Minute Mag Feb March by The Minute Magazine

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, DeSoto, Red River, Natchitoches, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana and Columbia County, Arkansas. They are FREE for you to enjoy. Take a few to your friends, relatives or anyone else that you think might need a refreshing, enlightening “minute.” For a list of locations near you, viwit www.theminutemag.com today!

JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout

VICKI CASKEY Sales Manager

TIFFANY BYRAM New Orleans Sales

JENNY REYNOLDS Founder

Circulation & Distribution: James “Shay” Callen CIRCULATION OF 20,000 READERSHIP OF OVER 50,000 Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.382.1900 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 Mail: 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~ Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be copied or reproduced without permission. The Minute Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. The editorial content of The Minute is prepared in accordance with the highest standards of journalistic accuracy. Readers are cautioned, however, not to use any information from the magazine as a substitute for expert opinion, technical information or advice. The Minute cannot be responsible for negligent acts, errors and omissions. The opinions expressed in The Minute are those of our writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. The publisher has the right to accept or reject any advertising and / or editorial submitted. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~

Don’t count every hour in the daymake every hour in the day count!

IthisNSIDE issue... FEB / MAR 2010

8 10 18 22 23 27 28 32 34 36 38 40 41 42 50 52

For Good Memories by Margaret Timmons

P. J.’S Point of View by Phillip J. Volentine Mardi Gras How-to Guide by T. Byram Blueprint for Preservation by Megan Lord On the Spectrum by Lela Robichaux Easter Seals (Meet Rachel) by Marlene Studley Chocolate Confessions by Melissa Teoulet

Contributors:

Vintage Valentines by Donna Arender Confessions of a Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett The White Elephant by Galen White The Winchester Man by Jackie Lewis Body Boot Camp by Sharon Jackson Ask the Computer Guy by Tom Grant The Journey by Jason McReynolds Small Town Heroes by Lynette Carter Sheets

Donna Arender Dorothy Bowden Schelley Brown Tiffany Byram Vicki Caskey Christine Dittmann Elizabeth Drewett Anita Goodson Tom Grant Cindy Ingram Sharon Jackson Jackie Lewis Megan Lord Jason McReynolds Lela Robichaux Lynette Carter Sheets Marlene Studley Rachel Studley Margaret Timmons Melissa Teoulet Phillip J. Volentine Galen White

Weeder’s Digest by Anita Goodson JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR VISIT WWW.THEMINUTEMAG.COM TODAY!

The cover shot was taken by Tiffany Byram at MARDI GRAS WORLD in New Orleans, Louisiana. This festive season is celebrated state-wide, and enjoyed by many. Turn to page 18 for Tiffany’s unofficial Mardi Gras How-to Guide. Learn tips of the trade, key terms, and even how to find the perfect Mardi Gras mask!

This bi-monthly magazine is FREE! However, you can have it mailed to your home or business for $20 a year to cover postage and handling. Call 318.382.1900 or send your check and mailing address to The Minute Magazine, 512 Fort Avenue, Minden, LA 71055.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

High Cotton A

nyone that has taken the time to read The Minute Magazine understands our philosophy: never waste a single minute of your life. We truly believe in soaking up every ounce of joy in life, and we love to encourage others to make the best from what they’ve got, too. So you can imagine how delighted we were to stumble upon a card game that operates under the same philosophy! “We feel like most people don’t take the time they used to spend together with people they care about... and that’s part of the reason we invented the game,” says Dara, High Cotton’s co-founder. Dara and her daughter Jill are the proud founders and owners of the website www.peachandlove.com, where you can order their fabulous card game. “We wanted to find a way to bring southern women together. Our card game is a way for women to connect,

give, reflect, laugh and share.” Dara and Jill definitely reached their goal. The game gives southern women the chance to let down their hair- and we believe that’s very important. The directions for the game are hysterical- under the players category, Dara recommends that you take “4-13 good looking southern friends or friends who wish they were southern and good looking!” For the winner of your game, Dara and Jill reccomend that “she should immediately receive a crown or roses, or at a minimum get to have her own parade as soon as possible. Be sure to take her picture.” So if you’re in the mood for a witty, feminine card game that will eventually determine the rightful owner of the title, “Miss High Cotton,” then this game is for you. But promise us one thing- if you’re going to play, we want an invitation!

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

FOR GOOD MEMORIES, WE ARE THANKFUL

ridiculous things that he was expected to learn. So what if two apples plus two apples did make four! If he and T. Wayne had four apples, there soon wouldn’t be any at all left because they would eat all four of them. He didn’t mind learning colors so much. They were much more interesting. GREEN was the color of the leaves on the tree that he liked to climb. BROWN was the color of its trunk. BLUE was the color of his bicycle, RED was the color of his wagon, and YELLOW was the color of the sunshine that he loved so much.

The Spelling Test

When it came to spelling, that was a completely different matter. That subject was the most useless, time consuming, waste of time that there ever was. If only words were spelled the way they sounded. That would be so much better. But, No-o-o! Some noodle brain had to play games with letters and get a person all mixed up!

It had been a particularly difficult year for Jimmie. School had put quite a crimp in his style. It was hard getting up early only to have to stand in line and wait his turn, behind seven sisters, to get into the bathroom.

And so it was that the task fell to Daddy to help Jimmie with his spelling lesson. To put it mildly, Daddy’s size alone was enough to put fear in a person! It was nigh impossible to think straight much less talk in anything less than a stutter.

Then there was the schoolroom where he was expected to sit like a little soldier. When he sat at the desk, his feet barely touched the floor. How was he supposed to make new friends with total strangers when the two closest male buddies that he had ever had were Thomas Wayne and Poochie, his dog.

The test for this particular week was on words that began with the letter “G”. Somewhat easy words, that is, unless you take into account that you never spell a word the way it sounds. If this were the case, ‘women’ would be spelled, ‘wimen’; ‘tough’ would be spelled ‘tuff’; ‘too’, ‘to’, ‘two’ would simply be spelled, ‘tu’ and so forth.

Let’s not even mention the other

Daddy and Jimmie had been over

the words for practice a few times already. Little Jimmie had written them all five times each on his writing tablet. Somehow, the words just didn’t seem to make much sense. Finally, Daddy decided enough time had elapsed. He went to the kitchen, fidgeting nervously with the old blue spelling book.

agreement.

“OK, son. Show me what page you are on,” Daddy told Jimmie.

“G-O-L-D,” Jimmie said aloud to Daddy while drying his now wet hands on the leg of his jeans and grinning from ear to ear.

“Right here, Daddy,” Jimmie answered as he turned to page 47 carefully. He looked up at Daddy with his huge blue eyes. “OK, son,” Daddy said as he looked over the words in the spelling book. “Looks like these are words that begin with the letter “G”. Hmmm. That shouldn’t be too hard, now should it?” Jimmie winced, knowing how tricky spelling could be. “The first word is easy,” Daddy said as he quickly pronounced the first word. “The word is ‘Go’”. Jimmie scratched his head as he mulled the word over in his mind. Quickly his eyes lit up as he said, “G…O…?” and smiled broadly. “Right, son,” Daddy said with a grin and continued, “You’re doing real good. Now, the next word is ‘Gold’”. “GOLD,” repeated Jimmie. “Gold?” he asked nervously as sweat began to moisten the palms of his hands. Daddy nodded his head in reply and

“Ah-Ah-‘G’…’O’…,” Jimmie said while thinking that at least the first part was right. “Gold”, he said again to himself. “How, what makes that ‘L’ sound,” he wondered. “Oh, yes! It had to be ‘L’ and the other sound had to be a ‘D’.

“That’s right, son,” Daddy said while also wiping his huge hands on the leg of his own pants and giving a sigh of relief. “OK, now, this one is a little harder, but you can do it.” Daddy continued and pronounced the next word “GOOD”. Once again Jimmie’s blue eyes widened as he struggled with the word. After several slight attempts to spell the word, he finally succeeded in spelling the word, ‘G-O-O-D,’ Much to his amazement and Daddy’s. Jimmie’s confidence new heights as a lightheadedness filled Thinking that he had this silly word game, he toothy smile.

arose to feeling of his brain. conquered flashed his

“How’s he coming?” Mama asked as she peeked around the door of the kitchen. “Good! Real good!” said Daddy proudly. “Gate is the next word, Son. I know you can do it so give it a try,”

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. he encouraged. “G-A-T-E.” Jimmie said without so much as a stammer while his shirt buttons bulged with the pride that he felt. A huge grin was on his lips as he saw that Daddy’s face was aglow. “Right!” Daddy said, glancing at Mama as if to say, “I taught that boy everything he knows!” Mama gave Daddy a cautious look that said, “You’d better be careful with your braggin, fellow!” “Now, son, spell ‘GIRL’” Daddy said while leaning back on his chair confidently. “G-E-R…” Jimmie started, but the look on Daddy’s face told him something was wrong. Jimmie cleared his throat and began again, “G-U-R…” He stopped dead in his tracks as Daddy’s forehead broke into wrinkles. “OK,” Jimmie thought. “It’s back to the old standby.” “G-O-R…” Jimmie said but stopped suddenly. “No!” said Daddy loudly. “It’s GIRL,” as he repeated the word. Jimmie somehow felt shorter and all of a sudden his insides felt like Jell-O “Let’s go on,” Daddy said, somewhat bothered by Mama’s glance. “GOAT”, Daddy said, somewhat

agitated with the homework process himself by now. “Spell ‘Goat’,” he repeated. “How, what letter is it that all these words are supposed to start with?” Jimmie wondered, his mind spinning. “GOAT?” he asked with a sheepish voice while looking at Daddy. Jimmie’s head was in a roar. All he could think of was the look of disappointment on Daddy’s face over the last word. “What was the last word, anyway?” he wondered. “How did Daddy say for him to spell it?” he asked himself. “Oh yes! I remember now!” he thought as a huge smile broke across his face. “G-I-R-L” he said as he looked excitedly at Daddy’s face. That must have been right because a huge grin broke across Daddy’s face. Jimmie could hardly believe his ears as he heard Daddy roar with an explosion of laughter and said, “That’s close enough, Son! That’s close enough!” Needless to say, that was the end of Jimmie’s spelling lesson for that night. However, memories of misspelling ‘GIRL’ by a confused mixture of letters that spelled ‘GOAT’ were never forgotten by Daddy, Jimmie, or Jimmie’s seven sisters!

