Envision Opelika

Look who’s in the paper today. When Envision Opelika’s Barbara Patton asked if I’d be interested in writing a column each month for the paper as part of that groups contribution to the community I said I’d gladly do it.  I hope to use the five hundred words carefully each month to highlight some good ideas.  Not so much my ideas, but thoughts of friends, ideas that work their way into conversation from time to time while leaning on the bed of a red pickup, standing on Railroad Avenue watching trains pass or sitting in an old wooden rocker on neighbor’s porch.  Friend, and Arlo & Janis creator Jimmy Johnson, would probably say this is a great opportunity for me to share my great spelling skills with the world. As you’ve probably already guessed, I’m a horrible speller. Co-worker Scott will now have another public voice to help spread the word of local biking and projects to make it better, like more bike trails in Opelika.  Barista friend Dennis would hope I would share the glory of the freshly roasted bean. Average Joe, who I’ve know my nearly 13 years in Opelika, might wish I don’t do anything to get him trouble with the publisher of this fine local paper. Redman might hope to finally learn something about football because we know my knowledge base in sports is far superior to his. Jeff who daily manages vegetation would probably like to share the story of big business that most folks don’t even know exist in Opelika and it’s not in the industrial park New friend Jacquetta will have one more voice to help put the “work” in NeighborWorks. Shirley Flora would hope I use these printed words to Keep Opelika Beautiful. Richard would want me to tell the story of the train horns, wine trails and the perfect lemon drop. Bill at work would want to share his latest technology find, the fax machine. Velinda might expect more kind words about downtown business. My neighbors might like to hear their story, a story of a flight attendant, a hair dresser, a rock & roller, an adventure racer, a graphic artist, a crazy (in a good way) British doctor and his young beautiful wife, a dog that understand commands in Japanese, an educator or the story of a painted man on a Tiger. And I would ask you read carefully, as I’ll try and place extra thoughts that won’t fit in the five hundred words somewhere in between the lines.

So with tongue in cheek, some broken potato chips on the keyboard and occasional assistance from a friend named Sam, I’ll embark on this new adventure. And maybe one day Paul Davis, who I consider to be a master of the written word, will give me a “thumbs up” and I will have formally arrived in world of print. Thanks for the opportunity of service in this way. PS - Buck’s Pocket is very nice this time of year.

Jerry Uncategorized