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Faster.
The 30-Minutes-or-Less E.R. Service Pledge. Only at Northern Louisiana Medical Center. Emergency medicine is about three things: compassion, skilled care and speed. You’ll find these at Northern Louisiana Medical Center. The experienced E.R. physicians and the entire team are committed to working diligently to have you initially seen by a clinical professional* within 30 minutes of your arrival. If you need an E.R. fast, try our fast E.R. Once you do, you won’t want to go anywhere else. Visit us online at NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com to view our average E.R. wait time.
*Clinical professional is defined as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
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and firing has been attained, and I am numbered, I will bear the most coveted mark. That of the master potter.
----------------------------The Potter’s Cappuccino
----------------------------The Potter’s Cappuccino -----------------------------
I
awake and sip cappuccino to clear the fog of sleep from my mind. I gently push back the drape and view the limited scene of my world from the square of a hotel window. It appears the early morning haze valiantly battles the up and coming day. The gray mist gradually surrendering its hold as the sun’s glow encounters the blue-green foothills of the Smoky Mountains. As I watch this age old skirmish unfold, my mind wanders aimlessly and I ponder the coming hours and what they may hold. I pray over those things I cannot change and leave them in the hands of my father. He is big enough to handle my worries. I mindlessly finger the moldings of the cup within my grasp, and my reflections drift to the making of this ceramic piece. As I view it, my thoughts compare its production to the way our heavenly Father molds us. Just as the maker of that goblet
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determined where each curve and pattern would be, so does our creator. Thankfully, he who shapes us is patient and willing to work on our raw edges. His mercies are new every morning, and we can go forward in the knowledge that he doesn’t give up on us. Although we may have thrown ourselves from the potter’s wheel and left a wreck of yesterday, he willingly lifts and reworks us. Within the master craftsman’s hands, we are skillfully fashioned. The length of our sculpting process depends on how malleable we remain. Should we become hard and brittle while on the wheel; we will prove to be a useless vessel; one unworthy to bear the maker’s mark. We must be formed under pressure of his hands then slowly heated in the kiln of life. Too much heat too quickly and we will crack. The daily adversities which he allows to come against us provide the slow heat needed to temper us. The continual bombardment of these difficulties supplies the fuel needed for high temperature firing. This ever increasing heat eventually produces a vessel fit to hold that which will be poured within. When we review our innumerable and apparently insurmountable difficulties, we must remember; we can do nothing in our own
strength. Only by the hand of he who made us can we be formed, sculpted and accomplish that which we were created to do. As I swallow the dredges of my cappuccino, I determine in my heart to will remain on the potter’s wheel. I choose this day to allow myself to be only a worthless lump of clay. Perhaps when my molding
1 c. of fat free/sugar free vanilla ice cream* 1 c. cold strong brewed coffee (frozen in ice cube tray) 1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder 1 t. vanilla flavoring 1 packet sugar substitute *(equal to 2 t. sugar) Remove the coffee from ice tray and place it along with the remaining ingredients in a blender. Process until smooth. Pour into cup, top with whipped cream and sugar-free caramel topping. -----------------------------
from
the
editor
You’ve known her for so long. Now, suddenly, something has changed. If you or a loved one is experiencing changes in the ability to cope with daily living, Senior Care at Minden Medical Center is here to help. -i ÀÊ >ÀiÊ ÃÊ>Û> >L iÊÌ Ê«iÀÃ ÃÊ>}iÊxxÊ> `Ê ÛiÀÊÜ Ì Ê >Ê i Ì> Ê ÀÊV } Ì ÛiÊ`iV iÊÌ >ÌÊ `iÀÃÊ`> ÞÊ vi]ÊÜ Ê >ÃÊLiV iÊ>ÊÌ Ài>ÌÊÌ ÊÃi vÊ ÀÊ Ì iÀÃ]Ê ÀÊ ÃÊ Ìi`Ê ÊÃi v V>ÀiÊ>L ÌÞ°ÊÊ"ÕÀÊ i Ì> Ê i> Ì Ê«À viÃÃ > ÃÊ>ÀiÊ>Û> >L iÊ Ì À Õ} Ê ÕÀÊÓ{Ê ÕÀÊÀiviÀÀ> Ê iÊÌ Ê` ÃVÕÃÃÊÌÀi>Ì i ÌÊ ii`ÃÊ> `Ê>ÀiÊ`iÛ Ìi`ÊÌ Ê i « }Ê«>Ì i ÌÃÊ}iÌÊL>V ÊÌ Ê Ì i ÀÊ «Ì > Ê iÛi Ê vÊvÕ VÌ }°ÊÊ Our services include: UÊ ÀiiÊ Ì > ÊV ÃÕ Ì>Ì UÊ / À Õ} Ê>ÃÃiÃÃ i Ì UÊ ÕÃÌ âi`ÊÌÀi>Ì i ÌÊÊ Ê « > Ã UÊ À Õ«]Ê ` Û `Õ> ]Ê> `ÊÊ Ê v> ÞÊV Õ Ãi }
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For more information or to schedule a free, confidential assessment, call us at 318-371-5646. Hope is only a phone call away.
www.MindenMedicalCenter.com £Ê i` V> Ê* >â>ÊÊNÊÊ `i ]Ê
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ife changes. Sometimes we think we have it all figured out, and then suddenly we realize that we don't know anything at all. Our feature story in this issue talks about accepting unexpected changes in life with grace and dignity, and I, for one, needed to read the lovely article written by my sweet friend Ashley Marie. Don't skip the feature of this issue, because it has so much to teach you. Whether you're suddenly faced with physical changes to your body or confronted with changes in relationships, nothing in life is ever guaranteed to stay the same--but the way that we deal with those changes defines us forever. When I began writing a column in THE MINUTE MAGAZINE in 2004, I had no idea that this publication would become such an important part of my life. I couldn't have predicted that my future included writing feature stories, creating ads, and developing friendships with columnists, feature writers, our sales staff, advertisers, and you--our readers. Eight years have passed in the blink of an eye, and along the way my life has morphed and changed. During these quickly passing MINUTES, I have given birth to both new ideas and to a baby boy who is now seven years old. I have interviewed people who have left their imprints upon me forever because of their wisdom, and I have smiled when each new issue hit newsstands. For these memories, and these MINUTES, I will forever be thankful. Writing this, my final Editorial, is truly a bittersweet moment. But this issue is far from bittersweet for me, for I truly believe in the motto on the cover. "Aspire to Inspire before you Expire." The theme of this issue sums up the way I feel about my time upon this earth. I have truly aspired to inspire, and I know without question that THE MINUTE MAG will continue to be a positive, uplifting publication in
our community. This publication will always aspire to inspire. I'd like to give a big THANK YOU to the dear readers, writers, sales associates, and advertisers, for all of the MINUTES that we've shared together through the years. I know that very soon I will be one of the readers who find beauty and joy between the pages of this publication, and I can't wait to see the inspirational columns and articles that are only a few MINUTES away.