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

alentines Day is approaching, and this day gives me opportunity to reflect on all of the wonderful things my husband is to me and to celebrate the love I have for him. I could sit here and tell you a lot of mushy stuff, like how he buys me flowers (he does this sometimes, and not in a while), buys me jewelry (hmmm… when was the last time he bought me jewelry…), buys me perfume (oh yes, I did get some for Christmas), leaves me sweet romantic cards (he’s done this only once in the 10 years I have known him) or buys me chocolate (only in the form of Blue Bell ice cream, and that I don’t need). All of those things are typical for couples around Valentines Day, but he and I are not your typical couple. So I have decided to share with you the most important reason I celebrate him on Valentine’s Day and every other day of the year. When I met the man I call my husband, I was a divorced mother of a 5 year old little girl and my fairy tale had been crushed. Low and behold, he stepped into my life as Mr. Wonderful- although I was not aware of just how wonderful he was at the time. Soon, I would come to find out that unconditional love had found its way to my door. There were butterflies, laughter and romance from the beginning. But it was a day in July, the summer that we met, that I knew this was the man for me. For that was the day, 6 weeks after we met, I introduced him to my bright eyed 5 year old daughter. On that day I saw a side of this childless man that forever changed my feelings for him. If you are a single mother, you understand. And if you are not, let me just say that when someone makes a genuine effort to get to know your child it just warms your heart. It has been almost 10 years since that day in July. A proposal did come, but he asked my daughter first. Yes, he

bought a ring- for her- and he asked for her permission to marry me. Oh, I did get a ring (he did well, too!) and a proposal, but with a brief explanation that he fell in love with my daughter and could not bare to be without her. (I just happen to come along with the package.) I told you he was Mr. Wonderful! Now don’t get me wrong. Life has not been all flowers, jewelry, perfume and chocolate (as you read above). But I can tell you that through all the ups and downs, and there have been many, the one thing that has never faltered is his love for my daughter and I. This I know for sure. On the days that I want- or think I deserveflowers, jewelry, perfume & chocolate (like my 40th birthday which HE FORGOT, but that is a whole different story) but don’t get, I thank God for sending this man to be a part of our lives. It is his presence at my side during, ballgames, teenage drama, late night ER visits and so many other things, assuring me he is there helping me to raise this little girl, that makes me realize how lucky I am. After we had been married for about a year I told him about the day in July I knew he was the one for me. I wanted to know when he knew I was the one for him; his reply was, as the Kenny Chesney song goes, “You had me from Hello”. I just smiled because our relationship began with a two week span of lengthy phone conversations! So this Valentines Day, I challenge you to look past all the typical gifts and be grateful for the little everyday things that make your world happy. I promise you they are there, and just to prove here are a few reminders from some of my friends. These are the things that make them feel the love on Valentines and every other day of the year.

“I have always wanted someone that would pray with me about anything, not just our meals. Sometimes, Monty will come to bed and he will know that I am disturbed about something. I know when he takes my hand that he is praying for me and the situation.” “My sweetie makes me coffee every morning with everything

FEB / MAR 2010

I like in it and gets up with me at 5 even if he’s off that day. He always starts my car for me too so I’m warm. It’s the little things.” “He does stuff around the house...so we can have more time together in the evening. If the dishes need washed or the clothes need folded...he does “whatever” just so I can have time to snuggle on the couch with him. Since we also work together in an office 3 days a week...you would think that we would be “tired” of each other... but after 26 yrs. of marriage...we are still sweethearts.” “32 years and he still makes me fill like a Queen! He always has been the bread winner of our family and finds a way to make all the ends meet... No matter how much I overspend...You gotta love that MAN!!!” “He pumps my gas..all the time!” “I remember my dad calling mom his Bride instead of his wife.” “He’s there for me when I am sick, cleaning up after me, if you know what I mean!! Now that’s love for someone with a weak stomach.” “Every Valentine’s day my husband cooks his famous sloppy joes and tater tot. Its the only time he EVER cooks.” “He plays with my hair EVERY night till I go to sleep. He still opens my door eveytime I get in the truck or go in a building. He is so wonderful. I don’t know how I got so lucky!”

Vicki Caskey is the Sales Manager for The Minute Magazine, and we think she’s fantastic. The mother of a teenage daughter and a devoted wife to her husband Wayne, Vicki proves that you really can have it all. Vicki can be reached via email at vacaskey@gmail.com, or by calling The Minute Magazine office line at 318.382.1900.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

The l949 American Legion Team photo, taken at Griffith Stadium in Minden, Louisiana. The team won 2nd Place in the American Legion State Tournament.

have been living this dream at Griffith Stadium for fifty-seven years now.

it were possible to capture a moment of childhood- a single snapshot in time that was filled with innocence, joy and hope for the future- the best place to do it would be on a baseball field. The most magical sounds of summer are found around the pitcher’s mound. From the little boy in the dugout shouting “swing batter, batter, swing,” to the proud father that is perched at the edge of his seat in the stadium, wondering how his son has gone from a toddler to a teenager, they’re all part of the American dream. And the people of Minden, Louisiana

Every town has a favorite- a neatly trimmed, grassy diamond that has been worn down by the cleats of local baseball legendsand Minden is no exception. Generation after generation has stood before the pitcher’s mound at Griffith Stadium and taken a swing at both baseball and at life. Since 1953, the field has been home to thousands of baseball games; many of those games were the humble beginnings for professional baseball careers. For countless others, the bittersweet last game of their high school days marked the end of their time to wear a baseball uniform. But all of the players, both amateur

and professional, have something in common; for on a little patch of green beneath the scorching sun of a Louisiana summer, they all made the transition from boys to men at Griffith Stadium. Maybe you were the one of the Redbirds- proudly wearing your cleats, soaking up the summer heat and swinging your way through childhood. Or maybe you were in the crowd, cheering wildly when the bases were loaded. Others remember sitting in the stands for community events like rodeos and church revivals. No matter what your connection to Griffith Stadium, all of these events were a part of Minden’s history. After fifty-three years, the City of Minden still owns Griffith

Stadium. And in the years since it all began at what was once called The City Municipal Ball Park, time has stolen away part of the stadium’s former glory. There is a group of citizens that still understand the importance of Griffith Stadium, and they need your help to restore the historic property. Something amazing is happening now, and it is surfacing through a joint effort between the City of Minden, Minden High School and The American Legion; they, along with many concerned citizens in the local area, are determined to raise the funds needed to preserve and protect the heritage of Griffith Stadium for future generations to enjoy. The movement is underway

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. just in time, too. Already on the schedule, Griffith Stadium will host The American Legion State Tournament for the age 17 and under teams during July 16-20, 2010. The age 19 and under teams will then play on July 23-27, 2010. Additionally, The American Legion will be bidding on the National Regional Legion tournament for the years of 2011 and 2012. This involves 7 states (Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Mississippi.) But without the necessary repairs, Griffith Stadium will be unable to host the National Tournament. That’s where you come into the picture. Your kind donation will fund much-needed repairs to Griffith Stadium. You have the opportunity to not only make a difference in the lives of our children and young adults, but your contribution will also have an economic impact in our local area. For each tournament held at Griffith Stadium, hundreds of spectators and baseball players

will come to Minden. They will visit Minden’s restaurants, stay in local hotels and boost the local economy. But your donation’s importance does not end when the tournaments are over. Minden High School’s baseball team has called the diamond home for more than fifty years. By restoring Griffith Stadium, we are teaching the next generation to value history and giving Minden High School the chance to continue the tradition of playing on the historic diamond. In a time when it is popular to go “out with the old, and in with the new,” we have the chance to hold onto the past. So what are you going to do? The bases are loaded. It’s the bottom of the ninth inning, and you’re up to bat. Are you going to knock it out of the park, or turn around and walk away? Our local teams are depending on you now. So in the immortal words of the little boys and young men that have lined the dugouts at Griffith Stadium, “Swing, batter, batter, swing!”

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

orking shutters, wooden windows, hand-carved brackets, slate roofs. Rarely found in new construction, such details bring character to our homes and infuse history into our lives. And, they make old building aficionados like me swoon. “What’s so great about old windows” you’re wondering, “Aren’t they terribly inefficient, allowing warm air out and cold air in?” “Working shutters,” you say, “You mean they’re not permanently attached to the side of the building?” These are common old house questions that I love to answer. We’ll discuss them soon enough, but for now, let’s begin with a simple introduction. Welcome to the world of historic preservation. Where old is in, new is cautionary, and character is defined by original materials and architectural style. But make no mistake; preservation is more than saving old buildings from the wrecking ball and adding paint to make them look pretty. It’s a celebration of craftsmanship, pride in construction, local materials, and collective history that deserves to be protected and passed down to future generations. I’d venture to say that at least half of you that read this article live in a historic structure. Loosely defined, a historic structure is any building aged 50 years or older. Historic structures aren’t just antebellum house museums with white columns and winding stairs. They’re as diverse as their owners and include simple shotgun houses, Queen Anne

Victorians, wooden slave quarters, Bungalows, roadside architecture and Ranch style houses built as recently as the mid-twentieth century. Old buildings of all ages and styles remind us of our past, record our progress (or on occasion, regress), and inspire our future potential. Preserving them is essential, but it’s not always easy. In the preservation world, there are three terms that describe the type of maintenance performed on an old building: preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation. Often confused and misused, a good understanding will get your project started on the right track. Tough mid-project decisions are made easier when you have a clear-cut goal. Used as verb, preservation refers to the maintenance of a structure in its current condition; modern features are not added and historical changes are not removed. Perhaps the best American example of preservation is Drayton Hall on the Ashley River just outside Charleston, South Carolina. Constructed in 1738 and the only remaining plantation on the Ashley River, Drayton Hall remains practically unaltered from its original condition. Free of plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and cooling systems, and even furniture, the magnificent architectural details and the solid construction techniques bespeak of a bygone era that took great pride in building, expecting structures to last for generations. While a wonderful way to display the architectural record of an important building, the preservation approach is best suited for organizations that can properly conserve historic materials, rather than the wear and tear of the average homeowner. Restoration refers to the process of returning a structure to a specific period of time. Removing features added after that chosen period and reconstructing missing features that existed during that time period are appropriate alterations during the

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

restoration process. Restorations generally occur on buildings that are associated with a significant historical event or important historical figure. Laura Plantation in rural Saint Charles parish is a local Louisiana example of restoration at its finest. Historical records and primary documents were consulted to ensure that every detail - from the paint colors to the furniture - fit the period of significance. This magnificent restoration allows visitors to truly experience life on a Creole plantation. They are transferred to another era. Though historic homeowners often speak of “restoring their old house,” most follow the third type of preservation and add modern conveniences and upgrades, creating a mix of old and new. Rehabilitation is the process of restoring and retaining original historic features, while updating an old building to modern day standards. This type of preservation allows an old building to retain historic integrity and be suitable for modern use. The building may even change purpose, say from an old high school to a condo building, which is known as adaptive reuse. In order to retain historic integrity, it’s important that the building’s exterior remain relatively unchanged. Historic interior details, however, are often lost in the attempt to modernize a structure, resulting in “new house in an old shell” syndrome. Invaluable original materials such as plaster, wood windows, and original doors are unnecessarily thrown out in favor of inferior drywall, vinyl replacement windows, and “Home Depot” doors. Be mindful of original character defining interior details. With a little creativity, they can be incorporated to suit modern needs, a win-win for both you and your home’s integrity. Rehabilitation is a great way to make an old house suitable for modern living, as long as the changes are compatible with the historic style and in keeping with original materials. If you live in an old house, you know

all too well that maintaining, repairing, and updating original features such as plaster walls and wood windows is not always easy and, quite frankly, can be frustrating. It’s difficult to find contractors knowledgeable of historic construction methods and as skilled as the craftsmen that originally constructed your house. Not to mention that the parts and materials you need can’t always be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. In each issue, I’ll tackle a new topic - from why and how to keep your old windows to tips for hiring and working with contractors. Maintaining an old house requires perseverance, commitment, and creativity. Here’s your blueprint for success! UP NEXT: We’ll continue our introduction to preservation with a look at Who’s Who in the field. I’ll tell you what federal, state, and local preservation organizations exist and the valuable resources they offer for historic homeowners like you. We’ll wrap up our introduction with a look at the “Ten Commandments” of preservation - guidelines for repairing and restoring that set the stage for any old house project.

