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May 2020
A lifestyle magazine highlighting Surry County and the surrounding area
THE brave unsung heroes
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Celebrating our personal heroes, past and present, this Memorial Day. To advertise: (336) 648-3555 • sales@surryliving.com
FEATURED SECTIONS
Friendly Heating & Cooling, Inc. SERVICE IS OUR BUSINESS!
HOME, FARM, & GARDEN p.8 * OUT & ABOUT p.18 * 8 The Vintage Southern
Homemaker: Gloria Brown shares memories and helpful tips
18 Gary York:
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Honoring Personal Heroes
with Rynn Hennings: Black Beans with Corn Bake
23 Carmen Long: What's for
Dinner? 24 A Deeper Cut: A Novel,
Continues
11 This Little Light of Mine:
Spring — is Area theEvent bestSchedules: time to We apologize but calendar get yourguides AC units are not ready included for for summer’s heat! May due to the uncertainty
Face to Face 12 Joanna Radford: Apis
Mellifera – The Unsung Hero
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15 Sarah Southard, DVM:
Lyme Disease Awareness
16 Special Book Excerpt:
Life at the Crossroads
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SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 5
CONTRIBUTORS
Gloria Brown
Gin Denton
Sheri Wren Haymore
Rynn Hennings
Gloria is co-owner of The Nest & Hive Shoppe, a home décor business in Fancy Gap, VA, as well as the former host of The Vintage Southern Homemaker television show. Her musings on life growing up and living in the South have appeared in publications and on TV throughout the region. She is an expert antiques collector who grew up in the business and worked many years as a dealer in the Yadkin Valley area, where she currently resides.
Gin is the owner of Ginger Horse Studio. Her focus is lifestyle photography, covering horse shows, weddings, concerts, and doing on location portraits. Gin graduated from the University of Findlay with an Equine Business Management degree, where she also studied music and photography. She is a member of the Mount Airy Ukulele Invasion (MAUI) and the Granite City Rock Orchestra (GRO). Gin resides in Lowgap, NC with her family on their small horse farm.
Sheri grew up in Mt. Airy, NC, and lives thereabouts with her husband. Together they run a couple of small businesses and plan their next vacation. A graduate of High Point University, her first job was as a writer at a marketing firm—and she’s been scribbling ever since. Sheri has several suspense novels in publication and Surry Living is proud to include sequential excerpts from one of her books in each issue.
Rynn is a writer and designer based in the Yadkin Valley region of North Carolina. She loves to share her ideas for adding simple beauty into hectic lifestyles. More than mere recipes, her mission is to offer practical shortcuts for food preparation along with visual tips for presentation. Rynn began her career in Aiken, SC, as a newspaper reporter writing feature articles about food, living, and the arts.
Carmen Long
Joanna Radford
Sarah Southard
Larry VanHoose
Carmen is an NC Cooperative Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences. Making quick, easy, healthy food that tastes great on a budget is a challenge. Carmen and her husband have two grown children, both of whom were involved in sports from grade school thru college. With busy careers and lots of time at sporting events, coming up with quick, healthy meals was a necessity. Carmen shares ideas and recipes to make this tough job a bit easier.
Joanna Radford is the Commercial and Consumer Horticulture Agent for the NC Cooperative Extension in Surry County with expertise in entomology, gardening, and pesticide education. She began her career with NC Cooperative Extension in Stokes County in 1995 as a 4-H Agent, later switching to Field Crops and Pesticide Education in Surry County. In 2012, she assumed the role of Horticulture Agent for Surry County. She lives on a farm with her husband and two teenage daughters.
Sarah grew up at Crooked Oak in the Pine Ridge community of Surry County. Raised in the agriculture world, she went on to earn degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine from North Carolina State University. She and her husband, Adam, currently live in Statesville with Oliver the house rabbit, a few cats, Blossom the donkey, and a flock of Katahdin hair sheep.
Larry is the Executive Editor of Surry Living Magazine and Creative Director at Vivid Graphics in Galax, VA. He has 30+ years experience as a writer, graphic designer, and commercial photographer. Larry and wife, Trina, have four wonderful, grown children, one awesome grandchild, and they live just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Grayson County, VA.
6 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
NOTICE
We apologize, but the Surry Living Magazine Photo Contest has been temporarily halted due to the financial challenges placed on our previous sponsor by the Covid-19 crisis. If you are a business and are interested in taking over the sponsorship, contact our sales manager, Trina, at trina@surryliving.com for details and arrangements. Thank you for all your past contributions — we hope we'll be able to continue this contest in the near future.
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Gary York Gary resides in Pilot Mountain with wife, Charlotte, at Vintage Rose Wedding Estate. A 1965 graduate of Guilford College, he received his MBA from Bucknell in ’68. His early career included service at York Oil Company and Neighbors Stores. Gary's passion for celebrating community servants led him to produce People Doing Good For Others on WPAQ, which in-turn fueled his interest in broadcasting and ultimately his purchase of 100.9 WIFM in 2004. He’s a member of the Surry County Educational Foundation and Board Member of the Elkin Rescue Squad.
