4103
I have often told my counseling clients that "Forgiveness begins with words. Feelings have to catch up" (and) "Forgiveness is a gift which we give someone; whether they deserve it or not" (and) "Reconciliation always includes Forgiveness. Forgiveness does not always include Reconciliation." "Scripture tells us that God has both a Forgiver and Forgetter Mechanism (Psalm 103:12), but He only gave us a Forgiver Mechanism."
by Bill McDonald, PhD
Will the
real Kojak please stand up?
No, it’s not
“To Tell the Truth.” Simply the case of the well-known actor, Telly Savalas,
meeting his look-alike, John T. Ervin of Valdosta, Georgia.
For years
people have been barraging Ervin with pleas for his autograph; believing him to
be the highly visible character actor. It’s gotten so that he sometimes signs
the name for the ones who are belligerently disbelieving of his look-alike
story just to get away.
All this
time he has been hoping he could meet the man whom he so closely resembles. The
end of it is that it actually came true when Ervin who is stationed in Germany
and serves as an Army vet got to meet and talk with Savalas who is on location
for a new movie.
Ervin was
born in Dasher, Georgia, and his hometown is Valdosta where his mother and
step-father also reside. He has seven brothers and sisters.
The
resemblance between the two men is striking. They have similar facial
characteristics, both have bald heads, and they weigh within three pounds of
one another.
It wasn’t
until recently, however, when Savalas began getting more choice parts in movies
and television that Ervin has reaped some of the rewards of the actor’s
acclaim.
While Ervin
was in high school at Valdosta, from which he graduated in 1950, he was just
one of the crowd.
Even when he
came back from his first four year stint in the Navy, and studied at the
University of Georgia and worked with Dr. Loyce Turner here until he went back
into the military in 1964, Ervin still retained his anonymity.
But now
people from all over the world, from Hong Kong to Las Vegas to Berlin, mistake
him for Telly Savalas.
The
similarity between the two is so real that once in Berlin, while Ervin was
waiting in the hotel to meet Savalas, that the latter’s business managers
walked up to him and began “talking shop;” according to the story Ervin told
his family in Valdosta.
One woman
who ran into Ervin on the subway told him that he should be traveling in a limo
like a star, instead of traveling on a public transit system.
Most people
are very good natured when they find he isn’t the real Telly Savalas, he said.
But some people feel like he’s a snob when he claims he isn’t the star.
Once, he
thought he was going to be tossed into the water by an irate mother who wanted
Savalas’ autograph for her daughter, he reported.
Especially
since “Kojak,” Savalas cops and robbers program has been so popular around the
world, Ervin has been dodging autograph hounds.
But it all
paid off in their final meeting when Ervin got an autographed photo from
Savalas for his step-father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. H.B and Lena Barwick, of
Rt. 2, Valdosta. Savalas inscribed the photo “To Mom and Dad. From your other
son, Telly Savalas.”
Ervin told
his family that he had been nervous about meeting the star. But as soon as the
men met, they apparently “hit it off.” Of course, they had a lot to talk about
just comparing vital statistics. Telly made John feel right at home, the
Valdostan said.
“He was
friendly and gracious. I felt welcome. As soon as he smiled, and put out his
hand, I forgot all about being nervous, and the photographers, and everything
else,” Ervin said.
“If I am
going to look like an actor, I can’t think of any actor I would rather look
alike. He could have posed for a quick picture, but he didn’t. He made me feel
real good. I’ll remember this weekend for the rest of my life,” Ervin was
quoted after he left the hotel in Berlin.
Savalas was
in Berlin shooting a movie about an Army major. Coincidentally, Ervin is also a
major in the Army.
Ervin has
about five years left in service before he retires. His family hopes he will
return to Valdosta.
by Becky Vail
The Valdosta Times Newspaper
4101
During the 1950's, we moved from a perfectly good concrete block home in the Miami area to a wooden frame house in the quaint little town of Highland City, Florida.