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

Angst:

anguish, torment, anxiety, trouble, sorrow, worry, fear. I think we have reached a stage of “pre-teen angst”. Let’s take this anguish, torment, anxiety, and throw some autism in there for good measure. Oh universe, you cruel and unnatural punisher, why have you forsaken me? This journey has left us derailed. Hormones, I am now convinced, are from the devil. And if I’m feeling this way, I cannot imagine what my child is feeling. We have gone from cuddles, hugs and singing “good morning” songs each day, to bleary-eyed, cranky, eye-rolling madness. I certainly miss my baby, however, there are things about those years you couldn’t pay me to relive, either. So, now, we’re facing the dreaded middle school next year. I am not ready for this. For one, there are so many choices and preparations for school. And, middle school will be a whole new world for my son. Change in routine and surroundings go over just about as well as bricks through windows at my house and now we’re going to shake up his entire world. Oh, goody! I…can’t…wait! We have had a total of three IEP meetings so far this year, two of them alone, on the transition to

middle school. There are more to come so we all get familiar with the atmosphere; hopefully, by the time we enter this dreaded world. If I remember correctly, these years consist mainly of how many friends you can get, if you are part of the popular crowd and making fun of anyone who is outside the box. Since our permanent residence is outside said box, this ought to be the highlight of my life. The logistics of maneuvering in a world we have never experienced (larger classrooms and changing classes during the day) almost escape me entirely. Normally, you just throw your kid into the flow and they sink or swim accordingly. So what do you do if you know for a fact that your kid will sink? Well, you come up with a battle plan. We have secured that he will still have his own aide for next year. That was a very important thing to us, to know someone would be there to help him. We have pushed to have the school start preparing him by letting him go out to some “regular” classes with lots more students. He has had some issues with this, although not as many as I thought he would. He has also made a new friend who seems to have a really great calming effect on him! The teachers say this child was sent from the heavens. It makes me happy to know he is making friends, something in short supply when it comes to

FEB / MAR 2010

my son. He will have seven different classes, with seven different teachers. We have to learn how to work with each one and help each of them learn to work with him. My head is swimming just thinking about this. I don’t think I’ve ever worked so hard in all my life. To see my little boy’s smiling face at the end of the day is all worth it, though! More and more as of late, my husband and I have become the enemy. We don’t want our son to have any fun, we don’t want him to do anything he likes and we are mistreating him by refusing to buy him everything he believes he deserves. There you have it: bad parents, in a nutshell. I guess I took very good notes from my own parents because I specifically remember these are exactly all the hateful things they did to me at that age. Reasoning with an 11-year-old is folly at its finest. No amount of talking can convince my child he has it infinitely better than we did at his age. We only watched cartoons on Saturday and there was no 24-hour cartoon channel! Oh, horror of horrors, say it isn’t so! It’s time to put on the armor, hunker down and fight the good fight with anticipation of winning the war. I have heard people say if you can make it through these three hellish years of middle school, then things DO start getting better. I am not

convinced, but neither was I certain when someone told me five years ago things would improve. They did. Now we have a new challenge and I guess I should add this to my growing number of battle scars and wish upon a star that these will heal faster. I am left with this one hopeful thought; a few weeks ago, my son and I were having a discussion about how a lot of people with autism don’t like the groups that have popped up trying to “cure” autism. They believe that, to take away their autism would be to change who they are as people. (And, yes, my 11-year-old often has these philosophical talks with me). He pondered this for a few minutes, then came back to me and said, “You know, as hard and frustrating as it is to have this autism, I wouldn’t want anyone to take it away.” Wow. I sleep a little better at night knowing that my child is comfortable with who he is. While he knows he is different and has more challenges than the average kid, he likes himself and has the courage to let people know it. I will cling to this small ray of light every time I watch him stomp through the house, flipping his hair out of his face and insisting that we are holding him prisoner from anything even remotely fun-related.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

Minden Cruisin’ for a Cure Show and Shine by Schelley Brown

aturday May 1st, 2010 will be the 7th year in Minden, Louisiana that antique and classic transportation enthusiasts have come together to show that they care. Held at the Minden, Louisiana Fair Grounds, you don’t want to miss the 7th annual open class vehicle show and shine. This year’s show will include a silent auction, raffle items, $500 cash drawing, good fun, good people and a great time. Live music will be provided by Minden’s own Elvis, Mr. Mike Spillers and the Dorcheat Bottom Band with a few special guests to keep toes tapping for most of the day. Lots of goodie-bag items, t-shirts, plenty of Coca-Cola products and maybe even a few surprises before the day is over. Most of all lots of GREAT CARS, Tractors, and Motorcycles (over 300 vehicles have registered in the past with 4000 spectators attending this event)! In the past six years this show has given $73,000 for cancer research and $13,000 to the local museum. This show supports two great causes that are important to our area. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the Dorcheat Historical Association Museum, Inc. are two great causes that will benefit from the 2010 show.

Show organizer and promoter Schelley Brown reports, last year over 90 cars had preregistered by April 1st. Brown commented that most folks don’t pre-register for these shows they wait and see what the weather is going to do. This show has had weather issues in the past but surprisingly has always been able to pull off a very successful show. In fact this show is one of the fastest growing vehicle shows in the Southern region. This year there is an extra incentive for pre-registering- two chances in the hopper for the $500 cash drawing that will be given to a lucky show participant and $200 to the club with the most members pre-registered, Brown exclaimed, “This year, with many folks in need of extra money, I thought this would be a good way to get folks to travel the distance to come to Minden. Coming to a show is an expensive endeavor with gas, hotel and food cost on the rise. We are praying for beautiful weather and big crowds! I hope everyone in the area will come out and show their support and see the beautiful cars, trucks, tractors, bikes and just enjoy the day. For more information please contact Schelley Brown at 318-423-0192. For more information on the car show and registration information and forms visit the web sites. www. mindencruisinforacure.com and www.mindencruisinforacure. blogspot.com .

FEB / MAR 2010

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

Easter Seals is helping people with disabilities gain greater independence. By providing exceptional services, education, outreach, and advocacy, Easter Seals is helping people living with autism and other disabilities live, learn, work and play in our communities. Each year, Easter Seals provides direct services to more than 1.3 million people, and impacts more than 54 million people affect by disabilities. Every individual that walks through the doors of an Easter Seals affiliate has a compelling story. Here are just a few stories of hope.

find myself these days telling everyone I know with small children how quickly childhood years fly by and I never realized how true that would be until today as I sat filling out my daughter’s college dorm application. I still see Rachel at three years old playing with Nala & Simba and obsessively watching Barney. I have a difficult time grasping the fact that she graduates from high school in a few short months. As much as I am amazed at how quickly those years between a Brownie uniform and a cap & gown have snuck up on me, I am overwhelmed at the pride I feel for the young woman my daughter has become. There are so many reasons I am proud of her but I am proudest of how she defines herself as a person and not just as a person with a disability. Since I am reflecting, I allow myself to remember the day almost 18 years ago when we had to make a very difficult & urgent decision to deliver our baby girl ten weeks early. We signed papers stating we knew the low chance for her survival and one also allowing the doctors to give her an experimental dose of a surfactant that would help her breathe since her lungs were not fully developed. That Sunday evening was exciting, confusing and then heartbreaking when we were told she had suffered a brain hemorrhage due to her prematurity. That brain damage resulted in cerebral palsy. Weighing in at only 3 pounds and an Apgar score of one, we marvel that she survived at all. She was hospitalized in the NICU for almost two months which became very stressful days because we never knew what changes had occurred in her condition between our visits. She overcame a clot in the aorta near her kidney, apnea,

bradycardia, jaundice, a heart murmur, three blood transfusions, and retinopathy of prematurity. In her daily struggles as a teenager, she quietly goes about her life just doing what she needs to do because that is the way she approaches her life. She has had three surgeries, countless hours of occupational & physical therapy, worn orthotics in her shoes and special gloves on her hand since she was three months old. Without anger at what she can’t do, she chooses instead to focus on what she can do and what she has already done. And what she has done is garner the respect and admiration of many who know her. I have been told by more than one person that she inspires them because they see how she manages life with a disability without complaint, bitterness or resentment. I’m sure she often wonders what it would be like to have full use of her right hand or what it must be like to wear high heel shoes. She may never know these things but she does know exactly who she is and what she wants to do with her life. Rachel’s life plan includes becoming a high school English or History teacher and hopes to one day teach at her alma mater, St. Scholastica Academy in Covington. She also aspires to be a writer and knows that her gifts lie in the written word. She wrote her first “masterpiece” during Sunday mass while in first grade; she wrote lyrics to a song that the Children’s Choir still sings. I knew then God had blessed her with something special. Rachel wrote constantly and we have lost track of the number of notebooks that contain short stories, poems, songs or just fanciful ramblings. She has had prayers and poems published and written a narrative interview for a

local magazine.

Ministry Award last year.

Rachel was awarded 1st place in the state for her Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council Essay on inclusion and is currently working on her first novel.

Active in the Key Club, French Club, Hearts of Purity and Osirian at SSA she still maintains a 3.6 grade point average.

Rachel has served as an Easter Seals Honorary Ambassador for the past eight years and actively works as co-chair of the publicity committee for their several fund raisers. She shared her poem entitled I Am with Easter Seals to use in their campaign literature. She has been nominated for the Louisiana Young Heroes Award two times, is very active in her church youth group and received the CYO Parish Youth

She is my inspiration as well as my best friend and no one will be happier or more proud the day she receives her diploma—I only hope the next few months pass a little slower before my daughter begins the next chapter in her life story. For more information on Easter Seals, visit them online at www.easterseals.com

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

the world of antiques there are many different items sought after by antique junkies and treasure hunters such as myself. We look for everything- from furniture, dishes, pottery and toys to vases and jewelry, and it can all be found at antique stores all over the country. Even guys like collecting things such as old tools, guns, knives, tobacco and beer related items. The list of collectibles goes on and on, and you can be sure that there is something for everyone in the world of antiques, no matter their taste. During the recent years I spent working in an antique store, some of the items my customers looked for were vintage cards and postcards. Some collected them by postage, some by dates, and others just because a card “spoke to them.” Valentine cards are one of the more popular categories for those who collect. Nancy Rosin is the president of the National Valentine’s Collector’s Association, and she has close to 10,000 pieces in her personal collection. From the first mail-posted valentine on record (it was mailed in