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home, farm, & garden
Planting Good
For this month's article, I tried to think of some hero I personally knew – and I came up short. I don’t know anyone who has rescued people from a burning building or found a cure for a horrible disease. No highly decorated war heroes. No one who has radically changed the course of millions for the greater good. Nope not a one. Those heroes exist on the news or in books I read in history. As I pondered more, I realized that there are heroes in my life. The ordinary, run of the mill, everyday people heroes and heroines. Average people who were going about their lives and did something just because they felt like it was the right thing to do. They might have only helped one or two or maybe even a few but they did it anyway. I thought about my great-grandmother and great-granddaddy Macemore. Even while raising their own brood of young’uns in a log cabin they took in two small children whose mother died. My great-grandparents raised them as their own and gave them a safe and secure home. Even after a few years, when their daddy remarried, and they went back to live with him, they continued to keep in close contact with the family. My pa always considered them as close as a brother and sister. His parents didn’t take these children in for a check or distinction in the community, but simply because they needed care in a good home with a loving family. Then I remembered my eighth-grade teacher, Lloyd Pardue. He was as kind a man as you’d ever meet. He was strict, but in a way that let you know he only wanted the best for you. He didn’t have a teacher’s pet. All of us were his pets. A sweet girl in our class had to work nights at her parents’ little truck stop. I’m sure they were desperately trying to make ends meet, but she would be so tired that sometimes she would put her head down on her desk and sleep. More than once, Mr. Pardue declared that she looked a little sick and might ought to go to the sick room until she felt better. He didn’t call attention to her but did what he could for her. This girl also had very bad teeth that hurt her a lot. I have never known the details, but one morning she was not in school. When she came back, she whispered to me that Mr. Pardue was helping get her teeth fixed. He saw a need and quietly went about doing what he could. I’m sure, that in his many years of teaching, there are countless stories of things that he did for his students. Things that went beyond what he taught us out of a book. I could go on with other heroes I’ve known, but there is only so much space I can take up this month. I can always hit on it again. I’ll end with telling you there is way more good in the world than bad. I believe I ought to be studying on doing more good when I can. I also believe that the good done for a child is good planted for years to come.
8 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
home, farm, & garden
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Adjusted Regular Store Hours: Mullins Pawn Shop & Jewelers Mon–Fri: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm 336-786-6417 • 336-789-7109 1911 Caudle Dr, Mount Airy, NC SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 9
home, farm, & garden
FACE TO FACE
by Larry VanHoose
The “new normal.” That’s what they’re calling these social distancing suggestions and even laws brought about by the deadly Covid-19 virus. We’re told to stay at least six feet from each other, not to shake hands, not to hug or kiss, and to wear a mask and gloves when we must go out – but don’t go out, stay at home. No one really knows how long we’ll be in this quarantine-like state and some have suggested we embrace “social distancing” as the new normal for our own safety. Personally, as a hugger from a long line of huggers, I can’t imagine that becoming the norm, but I can see the possibility. I would miss the reassuring comfort of a firm handshake from a colleague or fellow-church goer, the peaceful warmth conveyed by a loving hug, and the happiness that comes from a shared smile and laugh when running into old friends. Whatever the dreaded outcome, the devastating impact from this virus may have changed our lives forever. Certainly, we will see changes socially. But for many the change goes deeper with loss of income, friendships, personal connections, and even lives. Fortunately, this tragedy we are facing isn’t the end of the story. As the late theology professor Dallas Willard once said, “Eternity is now in session.” What does that mean to us? It means that whatever our struggles, fears, successes, failures, or even triumphs might be, they are only a drop in the ocean of our lives to come. So, what is to come? Well, “God only knows,” say the wise. But we can know more than we realize. We can know God himself, and therefore know much of the eternity in store in the here and now. When we know it, we know we don’t have to fear what we can’t control, or hide from every fiery dart or evil intent cast our way, but rather we learn to trust in a God, our God and Father, who wants only the best for his children and is eager to show us the way to a desirable eternity.
“Eternity is now in session.”
“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3 NIV emphasis mine).” Do you know him? Have you met his son who made a way for us to approach him? Have you heard the whisper of his Spirit? Have you taken the amazing opportunity to discuss with the creator of the universe your personal problems, fears, trials, challenges, disappointments, needs, even wants and desires? He’s waiting for you – each of you. Whether you’ve never met him, you’ve known about him for years, or you know him well and spoke with him just yesterday, the call is the same. Jesus said, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends (Rev. 3:20 NLT). I encourage you, no I plead with you, during these dark, terror-filled days the like of which we’ve never seen. Do NOT keep your distance from our loving God. Run to him and let him hold you close. As Jesus’s brother James wrote, “Come near to God and he will come near to you (James 4:8 NIV).” Face to face. If we know God, and we seek him with all our heart, strength, soul, and body, that’s where our eternity is headed. Face to face with the one who even now holds us as dear as a mother nestling her newborn child. There may be pain and trials now, in this life, but the day is coming where all our tears will be wiped away and all our suffering forgotten for the joy that triumphs. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known (1 Cor. 13:12 KJV). SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 11
home, farm, & garden by Joanna Radford
Apis Mellifera
eat daily can be attributed to pollinators. Am I getting your attention? The honeybee is important to us all.
There are many heroes in this world. As I think about the horticulture arena, I must give praise to my small hero that often goes unnoticed – Apis Mellifera. This is the Latin name for the European honeybee. The honeybee was brought to the United States by European settlers in the 17th century. There are over 4,000 native bees but the honeybee is not one of them.
Besides blueberries, there are numerous North Carolina crops that depend on honeybees for pollination. Some of these include apples, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, watermelon, strawberries, peaches, blackberries, and raspberries.
– The Unsung Hero
Honeybees are social insects. They prefer to live together in large groups that are multi-generational. They each have a specific task and perform it perfectly. They have developed communication, defense, and nest construction behaviors to exist in their social colonies. They are fascinating. One of their tasks is to forage for food. This task is performed by the worker bee, which is a female bee, I might add. They collect food for the other adult bees in the hive and for the brood (developing bees). As they collect nectar, pollen attaches to the hairs on the honeybee and is transferred from plant to plant. Eighty percent of all flowering plants require animal pollinators. Honeybees are essential to the production of more than 90 crops in the United States. There are 750,000 plus acres of almonds in Central California requiring 1.5 million colonies of honeybees for pollination. No honeybee means no almond production. There are 72,000 acres of blueberries across the United States that require 150,000 colonies of honeybees for pollination. Blueberries are among North Carolina’s most important crops. And, to bring home the point even more, one out of every three bites of food we
12 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
Apartially pollinated cucumber (top) compared with a completely pollinated one (bottom). The seed did not formthroughout the poorly pollinated cucumber and consequently the fruit did not growaround that portion. Photo Credit: NCState University
Pollination may not occur with just one visit from the honeybee. It is quite a job. Think about a strawberry. The small specks surrounding the strawberry are the seeds. Each seed must be pollinated for that berry to form and mature. That is a lot of work for the honeybee. And, for some crops, like cucumbers, the lack of honeybee pollination causes misshapen or underdeveloped fruit. Not only does the cucumber look funny it has an off-flavor. Think about what our grocery stores would look like without the honeybee. The variety in the store would be minimal. The shelves might only consist of pasta. This might be acceptable for some of us but without tomato sauce it may be less appealing. Honeybees not only pollinate food sources but also provide beneficial by-products. They are the only insect that I know of that provides food (honey) for human consumption. They also produce wax that can be used for cosmetics, lip gloss, hand creams, moisturizes, lip balm, and the list goes on. And miraculously, honeybee products (propolis, royal jelly, etc.) can be used as medicine. Yes, honeybee, you are my hero.