Jacquelyn Lewis 5
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issue inside this
The Minute Magazine is distributed throughout Caddo, Bossier, Claiborne, Bienville, Ouachita, Webster, Lincoln & Orleans Parishes in Louisiana. 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, visit www.theminutemag.com today! For article suggestions, email Jackie at lewisfamily1908 @bellsouth.net
JACKIE LEWIS & TIFFANY BYRAM Owners/Publishers Regional Editors Graphics/Layout
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JACQUELYN LEWIS
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JENNY REYNOLDS Founder
Circulation & Distribution: Jacquelyn Lewis Contact Information: Office Phone: 318.263.8350 Ad Sales: 318.548.2693 2232 Highway 533 Arcadia, LA 71001
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Wes Harris Laura Horton Jackie Lewis Ashley M. Nygård Sherry Perkins
Seasoned Moments by Barbara Ellis Durbin Independence Regained by Ashley Marie Nygård
From Simplicity to Stilettos by Chalaine Scott Antique Junkie by Donna Arender Life's Blessings by Vicki Caskey You Never Know by Laura Horton Hormonal Woman by Elizabeth Drewett Weeder's Digest by Anita Goodson Louisiana Girl Revelations by April Timmons My Brother's Keeper by Wes Harris Being a Nerd by Sherry Perkins You Can't Snow Ski by Russell Sims
Copyright 2013. 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.
contributors Donna Arender Vicki Caskey Elizabeth Drewett Barbara Ellis Durbin Anita Goodson
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ion t p i r
4 8 10 12 14 15 16 19 20 22 24 26
Chalaine Scott Russell Sims April W. Timmons Melissa Teoulet
cover Our cover photo celebrates the inspirational life of SCOTT WELLS and his 250 mile trek across the state of Louisiana
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photos: (top) Scott trekking across the state of Louisiana, (right) Scott doing what he does best: inspiring others.
Unpredictable
is the word that so many of us would use to describe life. As such, we take each day as it comes without fear and without knowing of what the next will bring us. We live our lives planning our futures and creating goals,
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but truly there is no way to know what the future holds. Through each curve ball, obstacle, and experience we learn who we are as individuals and grow into the person we choose to be. Some of these life lessons come through menial obstacles in our daily routine; yet, some obstacles can change our lives forever. It is merely how we react to such obstacle, that defines who we are as human beings. That is exactly the perspective that Scott Wells chose to take after an accident left him paralyzed some thirteen years ago. He found himself waking up to an entirely new reality and having to relearn a way of life. Such a concept seems almost unimaginable and extremely daunting to many of us, however, Scott chooses to live his life in a way that follows close to his motto, “aspire to inspire before you expire”. Striving to
exhibit such mentality, Scott is a unique individual whom has turned his life changing experience into a lifestyle of inspiration. After spending two and a half long years of rehabilitation in a specialized hospital in Augusta, Georgia Scott returned home to Shreveport, Louisiana. He began rehabilitation and correlating volunteer services at New Horizons Rehabilitation Center working to regain his independence. Through volunteer work at the hospital, Scott noticed that there was a great need for specialized rehabilitation services in Louisiana, yet there were no hospitals offering such services in the entirety of the state. It is very important that these facilities are available for those suffering spinal cord and/or traumatic brain injury as, “when someone receives this type of injury they are basically infants and must completely relearn a new way to go about each daily task independently”, says Scott. Such desperate need for these facilities prompted Scott to begin his own nonprofit organization, Independence Regained. Scott came about the name through his own experiences as he felt that regaining his independence is the ultimate goal of recovery through rehabilitation. The mission of Independence Regained is to rehabilitate, educate, and integrate people with spinal cord injury and other neurological disorders back into all aspects of an independent life. The organization was formed specifically to raise funds for specialized Spinal Cord and Traumatic Brain Injury rehabilitation and research in Louisiana. The goal of Independence Regained seeks to raise funds for a one of a kind hospital, similar to the hospital in Georgia which Scott attended his rehabilitation at, that will allow for therapists and in house independent living specialists to help those in rehabilitation with the notion of fostering their own independence and one day returning to an independent lifestyle. In the most recent fund raising event, “Cycling for Independence”, seven cyclists and a large team of supporters representing Independence Regained cycled a lengthy 250 mile ride solely on hand cycles. The group of inspirational cyclists departed Parkway Highschool in Shreveport, Louisiana this past October for a week long adventure to the Louisiana state capitol of Baton Rouge. Traveling roughly forty miles each day, the team of Cycling for Independence was an image of strength, courage, determination, and purely beautiful inspiration. Overall, the goal of the ride was to raise awareness about the mission of these inspirational cyclists and strengthen the platform for spinal cord and traumatic brain injury awareness. As Scott and his team of fellow cyclists rolled inspiration across the state of Louisiana representing a conglomeration of faith, courage, and sheer brawn this team pushed through more than simple barriers of capability. Continuing to push the envelope, Scott not only hand cycled the vast journey from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, but has also received notification from the Guinness Book of World Records that his recent feat propelled him into three all new achievements for him to call his own. As Scott grinned,
speaking of his recent accomplishments, he could not forget how wonderful his team of support was. As such, Scott and his support team set three world records including: the first paraplegic to trek 250 miles across the great state of Louisiana on a hand cycle, the first hand cyclist to cross the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere, taking only a mere twelve minutes for Scott to climb. In addition to the triumphant records set by Scott and his team, Cycling for Independence was a success raising just over $14,000 for the endeavor. Since the great voyage from Shreveport to Baton Rouge, Scott and the team of Independence Regained is already in the making of another fund-raising expedition across the state. The dates have been set to ride through May 1-4, 2013 departing from the Louisiana state line in Delta and traveling roughly 50 miles per day back to Shreveport for arrival at the 2013 Barksdale Air Force Base Air Show. In addition to planning future fund-raising events for Independence Regained, Scott spends his time volunteering at hospitals around the state and been working as a mentor with a Senior from Shreveport’s Parkway High School to create a wheel chair basketball fund-raising event which was held shortly after Cycling for Independence raising $6,100! In Addition, Scott has recently been named an Ambassador for Coloplast, a specialized medical company that provides products to make daily life easier for those with specific medical conditions or scenarios. Scott hopes to continue his endeavors for raising awareness of such special medical needs and aspires to one day build the rehabilitation hospital here in North Louisiana that is so desperately needed through the purposes of Independence Regained. After hearing Scott’s story and the many accomplishments and goals that he has set, I couldn’t help but ask what his one bit of advice was for all of us reading his triumphant tales. As he looked me in the eyes and a wide set smirk set across his face he said, “You can do whatever you set your mind to, the only limitations are self limitations... we must aspire to inspire before we expire.” The words sent chills down my spine with an inspirational jolt as he said them and I knew, at that moment, that he was absolutely right in more ways than one. Scott has taken one of the greatest obstacles that life has ever thrown his way and manipulated it for his personal greater well being. More often than not, we are faced with trials and difficult decisions in our lives leaving us tired, confused, and searching. What Scott has shown us is that life is not about superficial negligence we cast out daily with our constant worrying about the uncontrollable. Life is about accepting first hand what we are given, accepting the obstacles life ushers our way, and choosing to react in the most positive manner we can. We must react positively and own our decisions. We are beautiful creatures each unique in our own chosen way. It is up to us not to seek the an answer to life, but to define it for ourselves.