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

1806) to some of the precursors of today’s valentines, her collection is full of history and charm. Among her earliest pieces was a devotional made in a French convent around 1700. Also in her collection is the first postally used valentine on record in England. It was postmarked in 1806 and presented by a sailor to his wife, telling her that he was coming home from his service to live with her in peace. And my favorite in her collection is the classic design of the Civil War valentine called “the soldier’s tent.” The tent is draped in the American flag and opens to reveal a soldier sitting at his camp desk writing to his beloved. They were made available to the soldiers as a link between home and the war front. When I started to write this story, I began to wonder about the origin of Valentine’s Day. I did a little research, and this is what I found. The history of Valentine’s Day – and its’ patron saint – is shrouded in mystery. It contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. One legend contends that St. Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers, he outlawed marriage for young men- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first “valentine” greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl, who may have

been the jailer’s daughter, who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still used today. Although the truth behind the valentine legend is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic and, most importantly, romantic figure. Some believe that Valentines Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine’s death. The oldest known valentine still in existence today is a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one’s feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine’s Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging handmade valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840’s, Ester A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America. According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year,

FEB / MAR 2010

making Valentine’s Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas). Today it is also estimated that Valentine’s Day brings in about 14 billion dollars annually. Red roses, boxes of chocolate candy, expensive diamonds, and romantic diners for two have become gestures to the sentiment of love, along side the traditional exchanging of cards. Most of us were probably introduced to Valentine’s Day during our gradeschool years. I remember bringing a shoe box to school and covering it with tin foil, white doilies, and hearts made out of red and pink construction paper. Then we lined our boxes around the classroom and anxiously awaited the big day. We brought in our little Valentine cards and took turns going around the room and dropping them into our decorated shoe boxes. It was a really “big deal” to the girls if we got one signed “love” instead of just the boys’ name on it. That meant that the particular boy really liked you! Ahhh… true love in the second grade- there’s nothing like it. My personal favorite Valentine’s Day gift is not fancy flowers, expensive jewelry or even the chocolate candy. I’m a little old-fashioned and I lean towards the simple, homemade cards and gifts, and personal gestures of love. For instance, my husband Mike makes my coffee for me every morning. On days that he leaves before I get up, he has the sugar and creamer already in the cup, just waiting on me to pour the coffee. This says “I love you” not just on Valentine’s Day, but every day of the year. Even the smallest deed shows me the greatest amount of love. And to me, that makes every day a special day when I’m with my sweetheart!

FEB / MAR 2010

Confessions of a Hormonal Woman:

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

by Elizabeth Drewett

Inspired by Courage

new place in my heart. Two of those moments came recently. One was at the movie theater. The other was sitting at my desk. Movie theater inspiration

riting topics don’t always come easy. I’m always looking for inspiration. Sometimes I use the calendar. I’m writing this column in January, so there are the typical New Year topics: resolutions, weight loss, save more, spend less. But none of those inspired me to write. So what has inspired me lately? Well, there are lots of things that might provide a moment of happiness: a good story, a good song, a good joke, a good hair day (don’t laugh...you know it’s true), finding the perfect shirt on the 75% off rack (better yet the perfect pair of shoes and the perfect handbag to match), the perfect shade of lipstick. But if we evaluate the truthfulness of an inspiration, I find that many inspirations just fizzle out. We’ll disregard those and say that maybe they weren’t truly inspirational. They were just happy moments. True inspiration is rare. And the times that we are truly inspired cause life to look differently the next day. They are the kinds of inspirations that stick with the soul long after the moment passes. I have had true inspiration at various junctions in life. Each time, that inspiration has moved me to a

My son turned 11 on December 16. His birthday usually falls during the last week of school, so it’s always a tough time to plan a party due to the chaos of class parties, Christmas shopping, and holiday insanity. So each year for the last 4 years, instead of a big party, my son and I opt for a movie day with friends as his birthday celebration. This year, Nicholas, Henry, Austin, Langdon (my son), and I had lunch and hit the theater to see the latest, greatest movie. Because I had a crew of 11-year old boys, the movie du jour was The Blind Side - a football movie, or so I thought. While I enjoyed the movie, I was unprepared for the inspiration that poured over me as I watched the unfolding story destined to become a classic. The movie is set in Memphis, Tennessee, a city which I think embodies the soul of the south. The look and feel of the movie were very familiar to me as a native southerner. It gave a piercing glimpse into the darkest parts of American culture - the poverty and abandonment that many children in “that part of town” deal with on a daily basis. That poverty and neglect was then contrasted with the private school-attending, BMWdriving lifestyle of the Touhy family. The great inspiration of this movie was the courage of its characters.

They were real people stepping out of their comfort zones and embracing the plight of others, no matter the cost. Sean and Leigh Ann Touhy had courage when they asked Michael Oher, a virtually homeless African-American teenager who attended their children’s private school on a scholarship, to stay the night on their living room couch because he had no place to go. And Michael Oher had the courage to work hard, think and learn when he must have been overwhelmed by his new circumstances of living with the Touhy family. There was even courage to be found in the Touhy children. Collins Touhy, the older daughter of the Touhy family, had courage to embrace Michael Oher as a sibling, even though he was a different race and not her brother by blood. Imagine the sneers of her peers she must have endured. Michael Oher played football and eventually graduated from that private school. He went on to play college football at the University of Mississippi (even making the honor roll) and later became the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.

and persecution of others. Now that is inspiring. And that is courage. Courage is a wonderful thing. We know it when we see it. But what exactly is courage? And where does it come from? By definition, courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, or pain. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is the overwhelming presence of bravery. No one can have courage without heart. It’s when our heart can’t bear the current conditions around us that courage wells up inside of us and explodes into action. For the Touhy family, courage was defined by crossing racial and socio-economic barriers and helping a young man who needed an opportunity and a whole lot of unconditional love. For Michael Oher, courage was defined by hard work against seemingly insurmountable odds as he regained years of education that had been lost due to his unstable home life. He also courageously dropped the internal walls that surely had became a fortress around his heart and let a family love him. And in return, he loved them back.

The Blind Side is an amazing story on so many levels. The happy ending certainly helps. But in this case, it was the heart-felt courage to step outside of normalcy and into the realm of persecution that stayed with me after the movie.

For Michael Oher, courage was overcoming himself and his situation. And I think that is where we begin to see the true meaning of courage. When we overcome ourselves and our situation or obstacle - whatever that might be - we have shown courage.

Their internal character proved a more powerful force than the criticism

Following my afternoon at the movies with my boy and his buddies and two

FEB / MAR 2010

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. hours of free-flowing tears (“when you’re a parent, you’ll understand,” I said to him), I knew that courage inspired me. You Tube inspiration. I was working at my desk earlier this week and received an email. In the email was a link to a YouTube video. The message from my friend was this: “This video motivated me this Sunday morning. The only thing that limits us is ourselves.” Intrigued, I clicked the link. The next thing I knew, I was watching a humble cell-phone salesman shuffle onto a stage in front of three judges and a huge audience. This man, when asked what he was going to do, said, “I’m going to sing opera.” Eyes rolling, the three judges waited with the look of am-I-going-to-fallout-of-my-chair-laughing-or-is-hegoing-to-be-good on their faces. The music began and he opened his mouth to sing. The sound that emerged from his humble lips brought me to tears within a matter of seconds. This humble man was motivated to enter a talent contest with the hope of saving he and his wife from the brink of bankruptcy. He seemingly had no self-confidence yet stood in front of those judges, those television cameras, and an at-times-hostile crowd and sang his heart out. His courage moved me. He overcame himself. He overcame his circumstances. Courage welled up inside of him and gushed out of

his mouth with abandon. And what a great performance it was. Paul Potts has become a YouTube sensation, with over 74 million hits on that video of his initial audition for Britain’s Got Talent. His first album went multiplatinum. He has just released his second album. I love happy endings. But happy endings are endings. Courage, on the other hand, stays with us. So my question is this: when was the last time you overcame your personal insecurities and stepped out in courage to change your life or someone else’s? We are surrounded by opportunities to be courageous. But our heart must be open and our ears listening. We need to see the needs of others and act when the heart is moved. February is the month of the heart (it’s Valentine’s Day) and March is the beginning of renewal (it’s spring time). So it seems the right time to start fresh with the heart. Be inspiring. Have courage. •

To watch Paul Potts amazing audition for Britain’s Got Talent, go to http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bEo5bjnJViA.

•

To see the movie The Blind Side, catch it at your local theater. If it’s not showing at your theater anymore, don’t hesitate to rent or buy it when it become available. It’s a must-see movie.

The White Elephant 36

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

by Galen White

Valentine’s Day Turns A Man’s Fancy

This time of year a young man’s fancy turns to romance. At least, that’s what they say. And I ain’t got an inklin’ as to who “they” are. Shuckin’s! I’m still tryin’ to figure out what the heck a fancy is.

Now, I do have my suspicions, mind you; after all, I am a male and I was young once. Of course, that was a long time ago, but age really ain’t got a whole lot to do with it. A pretty lady can still turn my head. I do, however, remember very well chasin’ the good lookin’ girls of Athens, Lisbon, Haynesville, Gibsland, Arcadia, Minden, and Homer. Even chased a few who lived out in the country like myself. And if’n I’d had more money for gasoline, I woulda taken in Dubach, Bernice, Ruston, and even Emerson and Magnolia, Arkansas in my chase as well. You know, it’s true I have some very fond memories of those days; memories that actually go all the way back to my very first years at Athens High School. You may wonder how I can remember things that happened so long ago when I can’t tell you what I had for supper last night! Well, that’s a good question; one with which I’ve struggled for some time now. Still ain’t got a clue as to the answer! Anyway, back in my formative years, I celebrated Valentine’s Day with both open and hidden excitement. I

was openly excited ‘cause it meant my class would have a Valentine’s Day party, and a party meant no studyin’ as well as something to eat. Candy hearts, cupcakes, Nehi belly washers, chips, and…, ‘scuse me? Oh, a Nehi belly washer is a soda pop. Or, a coke, which is what everyone in the South calls any type of soda pop. In addition to all the sweets, everyone gave and everyone received a Valentine’s Day card. Parents and teachers both insisted that no one was left out of the exchange and there would be no hurt feelings. You may remember wrappin’ an ol’ cigar box with colored paper, gluin’ a bow or ribbon on it, cuttin’ a slot in the box top, and puttin’ all your cards in that box. The cards were simple in construction: a single, but colorful, flat card about three inches tall by a couple wide, with simple verses printed thereon. “Be my Valentine”, “You should be mine”, or “I’m sweet on you”, are just samples of a few of the verses. Of course, every now and then there’d be a card that may say somethin’ about love. You know; like “I love you!” Now, no decent first or second grade young man would give a card like that to a girl. At that age, us boys didn’t want any cooties, so we avoided girls at all costs! We hated girls. At least, that’s what we wanted everyone to think. Me, on the other hand, had this sneakin’ suspicion that girls weren’t as bad as I’d been led to believe. In fact, I thought several of them were right good lookin’ and, well, sweet! And to those particular girls, I’d give the mushy Valentine’s Day cards to. I sure as heck wasn’t gonna give it to

a BOY!!! And if’n anyone wanted to poke fun at me for givin’ it to a girl, I had a great excuse. I’d tell ‘em my mom did it. When confronted, I’d act all mortified and cry out, “WHAT??? The card said THAT??? My mom did it! She helped me last night ‘cause I forgot and it was already past bedtime and I hadn’t finished my ‘rithmatic and I still had to slop the hogs and water the chickens and bring in some firewood and take a bath and supper was gettin’ cold and my dog had treed a skunk and I had to get her away ‘fore she got sprayed! I’ll never forgive my mom for that!” Well, they may have doubted me until that last statement. When I said I’d never forgive her for it, they knew I was seriously embarrassed and upset ‘cause everyone loved their mom and wouldn’t dare speak such a horrific statement.