T�� A�e�’� Bes� Ch�i�� f�� I�-h��� Ai�!
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SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 13
home, farm, & garden by Sarah Southard, DVM
Lyme Disease Awareness
April is designated as Prevent Lyme Disease in Dogs month, and May is Lyme Disease Awareness month. So what is Lyme disease? Who and what can it affect? What does the disease look like? How does one contract Lyme disease and what can we do about it? Let’s answer these questions and walk away with a better understanding of how to protect “man’s best friend.”
I once examined a patient whose symptoms were so severe the owners thought a car must have hit her. I found no evidence of trauma and there was a history of a tick bite. She tested positive for Lyme disease. After a few days of treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, she felt much better. The reason for her severe symptoms was joint inflammation caused by the bacteria that cause Lyme disease. Once in the blood stream, the bacteria can travel to various parts of the body, settling in certain areas and potentially causing long-term damage. While the joints are most-often affected, the kidneys, central nervous system, and heart can also be affected.
Lyme disease is a chronic illness caused by bacteria (Borrelia burgdorferi) that live in the blood stream. The bacteria are carried and transmitted by deer ticks. Lyme disease can affect humans, dogs, and other small mammals. But let’s be clear: a human cannot directly infect a dog nor can a dog directly infect a human. The natural transmission of Borrelia burgdorferi from one mammal to another is only through a tick bite. If a dog becomes infected with Borrelia burgdorferi, it may remain asymptomatic. It is possible, however that over the course of the weeks or months following infection, a dog will begin to show various signs and symptoms of Lyme disease. These can include lethargy and general malaise, lack of appetite, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and/or swollen joints, and lameness— often “shifting leg lameness,” meaning that one leg seems sore today while a different leg is favored a few days from now.
It is important to have your dog evaluated if you have removed any attached ticks and he or she begins to show any of the signs mentioned above. With early diagnosis, most dogs recover following treatment with an extended course of antibiotics. Depending on what damage is done and how quickly proper treatment is started, some dogs may have life-long joint pain and lameness, kidney damage, or heart damage due to Borrelia burgdorferi infection. With respect to Lyme disease, the age-old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is very applicable. Regular treatment with an effective tick preventive is essential to protecting your dog from possible exposure to Lyme disease. An infected tick must remain attached for one-to-two days to successfully transmit Borrelia burgdorferi. Brushing or otherwise closely checking your pet daily and immediately removing any ticks will greatly decrease risk of infection. There is also a Lyme disease vaccination that may be appropriate for some dogs. Discuss this option with your veterinarian to determine if adding the Lyme disease vaccine is the correct choice for your pet. SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 15
living more inspired LIVING MORE INSPIRED Most people live out someone else’s script for their lives. They end up good at what they do but fall way short of greatness. The result is a tiny splash in our world rather than a ripple effect that never ends. Living Inspired is acting on those unique inspirations that stir our soul with such enthusiasm and commitment that we end up liberating greatness not only in ourselves but also in others. In an upcoming book (December 2020), Sam Bartlett shares six principles for living inspired based on the life and legacy of his son, Deputy Curtis Bartlett. Deputy Bartlett gave his life in the line of duty March 9, 2017 and impacted thousands of people around the world. If you are ready to uncover your purpose and unlock your potential, Living More Inspired is a must read. The following is an excerpt from that upcoming book. To read subsequent chapters as they are released, or to read Chapter One, visit curtisbartlettfitness.com/blog/ How will you respond when the light returns? It may be weeks or months, but the light will come back on. Reality sinks in and the initial shock is over. Your son is dead, and he is not coming back. Your world has changed forever, but you still have a life to live. Now what?
CHAPTER 2: Life at the Crossroads How would you respond if someone tearfully blurted out at the end of a nearly perfect day, “Your son is dead!” Don’t answer yet. Let’s add some context. Imagine you are engaging this same son in meaningful conversation just a few hours earlier. He is in your kitchen midmorning prepping meals for the week. An elite body builder with a quarter million followers on social media, he is on a strict diet. He is shirtless and you are chuckling at how many elderly women at church remark, “Your boy sure is easy on the eyes.” As he methodically loads chicken, rice, and broccoli into containers for weekly consumption, he shares big, big, plans. He talks about going to Australia to spend time with his fiancée, releasing new videos that will be his best ever, and about crushing a PR (personal record) on his deadlift later in the day. His zest for life is intoxicating. He speaks charismatically with energy and animation. Before you walk out the door, he quizzes you about your day and then says nine unforgettable words: “Dad, I love you and will see you tonight.” As it always does, the night comes. “Your son is dead!” How do you react? Surprisingly, I am not asking how you would respond the moment you heard the horrific news. The answer to that question is somewhat universal and out of your control. It is visceral. Your breath shortens, your tears flow, your mind explodes, your heart races, and your stomach sinks. In the words of Deborah Carr, Professor and Chair in the Sociology department of Boston University, “The death of a child is the single worst stressor a person can go through. You are not just losing someone you love, you are losing years of promise that you had looked forward to.” Three years later, I still look at pictures and think about what Curtis would look like now and what he would be doing if still alive. When asked, even months after his death, “How are you feeling?” My answer was always the same, “I am not feeling.” Numbness is a word that comes to mind. If it is true that your immediate reaction to tragedy shares common ground with others, there is a deeper question. 16 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
The response to this question is not visceral, it is volitional. Will you become bitter or better? Will you live inspired or in despair? Will you run from God or towards Him? Will you be determined or depressed? Will you focus on pain or purpose? Will you be a victim or victorious? Over fifty thousand people around the country wear a wrist band that displays Curtis’s name and his motto, Live Inspired. As strange as it may sound, I talk to Curtis every day, and he still inspires me. The same principles that guided his life are now guiding me. His passionate pursuit of purpose gave me the courage to leave a secure ministry to embrace a new direction for my life. His mindset of live each day as if it were your last, released me from worry and reminded me to laugh, love, and learn daily. His deep relationships with fellow veterans and his law enforcement family, provoked me to remove toxic people from my life and to build strong, lifelong friendships. His action-oriented mentality, emboldened me to become more decisive and to view mistakes as education rather than failure. To be clear, I will never recover from the death of my son in this lifetime. I still cry at any moment, on any day, at any place. I relive March 9, 2017 over and over again. I remember every detail about our last conversation—his eyes, his smile, his posture, his smell, his tone of voice, his laughter. I am still at loss for words on special occasions like Christmas or birthdays. However, the very tragedy that took my breath away is now giving me life. I am eager to share with you what I am learning about the six principles for living inspired as embodied in the life of Deputy Curtis Bartlett. Are you ready to create a life you love? Will you join me on this adventure? I can’t make you come, but I sure hope you will. We are better together. Live Inspired.
