Aren’t we an allergic group of people these days? I never heard the word allergy when I was young. I don’t think it was in our vocabulary. Some kids may have thought they were allergic to school, but that was wishful thinking. We couldn’t have had lunch without peanut butter ... peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, peanut butter cookies. I noticed last week when I was doing some substitute teaching there were rooms with signs on the doors saying “this room is a peanut free room.” When did all the allergies to peanuts start? I never taught a child who had an allergy to peanuts and don’t remember there being any in the school when I was teaching. I just can’t understand when this allergy showed up. I’m glad there were none when I was a child or we would have starved. .Well I'm sure everyone was astounded the hear that the captain of the ship that capsized said as an excuse for not helping people abandon the ship; he tripped and fell into a lifeboat. That sounds like an excuse a second grader might have used. Kind of like the excuse one little boy once gave me when he said, "That wasn't me who was fighting in the restroom; it was someone who looks like me." I'm sure you would agree that they need to check out these captains more thoroughly. The uniform doesn't make a captain. .January seems to be a big birthday month. Celebrating Becky Thomasson's birthday last Thursday night at the Pizza Hut were Wayne and Becky Thomasson, Frankie and Gloria Ware, John and Nonie Yochim, and Richard and Carolyn Gammon. There was lots of laughter of memories when all of them were younger. .There was another birthday celebration for Becky Thomasson Saturday night at the home of Linda Guin. Soups, sandwiches and desserts were served with the following friends helping to celebrate: Linda Guin, Gene Reid, Wayne and Becky Thomasson, Frankie and Gloria Ware, Bobby and Connie Danner, Jeff and Carol Daniel, and Charles and Elizabeth Smith. . Monday, January 16, Darden and Louise Denard met Johnny and Nancy Guest of Elberton, and Lyndal and Carolyn Cartledge of North Carolina in Anderson, S.C., for lunch. These siblings and their spouses meet once a month which is a great tradition since lives change so quickly. .Visiting for the weekend with Gertrude Long were Bobby and Nancy Smith, Daniel and his wife and baby, Hunter and Noah, of Rocky Point, N.C. They were all at the Tignall Baptist Church Sunday morning. Gertrude was holding that new great-granddaughter and I never heard a whimper out of that child. In fact, I have never heard a child cry that Gertrude was holding. She just has a calming effect on babies. It is hard to imagine Nancy being a grandmother when I remember her as a little girl in our church. .Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Adams and David and Nancy Hilley had lunch together in Hartwell at Dock Side last Tuesday, January 17, and went shopping after lunch. .Stacy, Owen, and Warren Hilley visited with David and Nancy Hilley Saturday. Owen spent Saturday and Sunday night with them. .Kathy and Stacy Ware visited with Paul and Gail Vandiver in Union Point Saturday night. . Fishing Creek Baptist Church held its Baptist Men's Day Sunday morning with all men in the church participating. There was a covered dish meal served after the service. .Tignall Baptist Church enjoyed Dr. Jim Austin Sunday as he led the congregation in our January Bible Study from the Book of Ecclesiastes Sunday morning, again at 5 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. Those who came to the Bible Study at 5 p.m. were invited for a light meal at the pastorium with Dr. Bob and Jan Nash. Dr. Austin is now Executive Director-Treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. .Rev. Gary Purvis and his family will be at Tignall Baptist next Sunday night, January 29, and will bless us with special music. Everyone is welcome to join us The service will begin at 6:30 p.m. .The youth of Tignall Baptist will have a soup and sandwich lunch after church Sunday, February 5. This will be a fundraiser for the youth to help pay for their MissionFuge trip in June. Donations accepted. .The North Wilkes Steering Committee will be meeting at the Tignall Lunchroom Thursday night, February 2, at 6:30 p.m. The committee will be planning the Winter Bingo Night. This is a good winter fun time for the entire county. .When I am rushed, I make many mistakes. Last week that should have been Arnold Adams who had been hospitalized instead of Vernon. Now Vernon, send all those cards and flowers over to your brother, Arnold. .We extend sympathy to the family of Cecil Rhodes who passed away over the weekend. Our prayers are with Flossie and their daughters. .Let's keep the following people in our prayers: Ellen Bunch, Dottie Norman, Bessie Lindsey, Melanie Lindsey, Pat Grimaud, Simon and Agnes Bridges, Jean Rhodes, Carolyn Smith, Frances Vinson, Oleta McAvoy, Kathy Lindsey, Roger Walker, Rose Ware, John Yochim, Louie Wolozin, Becky Thomasson, Jessica Mathias, Elizabeth Chafin, Aiden Tidwell, Angel Lindsley, Charles Blakey, Gail Craddock, Tommy Johnson, Ronald Snider, G.B. Newsome, Dr. Kupperswamy, Dr. Finch, Ray Pye, Jo Helen Frazier, Sara Dees, Bob Marett, Sonny Howard, Ronald Paschall, Zella Bennett, Hugh Teems, Frances Shank, Edna Lamar, Arnold Adams, Phil Tanner, Nita Allen, Frank Turner, Sheena Kopecky, Rosalyn Adams, Rev. Wade Palmer, Louie Gene Hubbard, Edythe Armour, and Alex Price. ."If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you."