ziploc bag. In another small bowl, combine brown sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder; use a fork to mix well and break up any clumps. Once combined, add maple syrup, bourbon, and water; mix to form marinade. Pour marinade over chicken, close bag, and make sure chicken is coated. Marinate in your fridge for two to 24 hours. If using wooden skewers, two hours before grilling, soak skewers in water for 30 minutes. Thread one end of a slice of bacon onto a skewer. Place one chicken cube on top and press down just until skewer point comes out the far side. Fold the long edge of the bacon over the chicken piece and onto the skewer. Place a second piece of chicken on top and press down again. Fold remaining long end of bacon back over and press down; continue this pattern, creating a zigzag with the bacon and chicken. Each skewer should hold 6–8 pieces of chicken and two slices of bacon. When ready to cook, preheat grill to medium and oil the grates. Place skewers onto hot grill and cook for about four minutes per side, flipping once. Brush skewers lightly with BBQ sauce mixture and cook for an additional minute on each side. Remove from heat and serve with any remaining BBQ sauce.

4 large peaches, cut into 1” pieces 14 ounces fresh cherries, pitted and cut in half Vanilla ice cream Wooden or metal skewers If using wooden skewers, soak skewers in water for 30 minutes before continuing. Thread the peach pieces and cherry pieces onto separate skewers. (Don’t mix peaches and cherries on the same skewer.) Preheat grill to medium. Cook the fruit for 10–15 minutes, flipping occasionally, until fruit is soft and showing grill marks. While cooking, make Maple & Brown Sugar Syrup. Once the fruit is cooked, remove from heat and set aside, covering it to keep it warm.

Maple & Brown Sugar Syrup 1 cup brown sugar ½ cup water ¼ cup butter, cut into ½” pieces 1 Tbsp maple syrup In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Lower heat to medium and simmer for five minutes. Add the butter and maple syrup; stir until butter is melted. Remove from heat. Remove the fruit from the skewers into four small serving bowls. When syrup is ready, scoop vanilla ice cream onto fruit and drizzle with syrup. Serve immediately.

Leftover syrup can be put into a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to a month. To reheat, uncover and microwave at 15-second intervals, stirring or swirling in between, until pourable. It’s delicious over pancakes!

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Artist Profile

PEARL BOTTOM RADIO By Rachel Scoggins

earl Bottom Radio is a local band definitely worth checking out. The band has been playing together for a few years with the now-solidified lineup consisting of Lee White, David Schallot, Ian Fagan, Danny Paschal, and Chad Widner. The band got its name from an early musical influence. Lee remembers a very old radio that sat on a shelf in his grandmother’s kitchen when he was a child. “It was up on a shelf, and the bottom of it was pearl,” he said. “Something about that old radio always caught my eye.” When he was choosing a name for the band, Pearl Bottom Radio was one of the choices. “It seemed to roll off the tongue and it fit, so it stuck!” The five members all bring their distinct musical personalities to the band. This gives Pearl Bottom Radio an interesting, unique sound, which makes it difficult to easily place the group into a traditional musical genre. “The sound is fairly Southern,” vocalist Lee White said, “because I have a twangy Southern drawl when I sing.” Pearl Bottom Radio is a blend somewhere in the middle of Americana, Southern rock, and country. “Everybody in the

band has different influences and listens to different things,” Lee said. “It’s kinda cliché, but we have our sound. We’re not trying to pull or take anything from anybody else.” Pearl Bottom Radio is making their mark on the Southern music scene. Six months ago, they recorded their first EP “Holy Moly,” which featured five original songs. Since releasing the EP in December, they’ve been playing shows to promote it all around the Southeast, including in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. In May, they were musical guests at the Doc Holliday Beer, Wine & Arts Festival in Griffin. Pearl Bottom Radio’s “The Beer Song” has been getting attention on local radio and internet radio stations. This attention is well-deserved. The band is made up of five guys who love truly music. Though they have day jobs, the band and music is their passion. For many of the members, Pearl Bottom Radio is not their first band. Danny and Chad have been in other bands around the area, such as FATBAK and Blue

Druids, and Ian and Lee were also in other bands. “Ian is the best bass player I’ve ever heard,” Lee stated. “This is David’s first band, and he’s really grown and progressed as a guitar player.” All experienced musicians, David and Chad play guitar, Ian plays bass, Danny plays drums, and Lee is on vocals. The years they’ve spent playing music have resulted in this endeavor, and the shared passion comes through in every note. The band strives to make the songs relatable and have them evoke any kind of emotion in the listeners. “My focus in writing the words is that once an audience leaves, the songs stay in their head. I want them to wake up the next morning and the song is still in their head,” said Lee. They try to create each song so the words are at the forefront, so the listener can hear and understand the words and pick up something, even if it’s just the hook. Lee writes most of the lyrics for Pearl Bottom Radio’s songs.