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The Love We Have -----------------------------------
T
here has been a day created solely to celebrate love. All over, we spend this day buying candy, purchasing flowers, confessing feelings, dining over candlelight, and romanticizing in the many ways we create to indulge in showing those we love, that we love them. The idea of this holiday stems from an incredibly affectionate word, four letters in length, taught to us at a very young age, that when both spoken and heard, sparks emotion. Love. It is a feeling we all can relate to. We love our family, our friends, our significant others. We love our favorite sports teams. If you’re me, you love chocolate, new outfits and an umbrella in your drink while you bask in the sun’s rays on the beach. There are certain things though, we can agree on, that we all love: a kind word overheard about us, a hug from a friend we haven’t seen in years, an unexpected day off, our coffee stirred and served to
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us just right with the perfect ratio of cream and sugar. Amongst this list though, remains an important love affair we often overlook and don’t give enough credit to, the one we have with our self. Love weaves in and out of our hearts, bounding it together in a seamless perplexity that we cannot explain or stop. It has a crazy way of consuming us. We put all we can into the relationships, people, and things we love. In the trek of new love interests, we become a reckless force in proving our adoration that we forget to pay attention to the ones who’ve loved us all along. Our attempts at our display result in our failing to see the love that surrounds our lives and expands our world. We put so much pressure on ourselves to make sure that we’re showing love, that often, we forget that we need to feel it too. Love though, is all around us. And it starts with loving the person in the mirror. It takes loving yourself, your life, the things you’ve chosen and not chosen to bring you to this period of time. Today. Right now. This moment. To accept the heartache and failure and tragedies that have occurred, to open our eyes to all that we’ve missed out on. To realize all the love we’ve overlooked and forgotten. It starts with accepting yourself,
and sometimes that is the hardest challenge of all. But when we can, when we finally do, we are elated as we become aware of how much love there is to be found. So much love to be discovered, and we find it in even the smallest occurrences. Love, I’m happy to say, drowns my heart, engulfs my life enough with happiness that it swallows up the bad. Love surrounds my world, submerged deep within my soul so that it flows throughout my veins, taking over my thoughts and imagination. Because I let it. I want it. I want to feel it and see it and live it. I want to savor all the tastes of it and my cram my plate full of all of love’s little reminders. Love for me is a mixing a cup of hot chocolate and opening the fridge to find a can of whip cream to top it. Love is taking a spontaneous trip to my uncle’s and walking into his bachelor pad to find him preparing my favorite meal from scratch. Love is my dog greeting me at the door, tail wagging, bursting with excitement as if I am just the greatest person on the earth. Love is hugging your grandfather and seeing the tears in his eyes as he tells you he loves you. Love is your dining room table surrounded by your family as you play a board game, laughing at each other all throughout.
Love is a campfire on the lake as you stare up at a beautiful blanket of stars with your best friends. Love is propping up your bare feet on the front porch as you sip on an iced tea, the sound crickets echoing in the distance. Love is everywhere, no matter how torn and broken we are. And the fact is, that we all are. We’ve all had friends betray us, family that’s failed us, love affairs that have broken our hearts. It happens, not all love can stay forever. Chocolate ages and molds. Whip cream expires. The stars go in hiding. Kids move away and the seats in the dining room lay empty. Your dog dies. However, the person staring back at us in the mirror will never let us down. They always know the love we deserve, the love we should accept, the love we should be discovering and seeing and welcoming. So pour yourself a cup of hot chocolate, find the whip cream. Smile. Share a meal with your uncle. See his smile. Admire the stars. Play a game with your family. Laugh. Light a fire with your friends. Listen to the crickets. Pet your dog and hug your grandfather. And don’t let the love we’ve lost, make us forget the love we have. -------------------------------------------I am a simple girl rooted in family, friends, the Bible, and my mama’s chicken casserole. At my best, I’m loved and respected; at my worst, I am saved by grace. I am a girl removed from the country life of belt buckles and boots placed to blend in with the city life of stilettos and suits. From the quiet back roads of Louisiana, to the busy avenues of New York City, I am still just a girl in love with the simplicities: cuddles with my labrador retriever, game night with my family, laughs with my best friends, and a new pair of stilettos adorning my closet. I may be off chasing my big dreams in the big city, but my heart is always home. Follow me @Chaleezy --------------------------------------------
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Junk in the Trunk -----------------------------------
A
New Year is usually a fresh start and a time that some of us like to make those New Year Resolutions. Some of us vow to lose weight, get in shape and eat healthier. Others promise themselves to get more organized, be less stressed, spend more time with the ones they love and to enjoy life more. Some try to break addictions and bad habits... they decide to quit smoking, drinking or cussing for the 1,000th time. The list goes on and on. I personally don’t make New Year’s resolutions. It’s not that I don’t want to “do better” than I have in the past, but it’s because I know I’m not going to “keep that promise I made
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to myself.” And dealing with the disappointment makes me depressed and I feel like a failure. Instead, I like to use the New Year as a time of reflection. I like to see all the changes I’ve made, the things I have accomplished, and the blessings I’ve received. Sure, there are also mistakes and times I’ve failed... but I try to look at them as “learning tools” on areas that I need to improve. As The Antique Junkie... I’m usually on the prowl for some junk. Any old thing with chippy paint, rusty patina, or unique character just calls my name. Treasure hunting is one of my favorite pastimes. Each treasure hunting trip is an adventure of meeting new people, going new places and experiencing life... one moment at a time. Some trips I come home with a truckload of goodies, while other times the real treasure was just spending the day doing what I love. If we all could just wake up each morning with gratitude, joy and hope in knowing we’re here for a reason... oh what a better place this world would be! We’re all here for a reason. God has a plan and a purpose for us... that
goes beyond earning a paycheck, making it through rush-hour traffic, or living up to those New Year’s resolutions. Our lives can truly be changed by one thing; PERSPECTIVE! Changing our thought patterns is the “key.” We can’t control the things that happen to us each day, but we can control how we think about them. We have a choice to have negative o positive thoughts about our situation. We can wallow in “what’s going wrong” and self-pity or we can ask God for a better perspective to help us see the good... even when we don’t “feel” good. When we gain new perspectives, we can see new ways of thinking.
