Locke Mills July 29

I am sure, if the neighbors are up, they are wondering what I am doing up at 4 in the morning . After all, I don't have to get ready for work or anything like that. Actually, I, and definitely my animals, are wondering, too. It is just that it is too warm in the house to sleep so I got up to put the air conditioner on. It has been quite a few years since I have seen a summer this warm consistantly and, for me to sleep, it has to be cold enough so my nose feels cold. Stupid, but there it is! I am not complaining about the weather because I like to know that there has been a summer before I have to face another winter and this year there has definitely been a summer. We have also had our share of storms and that has been nice. The past two storms I have been in Rumford at church so I don't know how much rain we actually got here, but it certainly rained enough where we were so I hope we got some here, too. I am always happy when I don't have to water my begonias! But, enough about the weather, weather happens whether we want it to or not. I do hope the tornadoes are through for the season, though. They are scary.

We are facing Vacation Bible School at church this week. I did my fair share of VBS's some years back so I feel I can sit back and let someone else have the glory, if that is the right word. I can remember one of the pastors' wives, I can't remember if it was Chatty Beverage or Barbara Richards, sitting on the steps of the Church of the Nazarene after it was all over with saying "I am going to have a nervous breakdown. I have earned it and I am going to have it!" I believe that was the year we started out with twenty-five children and ended up having over a hundred. Nowadays most children had rather stay home with their video games so we don't worry about ending up with more than we started out with. I guess that is called progress.

We are having some people coming up from Pastor Justin's home church in Maryland to help but the number has dwindled considerably since we planned it, as one thing after another has beset the people of that church. Pastor Justin's mother is undergoing a major health problem so his family isn't even going to make it. We have a few health problems amongst our own people, too. Right now Debbie Brown is being treated for a deep- seated virus, Roger Chopping is facing knee surgery, and Owen Brown is having problems with his eyes, to name a few. I am happy to say that there are a few who walk in health and are seldom sick. That is neat.

Even though I did not get a column in last week our town seemed to be kept in the forefront as far as news was concerned. It will be interesting to see just what the concensus of opinion is on the mill situation. I am sure they will be many and varied.

Ah, it is getting light out so I guess the day is legitimately started. "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." So, until next time, you keep it happening and God bless.