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Sometimes he brings the words to the other guys with an idea of a sound or a beat, and then the guys put the words to music. Other times, the band may come up with something during practice or at a show and then he writes words to the music. “Writing the songs is a collaborative process for the whole band,” Lee said.

“Any old band you listen to was a local band at first. Supporting local music is a way to jump on the bandwagon from the get-go.” In addition to playing shows, Pearl Bottom Radio is working on filming music videos. The video for their song “Knife Fight” can be seen on their Facebook page or YouTube. The most recent video shoot was for “The Beer Song,” which was filmed at Motorheads Bar & Grill in McDonough.

The video was karaoke-style, which cut from the band playing on stage to fans on stage singing and mouthing the words along with the vocals in the video. “We wanted the video to be very crowd interactive,” Lee said. “We wanted to get people involved. People tend to really like the song, and just about everywhere we play, people sing along to it. We thought if people wanted to sing along to it, we’d give them a chance to have their face in the video.” They plan on one more music video shoot in the near future.

Local music is one of the best things a community can have, and Griffin is lucky to have such talented musicians within its borders. You can support this local band by liking them on Facebook and buying their EP and other merch, also available on their Facebook page. If you haven’t done so already, check out their music posted online, or catch one of the many shows they play around the local area. Then you can be one of the lucky people waking up the next morning singing “The Beer Song” as you get ready for work. !

Pearl Bottom Radio is finishing up their full-length album, and then their goal is to play as much as they can, anywhere they can. “We want to buy a van and play,” Lee said, chuckling. “We want to get to where we can play more than just every weekend.” They’ve been marketing some of the songs around, sending them to friends in Nashville or getting them heard by different outlets like TV shows. They’ve also added their songs to iTunes and Spotify to expand the reach of their fan base.

To get in touch with or book the band, email pearlbottomradio@gmail. com.

“There seems to be a fairly good underground local music fan base in the South,” Lee stated. “But there needs to be more. Any old band you listen to was a local band at first. Supporting local music is a way to jump on the bandwagon from the get-go.”

Photo Courtesy of Pearl Bottom Radio 46

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Restaurant Review

Kirby G’s Diner & Pub

Though KirbyG’s menu offers a variety of choices, the ‘50s-themed diner just off McDonough’s town square is most famous for its award-winning burgers. KirbyG’s has participated in the invitation-only World Food Championships every year since 2013 and will compete again at this year’s competition in Gulf Shores in November. Owner/ manager Neil Daniell credits early awards, such as being chosen one of 11 Alive’s “Top Five Burger Places South of I-285” in 2008, for giving the team inspiration to keep going through tough economic times. The awards kept coming: KirbyG’s was named “Best Burger” by AJC readers in both 2012 and 2013. In 2014, they were named Tastemakers Choice and they placed in the Top Five in the 2015 Bubba Burger Competition. Most recently, KirbyG’s won Judge’s Choice in the 2016 Atlanta Burger Wars.

By Allison smyly & the kd gang photos by michelle cobb

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KD team members spent a pleasant evening enjoying these prizewinning burgers and other tasty fare—and also trying to figure out the ‘50s references in each menu item’s name. My favorite entrée was the “Old Blue Eyes” Black & Blue Burger (named after Frank Sinatra), topped with blue cheese, melted Monterey Jack, and bacon, and paired with spicy mayo. A surprisingly close second favorite sandwich was the Zuko’s Zesty Jack Chicken, with tender, chopped chicken; melted pepper jack cheese; bacon; tomatoes; lettuce; and sautéed onions. I couldn’t stop eating the hot, crispy Fried Green Beans appetizer; it’s easy for me to believe Neil’s claim that he sells more of them than anyone in metro Atlanta. Sandwiches are served with fries or chips, and all burgers are hand-pattied and cooked to order. You can keep it simple at KirbyG’s, making it a popular choice for families. Neil says, “We’re known for specialty burgers, but we sell more cheeseburgers than anything else.” Sauces are served on the side, so you can control the amount (and mix and match). There’s often something special going on at KirbyG’s. Every Tuesday is Taste Test Tuesday—new burger recipes are tested, and winners often become the next week’s special. Thursday is trivia night, and there’s usually live music on the weekend. Bill Turpin and the Shoulderbone Creek Orchestra play on Friday nights, and other artists such as Rick Snyder, Bethany Grace, Blues Bound, and Ross Pead play on Saturday evenings. KirbyG’s often participates in local events and festivals and has even attracted some attention from celebrities, including William H. Macy and the cast of Krystal. For Neil Daniell and the “Pit Crew” at KirbyG’s, the formula is simple: “Good food, good service—people come back.”