For instance, some people see their junk as trash. They decide to clean out the clutter and load their truck and make a trip to the land-fill. While others, like me, find new purpose (in that trash) and see the treasures that are just waiting to be given new life... we re-purpose “that ol’ junk.” What’s the difference between them and me? Perspective! So, I encourage you to take a new look at that “junk in your trunk.” You know the hidden sins and things that you feel guilty for doing... or not doing. And remember that we all have “junk in our trunk.” It’s all just a matter of how we think; renewing our minds with new thoughts and new perspectives. Scripture teaches us that we can be completely changed through transformed thought patterns. “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2) Remember... One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! It just depends on how you look at it.
Run.
Wear a wig and your best running shoes to make a difference.
“Wig Out for Wellness 5K” goes to benefit Wiggin’ Out, a charity that raises money for women in Northern Louisiana who are undergoing chemotherapy and may need a wig. It’s a good time for a great cause, so run with it. Wig Out for Wellness 5K • Race begins at 9:00 a.m. on March 23 at Lincoln Parish Park, 211 Lincoln Parish Park Road in Ruston • $25 early registration until March 1; $30 after March 1 • Men and women are invited to participate For more information, visit NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com/HealthyWoman. To register to run, visit Active.com.
A N ORTHERN L OUISIANA M EDICAL C ENTER R ESOURCE
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this question? I certainly have. With Valentines What is love? Day right around the -------------------------------- corner I thought it the perfect opportunity to talk about love. How do we know we are loved hat is Love? Have and how do we show you ever asked yourself and receive love? We
W
Use your MINUTES wisely, for time is the one thing that cannot be bought.
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each have our own ideas about what makes us feel loved. At times I have even felt unloved. I could go on and on about this subject and how many times in my life I have questioned what love is but I am going to keep it short
and sweet. Here is a guide that outlines loves meaning perfectly. It can be applied to family, romance or friendship. Going by this guide and examining myself I find that I have often failed in the LOVE department. But if I truly believe this scripture, and I do, I also know that it’s never too late to give love a second chance. My article this issue is of few words but they are powerful words. I would encourage you to read this scripture closely, examine the words carefully and then take a look at your own heart. Think about your relationships and then fix your LOVE LIFE. After all, all any of us ever wants is to feel and be loved, loved unconditionally.
--------------------------------------5 Financial Goals for Young Adults ---------------------------------------
5…. 4…. 3…. 2…. 1…. Happy New Year! Ring it in with resolutions that will help you strengthen your financial position and set the stage for
long-term success. Here are goals you can set and start working toward today. Save for a house. If a home purchase is in your future, check your credit report now. You’ll be able to review your credit history and report any errors or omissions to the credit bureaus. You’ll also have more time to improve your score. A good credit score can improve the rate you get on your loan, which
can save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Be budget-savvy. Identify where and how you are spending your hardearned dollars so you can plug money drains. Software and apps such as Quicken, Microsoft Money and mint. com make budgeting and tracking expenses easy. Reign in credit card debt. Review your card statements to see which debt
you can tackle first. Get a feel for the payoff amount using the online calculator. Get insured. As a young professional, your biggest asset is not your retirement account, but your ability to earn money. Protect your paycheck by obtaining disability and life insurance coverage. Disability insurance coverage replaces a portion of your income if you cannot work due to a disabling accident or illness. Life insurance offers long-term security for you and your family if something unexpected were to happen. Give back. When you reach a stage where you’re making good money and meeting your financial goals, consider giving charitably to your university, church or a mentor organization. “It’s great to give back to organizations and institutions that helped make you successful,” says Mr. Shaffer. Contact me or your State Farm Agent to learn about an insurance and financial review and what it can mean for your long-term goals.
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around me and drink it in. Take time to do that every day. This experience (no matter how it turns out), puts you into a very exclusive group of women. So drink it in. It will prove valuable for the rest of your life. • Carry some altoids in your pocket/purse. Fresh breath is valuable when you’re talking all the time!
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Tiaras, Time, and Tears -----------------------------------
T
iaras? By the team you read this, the Miss America Pageant will have already aired on television. While I don’t typically write or talk about my experience as Miss Louisiana 1992, it’s a part of who I am and has shaped so many aspects of my life. Time? I’m not sure how it happened, but it’s been 20 years since I walked the runway in Atlantic City. As I prepare for a return trip to the Miss America Pageant for a reunion with my Miss America sisters, I’m amazed at all of our lives, our accomplishments, our successes, our families, our sorrows. I’m reminded of what an honor it is to be in that group. And I realize why each of us
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was there…for our hard work, determination, and commitment to making goals a reality. Seeing the laundry list of successes from each of those women overwhelms me with gratitude for being counted in their number. Tears? I’ve been choking back a lot of tears lately. The emotions that surround reunions are surely a roller coaster. And this is a rather unique reunion. I’ll be carrying a pack of tissues in my purse while I’m in Las Vegas for the Miss America Pageant. To give you a peek into this time in my life, I thought I’d share with you the advice that I gave to our reigning Miss Louisiana, Luaren Vizza, as she left to compete for the Miss America title. Dear Lauren, In honor of my 20 year reunion, I’m sharing with you the Top 20 things to do while you are at The Miss America Pageant! Here we go… • Hold your head high and stand confident in your preparation. • Remember that since you are a brunette, you already have
an advantage…you actually have brains in there! (hehe) • Breathe when you’re nervous. • Don’t worry about being Miss Congeniality. There’s only been 1 Miss America who won that award. Just do what you need to do to stay focused. You only get 1 shot at this! Of course, be nice and gracious (which I know you are). • Take lots of pictures. You’ll want to remember it all. • Be yourself. As my 8-year-old daughter Reagan said last night, “I’m not weird. I’m just very unique.” LOL. You are unique! And the combination of traits and successes and failures that you’ve had in your life make you interesting and equipped with a unique message to share with others. • Take time to soak it all in. The best advice I received prior to my wedding day was to stop and survey all that was going on
• Be proud of your state. We aren’t perfect. But Forbes Magazine just named Louisiana "the new frontier for business opportunity." • Don’t forget deodorant.
your
• Make time for a soak in the tub one night. It’s always relaxing…and is great for soothing nerves and restoring a sense of calm and focus. • Suck in. 6-pack.
