Hope everyone is still enjoying this weather. The Garland seniors went to the fair on Tuesday. The weather was so nice, not too hot and not too crowded. My children and grandchildren met us there. There is just something about children and the fair.

We ran into a few niches here at the center, things beyond my control — miscommunication can present problems. Thank God, in the end it all worked out.

Please pray for Mr. Edward McKoy. He is still in the hospital. Ed wears many hats — he has worked here at the center many years, and he is missed so much. Remember all sick and shut ins.

We are so happy that Ms. Letha Lee has started another EFNEP class every Monday at 11 a.m. Please join us. If you are mothers, grandparents raising small children you can learn how to prepare healthy low cost meals and much more.

Ms. Gail Wilkins will be here doing a special care giving and keeping your joints healthy program at the Garland Center.

Let’s move back to the shade tree. As I was in Clinton Drugs a few days ago and I met this fellow who was very adamant about getting a certain named turpentine. I waited around and asked what are you doing with the turpentine? He replied “I work on the farm and I get cut a lot. I just dab a little of it on, and the sore is gone.”

It started up a shade tree conversation. I told him I remember all this stuff. We talked about dabbing cobwebs and dirt on a cut to stop bleeding. Then onions on your feet to cool fever. The conversation went on and on. What about a drop full of kerosene on a spoon to cure cough? If you try it now, it might kill us! Gosh, I guess that’s why we never went to the doctor. I remember my mother made Robitussin before it was invented. If you don’t believe me ask her what her ingredients are and look at the Robitussin and it is almost the same.

Remember to cherish every moment with elderly people. They have more wisdom and knowledge. They may not have gone to college but they have a Ph.D in wisdom and knowledge and their resume is full of work ethics. You will find they did not move from job to job. They had a goal and stayed with it. What more do you ask for? We still believe that education and salvation go hand-in-hand but we will have to have common sense to accomplish the mission. Education isn’t worth a flip unless you got some common sense. Stand on that!

Stay connected to the shade tree because after this generation you won’t find it any more. Until next time stay under the shade tree.