My grandfather was already living in central Florida, and was the owner-operator of an establishment he named, "The Dixie Pig." As I reflect on it now, I don't recall ever walking through the front door. However, I do recall the cartoon-like caricature of a pig on the sign which graced its entrance.
Over the next sixty something years, (Yeah, I'm an old guy), I was under the assumption that "The Dixie Pig" was a barbeque place. I mean, there was the pig and the title. What else could it have possibly been? However, to be fair, I don't remember asking my dad or mom about the place; (but then they never volunteered anything either).
In the past couple of days everything I knew and believed about that "barbeque place" (at least figuratively) "went up in smoke."
For you see, there is a group page on Facebook which is dedicated to that little unincorporated town in central Florida, and I happened to post a paragraph or two about my granddad and his "Dixie Pig." And, as you might imagine, I mentioned my perception of the type of cuisine which this particular establishment served; (a faulty belief which I had embraced for the past six plus decades).
And this is when the floodgates opened, and all my illusions, (or should I say delusions), were (almost literally) washed away.
For you see, with this, one person after another offered me some enlightening comments about the nature of my grandfather's business.
"Hmmm, if The Dixie Pig was a barbeque place, those pigs must have been raised on a diet of pure grain alcohol 'cause my dad was a regular customer, and he came home plastered every night of the week!"
(and)
"I filled my tank there more times than I can count."
(and)
"They even had go go girls there!"
(Dear readers, can you imagine go go girls in Highland City)?
But to top it all off, the most surprising comment of them all.
"George Jones would ride up to The Dixie Pig on his riding lawnmower!"
(And a couple more people dittoed this remark).
But, as Paul Harvey was prone to say, there is, obviously, a "rest of the story."
George Jones and Tammy Wynette had built a home, (well, a mansion) a mile or two down the road. (The mansion is still there, though old George and sweet Tammy have long since "left the building").
George had been ticketed numerous times for DUI. (There's even a Youtube video of the old boy resisting arrest). And there's plenty of internet articles which inform us that Tammy always hid his keys when he "got the urge" for liquid refreshment. It is said that the country singer's first wife had resorted to the same course of action, and that when he lived in Nashville, he had driven his... riding lawnmower to a liquor store an hour and a half away. (All of which is "new and different" to me since my wife made me aware of these stories, after I read the foregoing social media comments about old George to her).
In my day and time, children were "meant to be seen and not heard," (which pretty well sums up the relationship I had with both my grandfathers). But "had I known then what I know now" I would have quizzed old Webster about his memories of old George, the lawnmower, and "The Dixie Pig."
The humble little "Dixie Pig" and its Highland City version of "Porky Pig" out front has been gone more than sixty years now, and has been replaced by a modern office building. (When I sit in a current Highland City establishment called "Catfish Country," and have lunch with several of my friends, and look across the street, I can still envision it there).
To be sure, I don't drink, and I have little or no use for people who get out on our highways in an inebriated state, and put other peoples' lives in danger. (And it goes without saying, I wasn't thrilled to learn that my recollections of "The Dixie Pig" and its raison d'etre were woefully wrong).
But it is what it is, and it was what it was, and to be honest, I would love to hear the stories my grandfather might have told me about old George and the nights he drove his riding lawnmower to "The Dixie Pig."
Did the bar patrons gather in the parking lot to welcome him when the familiar roar of his lawnmower broke the silence of a moonlit night? Did a drunken old country singer do an acapella version of "A Girl I Used to Know" or "I Can't Get There From Here" halfway through his nightly tenure at "The Dixie Pig?" Did my granddad and old George strike up a lop-sided relationship? Did Wilbur and Winnie wake up about 2am to the roar of a riding lawnmower, as Mr. Jones made his way home?