Flex that
• Inspire others with encouragement. Backstage at Miss America, Miss Florida, Leanza Cornett, was extremely nervous. She wasn’t sure about what evening gown to wear or how to wear her hair. She asked me what she should do. I encouraged her to wear the one that is her favorite color. And I told her she needed to wear her hair up because she didn’t have thick hair and it looked fuller and prettier up. So she did (yellow evening gown with updo). And she won Miss America. Wait a second…maybe
I should’ve kept my mouth closed…
• Smile from the inside. And don’t feel like you need to smile the entire time you are on stage. Be natural!
• Flex your calves. You’ve got great athlete legs. If you get that pose moment… don’t forget to flex your calves. A girl has got to show off her assets! • Be sexy but don’t be sexy. The great dilemma in the Miss America Pageant is finding that balance between being a modern woman and being refined and dignified at the same time…you know… role model qualities. But yet, you can’t win if you don’t seem current, cool, and a little sexy. [I think you naturally have a great combination of those qualities.] • Save your evening
• Drum roll…no matter how this turns out, your fellow Miss Louisianas and all your friends and family are sooooo proud of you.
gown when this is all over. One of my biggest regrets is selling my evening gown I wore at Miss America. I promise you that one day, your daughter (or granddaughter) will find that dress a
treasure. • Be sure to eat your oatmeal. Constipation makes you bloat. • Take lots of pictures. Wait…I said that already.
Best regards, lots of love, and good luck! While some of these items in my Top 20 might not apply to you, there are some tips here that are universal. We all need to remember our deodorant and breath mints. And we all need to soak in the good times of life.
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Saturday, December 1, 2012
5K Run /Walk 8AM
Enjoy the hilly scenic course beginning and ending at Minden Medical Center Outpatient Physical Therapy at 1120 Homer Road in Minden. Participants will run/walk through neighborhood behind Pine Hills Country Club. Cost $15, After November 16th $20.Student Price is $15 at all times. Early registrants will receive a long sleeve official Run T-shirt. Awards given to top finishers in each age category.
Registration: $15-20
Brunch Fundraiser following Race to benefit the family of Emilee Holloway. Tickets sold separately.
MindenMedicalCenter.com/RehabReindeerRun 318-382-7371
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Advice from a Tree -----------------------------------
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e shall go on planting trees, on into the future. We have the space and still have the energy, so they are a part of the garden which can be on-going in a way that increasing the number of flowers, roses and climbers would mean a long, serious think as to just what we can undertake. But trees are monuments. Once the decisions have been made, the roots spread out and compost laid, then you need only to stand back for sixty years. It has great charm that thought for gardens in the mind. ~Mirabel Osler, A Gentle Plea for Chaos, 1989 Stand tall and proud, sink your roots into the earth, Be
content with your natural beauty, Go out on a limb, Drink plenty of water, Remember your roots, Enjoy the view! This saying is written on one of my favorite tee shirts I purchased from the Dallas Arboretum. You know this statement can be compared with life. These words speak volumes. Without roots trees will not survive. Without water a tree won’t grow. A tree doesn’t care what it looks like. If too crowded, it will reach straight up for the sun, as it grows in the woods. Trees are a great investment if you have acreage to plant. My grandfather was a tree farmer. Most all his property was planted in pine trees which were previously cotton fields. Most species of pine trees have an average life span of about 125 years, but some can live up to 300 years. A sight for ones eyes is the huge Grandpappy, a 300 year old long leaf Pine tree at Carolyn Dormon Nature Preserve. This is the largest and oldest tree that I have personally seen in North Louisiana.
I have planted the PawPaw which is a small deciduous tree just for the butterflies. Did you know that apple trees live for 35 years and produce the best fruit between 10 and 30 years? Some varieties have been known to live 100 years or more. Peach trees live from eight to 15 years. Many old home places have a pear tree around back. Still producing pears long after the house has fallen in. Deer and wild pigs just love this free food source. Other trees, such as the stately Magnolia or the Dogwood flower, but are not a food source. To plant a seed is to have hope. To plant a tree requires a lot of patience, determination, and nurturing, but is well worth the reward in the end. Trees give us shade to build our houses under, for protection from the sun. They also make a nice place to eat lunch under, in the heat of the summer. They also supply the materials to build the house or for the picnic bench to eat from. Trees are fairly permanent. If you make the decision to plant a tree; research what kind of tree to plant for the area you have in mind. You will enjoy the benefits of the tree for many years to come. Remember to Reduce, Reuse, & Recycle. Happy Gardening! Some info in this article came from the Arbor Day Foundation. Org & Garden Guides.com
All should pause to admire this great beauty. It stands tall, overlooking a pond with a glamorous view, in Saline Louisiana. It’s worth the trip if you love nature. Trees are long lived. An oak tree can live healthily for about 200 years, after which it takes about 30 years for the tree to die naturally. In the South, stately Live Oaks are perfect for parks and roadsides. Live Oaks are the sumo wrestler of the oak world. It has a short massive trunk which branches widely into mightily branches that seem to rest their elbows on the ground. Impressive live oaks grow up to 80 feet tall. The branch spread can match the height. Red oak trees grow fairly quickly. Reaching heights of 60 to 70 feet in 30 to 40 years. They have a rounded crown which spreads 40 to 50 feet wide. Growth can be as much as two feet a year for the first10 years. Some trees flower, as in the fruit trees we eat from. --------------------------------
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been. I have managed to embarrass myself many times over, but maybe we’ll talk about those another day.
husband. Anything that gets me out of Sarepta and doesn’t involve going to Bass Pro or The -------------------------------- Home Depot is a “date” to me.