Jake KirbyG’s is a ‘50s-chic burger place with a reputation to live up to: the best burger in Atlanta. I don’t know about the beef, but their Toro’s Chipotle Black Bean Burger was the best veggie burger I’ve had in a while. The secret has to be the chipotle sauce served alongside the burger—it was just spicy enough. The sandwiches are one thing, but their sides and appetizers are another thing entirely. I would come back to KirbyG’s just to eat the Orson’s Onion Petals with spicy mayo.

Josh My favorite burger was Joanie’s Spicy Pimento Cheese Burger. They serve it with Thousand Island dressing on the side, and once you dip the already-delicious burger in that sauce, it becomes sure-nuff off-the-chain delicious. All the sides and appetizers that we tried were also great, but the one that I’m still having dreams about is the Sweet Potato Tots. Served with a side of marshmallow fluff for dipping, those things are just completely insane!

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Opening as Chevy’s in 2008, the restaurant was renamed KirbyG’s in 2012 by owners Neil and Erica Daniell to honor Erica’s father, R. Kirby Godsey. While Kirby’s mother was expecting him, his father was killed in an accident at work, leaving his mother to parent three sons alone. Kirby later wrote, “She labored long hours in the school lunchroom and on World War II assembly lines…to assure that we were well-fed, well-churched, and well educated. At the time, it never occurred to me that we were poor. We were nurtured with good faith, strict discipline, and lots of up-close lessons about self-reliance.” At the age of 18, Kirby followed in his older brother Jack’s footsteps by becoming a “soda jerk” at the Alabama Cigar & Soda Company. Kirby wrote: “In that day and time a person ‘jerked’ sodas, spewing high-pressured carbonated water into tall glasses of ice cream, foaming our way toward a soda to be topped with a mountain of whipped cream and a syrupy red cherry.” The lessons about hard work and responsibility his mother taught him served Kirby well, and he soon found his managerial responsibilities increasing. Kirby worked his way through school, earning two doctoral degrees, and eventually became a college professor of philosophy and religion, department chair, college dean, and then president of Mercer University in Macon for 27 years. Through all those years, Kirby Godsey always fondly remembered his days as a soda jerk, providing the inspiration for the diner’s ‘50s theme and its ice cream desserts. The diner’s blog states, “It is our hope that KirbyG’s will continue to stand as a symbol of the simpler days of ice cream sodas, cheeseburgers, and sock hops.”

My favorites may not be the healthiest option for your dinner, but let’s be honest—you’re not going to a burger joint to eat healthy. If you’re looking for sinfully delicious burgers, KirbyG’s has exactly what you’re craving. And if you’re not looking to get so full you could be rolled out the door, they do have healthier options, too…like salads, a veggie burger, and…water.

Michelle I enjoyed the friendly atmosphere. The owner was very knowledgeable about food composition, preparation, and the burger industry in general. I can see why Neil is super excited about having head chef Justin Nichols on his team. The food was cooked to order, with passion poured into each handmade burger. These guys get excited about their food and you can really feel that positive energy being transferred through every plate they send out. They took great care to ensure that our orders were cooked to perfection, and I was delighted by the service. At the end of the meal, they brought out a big milkshake. We were “fighting” over who would get to taste and how we should split it up. We eventually settled the “fight” by ordering a second one!

