®
MYSTIC
october 2017 DoSouthMagazine.com
CONTENTS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / OWNER Catherine Frederick CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Scott Frederick MANAGING EDITOR Marla Cantrell ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Amanda Grist CONTRIBUTING WRITERS / PHOTOGRAPHERS Marla Cantrell Catherine Frederick Jade Graves Dwain Hebda Megan Lankford Jessica Sowards Stoney Stamper James Stefiuk Glenn Wigington
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GRAPHIC DESIGNER Artifex 323 - Jessica Mays PROOFREADER Charity Chambers PUBLISHER Read Chair Publishing, LLC
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INSIDE
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BACK FROM THE BRINK A suspected case of poison ivy nearly cost a Greenwood football coach his life. His story is one of faith, family, and the power of prayer.
ONCE UPON A TIME Do you believe in magic? Our DIY might convince you. We’re taking a small jar of paint and transforming old furniture without sanding or priming.
MONSTER TREATS Don’t be caught on Halloween without these Monster Treats! Your little ghouls and goblins will make these disappear faster than a shape-shifter!
ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET In Hot Springs this month, some of the best documentary films you’ll ever see will be shown. Better still, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how they’re made.
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ADVERTISING INFORMATION Amanda Grist - 479.719.7416 Amanda@DoSouthMagazine.com
Catherine Frederick - 479.782.1500 Catherine@DoSouthMagazine.com
EDITORIAL INFORMATION Marla Cantrell - 479.831.9116 Marla@DoSouthMagazine.com ©2017 Read Chair Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. The opinions contained in Do South® are exclusively those of the writers and do not represent those of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. as a whole or its affiliates. Any correspondence to Do South® or Read Chair Publishing, LLC., including photography, becomes the property of Read Chair Publishing, LLC. Do South® reserves the right to edit content and images. Printed in the U.S.A. | ISSN 2373-1893 Cover Image: mythja
FOLLOW US Annual subscriptions are $36 (12 months), within the contiguous United States. Subscribe at DoSouthMagazine.com or mail check to 4300 Rogers Avenue, Suite 20-110, Fort Smith, AR, 72903. Single issues are available upon request. Inquiries or address changes, call 479.782.1500.
P Pumpkin
flavored
letter from the editor
everything.
Crisp
leaves
Since I’m spending more time inside, I took
crunching under tall boots. Friday night foot-
on a DIY project that I absolutely love. Find
ball lights. Snuggles under blankets. Warmed
out how you can easily transform a piece
through by a fire. These are the things my heart
of furniture in just a few hours by reading
loves most about fall. This is a season where
“Once Upon a Time” on page 32. And
life seems to slow if just a bit. More dinners are
don’t miss our Women’s Guide on page 56,
cooked at home. Soul-warming meals like my
for great information on beauty, health,
mamaw used to make. The darkness of night
and fashion!
arrives earlier than we’d like so we welcome the glow of a crackling fire. Football games under
Stoney Stamper shows his softer side with
the lights and on television are constant. Plans
his story on page 38 about watching his
made for holidays which will be here before we
daughter drive to school on her first day as a
are good and ready.
senior in high school. And Jessica Sowards takes on the subject of tackling our fears in her essay, “Tea as a Tonic,” on page 24.
There is so much to love about this season, especially the myriad of festivals and events! Don’t miss our calendar on page 06 and
We talk to Tommy Cunningham about an upcoming night of
our favorite festivals on page 08. We’ve got a delicious recipe
music, food, and fun to benefit the Fort Smith Boys and Girls
for a pumpkin pie martini and not one, but two sweet treat
Club, on page 28. The project honors the memory of Tommy
recipes beginning on page 42.
and Laura England-Cunningham’s son, T.J., a wonderful young man who loved his family, friends, and playing music.
Since this is the month of Halloween, we’re sitting down with Adrian and Tina Scalf, founders of the River Valley Paranormal
As each new issue of Do South® comes together, I’m inspired
Research and Investigation. Their story on page 34 of a haunting
by the people we feature, their faith, their devotion to our
in Oklahoma will send chills down your spine.
community, and their love for our state. Arkansas is an exceptional place, and it could be argued that it’s never more
Dwain Hebda takes us to Hot Springs for a preview of the
beautiful than it is in autumn. I encourage you to get outdoors
documentary film festival that draws visitors from near and far.
this month and take it all in. It’s such a wonderful life. I’m glad
After you read his story on page 48, you’ll want to book your
I get to share a little of it with you every month.
tickets and plan a trip to Spa City! Marla Cantrell tells one of our most heartfelt stories this month about Brian Sims, a football coach at Greenwood High School whose suspected case of poison ivy nearly took his life
~Catherine
Follow Do South® Magazine
earlier this year. Turn to page 16 to find out how prayer made all the difference in the world.
To reserve this free space for your charitable non-profit organization, email: Editors@DoSouthMagazine.com.
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calendar
OCTOBER 7
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Out of the Darkness Walk Fort Smith afsp.org
Submit your events to editors@dosouthmagazine.com
13-15 T H
Join others in our community who are banding together to fight suicide. Register online, or the day of the race, beginning at noon, at Ben Geren Park. Walk begins at 2:30pm.
13,14, 20, 21, 27, 28, 31 S T
Filmmaker Christopher Booth will be speaking, there’s a Halloween costume party, a Q&A session, and tons of information, at the Fort Smith City Center. See website for pricing.
River Valley Dragon Boat Festival Fort Smith paddlesupfortsmith.com
14 T H
The Dragon Boat Festival takes place from 8am-3pm, at Fort Smith Park. Watch the 46-foot brightly-colored dragon boats as they race down the Arkansas River. There will be food vendors and games for kids. Free to attend.
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WALK TO FIGHT SUICIDE OUT OF THE DARKNESS Community Walk
Old Fort ParaCon Fort Smith rvpri.com
The Final Scream Fort Smith rivervalleyhaunt.com Love the Haunted Warehouse at Fort Chaffee? This is the twenty-fourth and final year to experience the thrills and chills of this haunted warehouse. Cost is $15. 7:30pm-midnight. 7704 Fort Chaffee Boulevard.
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Survivors’ Challenge Over the Edge Fort Smith reynoldscancersupport.org The Donald W. Reynolds’ Survivors’ Challenge Run/Walk and the second annual Over the Edge Rappelling Event, off First National Bank in downtown Fort Smith. See website for details.
calendar
THETOPTENTHETOPTEN
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Tales of the Crypt Van Buren Find them on Facebook Fairview Cemetery comes alive with historical portrayals of some of those whose lives impacted Van Buren. Twilight edition: October 21, 6:308:30pm. Adults, $3. Kids, $1.
24 Red Shoe Shindig Fort Smith rmhcofarkoma.org The Red Shoe Shindig will be held at Hardscrabble Country Club beginning at 6pm. Great fun, all to benefit the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Mercy Fort Smith. Do SouthÂŽ is a proud sponsor of this wonderful event.
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Spaghetti Dinner Fort Smith girlsshelterfs.org All the spaghetti you can eat, bread, drink, and dessert, at Central Christian Church in Fort Smith, from 5-8pm. Live music, and a silent auction. $13 or 2 for $25. Kids 5 and under, and emergency personnel eat free.
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Food Truck Festival Fort Smith Find them on Facebook Some of the best local food and drinks you’ll ever try will be at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Lunch is from 11am1pm. Dinner is from 5-7pm. Tickets: $15, at 1st National Bank branches, or at the door. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
Glow in the Park 5K Fun Run Fort Smith htacademy.net Harvest Time Academy is holding its first Glow in the Park 5K Fun Run at Ben Geren Park in Fort Smith, beginning at 6pm. Costumes are encouraged! Visit website to register.
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entertainment
Fall, Festivals, Fun! words Catherine Frederick
ALL OVER OUR GREAT STATE, LEAVES ARE A KALEIDOSCOPE OF RED, ORANGE, YELLOW AND GOLD. THE TEMPS ARE GETTING COOLER, AND FALL FESTIVALS ARE BECKONING. WE’VE LISTED JUST A FEW OF OUR FAVORITES FOR YOU TO ENJOY!
Oct 4-7
Oct 6-15
Founded in 1986, this is one of the nation’s foremost show-
A ten-day festival complete with screenings and parties all
cases of blues music. Tens of thousands of enthusiasts from
within walking distance. Take in more than one hundred of
all over the world converge on historic downtown. Five
the best international features and shorts along with one-of-
stages, street musicians, special events including the Flour
a-kind forums, tributes to industry greats, and noted guests
Power 5k Run, the Tour da Delta bicycle race, and a Kansas
and visiting professionals. Admission varies. Visit hsdfi.org.
32ND ANNUAL KING BISCUIT BLUES FESTIVAL – WEST HELENA
26TH HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL – HOT SPRINGS
City-sanctioned BBQ Contest, arts/crafts vendors galore, and one-of-a-kind shopping. Visit kingbiscuitfestival.com.
Oct 7
7TH ANNUAL MAIN STREET FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL – LITTLE ROCK
Oct 6-7
HOT WATER HILLS MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL – HOT SPRINGS
There will be more than fifty food trucks, tons of craft vendors,
A unique blend of art, food, and MUSIC! This festival has
be plenty of food, entertainment, and beer. Admission is free.
a quirky mix of music, art, food, drink, contests, and kids’
Visit mainstreetfoodtrucks.com.
and a variety of entertainment. Spanning six blocks, there will
activities, and is as appealing to hipsters as it is to hippies! There will be a handmade art fair with one-of-a-kind paintings, pottery, and jewelry. Bring a lawn chair and join the fun! Admission is $5 per day. Visit hotwaterhills.com.