Dr. George B. Newsome, Urology Specialist,
Choose Well. Choose Northern.
Joins Northern Regional Hospital Mount Airy, NC – George B. (“Wynn”) Newsome, MD, a board-certified urology specialist, has joined the growing medical staff of Northern Regional Hospital, effective March 9, 2020. Dr. Newsome served previously as a practicing urologist at Novant Health Urology, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. “We are very pleased to welcome Dr. Newsome to our specialty physician staff,” said Chris A. Lumsden, President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Regional Hospital, in announcing the appointment. “Dr. Newsome’s advanced clinical knowledge of urological conditions, his extensive experience in diagnosing and treating patients effectively, and his enthusiastic approach to community-based care make him a valuable addition to our hospital’s team of clinical specialists.” For Dr. Newsome, moving to the dedicated Northern Urology outpatient office in Mount Airy is a bit like a homecoming – since he is already familiar with his two physician colleagues at that practice site (urologists Dr. John Davis and Dr. David Werle) as well as many other Northern Regional Hospital physicians. “I am excited to re-acquaint myself with several familiar faces at Northern, and also meet and interact with many new individuals – to include patients and professional colleagues,” said Dr. Newsome. During a recent visit to Northern Regional, he said he was very impressed with its state-of-the-art technologies and facility. “I was also positively influenced by the collective energy and commitment of the physicians and staff who provide nationally-recognized quality care to patients,” he added. As part of Northern’s Urology Department, Dr. Newsome will treat patients who present with all forms of minor or major general urologic problems – including stone diseases (affecting the kidneys, bladder, and/or urethra), voiding problems, urinary tract infections, incontinence issues, sexual problems, enlarged prostate, and cancers of the prostate, bladder and kidneys. Dr. Newsome says his initial interest in urology was largely due to the “hybrid” nature of the specialty – in that it’s part surgery, part medicine – which permits him to apply immediate procedural “fixes” to some problems and then continue to see his patients on a regular basis. Dr. Newsome believes his patients appreciate his “old school” one-on-one approach to This is a paid advertorial for Northern Regional Hospital, Mount Airy, NC.
care – which enables him to spend a sufficient amount of time to get to know them, their family, and their unique medical issues. “My patients know that I’ll take the time needed so that I don’t have to review their medical chart to know who they are and My patients know why they’re coming to see me,” that I’ll take the he says. “When I enter an exam time needed so room, I look at and listen to my that I don’t have patient – not just stare at a bright to review their computer screen.” medical chart to Outside the exam room, though, know who they are Dr. Newsome eagerly embraces and why they’re today’s advanced technologies coming to see me” such as enhanced imaging modalities that improve patient care. “Today’s ultra-sophisticated diagnostic modalities – such as Northern Regional Hospital’s new, state-of-the-art MRI system – enhance a physician’s ability to render a detailed diagnosis and develop a treatment plan that will work best for each patient,” he says. Dr. Newsome’s interest in becoming a physician was ignited early on by his father, a general internist/cardiologist who practiced in Winston-Salem for more than 30 years. Following in his father’s footsteps, the young Newsome enrolled in Wake Forest University School of Medicine to launch his educational journey to become a physician. After earning his medical degree in 1989, he went on to complete his general surgery and urology residency programs at Shands Hospital / Veterans Administration Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. When not helping patients, Dr. Newsome enjoys spending time with his family – which includes his wife Jody, a medical assistant; their blended four daughters; and Cooper, the much-spoiled family pet. “Cooper, my male dog companion and confidante, helps me counter all the estrogen in the house!” jokes Dr. Newsome. An avid golfer since medical school, Dr. Newsome also likes to play the sport competitively. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Wynn Newsome, call 336-786-5144 or visit the Northern Urology outpatient office at 423 S. South Street, in Mount Airy, NC.
For more information visit www.choosenorthern.org
out & about
Honoring Personal
HEROES Recognizing mentors and heroes who’ve blessed my life is an honor. As I reflect, several memories fill me with gratitude for those involved in my character and values foundation. Gary Badgett was my best friend at White Plains School. His dad, Elbert (late), invited me to help prime his tobacco crop. I was slow and inexperienced. After watching me in the field, Mr. Badgett WhitePlainsSchool pulled me aside and said, “If this is the best you can do, go home. You are lazy and a bad influence on the other hands. Pick it up or leave.” Wanting to please him, I became a good worker. Mr. Badgett became my second dad and a role model. Dr. Swanson Richards was my teacher/coach at White Plains. He taught geometry and coached baseball and basketball when I was in ninth grade. When snow canceled school, Coach Richards picked the team up in his 1957 Chevy and took us to practice. He instilled the values of hard work, teamwork, and academics, and set the example for achievement. He wore a huge Appalachian State ring that inspired me to go to college.