So, the problem wasn’t with the other boys, it was tryin’ to fig’er out what the girl who received the mushy card thought. For a red blooded, ol’ country boy like me, tryin’ to read the emotions of a first or second grade girl’s feelin’s was like me tryin’ to read Chinese writin’ today. Come to think about it, me tryin’ to read any lady’s feelin’s is like tryin’ to read Chinese writin’, regardless their age! You’d think I woulda gotten smarter with age, wouldn’t you! Regardless, maybe one of these days us men will figure it out. Of course, if we do, you ladies can no longer tell us “You ain’t got a clue as to how I feel!” I guess it might be better we don’t really know. That way, when our fancy turns to romance, we’ll keep tryin’ to please you as best we can. Hope you all Valentine’s Day!

have

Happy

------------------------------------------------

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

U. S. SOLDIERS FOUNDATION & THE PICKLE BARREL JOIN FORCES FOR A FUNDRAISER by Judy Wilson

U. S.

Soldiers Foundation, a new 501c3 non-profit organization will be partnering with The Pickle Barrel Restaurant & Deli at 1827 Avenue of the Americas in Monroe, LA on each Friday evening in February from 3-8 PM to raise funds for the foundation. This foundation has been established to provide services that are not covered by government programs for all of the active military personnel, veterans of all wars, their widows, and their families. The U. S. Soldiers Foundation, a 501c3 organization, was created to address a critical

shortfall in Veterans Services between what is currently available and what is required. As a result of the current conflict, hundreds of thousands of men and women veterans and their families have had to pay a severe price in order to answer the call of their country. We are different from most organizations as we are completely run by Veterans for Veterans. Our present goal is to raise funds to be used to support the mild traumatic brain injuries soldiers, who are being treated in New Orleans, LA. The government provides the medial care but does NOT provide funds for temporary living expenses, transportation to/from appointments or to have their families travel with them. We are raising money for vans, fuel, maintenance, drivers, and insurance. We want the soldiers concentrating on getting better and not on how they are going to get to their appointments. Gene Ponti, owner of The Pickle Barrel in Monroe, Louisiana, has

agreed to donate a portion of all sales each Friday evening from 38 PM on February 5, 12, 19, and 26, 2010. “We’re delighted to be in partnership with the U.S. Soldiers Foundation with everything they represent and everything they’re trying to do”. Ponti added, “It’s an opportunity for all of us to help the brave Americans who wear the uniform of our great nation”. This would be a good time to bring friends and family, enjoy an excellent meal, and help the foundation meet its goals of assistance to those men and women who have defended and fought for our country and now need your help. Paul Piro, owner of Piromaniacs D.J. Service, will provide music during the fundraising hours. On Friday, March 5, 2010, a Grilled Chicken dinner will be served at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Rodney J. Hobbs Post at 1809 Highway 594 and U.S. 80 in

Monroe from 10:30 am. to 6:00 PM. All proceeds will go to the U.S. Soldiers Foundation. Tickets are $7.00 per plate and may be purchased by calling 319-680-3477, 318-342-8807,or 318-235-6595. Menu will include chicken, potato salad, roll, and baked beans. Drinks may be purchased from VFW. Orders of 10 or more will be delivered to your home or place of business. Entertainment during the serving hours will be furnished by Paul Piro, (The Piromaniac) and owner of Piromaniacs DJ Service. After you eat, enjoy dancing with the Ray Pace Band at the VFW Hall. $6.00 per person from 7-11 PM. For further information about these events or the U. S. Soldiers Foundation, call Amy Piro at 318680-3477 or e-mail amy.piro@ussf.org. Donations may be made through Pay Pal by visiting the foundation website at www.ussoldiersfoundation.org.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

The Winchester “You’ve got to head down the road and see where it takes you.” These words from Michael Haynes were what I was hoping to hear- I immediately knew it would be a great interview. As I sat with Michael at his kitchen counter, I couldn’t help but to listen to his words of encouragement- because Michael Haynes has earned the right to offer the advice. Michael Haynes lives just outside of Springhill, Louisiana, on a small farm that takes him back to his roots. In the years since he left the city limits of Sprinhill, eventually bound for Hollywood, a lot has changed. He made the transition from a student at LSU in Baton Rouge to a movie industry insider, and now he wants to share what he learned along the way. “I was at LSU, and a movie came to town with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodard, Orson Welles, and Angela Lansbury. There was a host of big stars attached to the film, which was called Long, Hot Summer, and I wanted to be an extra. I was a theatre major and a broadcast minor at LSU, so it was a natural fit. We would go out every day, in a friend of mine’s Chevrolet convertible with the top down, which was ironic because we were shooting the movie in the dead of winter. We were happy because we were a part of it- we felt like we had arrived.” The chance to be a part of a major motion picture so early in his career made an enormous difference in Michael’s life. He used the opportunity to stand back, watch the process, and realized there was a lot to learn about the movie industry. “I found that everything I was studying in school was several eras behind what I had just learned making the movie. I decided to get out where they were making movies, and I went. I got a job working for a caterer in California. The week after I left for Hollywood, I was on a movie set passing out beans. That job was interesting for me- I was working with people I had seen on telvision, even if I was only handing them their food. After several years of working for the caterer, going to classes to learn the trade of acting, and parking cars, it all began to happen.” In Hollywood, there is no such thing as a guarantee. The city is full of people trying to make their break into the industry, and most never succeed. But in one afternoon, it all changed for Michael. His big break had arrived. “I had been in Hollywood for a while, and I’d gotten to a place where I was doing commercials. I had just finished a movie that had required me to have long hair and a beard, when my commercial agent called and asked me if I still had my beard. I said ‘No, but I still have the mustache.” Everything else soon fell into place. “During the next few weeks, I learned how to smoke a cigar and went for the initial test with Winchester. They tested me with two other guys- an undiscovered man named Tom Selleck. Winchester chose me, and soon I was on a contract. I worked with them for ten years and for a while I was the highest paid male model in America. It was something I had backed into- I was trained as an actor, not as a model. The ads made me look like I had just walked into the room. Winchester gave me the opportunity to work with the top female models in New York. But we weren’t doing the basic commercial- we worked with movement as opposed to creating one pose. I used my background for acting, and Winchester became comfortable with it. We always wanted the ads to show something going on, and the

shoots evolved from my background in acting. A major campaign launched across the country, and for ten years, Springhill native Michael Haynes became The Winchester Man.“I did a lot of personal appearances from the mid seventies to the mid eighties. I was at events like The Indy 500, Professional Rodeos, and I met a lot of people. I was always on the airplane. As The Winhester Man, I was required to do a lot of traveling. And though it was a wonderful career move, I always wondered what life would have been like had I turned down the role. While I was busy being The Winchester Man, Tom Selleck’s career sprouted. He and I had been up for a lot of the same roles, and I always wondered what would have happened if I had gone down a different road.” Michael doesn’t sugar-coat the words or try to take them back. “You’ve got to head down the road and see where it takes you,” he says. That doesn’t mean that you can’t look back and wonder where things would have gone had you chosen a different path. If you ask me, Michael definitely went the right direction. He was not only The Winchester Man, but also became very recognized for other commercial work, too. “I initially signed an exclusive contract, but then Winchester let me have a non-competing contract and I became a spokesman for Toyota, Kentucky Cigarettes, and Skii Doo snowmobiles.” Although his career in the world of commercials was long and prestigious, Michael also followed his other passions and found himself in several areas of the industry. “It’s important to always learn. I think too many people have a bad example. They get a job in a movie, and then they say, ‘I’m in the movies!’ I did the same thing when I was younger, but then I spent years learning how to become a professional. If you’re thinking of working in film, there are no short cuts. Get involved in the business, and then learn from others. Don’t be too quick to say you’re ‘in the movies.’ Say that you’re ‘learning’ the business instead. It’s easy to say you’re this or you’re that, but when you do you might shortcut yourself later. Because even though the film industry is a very large business, word does travel fast. The worst thing others can say about you is ‘he wasn’t prepared, or he wasn’t as professional as we thought he was.’ Too many people think they understand the industry, when they really need to stay a while, learn how the whole thing works, and then they’ll really have it.” Michael’s not shy about giving away one of his biggest secrets to success. “I had a long history of learning, and I think that helped. I had the ability to learn from people, I made contacts within the field, and I listened when I was told to learn. Because of my ability to learn, I was able to act, do stunt work, and have a long career. Having those abilities allowed me to have more than one trade.” Michael might have moved back from Los Angeles, but he’s not planning on using the opportunity to retire. “I have worked with movies for most of my life, and I’d like to create an local office that can be used as a model. I am excited to bring my contacts and my expertise to northern Louisiana, and my hope is to form an organization that can bring new projects to this area.” For years, Michael believed he had the choice- either live in Los Angeles and be a part of the movie industry, or move back to Springhill and slow down from his hectic lifestyle. But after the movie industry began filming in Northern Louisiana, Michael came to realize he could finally have both. “I found that I could practice my craft here. I can make movies in this area. And it was time for a chapter change. Change has never been a problem for me. I love opening a new door

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

Man

by Jackie Lewis

for new adventures. Being in the movies, you’re the modern day hunter. Every day, we go out and hope we get a deer. If you do, you have food. If not, you need to tighten the belt. Once you finish one job, you start looking for another. We spend our whole lives looking for jobs. It’s part of the business, and there’s no guarantee. Michael has worn many different hats during his career. He has been an actor, a model, a stuntman, written movies, been a director, and now often works as a stunt coordinator. But there is little doubt that most of us will will always think of him as The Winchester Man. And I am proud to say that he once again calls Springhill home.

FEB / MAR 2010

Sharon Jackson is a Certified Personal Trainer from Ruston, Louisiana and the founder of Sharon’s Slamming Boot Camp. She is passionate about empowering and shaping the lives of women. Her Boot Camps are held weekly in Ruston and Arcadia, Louisiana. For more information on Sharon, visit www.stayingfitwithsharon.com.

Sharon’s Tips For Keeping Your New Year’s Resolution

anuary has come and gone, are you still pumped and excited about exercising and staying in shape? Did you already call it quits and throw in the towel? Well I hope you are still making a commitment to your resolution. Most of us all have jobs and families that keep us busy, but I have some tips that will help you

build exercise into your schedule. It is very important that you have a positive attitude about deciding to take control of your health. Your greatest possession is the 24 hours that you get in a day. You have to take responsibility of how you plan your day. When you decide on how your day will be spent it is important that exercise be a part of it. If you don’t decide how your day will be spent then someone else will. Remember you are in charge. It is important to set attainable goals. Instead of saying I will work out everyday, start with 3 or 4 days and as you get consistent you can add more days. When you complete one goal it will motivate you to keep setting more. Another suggestion is exercising with a friend to hold each other accountable. If you will focus on what will bring the most return for your health then it will be easier to keep up the program. Our main objective when it come to working out should be our health. If we take care of our bodies now we can help to increase our lifespan and decrease the chance of developing some types of heart disease.It will also increase your energy levels. Let’s take control and win in 2010 to become fit for life. Will this be the last year you set a New Year resolution to get back in shape? Decide today that you will say in 2011 that you will work out even more to stay in the best shape ever! Until next time have a blessed day!