TURKEY TRACK BLUEGRASS PARK – WALDRON
TIMBERFEST – SHERIDAN This annual event has been held for more than thirty years. Don’t miss lumberjack competitions, a pageant and parade, a car and motorcycle show, a pinewood derby and bow shoot, games for kids of all ages, a 5K, arts and crafts, and lots more! Visit grantcountychamber.com/timberfest.
Oct 11-14
Located near Waldron, Arkansas, Turkey Track Bluegrass Park is one of the largest bluegrass festivals west of the Mississippi. Bring the whole family and enjoy wholesome family entertainment! Scheduled performances are held Wednesday through Saturday. Visit turkeytrackbluegrass.com.
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entertainment
Oct 12-15
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Oct 19-21
HILLBERRY THE HARVEST MOON FESTIVAL – EUREKA SPRINGS
JOHNNY CASH HERITAGE FESTIVAL – DYESS This first-ever festival honors the artistry of Johnny Cash and
Featuring music on Thursday through Sunday, this event is
the early influences on his music. The festival includes educa-
held at "The Farm" located in the Ozark Mountains. The
tional panels, regional foods, local crafts, area musicians on
venue boasts beautiful 360-degree panoramic views and sits
the Colony Circle stage, and world-class entertainment in the
on 160 acres, backing to Mark Twain National Forest. Admis-
cotton fields adjacent to the Johnny Cash Boyhood Home.
sion varies. Visit hillberryfestival.com.
Concert host is Rosanne Cash! Admission is a combination of free and paid. Visit johnnycashheritagefestival.com.
Oct 13-14
ANNUAL BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL – EUREKA SPRINGS Bluegrass weekend kicks off in Basin Spring Park. Bring
Oct 21
ARKANSAS CORNBREAD FESTIVAL – LITTLE ROCK
your instrument and join in the fun! Admission is free. Visit
Since 2011, this festival has exploded in popularity! Enjoy
eurekasprings.org/event/annual-bluegrass-festival/.
a cornbread competition for home cooks as well as professionals,
outstanding
live
music,
local
breweries,
and
vendors selling Arkansas-made food, crafts, and gifts. Visit
Oct 13-15
arkansascornbreadfestival.com.
FALL FESTIVAL ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR – VAN BUREN Historic Main Street is the site for this old-fashioned fall festival. Over 200 exhibitors display artwork, handcrafted items, antiques, collectibles, food, carnival rides, and entertainment. Admission is free. Visit oldtownvanburen.com.
Oct 28
DOWNTOWN FALL FESTIVAL & CHILI COOK-OFF – RUSSELLVILLE This fun-filled festival harkens back to the “good ole days” when carnivals set up on the streets of downtown Russell-
Oct 14
ville. Start the morning with a breakfast buffet and enjoy more great food from vendors, Chili Cook-off samples, and Pie &
ARKANSAS RICE FESTIVAL – WEINER The 41st Annual Arkansas Rice Festival observes the rich heritage of rice farming in Arkansas and celebrates the harvest. Enjoy lots of carnival rides, live music on stage, vendors, a pageant, and much more. Visit arkansasricefestival.com.
STREET EATS FOOD FESTIVAL – FORT SMITH The inaugural Street Eats Food Truck Festival takes place in Downtown Fort Smith. Enjoy multiple food trucks from the
Cake Contest entries. There’s the “Tour de Pumpkin” Bike Ride, a 5k race & 1-mile fun run, car show, arts & crafts, kids’ costume contest, games, and live entertainment all day long! Admission is free. Visit mainstreetrussellville.com.
*Please confirm directly with the promoter or venue to ensure event details have not changed.
area, and live music, alongside the River Valley Artisan Market, Fort Smith Farmer’s Market, and other mobile vendors. During the event, Razorback football fans can watch the Arkansas vs. Alabama game on-site! Contact 479.274.9559.
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poetry
In My Grandmother's Prairie House LINEs Glenn Wigington
There was always a pot of beans simmering on the black iron stove and talk about fickle weather, best berries for cobbler. Grandpa's sweat-stained felt hat still hung from a nail by the kitchen door, though he died before I was born. Four straight years of boll weevils and four more of drought wore him down. Grandma packed a small case, turned her gaze from the peeling wallpaper, the wood floor she could no longer clean, an oaken bucket her mother had used, its dipper hanging alongside the wooden bench Grandpa had made for their children. She bit her lip and eased closed the door, looked out across the yard, the cemetery beyond. Who would watch the white butterflies that flutter among the zinnias in August? Who would trim the yellow roses by the well?
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entertainment
Closing Time By Anita Paddock | Pen-L Publishing | 195 pages | $15 review Marla Cantrell
Most of us go
As the story unfolds, it follows the path of the criminals who
to our jobs every
planned and executed the crimes. The narrative also steps into
day
a
the lives of the remaining Statons, as they swam against their
passing thought
current of grief, as they were held afloat by the kindness of
that evil might
their community.
find
without
us
there.
But in September
One of the best examples was when cabinet maker, Mark
1980, two crimi-
Kesner, showed up at the jewelry store as the family was
nals walked into
preparing to reopen, with a gift that offered a measure of peace.
Staton’s Jewelry
He got to work, installing a two-way mirror so that anyone in
in Van Buren, Arkansas, a town of 12,000, just as the store was
the back room of the store could see what was happening on
closing. Owner Kenneth Staton, and his daughter, twenty-four-year-
the sales floor. “I decided the mirror would be more helpful
old Suzanne Ware, were hogtied, gagged and shot to death. When
than flowers,” he said.
an inventory was taken, $100,000 in merchandise was missing. Again and again, the Statons were being shown that good The crime caused fear and fury. As decades passed, the story
cannot be overshadowed by evil. Ruth received so many flowers,
surfaced so rarely it was easy to forget the horror ever happened.
she’d had to put them in every room of her house. The kitchen
But Anita Paddock never forgot. She’d followed the case from
filled with casseroles and muffins, and 200 people sent cards.
the beginning, and she’d felt the communal heartbreak many of It is a striking juxtaposition, seeing good and evil side by side.
us had when the murders took place.
Anita takes readers back to the beginning of the criminals’ lives, When she sat down to write Closing Time, she’d already spent
showing what went wrong. She traces their steps after the kill-
hundreds of hours researching the case. She grew close to the
ings, as detectives chased every lead. And she uncovers the one
Staton family, visiting Ruth, Kenneth’s widow, often. At Ruth’s
witness who pulled the clues together, even though coming
kitchen table, she listened to story after story. Years before,
forward was a harrowing move.
Kenneth, who’d battled crippling rheumatoid arthritis for decades, had taken up watch repair, with dreams of opening a
Closing Time is an edge-of-your-seat true-crime novel. It’s also the
jewelry store. Ruth had pulled evening shifts at Dixie Cup to help
story of a family struggling to find their way in the wake of so much
make that dream come true.
cruelty. The Statons will make you believe in the power of love, in the treasure that resides in the hearts of a devoted family.
The couple had four daughters who adored their parents. The youngest girl was Suzanne, who died by her father’s side.
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shop
Spooktacular Shopping! words Marla Cantrell imageS Jade Graves Photography and courtesy vendors
Festive Fall Décor
ZO® Skin Health Phase 2 Anti-Aging Program
SUNSHINE SHOP AT MERCY FORT SMITH
LUMINESSENCE MEDI-SPA AT COOPER CLINIC
479.314.6079
479.274.4200
Oliver Peoples Sunglasses
DR. STEVEN B. STILES OPTOMETRY 479.452.2020
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Belle Glos Pino Noir, Smith & Hook Cabernet Sauvignon
SODIE’S WINE & SPIRITS 479.783.8013
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shop
No tricks here, just amazing treats to make your October the best one ever! Have fun shopping local, finding treasures right here at home.
Hearts On Fire Aerial Regal Diamond Hoop Earrings, 18kt. White Gold, 2.10cts.
Captain Morgan Jack-Blast Pumpkin Spiced Rum, Outer Space Alien Vodka, Skeleton Home Décor
JOHN MAYS JEWELERS
IN GOOD SPIRITS
479.452.2140
479.434.6604
Spirited Seasonal Décor
JENNIFER’S GIFT SHOP AT SPARKS HEALTH 479.441.4221
SkinMedica® Rejuvenize Peel™
FORT SMITH MEDICAL & BEINEMAN AESTHETICS / BROW BAR 479.434.3131 / 479.434.5680
DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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people
BACK FROM THE BRINK THE BRIAN SIMS STORY
Brian Sims, Kaylynn, Colton and team
T
words Marla Cantrell Images courtesy Belinda Sims
The last two weeks of April 2017 were marked by mild tempera-
work, they sought medical care. Brian was given medication
tures, a few foggy mornings, and eight days of thunderstorms.
to combat his symptoms and an antibiotic, but this time they
None of that was remarkable for spring in Arkansas, and neither
weren’t working.
was the fact that Brian Sims, an offensive line coach for Greenwood High School’s football team, had come down with another
On April 28, Brian’s dermatologist, Dr. Garrett Nelson of John-
case of poison ivy.
ston Dermatology Clinic, ordered a biopsy to see what was going on, a test that proved crucial in the days to come.