Dr. SwansonRichards
Eddie and Frances Dorsett (late), owned Brad’s Card and Toy Shop on Main Street in Mount Airy. Mr. Dorsett was a local hero who came here from Thomasville to play professional baseball for the Graniteers. Here he met Frances, married her, and Mount Airy became home. He genuinely cared for his mentees, knew of our comings and goings, never missed Mr. EddieDorsett our games, could solve any problem, and always had high expectations. Eddie also was a key helper with our American Legion Team (1993-2005). In the classroom at Mount Airy, I was a C student with an attitude. Somewhat of a rebel without a cause, I met Mrs. Caroline Sydnor (late) in trigonometry. The day of graduation she said, “Your grades are below 70 and you should not graduate. However, you have so much potential I want you to graduate and go to college.” She never gave up on the striving. I went on to pass math at Guilford College and graduated on time. Mrs. Sydnor became a life-long friend, and I spoke at her funeral. Take a moment to remember those who cared, believed, and sacrificed to see you through. They never extinguished your spark but nurtured it into flame. We’d be nothing without our personal heroes—and we can only pay them back by becoming encouragers ourselves. Mrs. CarolineSydnor
“Celebrating 83 YEARS OF SERVICE in the Area!”
I transferred to Mount Airy High School in 1958 to play football. Without a driver’s license, I thumbed to school. Ms. Hallie Badgett White, who worked at Dixie Concrete, regularly picked me up and carried me to the high school, which was two miles past her office. Two superstar athletes at Mount Airy High School, Mike Cooke and Johnny Sanders, befriended me. Mike’s Dad, A.B. “Boyce” Cooke (late) became my “Mr. Encouragement” and confidence builder. We connected, bonded, confided, and he became my go-to role model. 18 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
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1901 S. Main St • Mt. Airy • (336) 786-7082
SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 19
out & about by Gin Denton
Carolina John Rees
John Rees, known in the music world as Carolina John Rees, is a Mount Airy native. He was born here and graduated from Mount Airy High School. I met John though my musician husband, and not only did John impress me with his kindness, he shared that he’s a regular reader of my music scene column. Now that’s a sure way to brighten a writer’s day!
for John to submit songs to a music publisher. After leaving the O’Kaysions, he performed solo and then formed the John Rees Quartet that played the Greensboro area. Next, it was off to Nashville, where he worked as a professional musician with Donna Fargo. Then he played for Skeeter Davis, who mostly worked the Grand Old Opry and toured abroad. While John worked with Skeeter for over 30 years, he was also able to establish a career in town with various radio and television shows and as a studio session leader. My favorite question for local musicians is “How far have you traveled?” I love John’s response, “I've traveled the world over.” Yes, John has traveled far and touched many people with his music, but fortunately for Surry County, John recently came home to Mount Airy to relaunch his original music. He has been recording those songs and releasing them as singles. On the side, he plays piano at Chestnut Ridge Progressive Primitive Baptist Church. If you are lucky, you might catch
lifestyle photography
GIN DENTON Piano is John’s instrument, and he describes himself as a professional musician working on original material in the acoustic genre. His first paid job was circa 1963 at Red’s Roller Rink in Galax with a local group called Ragmen. He then joined the Imperials, who recorded a regionally successful single in 1964. Two days after his graduation from Guilford College in 1971, he began a six-night a week stint playing original music at Mr. Henry’s, a restaurant still open in Washington, DC. While in DC, John also hired out as a rhythm section for national acts, like the Platters and Johnny Tillotson, playing in the capital area. He returned to NC to be the rhythm section for the O’Kaysions, and this gig opened doors in Nashville 20 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
Continued on page 18
336-710-4506
gingerhorsestudio.com
out & about him playing at random events in the community, including benefit shows. John does not maintain an online presence on Facebook, and he toots that he doesn’t even have a business card. It's been word of mouth up till now and that seems to work okay, according to him. You can find his music on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. Just search for Carolina John Rees. You’ll be glad you did! Happy Trails, Gin
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SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 21
simply delicious • •
with Rynn Hennings
G
www.thehouseofelynryn.com
rocery workers, our unsung heroes, working at a frantic pace for the last few weeks, are no longer invisibly stocking shelves and keeping stores clean. We see them, understand their jobs, and appreciate their efforts to keep the food supply chain stable. Applause to these heroes! This month’s recipe, Black Beans and Corn Bake, is so versatile that it can be used as a dip, a side dish, or a main dish. Not only that, but it also goes from stovetop to oven in the same pan. It is hearty and delicious and simple to make. What could be easier?
• • • • • •
1 clove garlic, minced 4 cups black beans, (about 3 cans) drained, reserving ¾ cup liquid 1 tablespoon vinegar Salt to taste Pepper to taste 4 cups corn, drained (about 3 cans) 1 cup pepper jack cheese Tortilla chips
Ingredients for Tomato Lime Salsa • 1 medium tomato, chopped (or equivalent amount of small grape tomatoes halved) • 2 tablespoons yellow or red bell pepper, minced • 1 tablespoon sweet onion, minced • Juice from ½ lime • ½ teaspoon lime zest • 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped Directions for Black Beans and Corn 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. 2. On the stovetop, heat olive oil on medium heat in a large (12inch) oven-safe skillet. Add onion and garlic and cook until wilted and turning brown, about 5-10 minutes. 3. Add drained beans, 3/4 cup of saved bean liquid, and vinegar. Stir and coarsely mash with a fork or potato masher. Season with salt and pepper. Smooth the top of the beans for the next layer. 4. Add the corn in a circle a little smaller than the beans so that some of the beans are showing around the pan. Add the cheese on top of the corn. 5. Bake for 10 minutes until hot in center and the cheese is melted. Serve with tortilla chips and salsa.
This dish is also great with a lime tomato salsa. The tanginess of the lime and the freshness of the tomatoes is a nice contrast to the beans and corn. This salsa keeps well in the refrigerator and is even better on the second or third day.
Directions for Tomato-Lime Salsa 1. In a small bowl, stir together the tomato, bell pepper, onion, lime juice, lime zest, and cilantro.