Nicole Favorite Burger/ Sandwich:

Ben: Rickles Wickles Burger Allison: “Old Blue Eyes” Black & Blue Burger Jake: Toro’s Chipotle Black Bean Burger Josh: Spicy Pimento Cheese Burger Michelle: The Mick Nicole: Toro’s Chipotle Black Bean Burger Wes: Spicy Pimento Cheese Burger

Other favorites:

Ben: Fries with Chipotle Allison: Fried Green Beans Jake: Onion Petals Josh: Sweet Potato Tots Michelle: Banana Pudding Milkshake Nicole: Sweet Potato Tots Wes: Fried Green Beans

Despite my shockingly bad ‘50s-era knowledge, I enjoyed my step back in time at KirbyG’s. When the crew described the Sweet Potato Tots with marshmallow fluff I was ALL IN. It was really difficult sharing them with the table; they were sweet but still had that perfect bit of savory. Another hit: the Fried Green Beans were perfectly crisp and went with every delicious sauce. Really want to surprise yourself? Try the slightly spicy vegetarian Black Bean Burger; you won’t even realize there is no meat in it! All of this with a cold craft beer and a handmade malt shake at the end—what more could you want?

45 Macon Street, McDonough 678.583.8777 http://kirbygs.com ( 7 7 0) 412 - 0 4 41

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MOVIE REVIEW BY CLARK DOUGLAS It’s summer movie season, and theatres are flooded with explosion-filled blockbusters, sequels, remakes, and reboots. In the midst of all of these heavily advertised features, I thought it might be a good time to take a look back at a few recent hidden gems you might have overlooked. None of these films made a big splash at the box office, but all of them are worth your time. If you’re in the mood for something scary...check out The Witch, one of the most unsettling horror films I’ve seen in years. Set in 17th-century New England, the film examines the trials and tribulations of a family of Puritans living on the edge of a forest. Lurking within that forest? You don’t even want to know. While modern audiences accustomed to flashy, aggressive, jolt-you-out-of-your-seat horror may find this one a little slow, those who appreciate the slow-burn terror of classics like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby will be rewarded with a genuinely chilling tale of religious terror. A word of advice: keep an eye on that goat. w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

If you’re in the mood for something funny... check out Hail, Caesar!, Joel and Ethan Coen’s delightful homage to the Golden Age of Hollywood. The film tells the story of a popular actor (portrayed by George Clooney) who gets kidnapped by a shadowy organization, but the real joy of the film is in its affectionately detailed imitations of old movies: a “singing cowboy” Western, a mermaid melodrama, a Biblical epic, a Gene Kellyesque musical, and more. The star-studded cast (which also includes Josh Brolin, Tilda Swinton, Channing Tatum, Scarlett Johansson, Ralph Fiennes, and other recognizable faces) is terrific, and, as usual, the Coens are serving up more than mere silliness. Beneath the fun, giddy surface, the film is a thoughtful religious parable built around some engagingly complex ideas about faith, movies, and ideology.

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If you’re in the mood for something thrilling... check out Green Room, a ferociously intense little movie. The film largely unfolds within the confines of a single room, and finds the members of a scrappy young punk band facing off against a group of violent neo-Nazis (led by a terrifically menacing Patrick Stewart). This one isn’t for the faint of heart (the bonecrunching violence is pretty intense), but Jeremy Saulnier’s writing is intelligent and his direction is razor-sharp. This one will put knots in your stomach early on and keep them there until the credits roll. If you’re in the mood for something moving... check out Midnight Special, a wonderful science-fiction film that exists somewhere at the intersection of ‘70s and ‘80s classics like E.T., Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Starman. The story centers on a boy with mysterious supernatural abilities, and we watch as various figures—his loving father (Michael Shannon), his estranged mother (Kirsten Dunst), a government scientist (Adam Driver), and the members of a strange cult— attempt to claim him. The tale plays out as a sci-fi mystery of sorts, with the truth about the boy’s past and the assorted motivations of the other characters being revealed in small fragments over the course of the story. The performances are sensitive and understated, and the film is loaded with quietly affecting moments. The climax—containing some mighty impressive special effects considering the film’s small budget—will stick with you for a long time.