Every year, it seemed, he battled a bout with poison ivy, a vine he was particularly allergic to, and every year he ended up with
April 29 was another stormy day, thunder roaring and lightning
blisters that often formed a streak across the affected skin.
tearing through the gray sky. Belinda felt a bit like the storm herself, her emotions sharp and dark and troubled. Something,
So, when the rash appeared, both Brian and his wife, Belinda,
she knew in her heart, was terribly wrong.
went through their regular paces. When home remedies didn’t
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people taste
Typically, Brian cooked dinner, but that Saturday, he took a nap instead, and then a long bath. When Belinda called him to eat, he took a few obligatory bites and stopped. And that’s when Belinda noticed that the blisters, which had previously been on his arms and legs and the trunk of his body, had traveled to his neck. An alarm went off inside Belinda, and she and Brian headed to the Emergency Room. It seemed to her as if Brian’s body was being overtaken by the blisters that continued to multiply. Skin was peeling, raw wounds were opening, and Brian’s pain skyrocketed. He looked like a burn victim. While the medical staff worked tirelessly, Belinda prayed. Her husband, just over six feet tall, and so strong he seemed made of
Brian, Belinda, Colton and Kaylynn Sims
iron, appeared to be getting worse. In the first days of May, Brian was transported on a small plane first to OSU Medical Center in Tulsa, and then to the Anderson Burn Unit at Hillcrest Medical Center, just five minutes away. What Brian was fighting were two life-threatening and rare syndromes associated with adverse reactions to certain medications: Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS). Only about six in one million develop SJS each year, and only one to two per million develop TEN. The biopsy Brian’s dermatologist, Dr. Nelson, had ordered early on had substantiated the diagnosis. The conditions cause the skin to peel in sheets. The raw areas leak fluids and salts, and infections are both dangerous and common.
Belinda, who teaches at Southside High School in Fort Smith, remembers looking around the ICU room where her husband
Belinda says the diagnosis was hard to make in Brian’s case
lay. Back at home, school would be winding down. She and Brian
because most TEN/SJS patients first experience internal symp-
would be planning their summer with their kids, Colton, who’d
toms, meaning the infection hits their mucus membranes,
be home from Ouachita Baptist University, and Kaylynn, who’d
making it difficult for them to breathe, which sends them
been finishing up her junior year at Greenwood.
to the hospital quickly. It later reaches the skin, but by that time, treatment has been underway for a while. But for some
What a different summer this would be.
reason, Brian’s symptoms started externally and worked their way inside.
They were the kind of family who often went to the grocery store together, just to spend time with each other. When Belinda
As for what triggered the condition in Brian, Belinda says the
needed gasoline for her car, Brian rode shotgun, to pump her
consensus was that there was a cumulative effect of Brian’s use
gas, and to have a few minutes alone with her.
of over-the-counter ibuprofen and naproxen over the years, and when he was given an antibiotic to treat the suspected poison
Now, she sat in a chair, listening to the beeping sounds of the
ivy, it made the TEN/SJS more complex.
machines. “Brian was such a strong guy. Even then, I thought, DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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he’ll be here a couple of weeks max. But things would get a little better, and they’d plummet down. Things would get better again, and they’d plummet down,” Belinda says. “It was our nightmare roller coaster, that entire eighty-two days we were there.” Brian and Belinda
Eventually, ninety-five percent of his body was burned away, the flesh beneath exposed. Belinda feared he might die. The battle now was not just on the surface. Brian’s kidneys, liver, heart, GI tract, and lungs were affected. He went through dialysis, took insulin, had his gall bladder removed, and had his blood pressure drop so severely he was given four medications called “pressors” to raise it. During his time at Hillcrest, infections took hold, he went into septic shock, respiratory failure, and he was in surgery for skin grafts and wound cleaning weekly. Belinda can’t say enough about how great the staff was, pulling him through, giving him life-saving care. By mid-June, Belinda, understandably, was exhausted. Their son, Colton, helped as much as he could, listening to the updates on his father, asking questions about treatment plans and future surgeries. The nurses grew fond of Colton, trying to convince him to change his major from Christian Studies to Medicine. Many times, Belinda would sleep in a chair in Brian’s room, the only piece of furniture that would fit because so much medical equipment surrounded her husband’s hospital bed. She drifted off to the sound of the machines keeping Brian alive. She woke to them. She tried to remember her life before. It was hard to do. As a member of Harvest Time in Fort Smith, she’d spent hours listening to worship music and praying, and now she relied on them both. She and Brian love their church, and the church lifted them up in prayer. Colton and his sister Kaylynn attend First Baptist of Greenwood, and that congregation fell to its knees, offering prayers for the family. Other area churches joined in. And on Facebook, people from across the nation and from around the world, followed Brian’s story, waiting for Belinda’s updates. “I got messages daily from
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people taste
churches or ball teams or families and individuals saying they were praying for us. We got tons of get-well cards in the mail. “The Southside School District sent us Visa gift cards that helped us get through the summer. The Greenwood School District took up donations; people sent money, the football team held a carwash. The elementary school raised money. Brian’s parents came up, and the football boosters from Brian’s hometown in Benton sent donations. So many others helped. It was an outpouring of love. “Mr. and Mrs. Gills, whose daughter Lindsey was in Brian’s P.E. class, have a townhouse that’s about five minutes from Hillcrest, and they offered it to us. I can’t thank them enough. That way my family was able to have a small taste of home.” As Belinda says this, her voice shakes. “We almost lost Brian four times,” she says, the magnitude of the statement bringing up sharp memories. Once, after her mother- and father-in-law had left with the Sims’ daughter Kaylynn to drive back to Arkansas, Belinda had to call them back. No one was sure if Brian would last the night. “Telling his parents and our kids that we had to make a decision was the hardest thing. He was in so much pain, and also we didn’t want him to be in agony if things weren’t looking good. That was devastating. Coach Rick Jones had driven up when he heard how bad things were, and a really good friend of mine came. “We made the decision not to resuscitate if it came to that.” Belinda stops talking for a second; the only sound is the deep breath she takes. “And then a miracle happened, I believe because so many people were praying. Brian began to make teeny-tiny improvements. We began to see more improvements than pitfalls. We’d given it to God. I prayed a prayer that was, ‘God, I want him with me, but I don’t want him in excruciating
While we don'’ t know the reason we had to endure this crisis, we do know it has showed us the importance of faith.
pain, and if he’s not going to get better, then take him now and don’t make him go through the torture of this.’” On July 17, Belinda let the world know that she was bringing If there is a light in this part of the story, it’s that Brian remem-
Brian home. The homecoming almost didn’t happen that day
bers little of his time in Hillcrest. Belinda says he remembers
because when she got in her car, it wouldn’t start. Hours passed,
flying to Tulsa—he doesn’t like planes. And he remembers
the alternator was replaced, and finally, she drove her husband
a day when he was feeling well enough to toss the football
back to Arkansas, not stopping even once.
around with his son, as a part of physical therapy, the sunlight soft on his face, the promise of his old life a glimmer on the
When they turned onto their street, crowds, who’d been waiting for
horizon. Later, he remembers his players coming to visit, their
hours, waved hand-lettered signs, and they cheered as Belinda’s car
faces like medicine to the coach who loves them.
passed. Brian’s fellow coaches, his team, their friends, co-workers, DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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family, students, even those who knew him only from his harrowing journey, raised their hands and voices to welcome him back. The scene was the stuff of movies. Recently, when Greenwood’s football team played Southside, where Belinda teaches, Brian and Belinda were honorary co-captains. As they stood on the fifty-yard line before the game started, the Greenwood announcer read the note Belinda took such care to write. In his booming voice, he said, in part, “There are not enough words to adequately thank everyone for what they have done for our family—we will forever be indebted to you. It is enormously powerful to feel so much love coming from school districts, churches, and the tremendously amazing people in these two communities. While we don’t know the reason we had to endure this crisis, we do know it has showed us the importance of faith. God blessed us through each and every one of you! We pray that God blesses you all as much as you have blessed us! We still have many obstacles to overcome. We face each one believing in the power of prayer and faith to get us through.” Belinda wishes there were bigger words, better words, to let these dear people know how she feels. Try as she might, she just
Brian and Colton
can’t find them. Right now, Brian is still recovering. He goes to football practice and games as much as he can. He leans on a cane often—he has a wound on his right leg that’s still healing. He has some shortterm memory issues that experts say is a common occurrence after so much time in ICU, after so many powerful drugs. As for the TEN/SJS, there is now a flag on his medical chart to make sure he never takes any of the medications commonly associated with these syndromes. Belinda, naturally, worries. But she also feels wrapped in the love of her Savior and sheltered by what she’s learned about prayer. Before, she thought she appreciated her life, that she understood the value of her beautiful family and the marriage that grew stronger with each passing year. Now, she knows better. There are degrees of gratitude, she’s learned. Now, she says, that gratitude seems deeper, and she believes today is just the start. Tomorrow, there will be more thankfulness and the day after even more. She expects this cycle to continue all the days of their extraordinary life. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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pets
No tricks, just treats and a whole lot of love! The shelter is open every Saturday from 9 to noon. Call for an adoption appointment.