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

quite acceptable, to the point that if you didn’t know how old the machine was, you might think it was the latest model.

OK.

I get it, you want to know something about that new computer you got for Christmas… or something like that! Right? Well, in this segment, I want to briefly (note to self…BRIEFLY) give some of my background, a little insight into the computer industry, maybe a bit of humor and, last but not least… I want to solicit your input. This column is (hopefully) going to be directed by YOU, the readers. Just as the name says… ASK THE COMPUTER GUY!!! My aim is to give you direct, concise, accurate replies to your questions. Go deep, or keep it light. Your choice.

My Background

I’m Tom Grant, I live in Minden, Louisiana, and I have been involved with computers for the past 25 years, starting out with the IBM System 34 computer…a 900 lb behemoth… slow as molasses on a COLD day compared to the telephone in my pocket. I’ve been involved with PC’s since they had 2 floppy drives and no hard drive (a LONG time ago). For 15 years I traveled this great country working on integrating data collection systems into manufacturing and warehousing operations. Bar code scanners, conveyor controls, etc… working with weird stuff that other folks scratched their heads at. For most of the last decade, I’ve been here in Minden providing front line support to local businesses. We’re now in the process of adding support services to local home users.

State of Industry

the

Computer

The computer industry has seen a lot of changes. It sure fits the term: ‘The only constant is change.’ Windows 7, Microsoft’s latest operating system, has quickly won the hearts of most of us who turned our backs on Windows Vista. Microsoft has worked hard to remove a lot of the ‘bloat’ which sucked performance from the Windows Vista operating system. While 2 GB ram was a requirement on Windows Vista, Windows 7 runs comfortably in 1.5 Gb. I have a 3 year old laptop running on Windows 7. Though it’s not the latest processor, its performance is

FOR MORE ADVANCED USERS: Linux, the other ‘up and coming’ operating system has seen some nice changes. This column is not the venue to review the broad range of choices in the Linux world. If you’ve heard of Linux, and have considered trying it out, you will want to look at Ubuntu Linux 9.10. This version of Linux has matured to the point that I would consider it ready for ‘mainstream’ use. Go to http://www.ubuntu.com for more information. It’s Linux, so it’s FREE. Once you download the Ubuntu 9.10 ISO file, you’ll need to burn it to a disk before it can be used to install the operating system. If you lack a tool to burn an ISO file, go to http:// magiciso.com. Magic ISO will easily handle burning your CD. Provide a CD, burn the ISO, then you’re ready to go. All you’ll need to do is provide a computer (even an older one is OK), I’d recommend at least 1 Gb of ram. Caution: Installing Ubuntu in the default configuration WILL wipe out all data on your computer!!!

Commonsense Computing

I’m often faced with people bringing computers where their kids have gone to web sites, downloaded ‘stuff’ and wonder of wonders, infected their computer with trojans or viruses! One of the most common questions I receive is “What can I do to prevent infections and speed up this stupid computer?” With the amount of malware that’s floating around the internet, it’s vital to take a few precautions. Anti-virus and anti-spyware programs are a must. A few things can be done to help insure your computer stays clean.

ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE

Many people notice that McAffee and Symantec (Norton) antivirus suites slow down their computers. Consider using an antivirus program that doesn’t attempt to be the doall, end-all of solutions. Nod32 and AVGFree are fast, competent antiviral tools. Nod32 is the highest rated antivirus program in a number of tests. We use it exclusively. AVG has a free version that is OK if cost is your primary concern. Anti-spyware software. Not all

FEB / MAR 2010

malware programs are considered viruses. Probably the most common infection I run across is spyware. ‘Super-Antispyware’, and ‘Spybot S&D’ are 2 primary tools that we use on that front. Super-Antispyware can be obtained at: http://tinyurl. com/2ghe9e. Spybot Search and Destroy can be downloaded at: http://tinyurl.com/yrwy2.

with different types of objectionable content, even block access to specific web sites… Don’t want your kids going to ‘http://socialistworker. org/? Add a filter!

FOR MORE ADVANCED USERS: Set your DNS to use OpenDNS servers. If you open a free account at http://opendns.com, you may then log in and set some ‘filtering’ preferences. They have a component that you may download that will link your account to your ‘dynamic ip address’ that will keep your preferences set even when your isp changes your ip address.

I look forward to hearing from you! Feel free to send your questions to me from our web site: http:// askthecomputerguy.com Click on the ‘Contact Us’ menu to send your questions today!

With the use of OpenDNS and your OpenDNS user account, you may set filtering options for your home network… block adult sites, sites

The above is just a short list of tools to use in keeping your computer safe. I’m sure you’ll come up with other questions along the way.

FEB / MAR 2010

not these things.

Addict. Hi, I’m Jason and I’m an addict. I might as well

admit it to the world, not just my wife and congregation (who already know). I am. I am addicted. Not to heroine or crack or alcohol or any of that stuff. I’m addicted to media. I realized I was addicted about six

years ago when in my downtime I would turn on the tv to see what was on and the next thing I know I’ve watched three and a half hours of it. When I realized it I thought, “I’m wasting my life away, I need to quit watching so much tv.” But it isn’t that easy, is it? What about you? Are you addicted to the tv? Now, before you place an accusational tone onto the font here, please know that I am passing no judgment. I still deal with it on a daily basis. Every time I see a Red Lobster commercial in hi-def I want to grab the keys, pack up the kids, and head out for all you can eat crab legs! And I live in New Orleans, the land of seafood! Have you seen those?!?! My mouth is watering. I am not an opponent to media, just an opponent to media being the center of our lives. I’m not going to tell you to cut the power cord (though I do know some people who had to do that very thing). Your tv can have some good stuff on it – weather, news, educational stuff, clean shows, etc – but sadly most are

So, do you think you’re an addict? Let me ask you this. What is the center of your living room? What do the couch, loveseat, and recliner point towards? Are they pointing towards each other because you want to have some stimulating conversation? It’s pointing towards the tv, isn’t it? Ok, no big deal. You can just move some furniture around. I know what you’re thinking, “Jason, that doesn’t make me an addict.” Ok, you’re right, but it could be a sign. What about this? Would you be willing to unplug your tv for one day just to find out? Unplug it one night before you go to bed. Then, the next day, see how many times you consciously or unconsciously pick up the remote and turn on the tv. It will blow your mind!!! But it isn’t just tv. Can you get into the car and drive without the radio on? Can you go for more than a day without getting on the internet (by the way, tv on the internet still counts as tv)? Can you sit in your bedroom and not pick up an Xbox controller? It’s hard to just be still and quiet. I realized recently that I was addicted to sports. The college football season is now over and I am in withdrawals. I would listen to sports radio every time I’d get into the car and instinctually turn up the radio. One day I turned it off and tried my own experiment. For three days I reached for the volume knob. For three days I felt like the world was in slow motion. For three days I thought I was going to die. Then, a breakthrough. I started thinking differently. I started living in the real world…mine. Not a reality show’s, not a sports broadcaster’s, not anybody else’s world except for my own because I don’t want to be consumed by a life that isn’t mine. I want my life to be used

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

by God for His purposes, not NBC’s. According to a study (one of many by many) by the California State University in Northridge, the average American spends four hours a day watching tv and 3.5 minutes in meaningful conversation with their kids! Neilson says we watch a bit more. Google it. I’m not lying. For you marrieds, a tv in the bedroom kills the love life. I don’t have one and I have 3 kids in five years! At the end of our lives we will have spent 9 years watching tv. Ugh, I’m gonna puke! Imagine what could get done in 9 years! We go on vacation every time we turn this stuff on. The word vacation means, “an act or instance of vacating”, in this case our minds. It is why the time flies by for plotaddicts and why it’s impossible to remember the last two miles for radio-heads. Now, when you are ready to kick this addiction don’t replace it with another addiction. That would be stupid. Replace it with what is in your life. As a pastor I’d ask you how much time you spend with God each day. Go dust off that bible and check it out. It has got some pretty wise stuff in there for your life. If your bible is too complex to read get one that isn’t. How much time do you spend in prayer with God? Not just asking him for stuff (He ain’t Santa!) but also thanking Him for what He has done in your life. What about your family? If you are a husband, I guarantee you your wife will be floored if you turn off the tv, look her dead in the eyes, and start talking to her. What about the kids? When was the last time you played a board game with them? Or watched a funny, wholesome movie together (I told you I wasn’t totally against

tv)? What about your friends? Have you had a meaningful conversation with them lately? Let’s get out of this crazy media cycle and live our own lives! Let’s replace the fake with the real. Let’s invest in other people and not just ourselves. Sure, you’ll get the shakes for a few days, maybe even weeks, but once you push through it you’ll see things more clearly. You’ll realize it’s actually more fun not to be an addict because it will be your own plot line, your own story, and your own life.

Jason McReynolds is the pastor of New Orleans Community Church. He and his wife, Liev, have three children.

learn more about him, or NOCC, visit: www.neworleans community church.com

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

ADVERTISING in The Minute Magazine is easy on the piggy bank. If you don’t believe us, just ask him! Call us at 318.382.1900

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

SMALL TOWN

HEROES

emories help you remain grounded and remember positive aspects about your origins. The people I have written about have all talked about the happy times they had while growing up; good memories of their growing years far outweigh the bad times. It’s not that they didn’t have bad times, they just prefer to remember the good instead of the bad. Each one of them have shown the respect that only a good, loving family can bestow upon its loved ones. My next hero is no exception. He came from one of the most distinguished and honorable families that have called Doyline, Louisiana home. I was extremely apprehensive about driving to Doyline. Actually, I was going to the other side of Doyline, to Lake Bistineau. It was a cloudy day and really quite gloomy. The overcast sky surely wasn’t helping with my anxiety, which was getting worse the closer I got to my destination. Soon after I turned at what is known as “Hall’s Curve” onto “Booth Cutuff Road” I realized I was lost. Great… now I had to find a house with vehicles around it and no sign of a dog. I wasn’t taking a chance with someone’s canine using

my leg to sink its teeth into. I finally found a house with people standing outside and they gave me the general direction for the property I was trying to locate. If I hurried, I could still make it on time. I was looking for a hidden driveway. It isn’t easy to find a driveway that is partially concealed, and when I finally located it and was driving up to the house through a narrow road with overhanging bushes and trees, I thought, “They have their own little unique hideaway!” As the road ended I pulled into a very large opening. Upon seeing the house for the first time, I immediately fell in love with it; thinking to myself, “How appropriate the style and materials are for this secluded area!” The building itself had a feeling of permanence, looking strong enough to survive whatever nature could throw at it. I had arrived on this Saturday morning to interview Dr. Gladden Willis. All of my life I heard stories about the Willis family from my grandfather, Olin Carter, and my daddy. My grandfather and daddy held deep respect for the Willis family. Grandpa Carter had even named my daddy after Gladden Willis, Dr. Willis’ grandfather! My daddy’s name was Gladney Willis Carter. Most people did not know this about my daddy as he was known as “Buddy.” The Willis family has always been a cornerstone of the rural community of Doyline and the surrounding

