Susan Pope was shopping in Downtown Washington Fri day when she saw Beth Bunch, also doing some shopping. Beth had on flip-flops and a short sleeve shirt. Susan asked her if she didn’t know it was December, nearly Christmas, and not the time of the year for flip-flops and short sleeves. Beth’s reply was, “Well, when you get up in the morning and the birds are singing and the crickets are chirping, you think it’s spring and you dress accordingly.” . . . It has been unseasonably warm the past week or so (after a very cold snap the weekend of the Christmas Tour), with some record-breaking highs for this time of the year – reaching 80 degrees one day. . . Bermuda shorts, other shorts and summer attire have also been popular in the past week or so.

Have you noticed the new Christmas wreaths on the courthouse? Nice!

I hate to see the old oak tree on The Square in Downtown Washington cut down, but know that it is dying and needs to come down.

Mary Duggan remembers when it was planted in the 1940s (I remember, too) by her dad, the late

Rochford Johnson. She remembers, too, that Mr. Rochford and the late Rufus Rider kept the tree alive in its first years by watering it regularly.

I miss Kevin Thornton at McDonald’s. Kevin had the misfortune of hitting a deer (or the deer hit him) and causing an accident with his vehicle and an injured leg for him. He has been on crutches but is better now. Kevin keeps the grounds and facilities at McDonald’s super clean and I appreciate it.

Henry Harris says the sale of Petal Pushers (the original one) is still a rumor, but he does have it under contract. It is true that he and Shay have bought Larry and Melanie McMichael’s house on East Robert Toombs. Henry says they will move to town when they sell their property in the country.

Carroll and Jan Andrews of McCalla, Ala., were guests of Jim and Jane Bundy several days last week. Carroll grew up in the Broad (near Tignall) area of Wilkes County and wanted to find some of the old landmarks that he remembered about the area. Jim took him our hunting (house and land hunting) one day and was amazed that just on Carroll’s instincts they found a family homesite surrounded by very large crepe myrtle trees. They found other things, too, and Jim brought Carroll by The News-Reporter where he and I were able to remember some of the old families in the Broad area. Among them were Pearl and Ezzell Bufford. Miss Pearl wrote the news from Broad for The News-Reporter and was an agent for Stanley Home Products. She sponsored many Stanley home parties for selling her wares. . . . Among other things, Carroll is an artist, minister, and pharmacist.

At the wedding reception for Amberly Aycock and Phil Roberts, Emilie and Mark Waters and Emilie’s mother, Mabel Johnson, were sitting at a table and enjoying the festivities when the wedding photographer came by and gestured to them to get closer together so he could take a picture. When they were ready, the photographer said, “Smile. Say free food.” After the picture was made, Mark, who according to Emilie can’t hear at all, asked, “What did he say?” Without hesitation, Mabel, who has a new hearing aid, said, “He said ‘smile, say Three Stooges.’” After a moment of laughter, Emilie told both what the photographer really said.

Today is Monday, December 18. I have to have another column ready by Thursday, December 21, very early. Please call me with ANYTHING you can tell me. It’s hard to get two columns written in a week. Thank you to all of you who have called, written, faxed or sent e-mail with items for this column during the year. I appreciate every one.

In Luke 2:8-16, we find an account of the first Christmas. In the King James version of the Bible, it reads:

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord Shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great job, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.