Falling Pride
While we were eating at -------------------------------- the restaurant I shall not name because I can’t remember where it was, we got into an argument over something I shall not discuss - because I can’t remember that everal years ago either. I’m sure it was I finally won an auction Jeremy’s fault whatever on e-bay for a pair of it was. Finally after 45 vintage 1972 ACME minutes of staring at my Dingo boots. I almost steak and potatoes and never win anything not speaking we decided on E-Bay and if I do I to leave. I was mad, but wonder if I am getting I was looking good in my the shaft. Anyway, these 1972 Dingo boots. boots were stinkin’ cute. They were also a size 7 The restaurant must 1/2. That wouldn’t be a have decided to wax problem except I wear an their floors that morning 8. I just figured I’d wear with Crisco. Just as I them without socks. Or marched past the bar, really, really thin ones. thinking mean thoughts about Jeremy, my The best part was that beautiful, half a size they only cost me 12 too small boots defied dollars and to my surprise me and I slipped. The when they arrived they graceful creature that I were real boots and am, I was able to stay off not a picture of boots. I my face and luckily I fell absolutely loved them. on my behind. One leg However, my feet did went behind me and the not. The first opportunity other went way out to the I got to wear them out side. Gumby couldn't was a “date” with my even bend the way I did
S
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The point is this: if you live life long enough you will fall. Sometimes you’ll even fall in front of an audience. You may even fall when you think you’re at the top of your game. You’ll actually think you are going to die from the embarrassment. You may even remember that fall or stumble for the rest of your life, in that moment. but there comes a time It didn’t hurt me when you must forgive physically as much as it yourself, hold your head hurt my pride. My pride up, and move on. was critically wounded, but thankfully Jeremy Out of those 100 people scurried up behind me in the restaurant who just as the bar patrons watched me fall that turned from their stools. I night, I can almost heard an “OOOOOOOO” bet that none of them Time and then they all gave remember it. me a round of applause passes and people and someone even move on. whistled. It was a glorious moment. Jeremy picked Picking yourself up can me up and rushed me sometimes be as hard out the doors as fast as the fall you take, so as he could. My head it helps to remember never looked up until that there are people I was sure I was in the behind you, wanting to parking lot. There I was, help. Let them help. mad at my husband for Keep moving ahead. Be whatever he did to me, thankful you are able to humiliated in front of get up. Thank the ones half of Bossier City, feet that help you get up hurting, and I probably even if you didn’t ask for had a pulled hamstring their help. Remember it from my stunt. I was a may be just as important for them to help you as mess. it is for you to need their As I hobbled back to our help. car, my sweet, loving husband turned to me Your pride will heal. and asked, “So, uh, You will live. And most where do you wanna go importantly you will have next?” I wish I could survived a life lesson, say I smiled sweetly whatever that may be. and kissed his lips, Pride may go before but I won’t lie to you. a fall, but the one that Unfortunately, I cannot stands behind you and say that was the most helps to pick you up isn’t embarrassed I have ever going anywhere.
Coming soon to Louisiana’s only
Opening March 2013 On the downtown Shreveport riverfront
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I
n 1849, Jim and Andrew Currie sailed with their older brother Michael from Cork, Ireland. Andy was only six, Jim two years older. Landing at Boston, the brothers settled in New York City. In 1859 at age 16, Andrew ventured out on his own and found employment in Shreveport as a store clerk. After serving the Confederacy in the Civil War, Andrew returned to Shreveport as a deputy sheriff. His fortune rose as a very successful insurance agent and influential businessman. Elected mayor of Shreveport as a Democrat in 1878, Andy Currie developed the city’s first water and sewer systems and built a bridge across the Red River while maintaining financial interests in the railroad and other business ventures. The life of brother Jim took a different direction. One writer called Jim Currie “one of the most depraved specimens that ever visited the western country. He was the embodiment of everything bad and disreputable, the very quintessence of all wickedness, and a living personification of crime in its worst forms, without a single redeeming quality. No person was safe against his attacks; his murderous weapons were aimed at all alike.” “Big Jim” Currie killed more than a dozen, maybe many more than that. Most were outright murders. For instance, in 1870 he went on a drunken rampage in a Kansas dance hall and killed two men and two women. Big Jim Currie was said to be the only man Wild Bill Hickok feared. By 1873, Jim Currie was in Texas working as an engineer for the Texas & Pacific Railroad. Later he was reassigned as a railroad detective to chase thieves. Despite his record of leaving dead bodies everywhere he went, Big Jim Currie would have been completely
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forgotten except for one man he almost killed. Maurice Barrymore was an up and coming actor in 1879. He and a partner, Frederick Warde, created the Warde-Barrymore Combination, booking the play “Diplomacy” on an extensive run. Warde would take one troupe across the Northeast and upper Midwest, while Barrymore toured the Southwest. In January 1879, the partners departed on tour. Performances received critical acclaim and the venture enjoyed modest financial success. After a performance in Galveston, Barrymore’s group headed north by train for an engagement in Marshall. During the trip, actor Ben Porter announced to the troupe that cast member Ellen Cummins had consented to marry him as soon his divorce was finalized. The performers pulled into Marshall in the early evening of March 19. Dubbed the “Gateway to Texas” because of its proximity to Louisiana and Arkansas, Marshall viewed itself as a cultural haven. Among its several theaters was Mahone’s Opera House where the Combination would play one performance that night before a capacity crowd. The production was flawless with Barrymore and his brother-in-law John Drew exceptional as the leads. After the performance, the troupe retired to the Depot Hotel to await their train. Maurice Barrymore, Ben Porter, and Ellen Cummins entered Nat Harvey’s empty lunchroom on the station platform. At the eating bar, Ben and Ellen ordered coffee. After drinking a light ale, Barrymore excused himself to see to the luggage while the couple stayed to have dinner. As Nat Harvey took their order, Big Jim Currie came in the door. Even when sober, Big Jim was known for his vicious temper. The influence of his brother Andy had rescued him from several jams. Big Jim’s recent killing
of three men while serving as detective for the Texas & Pacific Railroad still fueled rumors and speculation. More than six feet tall and weighing 220 pounds, Currie’s size was intimidating. He asked for liquor. As Currie gulped down his drink, he spotted Ellen Cummins’s reflection in a mirror beside the bar and made some condescending remarks about her. Words were exchanged with Ben Porter who invited Currie outside. Barrymore returned. “Go away,” he said, “There’s a lady here.” “Maybe you want to take it up, you damned whoremonger,” Currie responded angrily. Barrymore turned quickly to Porter. “Get Miss Cummins out of here,” he urged. Barrymore removed his coat. He had no fear of Currie, having trained as a boxer. As Barrymore assumed a fighting stance, Currie drew two Smith & Wesson revolvers from beneath his coat, leveled them at the unarmed actor, and fired. The first bullet ripped through Barrymore’s left arm before burying itself in the actor’s chest. Another shot struck Barrymore’s boot. The actor turned and ran with Currie giving chase. Crashing through a side door, Barrymore fell into the yard as another bullet struck nearby. Currie turned back into the lunchroom just as Ben Porter ran through the front door. “For God’s sake,” Porter shouted, “Don’t murder an unarmed man!” Currie cursed him, adding “I can kill the whole lot of you!” He shot Porter in the stomach. At the sight of her fiancé