Tortilla chips are perfect with this dish, even when it is not served as a dip, because they add flavor and a fun factor to the meal. Try lime-flavored tortilla chips for extra lime flavor if serving the salsa. This recipe makes about 12 servings and leftovers heat up well in the microwave. The recipe calls for pepper jack cheese on top, but cheddar cheese or Mexican blend cheeses are just as delicious! BLACK BEANS WITH CORN BAKE Servings: Approximately 12 Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients for Beans and Corn • 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped 22 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
Savory Tips For additional information and photos, go to Houseofelynryn.com
simply delicious SALMON PATTIES
WHAT’S FOR DINNER? A month ago, I could not have imagined what changes would occur in our world between one article and the next. COVID-19 and the complications are unlike anything we have experienced. Many restaurants are closed or only offering take out. We have been instructed to stay home to limit our risk of exposure. No church, sports, or community events. What an adjustment for children, older adults, and everyone in between. Yet there are positives in every situation. More family time and cooking and eating more meals together are some of those. A negative I have heard is that people are tired of cooking the same foods over and over. Meal planning can be challenging. This isn’t a new problem. Growing up, I heard my mother say, “If someone just told me what to make, I wouldn’t mind cooking. Deciding what to make is the hardest part.” At that time, I thought she sounded silly. As an adult, wife, and mom, I now understand. Many factors determine what’s for dinner. •
Time – Spending time at home during the past few weeks has provided more time to prepare food and to enjoy it with family.
•
Foods availability – During the COVID-19 epidemic, access to food has been limited. My husband recently came home from the store with two packages of chicken, and you would have thought he had won the lottery.
•
The cost of food is a concern for many families.
•
Likes and dislikes make cooking fun or stressful.
•
Lack of skills or cooking equipment present additional challenges.
No matter your situation, a plan will make your life and meal prep less complicated. Make this a family activity. Evaluate the situation. List what you have on hand, and then write down your preferred meals. What foods bring back special childhood memories? What do you like eating out that you could make at home? What foods do you enjoy at special times of the year? Why not enjoy those dishes more often? Turkey is one food we normally associate with Thanksgiving or Christmas. Turkey sandwiches are common on many deli menus and you can find turkey in the lunchmeat section at the grocery store, but many of us don’t have turkey on our home menu rotations. We recently cooked a turkey breast and froze the leftovers. This turkey turned into a prepared convenience food and has been used as a substitute for chicken, in soups, sandwiches, and casseroles for several quick meals. Take advantage of canned salmon in your pantry to make a traditional family favorite Mediterranean style.
Ingredients • • • • • • •
1 (14.75-ounce) can or 2 (5 to 6-ounce) cans salmon, skin and bones removed ½ cup finely chopped green onion (about 3) ¼ cup bread crumbs (preferably whole wheat Panko) 1 egg 1 teaspoon grated ginger (optional) juice from 1 lime (optional) 2 teaspoons olive oil or non-stick spray
Directions 1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix until combined but do not over mix. 2. Shape into 4 patties. 3. Heat oil in a large skillet so that each patty has plenty of room. 4. Cook over medium heat about 5 minutes per side. Lower the heat if needed to keep from burning. Want some help with new recipe ideas for dinner? Visit Med Instead of Meds at https://medinsteadofmeds.com/. May is International Mediterranean Diet Month and a great time to celebration the delicious foods and wide-ranging health benefits associated with the Mediterranean way of eating and living.
N.C. Department of Insurance • Mike Causey, Commissioner 855-408-1212 (toll free) • www.ncdoi.com
MAY IS AMERICAN STROKE AWARENESS MONTH
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S. and a leading cause of adult disability. Someone in the U.S. has a stroke about once every 40 seconds. Major risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease and atrial fibrillation. You may be able to prevent stroke or reduce your risk through healthy lifestyle changes. Medicare covers a number of preventive services at no cost that may improve your health. Ask a SHIIP counselor for more information. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: NC COOPERATIVE EXT, SURRY CO @ 336-401-8025
23 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
all the rest Find out how a harmless prank entangles two college kids with a serial killer in the next installment of A DEEPER CUT, a novel of suspense and forgiveness by Mt. Airy author Sheri Wren Haymore.
Bill held the ball under one arm and looked Hunter over. “Let’s hear you say that again.”
The Cat didn’t mind waiting until nearly dawn. Performing two executions in a six-hour period was a brilliant success.
“Off?” Bill dribbled the ball behind him, dodging Hunter’s attempts to steal. “You were off last week. You’ve freakin’ bombed today.”
Bob Schneider was surprised to see him. He complained of the late hour but invited The Cat on board. The Cat was charming. “I apologize for the intrusion, but I have something very important to tell you.” Bob sighed. “Have a seat then. Would you like a drink?” “No. You go ahead. You’ll need one. Make it good and stiff.” When Bob turned around, he was startled to see The Cat cutting into an orange with a straight-blade knife that looked like a utility knife. “Breakfast,” was the only explanation given. Bob sat across the small table and watched juice stream from the orange with the slow fascination of a man just ending a night of cocktails. “So what’s so important?” he finally asked. “I’ve heard that the feds plan to arrest you before noon.”
Hunter grinned at him and popped the ball from under Bill’s arm into his own hand. “No problem,” he said and shot the ball and missed again. “Okay, so I’m off.”
Smooth and easy, Hunter sprang, stole the ball from Bill, shot, and missed once again. This time he stood looking at the hoop, shaking his head in disgust. On an average day, Hunter was the envy of any kid who cared about basketball. He could reach a zone on the court, shooting hoop after hoop, almost never missing, moving effortlessly. Nobody could stop him. Hunter made the game look easy simply because he didn’t care. Today was not an average day. “You’re right,” said Hunter. “Let’s turn it in.” “I figured all this crap about your father would have you tense,” said Bill as they walked away from the court. “What crap?” Hunter asked, his eyes narrowing. “You know. In the paper this morning.” Bill glanced at Hunter’s face. “The paper came late today. You didn’t read it, did you?” “Went fishing and came straight over here. Amy’s dad said there were two more murders.” Hunter stopped walking and looked toward the harbor where a helicopter was circling, the second one that day.