area. I myself have childhood “Willis memories.” (The Willis Family were well known to the children along rural roads of the area- Mr. Shirley Willis, one of the “Willis Brothers”, would throw candy and gum from his car to the children who would stand by the road waiting for him to pass by on his way home each day.) As I walked up to the door, Dr. Willis’ wife Lydia came out to greet me. She introduced herself and I thought, “She’s really very nice.” I started to relax. We went inside the house and I was even more impressed with the feeling of stability and continuity of the vast living and dining area. The space was very bright, very large, and very open. Lydia told me that Dr. Willis was outside, overseeing some work he was having done to their enormous yard. She called him in, and after being introduced, I found myself feeling completely relaxed. Gladden and Lydia Willis both have a warm appealing nature that brings back memories of a slower and more serene time. As we started talking, Dr. Willis told me about his family. I knew their names, but not how they were all related to Gladden. His father was John Stillmon Willis. Stillmon, as he was called, had a son, John Stillmon Jr., by his first wife. She died when John Jr. was an infant. Stillmon, as I remember him being called, married again, to Gladden’s mother. Gladden’s mother’s name was Virgie. Gladden was born on March 26, 1939 to Stillmon and Virgie. When Dr. Willis was about six years old his mother died and Mr. Stillmon later married Virgie’s friend, Hazel Defreese. I remember Hazel. She was the epitome of a southern lady, and everyone liked her. My first question was about their home. I wondered if the house was on the original Willis property, and Dr. Willis explained, “This house is not on original family land. The line for the Willis family property starts right outside the back door and lies north of here, but this was a good area to build a house.” As a young boy, Gladden said he lived on a farm in part of the area that is now

by Lynette Carter Sheets known as “Lake Bistineau State Park” off Dement Road. Mr. Stillmon had purchased around 1400 acres when he was married the first time. Dr. Willis said their house was about where the State Park swimming pool is located now. It overlooked the lake. Today, there is a trail in the park called “Willis Trail.” Before living at the lake area, Dr. Willis’ family lived in a house north of the railroad tracks in Doyline; property that is now included in the local Army Ammunition Plant. He described the pecan trees and the four houses so vividly that I was left wondering if I could really remember them or if his description brought them to life for me. Gladden told me the other three families living there included Alice Brown and her family. Mrs. Brown was the post mistress for the village of Doyline. Gladden said his grandfather, John Gladden, lived in another one of the houses and his daddy lived in the third one. The Cecil Foreman family resided in the fourth house. Dr. Willis explained why his family moved from the house in Doyline. When the war occurred, U.S. Marshals came to their front door and said, “Your home is going to be used as the Administrative Center for the Ordinance Plant and you have ten days to vacate the premises.” He said they were told the government was taking all of that section of land. Some of the Willis property lay north of the Army Ammunition Plant. They took that land, too. They were paid eight or nine dollars an acre for their property. During the two years before my daddy died he had told me stories about his childhood. One of those stories concerned a time when he was very ill. He was taken to a small hospital in Shreveport. He talked of Dr. Willis and the staff there, how he had been told that he could have died. He never forgot it. I asked Gladden about the Willis’ family’s relationship with that hospital. He said, “Uncle Clint, (James Clinton Willis) was co-founder of what is now the Willis Knighton Hospital. Uncle Clint also had a large practice that included many Broadway actors and actresses. He had met some of them at his summer home in Florida.” Gladden went on to explain, “My Daddy and Uncle Clint were very close. They even shared a weekend home over in the Delta

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire. Area, close to Rayville at Bayou Lafouche. Every couple of weeks we would go spend the weekend together.” Gladden told me that his great grandfather, (John Winston Willis) was a druggist in Homer. When Uncle Clint was seventeen his father, John Winston, gave him a horse and $500. Clint left home to go to Vanderbilt to get his MD degree. He had his degree at the age of nineteen. He came back to Homer, but he couldn’t practice until he was twentyone. He went in with an older gentleman until he came of age to have his own practice. When he turned twenty-one he got his license and went out on his own and, as they say, “the rest is history.” John Clinton Willis M.D. was cofounder of Willis Knighton, but James Clinton Jr. M.D. was the doctor who ran the hospital in the early years. He was the “Director” of Willis Knighton. Gladden said, “Clint Jr. was my inspiration.” John Clinton Willis, the druggist in Homer, donated land and started a church and school in the community of Arizona, close to Lake Claiborne. The church is listed in the National Historical Registry. The teacher at the small school was James, (Uncle Jimmy) Nicholson. James later went to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge and became president of the University. Nicholson Oak and Nicholson Drive were named for Jimmy Nicholson. Gladden went to a school at Doyline High School where he graduated in 1957. Some of his classmates included Bubba Reeves, owner of Topps Western World, Harry Murphy, Lamar Posey, Elaine Shelley Davis and Wayne Craig. After graduation, Gladden enrolled at Centenary College and in 1960 he graduated from Centenary. Next, he entered medical school at Tulane University and in 1964 he had completed his medical schooling. He did a one year internship at what was then known as Confederate Memorial Hospital. It is now named Louisiana State University Hospital at Shreveport, or LSUS. Dr. Willis’ specialty was Surgical Pathology. Until his retirement a few years ago, he performed biopsies for cancer of the lungs, colon and breast. He is well known in the field of work, having fourteen published papers. Dr. Willis met his wife, Lyndia Hall, while at Confederate Memorial. They actually met in the morgue, located in the basement of the hospital. Lydia was working there as a Medical Illustrator. They were married in May of 1966, and they have two sons: Charles Austin and Loy Stillmon. Dr. Willis spent his four-year residency with Dr. William Matthews. After he finished his residency, Gladden went to Memorial Sloan-

Kettering Cancer Center located in the middle of Manhatten. He and Lydia had planned to stay there, but then they had their first child and decided it was no place to raise children as it was so difficult to get around. It took about four hours to get to the country from Manhatten. They lived briefly in Houston, Texas and Roswell, New Mexico, before settling in New Orleans for the next thirtytwo years. While in New Orleans, Dr. Willis was with “Ochsner’s Health System” where he was the Director of Anatomic Pathology from 1977 to 2003, and Vice Chair, Laborator Medicine from 1997 to 2003. He was a partner at the Ochsner Clinic from 1976 until he retired in December of 2004. Gladden has belonged to a large number of societies through out the years, including “Arthur Purdy Stout Society of Surgical Pathologists”, became emeritus January of 2005, “Association of Directors of Anatomic Surgical Pathology”, became emeritus January of 2005, International Academy of Pathology, became emeritus January of 2005, and New York Academy of Science. Dr. Willis’ Community Service Awards and Listings included being a board member, Vice President and President of the Jefferson Performing Arts Society in Metairie, Louisiana, “The Best Doctors in America Southeast Region” and “Who’s Who in America”, Marquis Who’s Who editions: 56,57,58,59,60,61,62, “Who’s Who in the World”, Marquis Who’s Who edition 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and “Dictionary of International Biography, Cambridge” editions 30, 31, 32. Dr. Willis holds many more titles than are listed here. Dr. Willis is also a well-known photographer, having had 2,213 Biological/Scientific photographs pulished in biology textbooks and science magazines. He belongs to the “American Society of Media Photographers” and the “North American Nature Photography Association.” Gladden and Lydia love to travel. In fact, one of them is usually about to leave for a trip or has just returned from one. Dr. Willis is a man of self-assurance,

FEB / MAR 2010 with no desperate desire for celebrity. As I listened to Lydia explain how Gladden would not “toot his own horn,” I thought, “Another individual guided by honesty and selfrespect.” In addition to his optimistic nature, Dr. Willis has a deep love of life and his wife. Lydia radiates the same love for him. They seem to have a rare type of marriage; one of commitment and support for one another. After years in the fast moving medical world, they have chosen to return to the rural setting of Gladden’s childhood, where they both indulge in their hobbies. Two of Gladden’s interests include “Tree Farming” and growing “Ornamental Shrubs.” Lydia spends a lot of time in her studio where she wood carves decorative duck decoys. I have seen some of them, and I can testify that they are truly beautiful. Has Dr. Willis slowed down since his retirement? I would say no, he hasn’t. He is now just as busy with his photography, which in the past took him to many interesting places on several continents, but science textbook publisher still seek and use his photographs and he is still volunteering his time to many various charitable organizations. It seems I am always learning something new from my interviews, and this interview was no different. I want to pass on to our readers some facts I learned just through casual conversation with Dr. Willis and Lydia. They had bought a large number of shrubs and flowers for pots. That summer Lydia says she watered every plant from one of the three wells they had drilled and all of the flowers died. They couldn’t imagine

what had happened to the plants and decided to have the water tested. It was discovered that there was a large amount of salt in the ground, and it was seeping into the water. The land in that particular area has large salt deposits that were discovered had been used in the past by the people living here. I was raised in the Lake Bistineau area, and I had never known about the salt. Maybe in the future I’ll spend some time researching this subject!

-----------------------------------------------Photos: Pg. 19, left: Gladden and Lydia in May of 1966. Pg. 19, right: Gladden Willis at age 6. Pg. 18: (l to r) Sally, Gladney, Betty, Martha, John Jr. and Stillmon.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose: Butterfly Bush, Clematis, Cotoneaster, Crepe Myrtle, Deutzia, Dogwood, Euonymus, Forsythia, Hydrangea, Mock Orange, Roses, Sweet Shrub, Viburnum, and Weigela.

fun to make your own plants from scratch!

