Page 12A THE BEACON July 2018
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In the OOD OLD DAYS
jeaniesmith10 @ gmail . com
By Jeanie ( Hurley ) Smith
How I got mixed up with my new neighbors
( Editor ’ s note : During a recent conversation with Jeanie , she asked that I share this memorable story with you once again . Please enjoy her wonderful humor and outlook on life .)
For over six years Jesse and I lived in the little house in Bright where the Merchants Bank is now located . Steve and Naomi Gabbard lived there before us . Mr . Gabbard was the Bright High School teacher and coach at that time , eventually becoming our principal . They moved across the street to the house where Clayton Johnson now lives . The Gabbards owned all the land that is now one of our
new and largest subdivisions .
In the summer of 1954 , our landlady , Alice Priest , informed us we would have to move because she wanted to move there . We were very upset because we had just spent a month painting and wallpapering at our own expense -money which we didn ’ t really have and , she even knew we were doing it !
We loved living there . We had just gotten our NEW telephone lines put in , which was very exciting . We loved our neighbors , and it was close to our church , which is now the Bright Idea .
Living across the street from Rencks Store was a blessing but also rather hazardous to our budget . It was hard to resist running over to the store if you wanted something you didn ’ t really need , and couldn ’ t afford . There will never be another store like Rencks . Mike and Margaret were great--they even let people “ run a bill ”! It is hard to tell how many people failed to pay . It was the cleanest store I was ever in . They washed their hands till it was a wonder they had any skin left . I really appreciate all they did for us . There were times we might not have eaten if it hadn ’ t been for “ putting it on the bill .”
Well , when Alice said we had to move , I think I cried for a month . I was sure we would never find a place I liked as well as that one and could afford . ( Our rent was $ 25.00 a month .) However , the Lord was good to us , and we did find a place . It was on Stateline Road and was owned by Alfred Bentle . His grandson , Daryl Holzbacker lives there now . We were really up-grading our housing situation because this house had running water , a basement to do my laundry in , a furnace , hardwood floorsstill no bathroom- but since we never had one , that was a minor issue .
The only problem was the rent was $ 50.00 a month , which we thought was a fortune . We decided if we tightened our spending more , we could make it and that we did ! God always provides . We had a big garden , a pear tree , and apple tree , a grape arbor and a chicken house for some chickens . If we could just have had a cow , we probably wouldn ’ t have needed to buy groceries hardly at all . Jesse was an avid gardener . I canned everything that grew in the garden to have
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I really didn ’ t know many of the neighbors down there except the Bentles . I hadn ’ t had a chance to visit . On Valentine ’ s Day , Mr . Bentle was coming to collect the rent . He came every month to collect rent and to look things over to make sure we were taking care of everything the way he expected us to . He was very particular , so I made sure I had the place cleaned up when he came . He and Mrs . Bentle were so nice . Since it was Valentine ’ s Day , I decided to bake them a heart-shaped cake . Now my kitchen was much nicer than the one I had at Bright . I had a little sink , a couple of cabinets and a wonderful pantry . There weren ’ t any counter tops , so all my work had to be done on the kitchen table . All of the electrical outlets were down low near the floor . Well , I had this OLD Sunbeam Mix Master that only worked on one speed- you couldn ’ t turn it off , so in order to use it , you plugged it in and it went- FAST ! I was wearing an old pair of blue jeans and a big old shirt with the tail hanging out . With the mixer in my left hand , I stooped over to plug it in and , as I did , it caught my shirt tail , and before I could get it unplugged , it had wound its way clear up into the middle of my chest ( get the picture ?). There I was , with that big old heavy thing hanging from the front of me , I couldn ’ t get it loose . It had a button to push which was supposed to release the beaters but that didn ’ t work , and my shirt was so tight I couldn ’ t breathe . I was in a real predicament . It was morning- Mr . Bentle was coming at noon and Jesse wouldn ’ t be home until 4:30 . I didn ’ t think
By Carol Donovan
Old Friends & Bright Beginnings wishes to extend all of God ’ s blessings for the coming summer . Thanks so much for supporting our community mission of good fellowship , good food , and good fun . We hope that summer will find you enjoying time with family and friends , picnics , journeys to parts known and unknown , or just sitting on the patio looking at it would look too good for Mr . Bentle to come to the door and find me with an electric mixer hanging on the front of me , so there was only one thing to do -go to the neighbors for help . Well , Phyllis and “ Baby Doll ” ( Willis ) Bentle lived just up the road . I had met Phyllis , but I didn ’ t really know her that well . I decided it didn ’ t matter--NOW was the time to get acquainted . I put on my old winter coat , started walking up the road ( no car to drive ). As I was walking along , some man stopped--I don ’ t know to this day what he wanted , but he took one look at me with that thing hanging out the front of my coat and just drove off shaking his head . I knocked on Phyllis ’ s kitchen door . When she answered , I just said , “ I NEED HELP ! I am caught in my mixer .” I don ’ t think two people ever laughed any harder than we did--That was forty years ago and yet today we still laugh like crazy when we think of it . She had to cut my blouse right up the middle of the back to get me out of it and , needless to say , that finished off my mixer . Those beaters were a mangled mess when we finally got them loose . Sorry to say , Mr . and Mrs . Bentle didn ’ t get their Valentine cake , but Phyllis and I became the best of friends -I still love her dearly . I ’ m so glad we got “ mixed up ” as neighbors .
Today we have lots of new neighbors moving in all around us . The Bible says we are to be good neighbors . Try to get acquainted with those who live near you . It would be nice if you baked something to take them when you went to visit , but just watch out for THAT mixer . You never know who you might be getting mixed up with .
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More thanks go out to all of our volunteers who provide lasting devotions and wonderful entertainment . September will come just in time to provide relief from hot days , move us toward the turning of a new season . Look for our announcement in August !
Be Well & Be Happy . Shirley Greene , Chairman ,
Bright Beginnings .
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