Bob swallowed hard and set the glass down, gripping it with both hands. He “Some fool told one of those news freaks that they saw your father on the stared at The Cat. water. So the news freak reported that breaking news along with the blood The Cat slid an orange slice into his mouth, smiling slyly, the knife sharp and guts murder details. Sorry, Hunter,” said Bill. “I thought you knew.” against his lips. “You’ve made a mess of things, Bob,” he said, his voice Hunter’s gut felt as cold and gray as the sea in November. “I’ve always Southern with a local accent. “There’s only one way to deal with this kind wanted to see the asshole hang. Maybe if I’m lucky, they’ll do it for me.” of mess.” “God, Hunter.” Bill was taken aback. “Nobody in town’s going to believe it. Bob glanced right and left, as if considering his best option for escape. It’s just news crap. Man, you’re tense.” The Cat sprang, his entire weight pushing against the table, and the bolts “Yeah.” Hunter’s face broke into his familiar careless smile. “I’m a he had loosened earlier came away from the floor. With the force of his little touchy on that subject is all. Mostly, I’m pissed off at myself. Those forward movement, he crushed the table top into Bob’s chest. With Bob immobilized, The Cat plunged the knife into the man’s throat. He watched reporters have probably been in my granny’s face all morning, and I haven’t even been there to kick anybody’s ass. I’d better get home.” Bob’s eyes as the taste of death filled his mouth; he watched the man’s private horror with satisfaction. He was strong and Bob was weak, and “Watch your back. One of them jumped me while I was pumping gas he wrenched the knife sideways, slicing his throat until the shocked eyes yesterday, and I’m nobody. They’ll tear you apart.” They walked on, unable glazed dull and the last choked groan was silenced. to talk for the irritating racket the helicopter made as it passed directly over them. When they reached the corner where they would part and the noise The Cat wiped his knife and pocketed it. Once again, he had touched no had become a drone in the distance, Bill said, “What’s up with you and surface on his victim’s boat with his bare hands. He fed the orange to the fish. Let Grayson Tucker wonder about the juice on the table, in the wound. Amy?” The kitty this time was in his pocket, dead in a plastic bag. A shame, Hunter shrugged. “Same as always.” but The Cat had to be very careful. He left the cat on the floor between “Except you didn’t hunt up another babe when that blonde dumped you. Bob’s feet. You’ve usually gone through a couple more by this point.” Two weeks, and he would be done with Beaufort. * * * "Hey, Kittrell, what’s your problem?”
“Her name is Miki and what’s it to you?” Hunter asked, testy. “I wanna know. I might want to ask Amy out myself. So might a couple of other guys, but nobody wants to cross you. You know, in case you and Amy are getting back together.”
Hunter dribbled the basketball past his friend. “I don’t have a problem, Bill,” he said and hooked the ball toward the hoop where it bounced off the “Nobody’s stopping you.” Hunter turned his back and walked away. backboard into Bill’s hands. * * * 24 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
all the rest “You wanted to see me, Mr. Tucker?” Hunter joined Grayson on the bench at the waterfront, his T-shirt still blotched with sweat from playing basketball. “Hello, Hunter.” “Thanks for the escort,” said Hunter. A uniformed officer had met him at home. Grayson had another officer guarding Granny Jen’s door, turning away reporters. “Necessity.” Grayson shifted on the bench. “Homicides right under our noses in our own harbor. Who would have ever thought Beaufort would come to this?” A news helicopter passed overhead, slinging a spray of water across the boardwalk, the noise deafening. Several slips in the harbor were empty, and the yacht owners who remained were standing in groups on the docks, frowning and gesturing angrily. Grayson’s few officers, the county deputies, and state agents were on every dock, searching the yachts and questioning the owners and crews. More officers kept the news crowd confined to the public boardwalk, radios squawking. Reporters shouted questions above the roar of the helicopter to the people on the docks. Beaufort’s quiet waterfront was now bedlam. “Is this your headquarters now?” asked Hunter, indicating the reporterfree, fifty foot circle around Grayson. “Something like that.” “Why aren’t you investigating?” Grayson crossed his legs and ignored the question. “Those SBI guys turn out some dandy reports. You should read them. I learned amazing things about those murders. Cozy scenes. No fingerprints. Not one, not ever.” “Maybe the guy has no fingers,” said Hunter. “Maybe the guy always has his fingers on something. An orange. A cat. A glass he brings in and takes with him. He knows he has to keep his hands on something to avoid touching anything of his victims’.” “See? You should be investigating. Quick, before the big news guns start shooting at you.” Hunter smiled as he said this, gesturing with his hands. “You’d be surprised what I learn just sitting here,” Grayson said slowly. “Like what?” “Oh, you see that seagull squawking over there? She’s so greedy she stole a sandwich right out of a tourist’s hand the other day. Then somebody on a boat tossed her a piece of crust, and she dropped the sandwich in the water and went after the crust. Happened right over there.” “Huh.” “And, do you know, last night about nine o’clock, I saw Vanessa Singer walk right across the dock. Right there. In the flesh.” “Oh,” Hunter said, choking laughter. “All duded up, hair piled on top of her head, little butt just a-swingin,’ like she was in downtown Hol-ly-wood,” Grayson drawled. “What’s so funny?” “Well, Miki pulled that gag the first day we were in Beaufort.” “And you find this humorous.” “Sort of.” “Is there anything else about your blonde you haven’t told me?” Hunter quit laughing. “What’s the big deal?” “I believe Doug Sanders thought your Miki was Vanessa Singer,” Grayson