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Our print calender may be discontinued, but these pups still need good homes! The dogs on this page are available for adoption through Dolly Goodpuppy Society out of Barnesville, GA. For more information visit dollygoodpuppy.org or email dollygoodpuppy@gmail.com. Photos by Jessica Cobb

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Songs From Article and Photos by Pete Chagnon Artwork by Katie Hardie

It’s a peaceful place with rolling hills, homegrown organic produce, free range chickens, and where everyone rides a T. rex. You heard me correctly—a T. rex! Welcome to Sunny Land. So where is this place? Well, it’s closer than you think—as a matter of fact, one could make the argument that it’s within the city limits of Griffin, Georgia, or perhaps in your own hometown. But most definitely, Sunny Land is a fantastical place that first sprang to life in the creative mind of Griffin resident Jason Hoard. In Jason’s words, Sunny Land is a place of escape: a “land of plenty, kick your shoes off, lay your burdens down, money grows on trees sort of place.” Although this place has existed for quite a while, it never received a name until Jason stumbled upon an old, weathered washboard in the Blue Goose Antique shop. The words “Sunny Land” were painted as bright as the noonday sun across the top. Jason contends that the washboard could have come from the Sunny Land farm itself. If you want to visit, you are welcome any time, and you can even send your family and friends a musical postcard from Sunny Land. “Songs from Sunny Land” is the latest album from Jason Hoard and the Furies, produced in Black Cat Studios in Griffin. The journey begins with an enjoyable and welcoming song describing Sunny Land, which displays elements of country

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and Americana with a happy little banjo. “Sunny Land” is followed by “Freedom,” a wide-openroads type of adventure song, “Square One,” “There’s No Hope,” “Rainy Day,” “Save the Day,” “Beggars,” and “Home.” “Home” is a special tribute to Jason’s hometown of Griffin. He jokes that it might be the first song ever dedicated to Griffin. A longtime resident, Jason notes that many of his friends left Griffin to seek a better life, but something always brings them back. He suggests that perhaps sometimes we mistakenly think the grass is greener on the other side, but the reality is that nothing beats the green grass of home—Sunny Land. Jason says that the tracks that deal with rain and storms remind us that we can’t reside in Sunny Land forever, and that storms help us appreciate the beauty of Sunny Land when we are tempted to take it for granted. The musical journey concludes with a “Sunny Land” reprise. Overall, the project has an Americana, roots, and country sort of vibe with a little bluegrass, and, of course, the tight production that has become synonymous with Black Cat Studios. Jason began his music career playing the mandolin in a family bluegrass band. In his late teens and early 20s, he joined John Waller’s band, According to John and hit the road. Later, he performed and traveled with other well-known acts such as Third

Day, David Crowder, and Natalie Grant. Eventually, Jason decided to venture into music production, using early profits to purchase the equipment needed to get Black Cat Studios off the ground. Black Cat Studios had humble beginnings in Jason’s garage before it moved into its current location in historic downtown Griffin. The studio is named after Jason’s fat black cat, which weighed in at a whopping 28 pounds! When a concerned Jason took the cat to a veterinarian, the horrified vet accused Jason of making the cat fat on purpose as some sort of sick joke. This wasn’t true, of course; Jason was just as perplexed as the next person as to why the cat was so big. The cat has since gone on to be with the Lord, but his memory lives on. Black Cat Studios is a treasure in and of itself. Few recognize how much influence this Griffin music studio has had in today’s contemporary Christian genre. The first group to record at Black Cat Studios was Jubal’s Kin. Other art-

ists to come through the doors include Phillips, Craig, & Dean; Matt Maher; Natalie Grant; Mac Powell and Third Day; Casting Crowns; and other well-known contemporary Christian artists and worship leaders. Jason says he’s moving toward producing more Americana and roots music now, and Jason Hoard and the Furies is taking up that mantle. (The new band got its name after Mac Powell jokingly nicknamed Jason’s beard “the Furies” while on the road. Jason’s beard even has its own Twitter account!) “Songs from Sunny Land” is scheduled to be released on iTunes and at www.JasonHoard. com on August 18, so saddle up your T. rex and take some time to visit Sunny Land—population plus one since you joined us. The album was produced by Ryan Wilson. The Furies: on drums, Rob Hardie; acoustic guitar, Luke Hardie; additional musicians, Brian Scoggin and Bernie Herms. Mandolin, guitars, bass, and vocals by Jason Hoard.

For more on the studio’s early days, read “Black Cat Studios” in Kitchen Drawer’s Vol. 1, Issue 2 in our online archive: www.kitchendrawer.net/pages/kd-archives. 60

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PETE CHAGNON: I hate the fact that juicing and freezing my favorite dill pickles into Popsicles didn’t turn out as well as it did in my mind. I thought for sure I was on to something to beat the heat.

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CHASITY C ARTER N Texting and d ICHOLS: riving. I se e it a ll the time and it makes me w being a moth ant to scream er of thre e at those doin g it. PLEASE S TOP!