Did Wilbur shake his head, and remark, "There ole George goes again." Did Winnie sit up in bed and exclaim, "Run out there and stop him, and give him a couple of dollars to mow the yard. You haven't bothered mowing it for three months!"
No doubt, when it "was all said and done" the sand man sprinkled a little more fairy dust into their eyes, and sleep overcame George's elderly neighbors once again.
by William McDonald, PhD
4100
Some time in the 20th
century, there was a college president who had served for quite some time, who
was nearing the seventh decade of his life, and who had reached the difficult
decision to retire at the end of the current school year.
“Dr. Kimmel” could often be seen
walking around the neighborhood with his wife. Sadly, “Anna” had developed
early Alzheimer’s Disease, and had not only forgotten her husband’s name, but
her own. She was utterly dependent on a caretaker during the day, and her
husband in the evening.
A few weeks before the end of the
semester, Dr. Kimmel met with his official board for the final time. None of
them were caught off guard when he handed the chancellor his formal
resignation, and board members had already charted a course of action to
persuade him to stay on another year.
“Dr. Benson” spoke.
“Charlie, we’d like you to reconsider
your decision to leave at this time. Under your leadership the college has
thrived. We have not only built three new wonderful academic and office
buildings, the student population has increased by fifty percent, and our
profitability is up two fold.”
He continued.
Dr. Kimmel, we are prepared to offer
you a twenty percent raise, and additional retirement benefits; if you can see
your way clear to remain on board another year.”
The president sighed, and paused a
moment before speaking to the prestigious group of men and women.
“I’m sorry, Kent. I wish I could
accommodate you. I can’t tell you how flattered I am that you have plotted
against me this way.” (And he could not help but chuckle). “However, however I
simply cannot stay. You know that Anna has decompensated badly the past couple
of years, and if she ever needed me, she needs me now.”
It seems Dr. Benson would simply not
take ‘No’ for an answer.
“But Charlie, you can always double up
on caregivers for your wife. You have as much as admitted that Anna no longer
recognizes you. And anyone can do whatever you have felt compelled to do, and
…She would simply never know.”
By now, Dr. Kimmel’s eyes were
brimming with tears, and clearing his throat, he replied,
“Yes, but I would know.”
by William McDonald, PhD
4099
“It is in the quiet crucible of your personal private suffering that your noblest dreams are born and God’s greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you have endured.” Wintley Phipps
4098
"God permits what He hates to accomplish that which He loves."
Joni Eareckson Tada
There is hardly anyone who can pronounce these words who knows the truth of this statement any better than this dear lady. She was paralyzed in all four limbs as the result of a diving accident, and has experienced cancer on top of it. Joni is a well-known Christian radio host and humanitarian. She also made the statement, "Lord, if I can't die from this thing, help me to learn to live with it." (Bill McDonald)
4097
The tapestry He weaves in me is twined in many hues
The pattern of the thread He works is not mine to choose
And though too close to focus on the weaving that He sees
And too far from His purposes to see His plan for me
The constant shuffle of the loom, the heavy threads now
fall in place
And in the shadows that they cast, I sometimes fail to see
His face
But when the finer thread is laid, and drifts across the
airy span
Tis then the light comes gleaming through, tis then I see
the Weaver’s Hand
His weaving grows with each new joy, each trial adds still
more thread
The colors of the rainbow blend with each new hope and
dread
The loom slides on with ceaseless speed, each thread drops
in its place
The fringes of this cloth are sewn with silk and pretty
lace
The Weaver’s Hand is sure and tried, and nail scars grace
His palm
And as He works His work in me, my soul knows peace and
calm
The cloth He works is precious, and, the loom He works is
sure
The tapestry He weaves in me is rich and very pure
And though the darker colors shade -the few, but brighter
threads beside
I know He works all things for good, His colors true, His
pattern tried
And when the Master’s Hand is still, and the cloth of life
is spun
Tis then His image shall appear, His tapestry is done
by William McDonald, PhD