said in a low voice. “I think he died because he pursued that belief too closely.” “Oh, man, no way.” “The only person who went into your apartment two days before Doug Sanders was murdered was Miki. It’s in the reports.” “But whoever took the gun put it back.” “So you do have it.” Hunter was silent, his face carefully impassive. “I need the gun, Hunter.” “Whoever put it back planted cocaine at the same time.” Hunter’s voice was very quiet. “Miki didn’t do that. She didn’t kill anybody, and she didn’t try to frame me.” “I never said she did either.” The silence was uncomfortable. “What else have you not told me about yourself, Hunter?” asked Grayson. “Hey, I never smoked anybody,” said Hunter more loudly than he intended. He clamped his mouth shut when a reporter looked his way and started a camera rolling. Grayson made a motion with his hand and an officer moved in front of the camera. “What were you doing with a gun?” Grayson asked quietly. “I had this bizarre urge to shoot my father when he showed up. I got over it.” “And now?” Hunter looked away and drummed a rhythm with his hands on his leg. “Tell me, Hunter.” “Okay. I called him last night. I told him to stay away from Beaufort because the cops were after him.” “Thank you, son. I already knew that.” Surprised, Hunter looked at him. “It’s amazing what all is in those SBI reports. Simply amazing.” With a curse, Hunter stood abruptly. “You didn’t kill Doug Sanders, and neither did Miki. But you need to be very careful what you say and do. This whole mess can still tangle you, Hunter, like it or not.” Grayson nodded toward the camera crews. “I can try to keep those guys away from your grandmother, but you’re fair game. Watch yourself.” Hunter started away. “I’m not through with you,” said Grayson. “I want you to go with that officer you see coming toward you. I’ve held the state investigators off as long as I can. They need to question you now about Doug Sanders.” Hunter nodded. He had been expecting it. “And I still need that gun,” said Grayson as Hunter left with the officer. * * * Jack Franklin sank wearily to the bench beside Grayson, all arrogance gone from his features. He handed over the micro-cassette recorder. “Unbelievable. It has to be somebody inside the department,” Jack said. “Absolutely sickening.” SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 25
all the rest “So you’ve given up your Rob Kittrell theory?” “Listen to the tape. My Miki had Schneider licking her shoes. We were going in for a bust today, and we would have had the ammunition we needed to pound him hard. But somebody got to him first. They had to have known.” “Maybe Rob’s running out of victims, running out of time. Could be coincidence.” “I think the killer wanted Schneider dead before we could put him in jail.” “Maybe Rob knows what’s going on in your department.” “Would you get off the Kittrell thing? It took more than a fast knife to pull off that underwater killing. You stay two steps behind this case, Tucker. Catch up.” Grayson took his sunglasses off and stowed them in his shirt pocket. He stared at Jack a long moment before asking, “What do you really want?” “Okay, you’ve got me. I’m not just sharing information. I need you.” “For what?” “To take the heat off me.” “Heat?” “Look around you, fool. The news vultures have invaded. There’s a camera now.” He cursed and turned his head. “I put my life on the line to join this investigation. I’ll go undercover again, soon, somewhere else.” “You know, I’ve wondered about that. Why the killer hasn’t taken you out while he’s at it.” “Maybe he knows I’m ready for him. What I want you to protect me from is the news media. My name can’t be mentioned, and my face can’t be on camera.” “And you’re going to ask this of every person on the waterfront?” Grayson nodded toward a dock where a reporter was leaning over the rail, talking to a boat owner. “This is a simple request, Tucker. Do your job for once.” “Mmm.” Grayson put the sunglasses back on and folded his arms. * * * “No, Mom. No.” Hunter was speaking emphatically into the phone. “You don’t need to come down here. Mom. I’m not going back to Raleigh with you. It’s okay. I’m handling it.” Granny Jen struggled with her wheelchair, trying to exit the room and give him some privacy. Hunter motioned for her to stay. “It was no big deal, really. They mostly asked me questions Mr. Tucker had already asked off the record. I’ve been expecting it. No, Patrick doesn’t need to hire a lawyer. I don’t think I’m really a suspect. There’s just not enough evidence.” He cursed under his breath at something she said. “What I mean is, there’s only circumstantial evidence. I haven’t done a damn thing, Mom! I haven’t been anywhere I wasn’t supposed to be.” He grew quieter. “I don’t know why they took this long to question me. No, nothing else happened. I swear. Look, I’ve gotta go. No, I mean it. Granny Jen’s about to fall out of her wheelchair. ‘Bye.” “Hunter.” Granny Jen used her rough voice, as if he were a little boy in need of spanking. “You shouldn’t lie to your mother.” “So you’re an expert wheelchair driver. No big lie.” 26 • SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue
“I mean about nothing else happening.” “Say what?” “Save that smile for someone besides your old granny. You’ve been looking over your shoulder all day.” “Can’t a man have a few secrets around here?” Hunter was more pleased that she understood him so well than perturbed at her probing. “Very few.” “Well here’s one thing. I called my father and left a message for him to stay out of Beaufort, on account of the cops. They found out about it. And I have to dodge reporters every time I step outside.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “What else?” “Something I’ll have to keep private to protect a friend.” He was hoping the news media would never know about Miki’s tenuous connection to Doug Sanders. “Honest, it’s nothing I’ve done.” Her sharp gray eyes appraised him, missing nothing. “I want you to do something,” she said. “What?” “Call your mother and apologize for the way you spoke to her.” “You should have heard what she said to me!” “She’s worried to death, Hunter.” “She’s just pissed. She always thinks the worst of me.” “And that’s exactly why I want you to call her. She’s had reason to doubt you, particularly this last year, and you know it. Give her reason to have faith in you.” “No. We’ll just wind up fighting again.” “Don’t fight. I want a favor from her, and it will help if you’re on good terms.” “You’re kidding.” “I want her to let me have you on Thanksgiving.” He drew in a glad, surprised breath, and then frowned. “Why?” “Next summer, even if I’m still able to be in this house, you’ll be doing an internship, won’t you?” He nodded. He had decided to do that, but he hadn’t told her yet. “Good. I’m glad for you. You’re making a commitment to your career, and more than that, to your life. But I’ll miss our summers. Maybe Thanksgiving we can start a new tradition.” She said this very matter-of-factly, but Hunter had to look away. “Sure, I’ll call her. But I’m just going to apologize and hang up. That’s all I can deal with, okay?” “That’s probably all she can deal with, too, Hunter.” Sheri Wren Haymore lives near Mt. Airy with her husband, Clyde, and has been scribbling her entire life. A DEEPER CUT is her second novel. To read the next installment in the book, pick up the latest issue of Surry Living Magazine. You can find A DEEPER CUT at Pages in Mt. Airy, Chapters in Galax or at your favorite online bookseller.
SURRY LIVING May 2020 Issue • 27
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