MUMBLINGS March 30, 2006

We have so many things for which to be thankful. Let’s name three:

Being born an American citizen, being born of good parents, being in good health.

We are helpless, so far as the first two are concerned. The third, in most cases, we can help control by leading and practicing good, healthy lives.

Good health is something we do not appreciate enough until we have sickness. Living in Baldwin County we are lucky, so far as our health is concerned.

We are blessed with several good hospitals, many good doctors, and a healthy climate. Most of our health problems can be handled within the county.

Seventy years ago, when I arrived in Baldwin County, doctors were very scarce and hospitals were almost non-existent. We had a few fine old doctors like Dr. W.C. Holmes, of Foley, Dr. Jordan of Fairhope and Robertsdale, and Dr. McCleod of Bay Minette, and four or five others that could be named. Now we have many good doctors and hospital rooms, located all over the county, from Bay Minette to the Gulf.

A recent personal experience demonstrated how wonderful it is to have good health care. About 12:30 a.m. I began having horrible chest pains. Standing briefly, I determined that I was having a heart attack and immediately called 911. Within five minutes, the fire department had a man at the house, and right behind him, were two medics fully equipped for emergencies. They knew what they were doing. Immediately checking me and gently putting me in an ambulance, they had me in the emergency room where I was met by an able doctor and several nurses.

Fortunately, after a brief examination, the doctor told me that my heart was in good shape, but I had pneumonia. Inquiring, he assured me that having pneumonia was better than having a heart attack

After several precautionary measures and examinations, I was placed in a beautiful new ICU in the North Baldwin Infirmary where I was well cared for. Soon the horrible pain was mostly gone, and after three days there, I was sent home to recuperate a few days. Now it is great to be alive and in good health again.

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Continued

We have been talking about the Seven Wonders of the World, of which it has been my privilege to have seen. My first selection was ten wonders, and I now have an eleventh to add. After thinking the matter over, and postponing further discussion at this moment, I decided why should I select just seven since there is certainly a lot more. The Seven Wonders of the World originated with Edward R. Murrow, Reader’s Digest, and other sources. Why should I limit mine to seven, just because they did? Also, few care whether I select seven, two or twenty.

Since talking to you last, I have come up with the eleventh wonder, which I think you may agree, will be one of the greatest.

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Perhaps you have noticed in the news that Baldwin County has been selected as one of the 100 fastest growing in the United States. Since we are the only one mentioned in Alabama, this obviously means that we are the fastest growing in the state.

These figures are according to U.S. census estimates.

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Seldom, if ever, have I seen an appointment made by a governor, in a local office vacancy than in the case of the District Attorney. He appointed Judy Newcomb, who served as Assistant District Attorney, under the long-time District Attorney, David Whetstone. He has gained a state wide reputation as being an able D.A. Hopefully, I can tell you more about these two in the near future.

See you again soon, I hope.