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Teague: Susan Massey de and socially I can’t stand the rude, cru r of those that don’t unacceptable behavio tip their servers, think follow road signs, don’t es than the ones they more about their phon parents by their are with, unappreciated list goes on ;) own children... & & & the ! thanks for letting us vent!

SHAUN BENTOn: learn anything from the palm of your Technology has truly been a curse and a cure. On one hand, you can literally We can find our own group of hand. We can catch up with old friends, and even make new ones on social media. ful thing! Where we as a species fail is the renegades that see life just as we do! In that aspect, technology is a wonder a now don’t talk. People bump into each addictive nature of technology. People sitting at dinner tables all across Americ . Daily accidents occur while people other in grocery stores trying to shop but never taking their eyes off their phones tion when it comes to technology. Kids are driving under the influence of technology. I believe we gave up on modera each other outside. We as parents should no longer go biking, skate boarding, build huts in the woods, or just play with 24 hours of tv, most would see a flaw in limit this constant bombardment of technological stimulation. If a child watched who spend countless hours on YouTube, this. But it’s hard to find a flaw in our own behaviors, so we are raising children teaching our children how to interact with Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter. Let’s stop this hands off parenting and start to be clear, I love seeing what my others face to face. Let’s call this colossal time suck what it is, an addiction! And gone too far? friends are up to. I love sharing photos and memes. But at what point have we w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

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2016 Fiction Contest Winner - 3rd Place

In July, we announced our second fiction contest. Out of dozens of entries, we selected the following winners. Read the winning stories in Kitchen Drawer throughout 2016.

FIRST PLACE: “SWINGING” BY KAYLEE TUGGLE MATHENY SECOND PLACE: “PATCHWORK HEART” BY TIFFANI LONG THIRD PLACE: “ZERO VISIBILITY” BY MICHAEL DOWNING FOURTH PLACE: “THE LAST HUNT” BY LEWIS BREWER

ZERO VISIBILITY “Keep moving!” I think it’s Jon from behind me. Then Jeff yells, “I gotta stop—just for a minute!” “No!” Jon screams. “We have to find cover! We gotta get off this road!” The wind is burning; it cuts right through the thin jacket I’m wearing. My face is burning. Someone yells again from behind me, but the words are swept away in the storm. I stop and turn around. The wind, snow, and ice pellets feel like BBs on my skin. A hurricane of frozen water and pain assaults me from every direction. I start moving again, one foot in front of the other. I think we’re off the road now. Still, there’s no cover, only stone. Zero visibility. The rock beneath my feet is coated in ice. I’m wearing tennis shoes, for Christ’s sake. “Stupid, stupid, stupid,” I chant to myself as I slip and slide across the frozen rocks. The wind pushes me forward then sideways. I feel like a drunk ice skater. Cold, hurt, blind. I fall. “Jeff? Jon?” The howling of the wind rips the names from my mouth. I try to stand, but the wind shoves me down again. Violence—raw violence. This is not weather. This is the voice of God. Revelations. My hand feels broken. I tuck it under my shirt and jacket, and the cold stings like hornets. I’m not thinking. I have to think. I’m thinking that I’m dying. “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” I begin my chant again, crawling forward on my hands and knees. We should have stayed with the car. I was sure of that. But after two days the weather broke, and we made a decision

w w w. k it chendr aw er.net

BY MICHAEL DOWNING

to head back south. We had passed a cabin maybe 10 or 15 miles back. We could do it in a day. Our best thinking, right? “Stupid, stupid, stupid.” Another front rolled over just a couple of hours into our hike. I could feel the pressure change in my head. The temperature dropped 30 or 40 degrees in minutes. Then came the wind, snow, and ice—huge black-gray clouds of swirling motion. An epic storm, even by the local standards in this part of Alaska. Total whiteout. I clawed my way forward with one hand, willing my way ahead. I was slowing down, my shivering like convulsions. I was thinking, “This is how I die.” Suddenly, the way forward was blocked by a wall of rock. Frozen, it felt like glass. I went left, following the curve of the wall of stone, the snow and ice piled three or four feet deep at the base. I pushed my body into the drift, praying for shelter from the wind and ice that were killing me. I no longer thought about my friends. I came to a small corner in the stone, made myself into a ball, and pressed myself into the rock. I could go no further. I no longer felt the cold. My only thought was of sleeping. Suddenly I was moving again, sliding through the drift on my back. I tried to speak, but no words came out. Something was pulling me by my feet. The last thing I saw was the wall of stone passing above my head. I was being pulled into the living rock. The screaming of the wind grew oddly distant. I passed into blackness. I awoke to warmth: yellow-red fire in a circle of stones. I was naked, wrapped in warm furs. My head rested on my pack. I tried to move and a wave of pain washed through my brain like cold water. I lay still, absorbing the warmth, like a long-

dry sponge absorbs the wet. A cave. As my eyes adjusted I could see the far wall. Red and black paintings of running deer and elk seemed to dance in the firelight. Then I saw him.

“Who are you?” I asked. “You stay here?” Nothing. Then he stood. God, he was huge. The cave was maybe six or seven feet from floor to ceiling. He couldn’t stand without bending over, a giant. I thought of Goliath.

then echoed my words, his eyes far away. “Like the angel,” he whispered. His eyes refocused and he looked up. “Sleep now,” he said. My eyes closed, and I felt like I was falling. I dreamed of bells and water.

He sat cross-legged, away from the fire: a huge man working with something in a small bowl. He wore a long, heavy coat and boots. I remember his boots—leather maybe, laced all the way up to his knees. A thick mane of black hair hung around his shoulders. He put down the bowl and looked at me with dark, intense eyes. He nodded once as an acknowledgement of my consciousness, then returned to his work.

He walked over to where I lay. He looked at me for a moment, then bent over and set the bowl beside my head. He placed the back of his thick hand across my forehead, like a mother checking for fever in a child. His face softened, and he nodded toward the bowl. Then he stood again and returned to his place toward the back of the cave.

When I woke up, I was in darkness. I reached out and found my pack. I fumbled with the zipper, then opened it and felt for the flashlight. When I switched it on, I saw the small cave was empty and bare, save for my clothes and my pack. The plush furs I had lain in were nothing more than tattered rags of some long-dead animal’s hide and bones. The circle of stones was cold and empty. No coals, no ashes. I shined the light all around the cave. Several feet away, a rough pottery bowl lay broken on the ground.

“Thank you,” I said. He made no effort to reply. His eyes stayed fixed on his work. “I have friends out there,” I said, suddenly thinking of Jeff and Jon. I sat up. Pain. My muscles ached as the cold invaded. I looked to my new friend. “They’re going to die out there!” I was pleading through chattering teeth. He looked up, but his expression didn’t change. The muffled fury of the storm made the mountain I now lay under vibrate. I realized my friends might be lost to me. What were we thinking? People had warned us. “Wait till next year,” they had said. “It’s already fall.” It was just a stupid road trip. We had been sitting around drinking beer when Jon brought it up: fly to Alaska, rent a Jeep, see some country, drive on the famous “ice road.” Stupid, right? We had no clue.

I realized I was thirsty. I took the bowl. Pottery, maybe? It contained what looked like thin soup. There were pieces of what appeared to be meat, or maybe mushrooms, and greens in a steaming broth. It smelled good. I raised it to my lips and took a sip. It was warm, and it was good. I drank. “Thank you,” I said for the second time. He watched me from his seat, but made no effort to respond. “You don’t talk much,” I said, not expecting a reply. “People talk too much,” he said, his eyes fixed on the fire. His answer startled me. His voice was deep and clear. It seemed to echo around the small cave. “You saved my life,” I said. He nodded in agreement. “At least tell me your name.” He looked down as if thinking, remembering. “I’m called Michael,” he said at last. “Like the angel,” I said. He nodded slowly,

A wave of panic washed over me. I scrambled to my feet and grabbed my clothes and my pack. I dressed quickly. My clothes were dry and warm. At the front of the cave, I found a small opening packed with snow. I dug with my hands until I broke through. A shaft of sunlight shone into the cave. I took a last look behind me, then pushed my way through and was free. The sky was clear and blue. Rivulets of water ran down the face of the stone wall. I leaned in and drank, then stood and waded out into the thigh-deep snow. I got my bearings and headed back east toward the road. I was alive. There would be time to think later. I had to find my friends.

KITCHEN DRAWER ANNOUNCES

OUR THIRD ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST Submit an original, unpublished work of fiction in 1,500 words or less. Email your entry to stuff@kitchendrawer.net by November 30, 2016, with “Fiction Contest Entry” in the subject line. Please include your name, address, phone number, and birth date, including year. Winners whose entries are selected for publication will receive a cash prize.

Kitchen Drawer reserves the right to edit contributions.

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