M
M
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Koda
Ryder
F
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Moon
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Scarlett
Mose
Toby
Booneville Animal Shelter Donations are always needed and greatly appreciated. Booneville Animal Shelter | Hwy 10 East | Booneville, AR | 479.849.6188 | Each month, Do SouthÂŽ donates this page to local and regional non-profit animal shelters. If you work with a shelter and would like to reserve this space, please email editors@dosouthmagazine.com. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
garden
Words Megan Lankford, Lead Gardener, Botanical Garden of the Ozarks images courtesy Botanical Garden of the Ozarks
October in the Garden THE DIRT:
In the autumn, after a busy spring and hot summer, I become a lazy gardener. As the arctic air dips its spindly fingers into the South, I let the leaves lie where they may. Being a lazy gardener, especially in the fall, can help your yard come alive with beneficial insects. TIPS: I used to love having clean beds in the winter. But after researching beneficial insects, how to attract them to the garden and keep them there, I found out how important a little mess can be. Bare patches of soil become spots where native ground bees, often solitary, take refuge for the winter. Other beneficial insects overwinter in the hollow stalks of plants, as well as nestle in amongst ornamental grasses.
YOU CAN PLANT:
Beneficial insects need to overwinter somewhere safe and protected. Certainly they are tough, but even the most tenacious insects need protection from freezing temperatures. Many butterfly and moth species overwinter amongst leaf litter, hanging from the stems of plants, and even tucked in the soil. Lightning bugs overwinter in the leaf litter as well. So, if you miss those magical summer nights of your childhood, leave the leaves and turn off the lights!
shrubs, and perennials
Another benefit of a messy winter garden is the birds. This is especially true if you have even a few native plants in your yard. Beautyberry, Callicarpa Americana, has beautiful purple berries and feeds a variety of birds and animals including robins. Goldfinches love to eat Echinacea seeds. Watching them flit from plant to plant can fill any winter day with the warmth of summer.
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Wait until the end of the month, and then start getting your trees, in the ground!
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tea as a tonic Words Jessica Sowards Images courtesy Jessica Sowards and Jackson Whitaker
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people people taste
I don’t drink tea at night as a general rule. Only sometimes, when it's on the early end of late, and my brain just won’t settle. When it’s dark outside and the day is dying and the night is calling my name. Then I make an exception. I made a cup of tea at 8:15 tonight. Not long before bedtime with no thoughts of bed, I pulled out a mug with plans to retreat to my kitchen table. I was the kind of tired sleep can’t touch, so I turned on the kettle and dropped the thin round bag of dried leaves in the cup, then poured the water over the top. It’s Nana’s special kind of tea she has shipped from far off family members in Newfoundland. I don’t know the brand. She carries it in her purse in a Ziploc baggie, and leaves it for me to find after her visit to my house has ended. I put too much honey in it, too much cream. I’m sure Nana and
I put too much honey in it, too much cream. I’m sure Nana and the rest of the real tea drinkers would know me as an only-sometimes tea drinker if they saw it. It ’s OK. Because I am.
the rest of the real tea drinkers would know me as an onlysometimes tea drinker if they saw it. It’s OK. Because I am.
Dollars” giveaway, a program that prompted viewers to call the station for a chance to win cash. Every day, we would
I was praying while I stirred. The sort of praying that comes out like
watch. The jackpot rose and fell, and she never won, but as
a mumble, a mutter, a whisper. An unthought-of prayer. Because
we waited daily for the announcement, I would feast on the
when I don’t want to talk to anyone, I make myself talk to Him.
horrors of the world along with my peanut butter sandwiches.
I love my God. Not in an only-sometimes kind of way.
Even though I was not allowed to watch PG-13 movies or
In an every-moment kind a way. In a test-my-words and
visit haunted houses that sprang up every October, or even
check-my-heart kind of way. In a catch-myself-and-thank-
wear scary Halloween costumes, I lived in fear that held
Him-for-the-grace-to-repent kind of way. I love the fire of the
me in sick captivity and told me that I would never catch
Spirit. I’ve felt it fall. I’ve preached it. I’ve shaken and cried
my breath again. It didn’t take a fictional terror to start me
underneath it. He is a mighty God. Oh, and Jesus. That beau-
down the road of living in fear. Reality did the job just fine.
tiful Man. I love that Man. I have been marvelously wooed by Him. I have heard Him call and run headlong into His arms.
As I grew up, my fear grew with me. Right to the point where my heart was birthed into little mobile bits I call sons.
But it’s not that kind of night. It’s not a passionate or
In them, I found the most precious love I’d ever experienced
burning or seeking kind of night. It’s a too-sweet tea at
and the most crippling realization that I could not protect
8:15 kind of night. It’s a night for a blank document with a
them from the broken world.
blinking curser and the Word. It’s a night of thoughts that spill and roll out onto whatever will catch them. Because
It was a long hard battle, but in the end, I found myself
some days I’m a preacher, and all days I’m a mother, and
on top. I found myself delivered from this fear like an Isra-
most days I’ve got a good grip but every once in a while,
elite from Egypt, heading to the Promised Land, though
a day comes along that finds me altogether overwhelmed.
admittedly there had been much less fanfare. Nonetheless, I didn’t know how to be anything but scared, so I set my eyes
I was afraid for a very long time. When I was a girl, I would
on Jesus and asked Him to help me be bold and fearless, so
watch the news. My mother faithfully turned on the TV every
He led me into a wilderness of discovery and there I found a
day at lunchtime, fingers crossed to win the “Dialing for
voice and a love that sent the terror running.
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But sometimes, on nights like this, the wilderness is hard to navigate, and captivity calls my all-too-familiar name. No, I do not thrill at the thought of danger or death. There is only one fear that still seems to weasel its way into my ear to ask me, “Are you sure?” It picks at the sureness of my faith and rattles my resolve to stand up for what I know is true. I spoke up. Once or twice, three times maybe. I lent my voice to the Gospel, and someone listened. And before I knew it people used phrases that I never thought fit me. Things like “Faith like that,” and “Called by God.” They’re still uncomfortable. Like wearing dress-up heels. My toes slip off
But first I share my heart. I don’t know why exactly. I do have
the front of these words, and I feel them make an amplified
faith. Big faith. Mountain moving faith. I command money
sound when I step, each clunk reminding me that I don’t know
problems and illness and all sorts of threats from the Enemy to
how to walk in them yet.
jump into the sea in Jesus’s name. And they do.
I believe God. I believe Him in all the things He says. I’ve even
But I am only a girl, trying hard to love with the heart of the
made the choice to believe Him about that having-a-voice
Father, in the power of the Spirit and with the passion of the
thing. I believe He has told me to use it. But some days seem
Man Jesus. Tomorrow I’ll wake up a little better. A little more
covered in all the things I do wrong. Some days, my walls
sure in this walk. I’ll drink tea at the appropriate time and not
feel plastered with unfinished to-do lists and the faces of
feel like falling to pieces by night. I’ll pray under my breath all
people I’ve let down. And some days, my voice comes out as a
day, and I will be a preacher and a mother and a writer and a
squeak, and I think perhaps I am not a roaring lion but a tiny
farmer with a good grip and no fear.
mouse. Some days I feel everything in the world but fearless. I believe Him, you know. So I don’t go to bed on my doubt. I stay
But tonight I’m weak, and so I’m saying it. I’m weak. And He’s
up and fight it. Grappling in my too-big heels because one day I
strong. As strong as this tea, and also as sweet. Good-night.
will walk sure that they will not make me trip and fall. I stay up,
They are all good nights. Even the hard ones.
drinking tea and speaking truth out loud until I believe it.
Follow Jessica @thehodgepodgedarling.blogspot.com.
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Jayden Youngblood, Ethan Echols, Salvador Posada, Zoe Schwartz Cunningham, Tommy Cunningham, Emily Martin and Laura England-Cunningham
Guitar Man
words Marla Cantrell images courtesy Jerry Glidewell and Laura England-Cunningham
It is a brilliant September afternoon in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
club’s chef, James Thomas, will be serving everything from hors
Already, a few leaves on a nearby maple tree have turned an
d’oeuvres to a martini bar to desserts, and there will be door prizes
orangey-red, and the air, cooler these last few days, holds a tiny
and a silent auction.
bit of autumn. At the dining table in Tommy Cunningham’s house, there are stacks of notes about the upcoming fundraiser
Tommy is describing the lineup, exploring the considerable merits
for T.J.’s Guitar and Music Program, which gives musical instru-
of the musicians who make up the bands. His son, John, will
ments to winners of an essay contest, and music lessons to local
perform, along with Greg Cook, Kaelin Pratt, Rick Tinder, Ricky
children through the Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club.
Young, Mark Albertson, Tom Ware, Rick Boyette, Larry Mathews, and Larry Pearson.
Beside Tommy sits Kim Bercher, who’s co-chairing the event, and next to him, Jerry Glidewell, the director of the Boys and Girls
When Tommy finishes his descriptions, both Kim and Jerry
Club, which has four locations. Each of the men is excited to be
are smiling. Talk turns to the wide-reaching effects of music,
part of something that does so much good.
and Jerry, who’s an award-winning songwriter, says, “Music is God’s medicine.”