sprawled in the doorway, Ellen Cummins screamed. John Drew arrived next, finding Big Jim holding the two revolvers. Drew froze as their eyes met but Currie merely shoved past him out onto the station platform where he fired his pistols into the night. A brave deputy, bolstered by a double-barreled shotgun, confronted Currie and convinced him to surrender. A railroad officer summoned a doctor but Ben Porter died within minutes. Seriously wounded, Maurice Barrymore was taken to the hotel for surgery while the troupe waited anxiously in the lobby. In the morning, the doctors emerged with news the bullet had been removed and the operation a success. Word spread of the shooting of the unarmed men. The St. Louis Democrat called Texas “a place where whiskey and pistols are too plentiful and law and order too scarce.” The New York Times, read by many theater aficionados, reported on the shooting eight times during the spring of 1879. Meanwhile, Shreveport Mayor Andy Currie arrived at Marshall with the Crain brothers, noted criminal lawyers from Caddo Parish. Marshall was familiar ground to Andy Currie. His wife Annie Fort Gregg was from one of the town’s most prominent families. As the most powerful man in Shreveport at the time, Andrew Currie would call in all the favors due him to defend his intractable brother. Big Jim Currie did not help his case when he told a reporter from jail he “had no regret at what he had done [only] that he had not killed the entire party.” On March 25, while Ben Porter’s funeral was being held in New York City, the remaining cast performed again in Marshall followed by benefits across Texas. Barrymore insisted all $5,000 of the proceeds go to Porter’s mother. Distraught over the murder of her fiancé, Ellen Cummins returned home to Louisville, rarely performing again. Maurice remained in Marshall for months recovering from his wounds. On July 3, 1879, the murder trial of Jim Currie began only to be delayed when the defense complained of the absence of several witnesses. Upon recommendation of her doctor, Ellen Cummins had been allowed to give her
testimony by deposition. Nat Harvey had mysteriously vanished. After rejoining his company’s tour for its final performance in Philadelphia, Maurice Barrymore had returned to Marshall for the trial, hoping to see justice for the brutal killer of his colleague. When the judge caved in to the defense’s request for a postponement, Barrymore could not conceal his bitterness. “This reminds me of our performances in England,” he complained. “We commence with a tragedy and end with a farce.” The new trial date, June 10, 1880, gave prosecutors time to track down Harvey, its star witness. The former saloon owner was finally found near Fort Worth and arrested. Barrymore and Ellen Cummins returned to Marshall. On June 14, after a prolonged jury selection process, the trial began. The three eyewitnesses recalled the details of Jim Currie’s drunken rampage with clarity. The evidence appeared to establish Currie’s guilt without question. Currie’s defense team, now expanded to eight lawyers, attempted to show he had acted in selfdefense. But despite the testimony of 23 witnesses, the evidence supporting their assertion remained weak and unconvincing. Next, the defense argued that Currie was not guilty by reason of insanity. Dr. T.G. Ford of Shreveport, certainly an acquaintance of Mayor Currie, testified Big Jim was likely not in his right mind at the time of the shooting. Closing arguments by long-winded dragged on for two days. On June 18, 1880, the judge presented the case to the jury. “With what can be characterized as indecent haste,” reported Marshall’s Tri-Weekly Herald, the twelve jurors reached their verdict in just ten minutes. “With unabashed pride,” the foreman stood and announced their inexplicable decision: “We, the jury, find the defendant not guilty by reason of insanity.” There was little doubt the jury had been bought. Jurors suddenly came into large sums of cash. Andrew Currie returned to Shreveport but not before banishing his brother from the region. Big Jim died of heart disease in Spokane, Washington in 1899, years after he was erroneously reported killed in a shootout in New Mexico. Andrew served as Shreveport’s mayor until he resigned in 1890, later serving as Shreveport’s postmaster and as a state senator. He owned the Shreveport Times and other businesses. Currie died in 1918 and was buried in Confederate Veterans’ section of Greenwood Cemetery in Shreveport. Maurice Barrymore survived to sire one of the most famous of all Hollywood families. His children John, Lionel, and Ethel became popular stage and screen stars. Great granddaughter Drew Barrymore continues to enjoy a successful movie career.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------Photo left: Big Jim Currie in jail awaiting trial in Marshall, Texas. --------------------------------------------------------------------------
WES HARRIS is a native of Ruston. Among his books are GREETINGS FROM RUSTON: A Post Card History of Ruston, Louisiana and Neither Fear Nor Favor: Deputy United States Marshal John Tom Sisemore, available from amazon.com. He can be contacted at campruston@ gmail.com. Check out his Louisiana history blog at http:// diggingthepast.blogspot.com.
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BEING a NERD Have you thought of submitting an article to THE MINUTE MAG? Take local writer SHERRY PERKINS' advice and send in those query letters today!
written by
SHERRY PERKINS W hat images come to mind when you hear the word nerd? Do you
instantly think of the gang from Revenge of the Nerds: Gilbert, Lewis, Poindexter, Toshiro, Bugger, or Judy? What about Harry Dunn and Lloyd Christmas of Dumb and Dumber? Or even Steve Urkel from the 1990s television comedy, Family Matters. Although society associates a negative connotation with the word nerd, I don’t because I am one! Yes, I said it, I’m a nerd. I’m a writing nerd. I love anything and everything to do with writing. Am I the next John Steinbeck? No. Do I want to be? No. Don’t get me wrong, his novels aren’t just novels anymore, they’re now referred to as literature. The point is, as Judy from Revenge of the Nerds, attempts to sing the words, “I’ve got to be me.” Even though no one in my inner circle (besides my mother)
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gets it, my passion overrides others’ indifference. Yes, sometimes it downright sucks when nobody can get excited as I almost shout that I just met a New York Times BestSelling author, or had a conversation with award-winning writer Tony Kushner. It’s even sort of depressing when nobody understands the thrill that overflows in my soul each time I see my name in a byline, and hold up the publication beaming with pride, and may only get a weak smile or a shrug. Yet, they sure jump for joy when a check comes in the mail for payment for a magazine article. Suckers! They think I do it for the money, that’s funny. Why is it we feel we have to share our interests when nobody else gets it? I don’t know. I suppose it’s the nerdness coming out. Don’t we have to share or else our hearts will explode? But, when we try to force others to be just as excited, and it doesn’t work, it leaves us with a feeling of how can you not get it? However, I still trudge on and still get excited. I imagine this is how all artists feel. Whether it’s writing, painting, sculpting, acting, drawing, playing music, or singing, these activities are all solitary acts and the nerd inside makes us joyful in wanting to share, to get feedback, or to stir something
inside a reader’s, an observer’s, or a listener’s heart. What would our world be like without the inputs of Eric Clapton, Jack White, Harry Connick, Jr, Emily Bronte, Dustin Hoffman, James Dean, or Morgan Freeman? What about the influences of painters and sculptors like Rembrandt or Michelangelo? Can you imagine what we would have missed out on if these artists worried about what others thought? So, revel in your talent. Be happy with yourself even when no one else gets it. Allow your Lloyd Christmas nerd attitude to shine. As an artist, be glad you can contribute something bigger than yourself to the world. In Zig Zigler’s Little Book of Big Quotes he said, “You are the only one who can use your ability. It is an awesome responsibility.” Right on, Zig!
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Want to see your article in THE MINUTE MAG? Email writing nerd Jackie at lewisfamily1908@ bellsouth.net with a writing sample today, and your writing may be in a future issue of THE MINUTE MAG!
