Commentary

Sometimes a piece of my past floats through my head and I enjoy a wonderful memory. As of late, since I have a lot of time on my hands, I have enjoyed a number of memories.

My best friend in the first, second and third grade in Hingham, Massachusetts was the girl next door. She was a year older than me, but after we moved in, we quickly became besties.

She had three older brothers and I’m sure we were thorns in their sides on various occasions. Her oldest brother, Bill lived in their upstairs attic in a small room. It was off limits for us, but we loved to sneak up there and help ourselves to his pipe cleaners, so we could make animals by twisting and turning them. We never got caught, but somehow he knew when his space had been entered.

The return of the English Premier League is the biggest step toward normalcy in sports we’ve had in 100 days after the COVID-19 pandemic shut down large swaths of the world over the past few months.  There.  I said it.

I have been watching a variety of live sports over the past few weeks: German and Spanish soccer, Korean Baseball, Australian Rules Football (RIP Mark/Go Eagles!), the PGA, and even the southern hemisphere’s Super Rugby.  Of note: I will never dip so low as to watch Rugby League. In a world that already contains Rugby Union and American Gridiron Football, it is wholly irrelevant.  However, none of that matters when it comes to the English Premier League.  Regardless of bias, this is the top sports league on Earth, and it is back.

Much like what we experience in our every day lives right now, things still feel a tad off. In the first half of this Sheffield United v Aston Villa game, there has been one instance of some incredibly spotty referring.

LETS SEE WHAT HAPPENS

Lets be ready because the coming months are going to be full of news. Can you believe all the different things that have happened. We finally get calmness in our Middle East affairs and, according to the news, it is total chaos at this time in the United States. This not good news for Donald Trump because, obviously, the press is against him and blame him in someway. The recent tragedy of George Floyd was a terrible happening. We all have heard or seen this replayed time and time again. The looting and after effects and frustrations of so many of our citizens has captivated the news.

50 Years Ago

Week of June 18, 1970

J.D. Gregory Jr. of Pleasant Hill was seeking re-election to the Ward 7 seat on the Sabine Parish School Board.

W.T. Boyd of Converse was re-elected President of the Sabine Parish Police Jury. Howard Blackwell of Ward 3 was elected vice president. J.D. Salter of Florien will continue as secretary/ treasurer.

The 1970-71 Many Tiger cheerleaders were being led by Cindy Black, head cheerleader. Other cheerleaders were Kay McDaniel, Cindy Booker, Carolyn McKay, Penny Asby and Jan Nichols.

Ramsey’s Name Brand Discount Store was hosting an Anniversary Sale. Some good buys included swimsuits for $5; girls’ shoes for $1.98; ladies dress shoes for $3.98 and more values. Mr. Ramsey’s slogan was “Three things to see while in Many –Hodges Gardens, Toledo Bend Lake and Ramsey’s!”

Here it is the middle of June and I am still wondering what happened to part of March and all of April and May.

Lockdown!! Only going out for groceries. Limited contact with friends and loved ones. No movies, restaurants, church, social gatherings, ballgames, or even, school. A virus shut down America….and we are still suffering the consequences.

I became much like a hermit. I stayed inside as best I could and distanced myself. What I thought would be kind of nice with the extra rest and homelife, has made me nuts!! I missed my friends, my church family and became a couch potato! I think I have watched all 635 episodes of Gunsmoke, which was a popular western for 20 years (1955-75). I never watched it as a kid, so it was all new to me……and I quickly became a Matt Dillon fan.

(45 years too late!)

50 Years Ago

Week of June 11, 1970

A DeQuincy father, who jumped into Toledo Bend Lake near the dam after striking a pipe as he came into the landing, died along with his seven-year-old son, who was thrown overboard in the incident. Their bodies were recovered the following day. Both apparently drowned.

Union Baptist Church celebrated its 98 ^th Anniversary with a special service, preached by the Rev. W.S. Haley. Dinner on the grounds followed.

Movie-goers in Many were anxious for a comedy on the big screen and the Sabine Theater provide “Madigan’s Millions”, along with “Fearless Frank” starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight. Coming soon was Glen Campbell and Kim Darby in “Norwood.”

Right before Easter, my brother brought a cardboard box filled with momentoes of my childhood to the house. They had been stored in a corner of Mom’s attic for years.

When I first saw the box, I thought it was too small to have all of my childhood keepsakes inside. I was wrong….although I was disappointed a few were missing….like my original Barbie doll in her black and white stripped swimsuit (stored in the original box).

Brother, Hubby-dear and I sat around the box after it was unloaded on the deck, and peeked inside.

The first item was a small vinyl Beatle doll…..in perfect condition! I was so glad to see my Paul McCartney figure, complete with his Beatle haircut and guitar.

Dear editor,

Sincere congratulations to Dr. Cade Brumley on his recent appointment as the new superintendent of education for the great state of Louisiana. It is with great admiration for Dr. Brumley for all of his many accomplishments in the field of education. It’s grand that another of our local boys has made it to the big time.

However, I have very mixed feelings about this appointment by the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. With our state being in a billion-dollar hole due to the losses and layoffs from the COVID-19 virus, how can this board justify the salary that they are recommending for Dr. Brumley? I note the very fine article on Dr. Brumley that the Sabine Index published in their Wednesday, May 27 edition, but they failed to include what his starting salary would be. Would this be an oversight by the Index or did they not want the taxpayers to know where their tax dollars were going?