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MUMBLINGS March 10, 2005
Not that it's worthy of much note, except to me, but last
week (03/01/16) I arrived at the age of 89. Like every ball that is hit, it
makes some people happy and some people unhappy, no doubt.
Had I lived one hundred years ago my life expectancy would
have been 47 years, now it is 77. In any case, I have beaten the odds. This age
of living long is not a miracle, but a result of better health care. Doctors
say I am in good health, with the exception of my eyesight, but I am thankful
that I can see as well as I can. One's birthday is a good time to reflect over
the past and look, hopefully, toward the future. At 89, I am beginning to have
more can'ts than cans.
Some people like to look at the bad things
that have happened to them but I prefer to think of the good things that far
out number the bad. Of course, I've had some sad occasions but they have been
few and far between. In 1928, when I was 12 years of age and we lived on a farm
13 miles from the nearest post office, on a Friday night my father was burned
to death as he was turning off a gasoline light, which exploded. My dad and I
were close. This was naturally a sad time for me. Although she died a natural
death, I was sad to lose my mother after a long illness.
I was reflecting the other day to some
friends how fortunate my immediate family had been so far as death and sickness
are concerned. Over married life of 67 years and with 36 in my present family
including two sons, their wives, children, and great grand children, we have
had only one death and that was my late, dear wife. As of now, all 36 are in
good health, thankfully.
Retracing the years, you can think of many
happy times. One of them was being elected mayor of my hometown, Bay Minette,
when I was 24 years of age. Graduating from college, I bought The Baldwin Times
and was elected president of the Alabama Press Association (becoming the
youngest in the United States), and then elected State Senator, representing
Baldwin, Escambia and Monroe Counties. Politically, I had two big
disappointments in my two races for Governor. Even though I ran well, I was not
elected. Believe it or not, since then I have been thankful that I was not
elected.
Making two statewide races gave me
connections with a lot of people and I made lots of friends, many of whom are
still living. However, in the late 50's and early 60's, it was not a good time
to be Governor of Alabama.
Another highlight from my early days was
the birth of my two sons Jimmy Jr. and Wade. The total doctor fees for each,
was $25. Dr. J.C. McCleod was the physician and did a good job. Understand such
an event today cost thousands of dollars.
Naturally, living as long as I have and
working hard, one would have achieved some honors and accomplishments.
Certainly, I have been lucky in this connection, all of which I am most
appreciative.
I guess one of the luckiest things that
occurred in my life was purely an accident. I had dealt with Mr. Y.E.W. Yerby,
editor and publisher of the Greensboro Watchmen, in Greene County, Alabama,
right in the midst of the Black Belt. Fortunately, he did not make up his mind
to sell and in the meantime, I learned about The Baldwin Times being for sale.
I purchased it by mortgaging my Mother's home for the $1500 down payment.
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