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e Sav Date e th Harry & Nina Avant along with Shreveport Opera present
The World Famous
GLENN MILLER ORCHESTRA
Friday, February 22, 2013 6 p.m. Horseshoe Casino & Hotel Riverdome
A journey of exploration & imagination on America’s waterways.
A hands-on experience of the Culture, Commerce and Conservation of America’s great rivers and their watersheds. A TRAVELING EXHIBIT OF THE NATIONAL MISSISSIPPI RIVER MUSEUM & AQUARIUM AND THE NATIONAL RIVERS HALL OF FAME
Be first on the dance floor to “Trip the Light Fantastic”!
February 23 – May 24
Individual Tickets: $100 Table sponsorships are also available.
On the downtown Shreveport riverfront
Call (318) 227-9503 or visit www.shreveportopera.org
www.sciport.org · (318) 424-3466
Thrive. Join us in celebrating our anniversary with keynote speaker Abby Rike. When former Biggest Loser contestant Abby Rike lost her beloved husband, daughter and infant son in a car crash, she learned that even in your darkest hour, there is always hope. Abby will share how health and wellness can promote spiritual, emotional and physical healing. A N ORTHERN L OUISIANA M EDICAL C ENTER R ESOURCE
Journey of Hope Fifth Anniversary Celebration Thursday, April 11 Ruston Civic Center 401 N. Trenton St. • Ruston 5-7 p.m. Women’s Expo 7 p.m.
Keynote Speaker Abby Rike
Tickets are $15 and include heavy hors d‘oeuvres, dessert and wine tasting at the Women’s Expo. Seating is limited and tickets are required. Abby Rike Contestant on The Biggest Loser, Season 9
66893_NLMC_HWann_4_8x6_08c.indd 1
Purchase tickets at NorthernLouisianaMedicalCenter.com/ HealthyWoman.
12/14/12 11:35 AM
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S
now skiing in Claiborne is pretty near impossible, even during the coldest of winters. Even when it get really cold, it isn’t really cold. Very rarely does the temperature drop below the zero degree mark. Even when it does get that cold, most folks don’t do much more than gripe about it. About twenty eight years ago on the day Ronald Reagan had his second inauguration, the thermometer went down to about five degrees and stayed there for what seemed like two years. I don’t know if that was the fault of the Republicans or the Democrats, but it was sure enough cold. As I previously stated, even cold in Claiborne Parish isn’t really all that cold. I have a new neighbor who recently moved here from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He informed me that winters were occasionally so cold in Idaho that a fella couldn’t get a match to strike. He said that it gets so cold up there sometimes that you have to have a pretty fair fire going just to start a fire to keep warm. Now, if that doesn’t give you an appreciation for the winter in Claiborne Parish, I think maybe the following thoughts just might. We generally get our first cold snaps sometime in mid-October, and it doesn’t get really cold until late December or maybe even early January. The woods and fields in our parish are absolutely beautiful in the late fall. My Grandaddy always told me that the first trees to show their true colors of fall were the black gum, with its beautifully shaped leaves often turning a fiery red. The leaves of the red oaks usually start to curl in late August, and by the end of September have usually lost almost any hint of the verdant green of spring and early summer. On into October, they evolve into a beautiful russet color with some having just a tint of red. The trees that we have in our Claiborne Parish are some of the most beautiful trees in the nation. Just pause for a few minutes along any back road or by-way in the parish and you will certainly agree. Our maple trees are small in stature compared to the huge sugar maple trees of the northern states, but the silvery green colors of local maples turning to brilliant gold in the fall are a sight to behold. We tend to think that we must travel to far away places to see beautiful leaves in their fall colors, but every place has elements of the beauty that nature provides for us. Colorado has its Aspens, and California has its towering redwoods, but we have sweet gums and sassafras trees. The sweet gum leaf turns at some time or another from
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green to red to a purple that is almost black. The lowly sassafras tree gives us a leaf that might be red, orange, or purple. I guess the color of that leaf is just what ever strikes its fancy. The stately sycamore blesses us with large palmated leaves of green to provide us with cool shade in the summer beneath it’s spreading bows. By the time of winter, the sycamore leaf has turned a light brown before becoming detached from it branch and spiraling gracefully earthward. The last tree to speak of is the bald cypress. The old Spanish call these trees “sabinal”.This great tree provides us with fine wood for many uses from structural form of our homes to furniture for each of our rooms. It is a fine wood which will not rot easily and is insect resistant. These large conifers are usually one of the last trees to change to a red color before they shed their foliage. The bald cypress is most often found along creek beds or near water, but they will grow almost anywhere. Indeed, Claiborne Parish has many fine specimens of trees, some of which are not mentioned here. People who like trees see the crowns of the trees either in summer greenery, or perhaps in the regalia of fall color. This is all well and good for some , but not all of us feel that way. You don’t have to journey to distant places to see the leaves change, it happens right here. My favorite time of the year to patrol the forests is in dead of winter. Most deciduous trees have shed their leaves to form a glorious carpet on the surface of the ground leaving a coat of many colors for one to walk on. I enjoy this period in the forest, for the peace and solitude. By the end of January, hunting season has been over for a while, and all the shy denizens of the forest are now out and about. The greatest part of the season is the way the forest appears to the eye. Since the leaves are now off the trees and forming a carpet on the ground, whole new vistas are open to the eye. With the leaves off the tree, unobstructed views into the depths of the forest are less obstructed. sights that were not visible to the eye with leaves upon the trees, are clearly visible now. Trees deeper into the forest, and the ground contour itself take on new more definitive shapes. Spots that were not to be seen in summer and spring are more clearly visible in the still of winter. It seems as though nature is at rest, at ease with itself. This adds a whole new dimension of freedom to a simple walk in a forest or field during winter. There is nothing more relaxing and at the same time revitalizing than an afternoon walk in a forest with the crunch of leaves under foot, right here in Claiborne Parish.
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HERNIA.
WHICH OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE A HERNIA? [THE ANSWER MAY BE SURPRISING...]
A
B
C
D
E
F
EVERYONE OF THEM COULD HAVE ONE OR MORE. Are you living with a bump or lump protruding from your stomach or groin area? Have you noticed it increase in size over time? According to the National Center for Health Sciences, 5 million Americans have a hernia. Yet, only about 15% of Americans seek treatment each year. The rest do not because they fear that the procedure will require an extended hospital stay followed by a long and painful recovery. Fortunately, at Minden Medical Center, there are several safe and less invasive surgical procedures that can eliminate your fears. Plus, you are able to resume your normal everyday activities in a very short time period. These days, there isn’t any reason for you to suffer the uncomfortable, unsightly, painful and sometimes life threatening symptoms of a hernia. For information about hernia types and our surgeons who perform hernia repairs call (318) 382-8282 or visit mindenmedicalcenter.com/hernia. # 1 M28 EDICAL PLAZA
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