The fundraiser, called the Annual T.J. “Peaches” Cunningham Memorial, takes place on November 4. Some of the best groups
“He nailed it,” Tommy says. To his right is his office, a room deco-
in our area—The Rain Kings, and the Dodging Bullets All-Star
rated entirely of guitars he’s collected over the years. Tommy first
Band—will play at the Fianna Hills Country Club. The country
played guitar with his older brother, Johnny, when Tommy was
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fourteen or fifteen. When he was in his thirties, he helped found the local group, Mr. Cabbagehead and the Screaming Radishes, and played with them until he retired in 2010. Since music was a big part of his life, it became a big part of his kids’ lives as well. He remembers practicing with Cabbagehead, his oldest son T.J. so small he stood between his father’s legs while he played guitar. T.J. would grow up to play guitar as well. As T.J., whom they affectionately called Peaches, grew up, he gathered a legion of friends. Tommy says, “T.J. was a fun-loving kid. Liked to play music, liked to joke around a lot. His life went pretty quick. Twenty-seven years and he was gone.” T.J.’s life ended on July 10, 2009, the result of a car accident. Tommy rubs his shoulder as he talks about that night. Losing his son brought the greatest sorrow of his lifetime. “It was just as bad for his mother, Laura,” Tommy says. (The two were no longer married, but remain good friends.) “We didn’t know what to do. At his funeral at St. John’s about 500 people showed up. My younger son, John, is a piano player, and he played “No Tears in Heaven.” I don’t know how we did it. I cried all day. I couldn’t have done it. “But a month later, we held the first concert, and a lot of T.J.’s friends played. We just wanted to make something good out of this.” It’s hard to imagine the fortitude it took to pull together that first fundraiser. The shining light was the local musicians who showed up, playing their hearts out, doing what they could to honor T.J. When the night was over, the grief, of course, was still there. But Tommy knew donating the $1,500 they’d raised would bring some solace. He met with Jerry at the Boys and Girls Club. The two men talked about T.J., who’d been a member of the Jeffrey Club, playing basketball and baseball there. Jerry mentioned how Tommy, as a member of the Cabbageheads, had come to play for the kids, and how much they’d loved it. Before Tommy left that day, he knew what he’d do. He’d buy two guitars to donate and write a check to the club for the remainder of the money. Every year since, Tommy has spearheaded the fundraisers in his son’s name. And each year they’ve continued to donate guitars as a part of the process. Tommy, T.J.’s mom Laura, and T.J.’s siblings participate, the family united by their love of this young man gone too soon. Last year, when the donation neared $8,000, they also gave away a keyboard. Winners of the instruments have to write an essay and get a DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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recommendation letter. The money raised also helps provide guitar
Instead, he spends his time remembering the joy T.J. brought,
and piano lessons. Soon, club members will be able to take song-
and doing what he can to bring happiness to local kids whose
writing classes as well.
lives are just beginning.
But back to the club member whose essay earned him a new
T.J. Cunningham
keyboard. His name is Salvador Posada, and when the keyboard was turned on its end, it was taller than he was. “He flew out of the stands when we called his name,” Tommy says and laughs. “Salvador had been taking lessons at Stephens Boys Club and has a natural knack for playing the piano. His teacher was amazed by his attitude,” Jerry says. “Most people know the Boys and Girls Club for our sports programs, after-school programs, and our summer programs. I love that we also have music. Music can enrich the lives of these kids through the creative process.” Kim, who was in the Northside High School marching and concert bands, and had a garage band called The Checkmates, says, “Once you learn an instrument, no one can ever take that away from you. Salvador will never forget winning that keyboard, and he’ll never forget the lessons he’s learned.” “Music allows you to meet people you might never otherwise know,” Jerry says. “I’d guess Tommy has met a thousand people, at least, in the years he’s played guitar.” “I’ve had young men come up to me who tell me, ‘I used to hear you at Riverfest; I grew up on your music.’ That makes you feel pretty good,” Tommy says. The talk turns again to T.J., whose full name is William Earl Thomas Jasper Cunningham. It was a big name to carry, full of weight and promise. When T.J. died so young, the shock of it reverberated through Tommy, shaking him so badly he had trouble moving through the day. At the funeral of T.J.’s grandfather a couple of years ago, all the grandkids gathered to have their photo taken. Tommy counted the heads, and he said, “We’re one short. Somebody’s missing.” And then he realized the missing grandkid was T.J. When this story is finished, Tommy raps his fingers on the kitchen table, the subject closed. The sorrow from the loss of a child is eternal. It invades every part
November 4 T.J. “Peaches” Cunningham Memorial Food, Live Music, Door Prizes, Auction Fianna Hills Country Club | 479.646.7861 6:30-11pm | $40 ------------------------------------------------The Fort Smith Boys and Girls Club is looking for used musical instruments to expand their music program. If you can help, call 479.782.7093. They’ll even pick them up!
of a parent’s life. But Tommy doesn’t dwell in that lonely place. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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diy
Once Upon a Time
words and images Catherine Frederick
Refinish a piece of furniture in a day with almost no prep needed. Sounds like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? Enter chalk paint. One could say that chalk paint is magical. It clings to practically any surface and requires no stripping, sanding or priming prior to applying – even if the piece is varnished. It comes in gorgeous colors, dries quickly, cleans up with water and is eco-friendly. Dreams really do come true! Take a look at how I chalk painted and distressed this old side table to give it new life.
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diy
MATERIALS • Chalk paint
• Sandpaper
• Paint brushes
• Drop cloth, painter’s tape (optional)
• Finishing wax • Lint-free rags
METHOD
1.
Clean your piece with a soapy rag to remove any dirt. Do not use furniture polish! Make sure to remove all traces of soap before you begin. Remove all hardware from drawers, etc. If there are rough, raised areas, consider sanding them. Fill holes with putty. Tape off areas that won’t be painted, like the inside of drawers.
2.
If heavily distressing, now’s the time to have some fun! You can use an old chain, a hammer, and even heavy-grit sandpaper to give the piece an aged look. After distressing, wipe piece down again to remove any dust. Some aging techniques are: sand with a drill, bang with a hammer, hammer large screw or other hardware to imprint design, hammer tip of nail in small
3. 4. 5.
groupings to create the effect of wormholes. Apply first coat of paint, let dry. Wrap brush in plastic wrap while first coat dries. Apply second coat. While second dries, wash out brush. If sanding to reveal a portion of the original finish, we recommend this be done outside as it will create dust. Distress anywhere it would receive wear and tear over time such as edges or corners, tops, raised detail or knobs. Wipe
6. 7. 8. 9.
piece with a cloth to remove any dust before applying wax.
*IMPORTANT TIPS:
Sparingly apply wax or protective top coat with rag or
- Consider painting your piece with another color prior to
brush. Start in small sections and work the wax into the piece like you would apply lotion. Add a second coat of wax if desired (only recommended if it’s a high-traffic piece). Buff the piece only until you have reached the desired finish (from low matte to a high shine). Clean your wax brush.
applying chalk paint. If you distress your piece, that is the
color that will shine through.
- The paint can be thick. Try only dipping the tip of the brush
into the paint, a little goes a long way.
- You can apply the paint in any direction, with or against the
grain, for a more textured finish.
- Work at room temperature.
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Two Nights in
Summerfield
words Marla Cantrell images courtesy Adrian and Tina Scalf
River Valley Paranormal Research & Investigation is a group of paranormal investigators in Fort Smith, Arkansas dedicated to the research and documentation of unexplained phenomenon. Involved within our membership are professional people who feel there is far more to the world around us than what meets the eye.
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In 1999, Adrian and Tina Scalf were living with their children
one grocery store, a few churches, and one very haunted house.
in an old Victorian house in McAlester, Oklahoma. The house was lovely, but from time to time, strange things happened
The family living there said they heard the voices of two spirits,
that Tina couldn’t explain. She’d hear unfamiliar voices. She’d
a woman and a young girl. The woman liked to bake, the family
feel something touch her when she was alone.
believed, since they could often smell freshly baked cookies. Also, items turned up missing. For instance, one of them would
For as long as she could remember, Tina had understood the thin
lay down a screwdriver, and it would disappear before they had
divide between this world and the next. Spirits showed up on door-
the chance to pick it up again.
steps. Shadows rose from nothingness. As for Adrian, he’d never seen anything that couldn’t be explained away. At least not until
Pretty tame stuff, but then the woman of the house told them
Tina sat him down and said, “Honey, this house is haunted.”
about the night something haunted came at her from the attic in the hallway, flew into her bedroom and pushed her down on her
“I laughed at first. ‘How can you believe such silliness?’ I
bed. She felt this entity try to get inside her skin, and when it did, she
asked her. But I was not home as much as she was. I’d go
reacted violently, so sick she threw up, her body seeming to know
to work, come home and eat, watch a little TV. Go to bed.”
what it needed to do to stop whatever this was from possessing her.
Little by little, he started to entertain the idea that Tina
After listening to the stories, Adrian and Tina assembled their
might be right. Some months later, returning from the
RVPRI team. The group of five drove to the house. From the
movies, something crossed the road in front of their car,
moment they arrived, they knew something ominous lay ahead.
the likes of which they’d never seen. What was that crea-
“Walking through the door was like moving through Jell-O. You
ture? And where did it come from?
could feel the weight to the air pressing against you,” Tina said. “The whole house was heavy.”
“Up until that night, when Tina said she’d heard voices in the house, I’d written it off as noise coming from the neighbors.
The lady of the house stayed during the first night of the
But after seeing what we did, I went home and listened, and
investigation. The reason was simple. It could have been that
I could hear voices of a man and woman. It sounded like two
she was the one being haunted and not the house itself. It
people sitting at a table discussing something.”
turns out she wasn’t.
These events—the haunting and Adrian’s acceptance of
“That first night, we set up in the living room, set up all our
it—changed the course of the couple’s life. They moved
equipment,” Adrian said. “Our team was spread out. And
eventually, buying a house in Fort Smith in 2005. It didn’t
then I turned off the lights, and it was go-time. The air was full
take them long to discover this house came with its own
of shadows swirling around, like oil on water. The floor looked
ghost, an easy-going spirit they affectionately named James.
like it was covered with bugs and they were moving, moving. We turned on the lights to see if they were real. They weren’t.
In August 2006, Adrian and Tina formed the River Valley Paranormal Research and Investigation (RVPRI), a group
“A larger shadow was on the ceiling, coming from the area of
that has become sought after for their expertise.
the back bedroom, and it was rushing toward the living room where we were. It looked like it was trying to intimidate us.”
They face each investigation with a plan in place, with procedures that allow them to (mostly) unemotionally document
The team continued their work, and Adrian said that as
what is taking place. But there was one investigation in 2007
they were packing up, the back door that was locked
that shook their resolve.
tight creaked open. Visible from where he and Tina were standing were a man’s disembodied, trousered legs. The
They’d taken a call from a family in Summerfield, Oklahoma, a
door slammed shut seconds after they saw this, and when
small community in LeFlore County. The hamlet had a gas station,
they checked, they saw that the lock had been broken.
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The following night they returned, and this time, Tina went to the bedroom where the attack had happened. She sat on the foot of the bed. In front of her was a dresser with a big mirror, and in it, Tina could see what was happening behind her. Nearby were Adrian and team members. Minutes passed, and then she said she saw a shadow of a man bolt upright from the spot near the headboard. It scooted its way toward her. When it was right behind her, she could feel the hairs on her neck stand up, she could feel the coldness on her back. It seemed to want to infiltrate her, to seep into her body. Almost anyone else would run at that point, but Tina willed herself to stay still. She watched the mirror as the entity disappeared, and then reappeared, going through the same motions again, getting so close to Tina that
alive. Or you might buy something of theirs that they loved, maybe
she could feel its iciness and all its evil power.
at an estate sale, and they will follow that object to your home.
The entity did not make a third attempt.
Your experience after that is a crapshoot. Ghosts, Tina said, are a lot like the people they were. If they were jerks in life, they are
Tina believes what she encountered was a demon. Her theory
in death. If they were sweethearts while drawing breath, they
is that it was unable to possess her or the woman of the house
stay that way.
because they both have a strong faith in God that protected them. The two shared a look as they said this. They’ve run across When their investigation at the Summerfield house ended,
more ghosts than they can count in the eleven years they’ve
Adrian advised the family to hold prayer services in each room.
been in charge of RVPRI. Their work has taken them to 200
“When they did this, they said they could hear moaning and
hauntings in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, Mississippi,
crying and screaming and wailing, and then yelling. By the time
Kentucky, and Ohio. And they’ve been featured on Travel
they finished though, it was peaceful, and the house was so light.
Channel’s Ghost Adventures, SyFy’s movie Soul Catcher, and
They realized they’d never been able to hear the clock ticking
in two other films, Unseen and Seekers.
before,” Tina said. “And it no longer felt like you were walking They couldn’t have predicted any of this when ghosts appeared
through Jell-O when you opened the door.”
at their McAlester house. Back then, Tina wondered if Adrian Since investigating the Summerfield house, they gauge every
would ever believe in the thin divide between this world and
other haunting by what they experienced those two frightful
the next. But now he does. He most certainly does.
nights. They’re quick to say that the only demon they ever came across was there. Adrian will speak about the Summerfield case at the Old Fort As for why the dead get stuck on Earth, they’re not quite sure.
Paranormal Convention October 13-15, at the Fort Smith City Center.
But Adrian and Tina do believe there are clues as to how a ghost
Other well-known names in the field, including filmmaker Chis Booth,
might get attached to someone. They might be struggling to find
will be speaking, and there will be a costume contest and dance.
connection, and you look like someone they knew while they were
Visit rvpri.com for details.
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Don’t Blink Words Stoney Stamper images courtesy April Stamper
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I squeezed Abby tight. She's normally not much of a hugger, but this day, I just didn't care. I held her for just a bit too long because I just wasn't ready to let go. She hugged me back, but said "Oh my gosh, stop! It's no big deal." But it was a big deal. It was her last first day of school. It was the first day of her senior year of high school. She had not gotten her driver’s license yet by the first day of her junior year, so this was also the first time that we had not driven her to school on the first day. She was
I didn’t want to be told
driving herself. So standing there in the driveway, I held that hug as long and as tight as I could, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and then finally let her go. Her mom then stepped in, with big tears in her eyes, and Abby
about how quickly
understood that another big hug was imminent. April wrapped her up in her arms, and Abby's awkwardness sort of fell away, and she melted into her mother's arms. They stood there in silence for a few
that it would be gone.
moments, a beautiful mother/daughter moment that's indicative of
It just seemed so
the amazing bond that they have with one another. April was nineteen years old when she had her, so not only are they mother and daughter, but also best friends. April let go of her and looked her in the eyes. She said, "You're going to do great. It's
cliché. Just let me
your last year of being a kid, so enjoy it." Then I opened her car door for her and helped her into her car, even though she thought I was acting silly. As her mother and I watched her drive away, beneath his sunglasses, this big, strong, tough cowboy had a tear roll down his cheek. I
enjoy it! Let me have my happy moment
quickly wiped it away, hoping that April didn't see it, but she did. I felt her arm slide around my waist as she said, "You're such a big softie." And she's right. I am. And that's pretty ironic, I guess. You see, until about six years ago, I'd never been around many kids. I had two great nephews, Braden and Joby, but I probably wasn't the
with my daughters without having to
best uncle. I loved them, and they loved me, I think, but I wasn't fun. My brother was the fun uncle. I was the uncle with "all the rules,” as Joby always said. I worked too much, lived alone and drank too
think about what it’s
much whiskey. I didn't really know it at the time, but I was selfish. Everything was about me. It was a simple life, I suppose, but not a very satisfying one. But then one day came along April, Abby, and Emma. When we got married, I stepped into a role that I knew nothing about. All of a
going to be like when they’re gone.
sudden, I had these other people that were depending on me. DeciDOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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sions I made no longer only affected me. They also affected these
clicked. We celebrated and laughed and high-fived. It was such a
little innocent girls. That's heavy.
small thing, but for as long as I live, I’ll never forget that moment.
When our family first began, I tried so hard, but it was a struggle
Now I look at her, and she’s beautiful with blonde hair and blue eyes
for me. When you've lived only for yourself for so long, it's not easy
and thirteen years old. She shaves her legs and gets BO and wears
to start making decisions in a new way. But old dogs can learn new
the same size shoe as her mother. That little, tiny girl is gone, just
tricks, after all. It just sometimes takes a little longer. My life became
a sweet memory, although for the most part, she is still every bit as
about April, Abby, and Emma. Every decision I made was based on
entertaining as she ever was.
how it would better them, how it would better our family. Abby, on the other hand, was older and more cautious with me when Abby was eleven years old then, and Emma was seven. Abby was short
I first came around. She was more closed off, and it took me a while
and had chubby cheeks and little chipmunk teeth, and Emma was so
to gain her trust. But very few seventh graders don’t need help with
tiny that she hung on my leg pretty much everywhere we went. In
math homework. And I’m pretty good at math, so that worked out
some ways, that seems like so long ago, but in other ways, it seems
in my favor. I’d spend those few minutes each night helping her with
like just yesterday. Since then, we have added another girl to the mix,
her homework. Slowly but surely, she came around. We got closer
Miss Gracee June, and we have become one big, happy family.
each and every day until eventually, we couldn’t have been closer.
It used to get on my nerves when people would say things like,
She grew up from that little chubby cheeked pre-teen girl, into the
“Don’t blink. Next thing you know they’ll be all grown up.” Or,
beautiful brunette young woman that I am now helping into her car,
“They just grow up so fast. You better enjoy it while you can.” It
on her last first day of school. And as her mother and I watched her
always felt like such a downer thing to say to someone who was
pull out of the driveway, we looked at each other with tears in our
enjoying living in the moment, taking our kids to softball games and
eyes and began walking back to the house.
livestock shows and cheerleading at football games. I didn’t want to be told about how quickly that it would be gone. It just seemed so
She squeezed my hand and said with a tremble in her voice, “I just
cliché. Just let me enjoy it! Let me have my happy moment with my
can’t believe it. It seems like just yesterday that I dropped her off at
daughters without having to think about what it’s going to be like
pre-school. She should still be my little girl, sitting in my lap reading
when they’re gone.
her bedtime stories.” I squeezed her hand back and looked at her and said, “Yeah, I know. It’s like we just blinked and now she’s all grown
I taught Emma to tie her shoes when she was seven. She weighed
up. It just happened so fast.” I guess it’s not so cliché after all.
probably forty-five pounds. I sat her little body on my lap, and we tied them and untied them over and over again. And then finally, it
Stoney Stamper is the author of the popular parenting blog, The Daddy Diaries. He and his wife April have three daughters: Abby, Emma and Gracee. Originally from northeast Oklahoma, the Stampers now live in Tyler, Texas. For your daily dose of The Daddy Diaries, visit Stoney on Facebook or on his website, thedaddydiaries.net.
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taste
Monster Treats image James Stefiuk
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taste
INGREDIENTS >>
Crispy Rice Cereal Treats –
homemade or pre-packaged
>> >> >>
12 ounces milk chocolate chips Assorted decorating candies & sprinkles Candy apple sticks
METHOD Cook cereal treats per directions on box or online, or use pre-packaged cereal treats.
If
homemade, press onto bottom of 13x9 inch pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Cool completely. Once cooled, cut treats into desired squares and insert candy apple sticks. If prepackaged, simply insert candy apple sticks. Melt milk chocolate using microwave method. Put chocolate chips into a wide, shallow microwave-safe bowl. Microwave chocolate on medium power for 1 minute, stir. Continue heating chocolate at 10 to 15-second intervals, stirring between each one, until it is almost melted. Remove from microwave and stir until no chunks remain. Hold treat by the stick and dip into (or spread on) melted chocolate. Decorate with sprinkles and candy. Let cool. To make them stand up, press apple sticks into a piece of Styrofoam placed in the bottom of dish. Making these wonderful treats for your family and friends? We'd love to see your photos! Email us at editors@dosouthmagazine.com.
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42
taste
• • • • • • • Image James Stefiuk
Please drink responsibly. Never drink and drive.
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44
travel
Rolling Out the Red Carpet HOT SPRINGS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL words Dwain Hebda images courtesy Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival
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travel taste
For ten days this fall, Hot Springs will become the center of the film universe as the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival returns for its twenty-sixth edition. The event, scheduled for October 6 to 15, will take place at the Arlington Hotel on the city’s iconic Central Avenue. Organizers are expecting the event to again draw thousands of fans and filmmakers to the Spa City. “We are the longest-running all-documentary film festival in North America,” said Jennifer Gerber, interim executive director of the Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival. “That’s our identity. It really keeps us competitive.” As in past years, the festival will host several world premiere screenings and will also present awards in the categories Best U.S. Documentary, Best International Documentary, Best Sports Documentary and Best Short Documentary. In the past, the festival has also awarded Audience Choice and other awards as appropriate. This year’s sidebar categories, which group films along certain themes, include “Hollywood in Hot Springs,” paying tribute to legends of the film industry; “The Show Must Go On,” portraying people overcoming remarkable odds and “Made in Arkansas,” showcasing Natural State films. In addition, the festival will give fans the opportunity to hear directly from the people behind and in front of the camera through a series of talks, question and answer sessions, and live interviews. Last year that list included docu-
the documentary forum. He will be screening an older film of his,
mentary directors and producers as well as talent ranging from
but a personal favorite called Grizzly Man. After that screening
actor Lou Gossett Jr. of An Officer and A Gentleman fame to
he’s going to do a directing workshop master class. We’ll get a
burlesque dancer Tempest Storm.
front row seat to that, live and in person.”
“What I notice with our own viewers in Hot Springs is that there’s
Returning to this year’s event is the popular family day on
just a hunger for knowledge and exposure and a chance to not only
Saturday, October 7, which will offer three kid-friendly screen-
see these films from all parts of the world but to also meet those
ings, live performing acts in the lobby of the Arlington and an
filmmakers and meet the people who come with their movies to Hot
art workshop.
Springs,” Jennifer said. “It’s a hunger to see beyond our borders.” A new attraction that is sure to garner a lot of attention is a This year, special guests include actor, producer, screenwriter
virtual reality lounge, Jennifer said, a trend that’s becoming more
and director Werner Herzog, a giant in the film community.
common at larger film festivals around the country.
“This is huge for Hot Springs,” Jennifer said. “Herzog is probably
“It’s our first ever and I think this will be really exciting,” she
one of the most influential filmmakers of our time, especially in
said. “What that is is a space where our audience members enter
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45 55
46
travel
the viewing lounge, they put on a headset and headphones and
Documentary Short Subject, one of just three dozen such quali-
completely step into a 360-degree documentary experience.
fiers among thousands of film festivals worldwide.
They can look in any direction and experience the film as they choose. It’s going to be really cool; it’s really something that’s
Jennifer said the longevity of the Hot Springs film festival,
keeping us on the cutting edge.”
the quality of the submissions and the relative affordability of attending has created an astute local audience, many of whom
The Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival, sponsored by the
have attended every single year of its existence. “I think our
Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute, was first held in 1992
audience is particularly educated because of what they’ve been
and has grown into an event of international importance. The
exposed to on the process around making a documentary film.
organization is funded by grants from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, National Endowment for the Arts,
“We’ve been doing this for twenty-six years, which shows we
Deltic Timber and the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, as well
have an audience in Hot Springs that supports and loves the
as sponsorships and patronage from film buffs around the world.
festival and supports the movies. They have an advanced working knowledge of documentaries more than most people.”
Just ten documentaries were shown the first year, which proved such a success that the following year that number more than
Jennifer stepped into the executive director’s role after several
quadrupled. In 2017, 100 films will be screened over the ten-day
years of being involved in other capacities, temporarily filling the
festival, from more than 1,100 submissions and selected by
vacancy created by longtime chief Courtney Pledger, who was
members of the fifty-person HSDFI screening committee. The
appointed by Gov. Asa Hutchinson to direct the Arkansas Educa-
committee is just one cadre of the more than 300 volunteers it
tional Television Network (AETN) earlier this year.
takes to put on the event each year. A hometown kid, Jennifer moved to Chicago to study docuThere’s a competitive element to the festival, as evidenced by the
mentary filmmaking after graduating from Hot Springs’ Lake
several awards that are handed out each year. The event is also a
Hamilton High School. From there she went to New York and
qualifier for filmmakers competing for Academy Awards in Best
Columbia University where she was encouraged to explore the unique voice that came with her upbringing.
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travel taste
“What Columbia is really focused on is all these personal stories, telling stories that only you can tell,” she said. “Obviously the one thing that set me apart being a filmmaker in New York is that I actually am from Arkansas and have stories that very few people have. So I was writing scripts about Arkansas and then after I graduated I decided to move back to make those movies. That’s what brought me back home.” Jennifer said she’s noticed a renewed interest in the documentary art form, fed by entertainment services that provide a steady stream of the genre to satisfy modern tastes. “I think the way we watch content is changing just in general with the way Netflix, Amazon and Hulu are developing that,” she said. “There’s a whole new version of storytelling which is sort of serial storytelling that’s not quite a TV show, not quite a web series. With Netflix and Amazon, shows can be whatever length they want to be. They’re not dictated by a broadcast standard. I think that has just opened the world of filmmaking in general.” As for why documentaries have gained such favor over other types of programming, Jennifer said it was likely a reaction to the times. “I think when we look at what our last election looked like, whatever side you’re on, as a country, people are participating and are paying attention to events and to what’s happening around them,” she said. “Maybe before we were looking for more escapism and now maybe we’re looking to be engaged in a different way.” The festival is just one of HSDFI’s programs of year-around filmcentered events and is dedicated to preserving the art form. In February 1997, HSDFI was selected as a stop on the Library of Congress Film Preservation Tour featuring films from the National Film Registry. Over the years, the organization has amassed its own documentary film library which found a new home last year among the Special Collections of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. The collection contains not only thousands of films, but artifacts, photographs and memorabilia focusing on art, culture, environmentalism and politics. Under cool Ouachita skies, the twenty-sixth Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival will once again bring the art and magic of filmmaking to life with new stories for an appreciative audience. The stars will be out, shining down through the crisp October air
Hot Springs Documentary Film Institute 659 Ouachita Avenue, Hot Springs 501.538.0452 Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival October 6 - October 15 Arlington Hotel | 239 Central Ave, Hot Springs www.hsdfi.org
and flickering on the screen, in a place as old as home. DOSOUTHMAGAZINE.COM
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southern fiction
The Sun Sets in
FICTION Marla Cantrell
Ransom Canyon
L
Landry Hale came from Lubbock, from High Plains country, where
“I hear you,” he said. He was leaning on the railing of the grand-
the sunsets looked so perfect they could be mirages. “The dust in
stands, one boot on the bottom rail, chewing on a toothpick. He
the air does it,” he said, on that first night I met him at the county
looked toward the pens where the bulls huffed and puffed. “Still
fair. “The dust brings out colors you can’t see nowhere else.”
not the same.”
He’d been walking in front of the grandstands where I sat, his
His neck was long, and I could imagine my mouth on it. The
blue shirt untucked, his Wranglers dusty. I’d been watching him
thought caused me to blush, and Landry smiled. “You ever get
from my front row seat, my heart a rocket ship, every time he
out to Lubbock, I’ll take you to Ransom Canyon. Show you some
passed. I finally waved him over, stuck out my chest a little, ran
jackrabbits bigger than a porch dog. Show you a whole field of
my fingers through my curly brown hair. I’d never seen a man I’d
prairie dogs, darting to and fro from the tunnels where they live.”
call beautiful before, but Landry was. Tall, thin, black hair that kicked off light instead of holding it, eyes more violet than blue.
“Shouldn’t you be getting ready to ride?” I asked, and he said,
In less than an hour, he’d be riding a bull named Switchblade.
“Not till I get your name.”
“I’ve seen pretty sunsets,” I said. “Here in Arkansas. Out in
“Anna-Claire,” I said, and he repeated it.
Oklahoma’s flat country. In Colorado where it fell behind snowcapped mountains.”