Seasons

I n a garden…growth has its season. There are spring and

summer, but there are also fall and winter. And then spring and summer again. As long as the roots are not severed, all is well and will be well. ~Jerzy Kosinski, Being There, 1970 We wake up in the morning and witness a brand new sunrise. Seasons are constantly changing with the rotation of earth around the sun in its orbit and along its axis. We have no control of our weather, it gives us something different to talk about each day to one another. Do we really know what each new day brings us? No, we go forth as our ancestors did, planning and planting our gardens. Some folks go by the signs in the night sky’s as we discussed last issue. Some go by what the garden stores offer for sale (Maybe we should call this the Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowes Almanac)! As silly as that sounds they have people that known when to bring what to where. However a late freeze can screw up their schedules. Go in your favorite garden store, you will see the new items coming in daily for Spring. Check the offerings carefully for signs of weather damage. I am glad to have had a winter rest. I have been day dreaming in those new catalogs that came in my mailbox in January. Something that you may want to try, build your own heated propagation box. Save heat and energy from heating the whole greenhouse. Heating the root area of plants is far more effective than heating an entire greenhouse or grow room. For gardeners who want to propagate a number of plants, it is far less expensive and more practical to use a propagation box. It’s more

You can make a box in which to grow cuttings, for example (chrysanthemums) or other plants. Here’s a suggestion: Make a box 14 inches wide by 24 inches long by 4 inches tall out of cedar. (Do not use treated wood, plants don’t like those types of chemicals) Lay 2 inches of sand in the bottom. Coil a 6-foot heating cable (Available at greenhouse supply stores and some Nurseries) on top of the sand base. Lay another inch of sand on top of cable. Lay a stainless steel mesh screen (Hardware cloth) on top of the sand. Set the thermostat at 72 degrees. Build another box of the same dimensions except make it 6 inches tall. Make this box without a bottom. Place it on top of the first box. Place potted cuttings on top of screen. Or, instead of using pots, fill box with 2 inches of cutting mix and plant cuttings in rows about 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart. Top with a sheet of glass or rigid plastic cut to the same size as the box. You can skip the heating cable, but cuttings will just take longer to root. An alternative is to make a cutting box that’s heated with a 40-watt bulb instead of a heating cable. Here’s how: Build a box 14 inch wide by 24 inches long by 8 inches tall out of cedar(Again, don‘t use treated wood). Line the box with aluminum foil. Mount a 40-watt bulb in a coffee can nailed to the side of the box. Proceed as above, using the 4-inch-tall box with a bottom as the next layer and the 6-inch-tall box without a bottom as the third layer. There’s no need to use the sand or mesh screen, since you won’t be using the heating cable. Just fill the second-layer box with cutting mix or potted cuttings. The heat is the key word for making this method work. April is a month of opportunities. Seasons are changing for the better in my eyes. Days are lengthening, soils are warming, and buds are popping. It gets better. April is also an opportunity to easily propagate many kitchen-garden plants using softwood cuttings. Learning to propagate

some of your own plants will save you money. It may also enable you to propagate or reproduce that rare plant that you have that you can’t find a source for. Why April? Generally speaking, as a shoot matures, it becomes less prone or slower to root, so you’ll get varying degrees of success with cuttings taken outside the ideal period. Experimenting has been my lesson of choice. Each of us have learned their own method of propagation. I hope these suggestions help you conquer your fears. It is really easy once you know what to do and what month to start in. If you fail start over again- it’s only dirt. Tips for success: Start with clean tools and pots. New planting media recommended for starting plants or seeds really makes a difference.. This reduces the chance of diseases and pests. Rooting hormone dips are fungicidal, but for applying fungicide to the shoots above ground, use a Copper Soap Fungicide. These items can be found at local garden stores. How to take cuttings: Before you start, fill clean pots with a mixture of half peat and half coarse sand. Label them so they are ready to plant. Softwood cuttings, which are taken from new growth, are quicker to take root than more mature cuttings. The only thing is they are susceptible to drying out easily. In other words, plant immediately. If your neighbor or friend gives you a cutting be sure to wrap it up with a damp paper towel until you return home. Plant that new cutting as soon as possible. Collect at least a 4” cutting as early in the day as you can to ensure they are the most hydrated. Take 6 to 8-inch “tip” cuttings of the current seasons spring growth. Prune off the leaves from the bottom third of each cutting and make a hole in the soil using a dibble, dowel or pencil. Plants that are easy to propagate from softwood cuttings: Althea (Rose of Sharon),

April is National Gardening Month. Get out and grow something new in your garden. Last summer I planted gourds. I asked myself what are you going to do with a gourd? Well, these familiar, durable gourds are used around the world to make everything from containers and utensils to water dippers, smoking pipes, musical instruments, and most important bird houses. I have been Gourding, (is that a word? It is now!) at Dave & Glenda Tooke’s beautiful home on Lake Claiborne, in Homer Louisiana. Glenda is an amazing lady. She holds gourding sessions once a month. I’ve met many wonderful people that are addicted to this amazing art form. Tools used are wood burners with which you can carve individual designs on the surface of the gourd. Afterwards, paint them with acrylic paint then wax it to finish it. Glenda shared seeds with me last winter. I planted bottle, apple, canteen, and ornamental gourd seeds. The seeds come up quickly, it’s fun to watch how fast the vines climb the trellis and how many fruits they made. You may question me about whether a gourd is a fruit or a vegetable. So I researched it and found that tomatoes, gourds, squash, pumpkin, and cucumbers, are all, (are you ready for this friends?) from a botanical perspective, all FRUITS!!! Yes, that’s right, fruits! Fruits grow their seeds on the inside of the fruit. Vegetables do not. Vegetables grow their seeds on the plant, usually on a stalk that grows from the plant. I learn something everyday. An inexpensive sturdy trellis can be found at the feed store or coop. Ask for a cattle panel and a few 7’ steel posts--P.S. take a trailer or a truck, the panels are 11ft. long and 5ft. high! On the planting calendar for March: snap & lima beans, Swiss chard, Kohirabi, & radishes. After frost, plant hot peppers, tomato, eggplant, bell peppers, Basil, Southern peas, and corn. An old wives tale says to plant your corn seed when the leaves of an oak tree are the size of a squirrel’s ear. Let me know how your harvest of Onions, shallots, garlic, & Irish potatoes went. This months recommended reading: The Gardener’s Secret Handbook, by Michael J. McGroarty. If you have any comments or questions send them to blondiesbulldog@ aol.com Please place plants in the subject line. Happy Gardening until next time!

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Mag’s Purpose:

Once again the

MARCH WINDS BLOW

by Dorothy Bowden

nce again the March winds blow. And once again, I recall the year those winds blew us a mystery. This mystery was in the form of a

note found in our back yard—a note which said, “If you find this piece of paper please call 000-0000 (telephone number) and report my name.” It was signed “Sherri”. It was written on a “take a day off from smoking” slip such as one would find in restaurants or other public places. We pondered it. What did it mean? Where did it come from, and how did it get in our yard? We live a distance off of a main highway. Was this only a childish prank or was this really a girl in trouble, and this her call for help? Had she been kidnapped? We hear so many horror stories. At the time, men were drilling

for oil on our farm. Perhaps the note had blown out, or was thrown out of one of the worker ’s trucks. We decided to comply with the request. I called the telephone number; a man’s gruff voice answered. When I stated the message, he growled, “You’ve got the wrong number”, and slammed the receiver down in my ear! It gave me a chill. Why did the mention of Sherri’s name cause such a reaction? I reported the incident to our local sheriff’s office. They took the information in case something should come up. They told me that the telephone exchange I had called was in the area where the oil company offices were

located, some 50-60 miles from our home. I heard no more about it. “…please call 000-0000 and report my name”, it haunts me to this day. Was this an abused child? Or, was she perhaps a run-away? Was the man I talked with her father, and did she hope he would find her and urge her to come home? Sherri, whoever you are, and wherever you are, I want you to know that on that day, I also called your Heavenly Father and reported your name. Years have passed, and still I think of you, and especially when once again the March winds blow.

FEB / MAR 2010

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

Angel Ministries

Angel Ministries 509 North Second in Monroe, La.

We’re Mourning the loss of Jody Simpson

Jody Simpson

written by Judy Wilson

Clothing and Bedding for Haiti Being Collected by Angel Ministries Angel Ministries at 509 North 2nd Street in Monroe is accepting childirens and adult clothing and bedding for the victims of the Haitian earthquake. They will accept donations of clean, gently used clothing and bedding from 9-5 PM daily Monday through Friday at their location. Linda Tripp, Executive Director of Angel Ministries states, “Our mission is to help the people who fall through the cracks in Northeast Louisiana. It is only fitting and fair that we help our fellow Haitians in their time of dire need. I hope that the people of our area will respond as soon as possible.” For further information about the Haitian relief or Angel Ministries other projects, call 318-388-5100..

Jody Simpson, Administrative Assistant to Linda Tripp, Executive Director of Angel Ministries in Monroe, LA passed away Sunday, December 20 “Our own angel, Jody, will be missed more than we can express.” Tripp stated. “The shock of losing of losing Jody was so unexpected, it is still unbelievable. For the five years that she had worked for Angel Ministries, her dedication and love for our organization, fellow employees, and clients was remarkable. She will be greatly missed. Recently Simpson was named “Angel of the Year” posthumously at the Angel Ministries Christmas Party. Tripp stated, “Jody was nominated for this honor along with others and was chosen for her dedication to the many Angel Ministries projects which included Cruise for a Cause, the Angel Ministries Food Program, mild Hyperbaric Chamber Schedule, the Hyperbaric Solutions Telethon, Senior Prom for Seniors and Gospel Concert. She was a great spokesperson for Angel Ministries and loved and toiled for the cause that has helped so many people in N. E. Louisiana.” We Will Miss You Jody. We Have Our Own Angel Watching Over Us Now! She loved being a major part of “Sharing the Caring” and helping so many people in northeastern Louisiana.

Call 318-388-5100 for reservations.

Linda Tripp Recieves Honor Linda Tripp, executive director of Angel Ministries was honored with the Lillie “Granny Goins Community Service Award” at the Martin Luther King Jr Birthday celebration at the Civic Center. Tripp, stated, “ I had a dream, a dream that people in our area who “fall through the cracks”, the homeless, the disabled, the elderly, and the hopeless all should have an opportunity to have a good life and should know what Angel Ministries’ slogan, “Sharing the Caring” means. Tripp was one of many honored in the community for their work in making the area a better place to be. She is the founder of Angel Ministries, with programs that include Hyperbaric Solutions and Angel Ministries Food Care grants, to name a few.For further information about Angel Ministries and how you can help or if you need help, call 318-3885100 or go to 509 North 2nd Street in Monroe.

Angel Ministries’ Cruise for a Cause To Raise Funds for More Hyperbaric Chambers Angel Ministries announces “Cruise for a Cause 4”, aboard the Carnival Triumph, when proceeds from the cabin reservations will help raise money for three (3) more mild Hyperbaric Chambers. The 7 day vacation begins in New Orleans on Saturday, September 18 and returns on Saturday, September 25, 2010, and will allow you the convenience of leaving from a nearby location. The cruise will tour the Eastern Caribbean. . Full deposit of $250.00 is due by 4/16/20010. Cabin prices are double occupancy and are $361.00 for an interior, $481.00 for ocean-view, and $631.00 for balcony, plus tax, port charges, and gratuities.

Angel Miniistries has already purchased 3 of the mild Hyperbaric Chambers. This cruise is only one of several fundraisers that are planned to enable them to purchase the other chambers. Your donation to this worthy cause will be much appreciated and is completely tax deductible. Angel Ministries is a 501(c)3 organization.

The Carnival Triumph

Angel Ministries needs Refridgerators! Linda Tripp, Executive Director of Angel Ministries at 509 North 2nd Street, in Monroe is looking for at least 15 used but working refrigerators. Angel Ministries food program is in the process of being expanded and the Monroe location will become a distribution center for the Arklamiss. Tripp has already installed a huge freezer but needs the refrigerators to go with the freezer for the produce. If you have a refrigerator that you would like to donate to this 501c3 non-profit, you will be given a receipt for tax purposes. The Angel Ministries Food Program is open to anyone and there is no application or fees to join the program. Proceeds from this food program go to fund Angel Ministries projects. For more information about the program or to donate a refrigerator, call 318-388-5100. Thanks for being part of “Sharing the Caring.”

---------------------------------------Angel Ministries is a non-profit organization from Monroe, Louisiana. If you would like to donate, call 318-388-5100 or write to us 509 North Second in Monroe, La.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose:

Encourage, Enlighten, & Inspire.

FEB / MAR 2010

The Minute Magâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Purpose: