Remember the old proverb,
“All work and no play makes
Jack a dull boy.” I would say a
‘bored’ boy. Who wants to be
dull or bored? Not I. I’ve always
been a believer in play, actually I
believe that some fun can be
brought into almost any sce-
nario. Some of my past articles
have been written about having
fun and enjoying life. Why so
serious? There are serious
moments in life, but no need to
carry it into all aspects of your
life! If I find myself getting too
serious, I pull out a funny book
or movie. It usually works.
There is also the old saying,
“Don’t take life too seriously,
you’ll never get out alive!”
That is so true. Relax, enjoy
yourself as much as you can.
Life flies by and we shouldn’t
have too many regrets when it
ends. Many days going by not
enjoying life, without laughter?
Stop it, only you can change
that. I really admire people on up
in age who have kept up their
energy by continuing to be
active. There are different levels
of activity and you can find your
niche. Even those who have
become debilitated by progres-
sive health issues can search out
an activity in which they are
capable of participating.
I saw various levels of partici-
pation when I worked at Hidden
Valley Senior Center. Everyone
over 55 should be proud and
excited over the privilege of
having such good senior services
in Henry County. I just wish
more would take advantage of
what is offered.
Once I wrote an article about
trying an activity you left behind
as you aged, something you
enjoyed and now miss. I joined a
ballet class, albeit for a short
stint. I so enjoyed the experience
and I learned what I could and
could not do at my advanced
age. Had to have proof, you
know! It did spur my need to
exercise and it was just fun to go
back and relive memories of bal-
let.
I have no idea how many times
one of the seniors would say,
“We are just reliving our child-
hood.” This would be in
response to my correcting some-
one’s behavior, usually the
breaking of a rule that must be
enforced at the senior center to
ward off mayhem. And, I often
replied that, yes, I felt it was the
reliving of childhood! All in jest
and fun, but a deeper meaning
could be felt. I once had a sign in
a former office that read, “Obey
all the rules, miss all the fun.”
Some are just meant to be bro-
ken.
Without breaking rules any-
where, I’m a strong believer in
play and fun. My grandmother
had a playhouse built for me in
her south Georgia yard. A little
too old to enjoy a playhouse, my
best friend, Judy, who lived next
door, and I would find some-
thing to make use of that get-
away, usually reading her older
sister’s love letters. I wrote of
this in a short story, Mimosa
Summers, years ago.
That playhouse was moved to
our home in Stockbridge so my
youngest daughter could enjoy
the fun I missed. She was quite
young and the first assault on the
newly placed building happened
while I was looking out the
kitchen window as she stood
posed at the glass-windowed
door, hammer in hand, while two
little mischievous boys ran
around the corner of the house.
My yell didn’t reach her in time
and that was the end of the door
window, which was replaced
with screen.
The playhouse saw many years
of love within its walls. I’m
happy Mama got to see the fruits
of her labor. Which brings me to
my latest play plan. I hope to
obtain a small shed that looks
like a tiny house that I might use
as a potting shed. My get-away
from my norm in the house. If all
works out, I’ll be able to buy my
little house and put my plans in
motion soon.
There is a mini-porch on the
front, large enough for a painted
chair with a seat of flowers. That
is another project I once com-
pleted and enjoyed until the
chair fell apart. A painted old
hutch and potting table that now
occupy my garage will be added
inside. The windows I plan to
dress up and a ‘shingle’ hung,
maybe on the door, that
announces, “Jimmie’s Play-
house.”
Oh, the possibilities are endless
and I’m excited even though my
plans will take a bit of time. That
is what I am talking about here,
As I eased into the drop-off lane
at my library I noticed two ladies
filling bags with the books
already deposited. Mentioned I
always wondered who collected
those items and one of them said
it was ‘the library fairies.’ Neat!
Well they are kind of like fairies
… always busy, able to look up
what we readers want, and then
scan the tomes we’ve selected.
Am sure they also do a lot of work
we don’t ever see.
Will always treasure the many
hours I spent with my two
youngest grandkids listening to
“Miss Debby” reading wonderful
books, having interactive pro-
grams with the children, plus the
little meals and play times. Loved
finally eating some real green
eggs and ham, and yes we tasted
the chocolate-covered ants too.
She helped me keep in touch with
wonderful books and I still have a
few I’ll get out and enjoy at dif-
ferent times of the year. Always
watch
The Polar Express
at
Christmas and re-read that won-
derful book too.
Talking to son Don this week
and we laughed about
Where The
Wild Things Are
as we both
admitted knowing it almost word-
for-word. Read that to my sons
when they were toddlers, awe-
some story and each loved the
mention of a ‘wild rumpus’. Glad
I’ve always been a fan of the
library, first in Jackson where I
visited Hawk’s Library, which
may
soon
be
restored.
Remembered having a library in
the high school too. Then moved
to McDonough and found another
quaint little building off ‘the
Square.’Don’t remember the ones
who checked my books out for
me there but still see the solemn
lady in Jackson as she stamped
the date inside the front of each
item I planned on reading. No
more date stamps now, the
‘library fairies’ slide the bar code
under a scanner after they scan
my ‘card.’ Love how we’ve
moved into the future in ALL
places! (No more running a cash
register at any of my stores, but
the talented clerks still know how
to dispense cash. Neat I can buy
stamps and lottery tickets the
same place I purchase food.)
Try to be careful with the books
I bring home from my number
three favorite hang-out but have
taken my own books to the beach
for an evening read or maybe
even a few chapters as I lay on my
Disney towel and listened to the
awesome waves at Tybee Island.
Became addicted to John
Grisham after reading his second
fiction and always go on-line to
Barnes and Noble so I can have
his latest. Did pass a few of those
on to some fellow Methodists but
they generously gifted Mt. Bethel
as a favor returned! Sometimes I
go back and re-read one I’ve had
for a while and thanks to my not-
so-great memory am able to re-
enjoy every word. Love the
Reader’s Digest condensed books
that arrive in my mail box several
times a year too.
Glad I learned to read before
grammar school, thanks to a dili-
gent Mom and Dad. Loved that
my grandmother in Washington
would send us letters and didn’t
want to wait for my parents to sit
down and read those to us either.
Also loved Dick and Jane tomes
in my early years, and their dog
Spot. Think I’ve told about read-
ing and walking into a concrete
stair in the first grade. Didn’t feel
it but the teacher rushed me to the
nurse as she wiped away blood.
Okay, no more reading and walk-
ing. Guess the library fairies
would agree. Will check with
them next visit where they advise
we book-addicts should peruse
the pages. Thanks library fairies,
for ALL you do!
Beverly Wittler has four chil-
dren, eight grandchildren and one
great-granddaughter. She lives in
McDonough with her husband.
OPINION
The Henry County Times
Page 4
The Henry County Times
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Contributing Writers
Jimmy Cochran
Brenda Nail DeLauder
Kathy Henderson
Mary Jane Owen
D. J. Sweetenham
Beverly Wittler
May 11, 2016
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“Life is either a daring adventure
or nothing at all.”
~ Helen Keller
“Without libraries what have we?
We have no past and no future.”
~ Ray Bradbury
See
Jimmie,
page 9
All work ... never
Library fairies
BEVERLY
WITTLER
Columnist
JIMMIE
BATCHELOR
Guest
Columnist