“Give me something for luck,” Landry said, and reached out his
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southern fiction
hand. His fingers looked like a musician’s, like something that
And I, for a reason I could not imagine, was crying.
ought to be taken care of. I couldn’t imagine him wrapping the rope around them, the twine cutting into him as he tried to stay
A medic helped Landry up, and he waved to us all as he
atop a fifteen-hundred-pound bull for a second longer than the
limped away.
men he rode against. The announcer said, “What a ride, folks! Landry Milsap has qualiI stood, reached into the pocket of my jeans. I carried a circle of
fied and will be riding next in Abilene! He held onto that rope like
jade the size of a silver dollar with me always. I had an old boyfriend
my teenage daughter holds on to my credit card!”
who’d given it to me, who swore it would keep all the bad energy away. He was kind of a hippie, I guess. At least he didn’t bathe
A boy about eight climbed the railing around the arena, then sat
much, or work much, or believe in things like monogamy. Maybe
between two rows of metal piping, his white hat glowing in the
hippie isn’t the right word.
light from above.
“Here,” I said, and Landry rubbed his fingers across the stone.
In October in Arkansas, the night air changes, no matter how hot the day. I’d tied a jacket around my waist when I’d left
“I’ll want it back,” I said, and Landry grinned like someone who’d
home, and now I untied it and slipped it on. I reached in my
won a bet. From where I stood, I was looking down on him. His
jean pocket, a habit I had, and felt for the jade that was no
blue shirt had tiny yellow flowers printed on it, and the sleeves
longer there.
billowed the way some cowboy shirts do. I would have liked to watch him put it on, the fabric sliding across his shoulders, across
I wiped my eyes as I left the grandstands, and I roamed the
his chest, the flat of his belly.
home economics’ building, where friends of my mother and grandma had entered their jellies and jams, their yeast rolls, and
Behind us was an acre of carnival rides. The lights flashed yellow
amateur photography.
and blue and orange, and kids’ voices soared across us. The air smelled like cotton candy, and the droppings of cows and horses,
In the midway, I played a game of Toss the Ring and won a
of corndogs and popcorn, and knock-off aftershave.
Willie Nelson T-Shirt, the fabric as scratchy as sand. I ate a candy apple, the crunch of it loud in my ears. And that’s when I spotted
He kicked the toe of his boot in the dirt. “I’ll keep it safe,” he said.
Landry, surrounded by a bevy of girls younger than me, their hair long and billowing in the breeze. The one in red reached out and
When Landry was in the chute, Switchblade bucked and snorted,
touched Landry’s chest. I felt my own chest fall.
and the announcer joked that we all should pray for the cowboy It took me only a few seconds to reach him. I pushed my way
atop him.
through and held out my hand. “You have something of mine,” There is nothing like seeing a bull let loose, the power of it terri-
I said, and Landry took my hand and kissed my palm. “Ladies,”
fying, even from so far away. It reminds me, always, of my dad, of
he said, “this is Anna-Claire. We’re heading out for Lubbock
his anger rolling like a freight train, of my mother with her hand
tonight. She’s been wanting to see one of our famous sunsets,
on his back, saying, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
and I’ve been putting her off for way too long.”
Landry stayed with Switchblade for the full eight seconds, and the
I had not done a reckless thing in over a year. I’d not had more
crowd stood cheering. When Landry fell, I could hear the thud.
than one beer a night since January. I’d not missed a day of
When Switchblade’s back hooves came down, it was hard to tell
work at a job I hated. I’d not skipped a car payment. I looked
if they’d hit Landry or not. The rodeo clown waved his kerchief
at Landry, at the fine cheekbones, the mouth that looked like
at the bull, and the bull set its sights on the clown, and soon two
an invitation.
cowboys had Switchblade roped and headed back to the pen.
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southern fiction
His truck was rust held together by bailing wire, but the radio
he asked, and I nodded. He took me to a place called Monte-
worked, and he tuned in a country station that played mostly
longo’s, where the waitress who served us had been on the job
Merle Haggard. In Oklahoma City, he gave me back the jade
for thirty-five years. “Landry!” she said and clapped her hands.
I’d loaned him, wrapping my fingers around it. When we
“I been missing you!”
crossed the Texas border, he found a campground, and we lay together in a tent that smelled of old canvas and miles of
He ordered for us both, and I ate Migas, scrambled eggs with
two-lane highways.
green chilis and tortilla strips. I ate like a farm-hand.
“I grew up on a ranch,” he said. “My dad was a ranch hand,
At home, my mother and dad would be sitting down to breakfast.
never the boss. There was more than fifty-five-hundred acres.
She’d gauge his mood, wondering if she could get through a meal
When we branded cattle, we had a chuck wagon follow us to
without making him angry. The thought of her made me shiver,
and fro, making sure we ate. The lady who ran it was named
and Landry noticed, put his arm around me, kissed my cheek.
Mica. She loved me better than my mama did. “Don’t you ever get mad?” I said, the question, I’m sure, “That can’t be right,” I said. “Nobody loves you more than
seeming to come out of nowhere. “Sure,” he said, “but then I
your mother.”
work my way backwards, trying to figure out what happened just before. Usually, I realize I was hungry or tired or worried
“My mama took off when I was three. My dad said the ranch can
about some dang thing that I’d been trying not to fret over.”
crucify women not used to that life.” I felt something unhitch inside me, finally letting go. “You ever see her?” Love is a physical thing. It’s hormones and neurons flashing “Now and then,” Landry said. “Seeing me tears her up. She can’t
and the smell of someone whose story you’ve yet to learn. I
stay in a room with me for more than a minute.”
know all that, but still, I fell, as surely as if I’d tumbled into Ransom Canyon.
I wondered if he’d gotten his looks from her. His eyelashes were longer than mine. “But I see Mica all the time. She thinks the
That evening, we sat on a blanket on the tailgate of Landry’s
sun rises in me.”
truck and shared a beer. The sun looked as big as a mountain as it set, and it contained the colors of the rainbow. Flecks of
I looked at my phone to check the date. It was Sunday. On
purple and green, tiny specks you might not see if you didn’t
Monday morning, I was supposed to be at the Travel Lodge,
have a Texan beside you to point them out.
cleaning hotel rooms, stripping sheets off beds that held stories you didn’t want to know.
Nearby, a family of prairie dogs sat inside what looked like a moon crater, the four of them upright, paws raised chest high.
Landry stretched out beside me. He kissed the top of my head,
I would learn later that rattlesnakes adore the critters’ tunnels,
my forehead, my eyelids. “How can I love you already?” he asked.
finding the hidden spaces perfect for their snaky lives. But that
There were so many ways to dissect that sentence. How could he
was a lesson for another day.
love me? But I hushed my mind and kissed him back. My mouth on the hollow of his neck was exactly the way I thought it would be.
That night, as Landry lay me down on the soft blanket, all I
If he left me by the roadside tomorrow, it would still be enough.
knew was the beauty of the High Plains, of the way I felt as Landry lifted my hair and kissed the spot behind my ear. That
But he did not leave me. We drove farther still, and when we
was enough to know. That was everything.
reached Lubbock, all the tension in his body faded. “You hungry?”
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WOMEN'S GUIDE
The Women's Guide
AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR EVERY WOMAN
As women, we sometimes put our needs to the side, making sure those we love are taken care of first. In this Do South® Women’s Guide, we’re changing that. In these pages, we’re putting you front and center, showcasing local businesses, organizations, and services designed to make your life better. So, grab a cup of coffee, carve out a little time for yourself (you deserve it!), and get to know the devoted local experts who work so hard to serve you. When you stop by to see them, make sure you tell them
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Do South® sent you!
WOMEN'S GUIDE
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Norma Basinger, MD 2713 South 74th Street, Fort Smith 479.484.7100 arveinandskincare.com
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WOMEN’S CENTER AT SPARKS ADDS 3D MAMMOGRAPHY
The Women’s Center at Sparks will soon offer breast
•
Starting at age 40, all women can choose whether
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good general health, and is expected to live 10 more
is beneficial for women with dense breast tissue because
years or longer.
every year. age
55
and
older
should
switch
to
it provides a clearer picture for radiologists, which reduces the risk of a false positive. The new system also comes
The Women’s Center at Sparks offers a wide range of
with software that provides contrast enhanced 2D imaging,
services for women, including digital mammography,
which serves as an alternative to a magnetic resonance
breast ultrasounds, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast
imaging (MRI). Sparks Regional Medical Center is the only
cancer assessment and genetic testing, breast self-exam
hospital in the state with this type of software. Another
instruction, and stress-relieving massage.
feature unique to Sparks is the 2D and 3D prone breast biopsy table which provides 360 degree access to the
To schedule a mammogram call (479) 441-4000, option 3.
breast to better accommodate patients.
For questions about 3D mammography or any services
DO SOUTH MAGAZINE
provided, call the Women’s Center at (479) 709-1913 or Between 1990 and 2013, the death rate from breast cancer
visit SparksHealth.com.
decreased by 37 percent, or nearly a quarter of a million lives. The decrease is due in large part to aggressive
Sparks Health System includes Sparks Regional Medical
campaigns encouraging women over 40 to be vigilant
Center, Sparks Medical Center – Van Buren, Sparks Clinic,
about mammograms. While recommendations have
Sparks PremierCare and the fully hospital-integrated
changed through the years regarding who should get
Marvin Altman Fitness Center. For more information about
screened and when, the general standards for women at
Sparks Health System, visit www.SparksHealth.com.
average risk remain the same:
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