Charlotte, NC

It was the summer of 1980; my (then) wife and (then) year-old son (he’s in the Navy now) had just moved to a house on Pineville’s Morrow Avenue (when it was residential.  Times have changed …) – in fact, right beside my folks’.

One of the first things I hadta do in order to make the house work for us was run down to the hardware store and pick up everything from paint to screwdrivers, hammers and nails — and plenty of door and cabinet knobs!  Though Pineville had a fine hardware store of its own, I decided to go to the one that Daddy had always relied on in his pump business:  Myers Park Hardware.
Naturally, they “fixed me right up” with what I needed, and at a good price!  It was a store that not only was efficient, business-wise, but had a distinctly home-town feel to it!

And it continued to have that ambience throughout the decades.  Now that it’s closing, Charlott … no, Carolinians (from both states) … are gonna be missing not only a piece of history … they’re gonna be missing a piece of their hearts.

Y’see, the “hometown” feel that Myers Park Hardware radiated — that, “I know you, you’re a friend, c’mon in and let’s chat while you’re shoppin’” attitude is almost gone in megalopolitan America.  Concrete-and-steel are quickly replacing the friendly hardwood floors; Joe, Cecil and Bob are being replaced by customer 1001, 546 and 320; the friendly salesperson is being phased out by buttons to push for robotic messages. 

The loss of the hometown touch — it ain’t gonna be pretty when it’s all gone.  Let’s just be sure we don’t lose it in our hearts.

The folks at Myers Park Hardware never did … and they’re really gonna be missed.  God bless ‘em in their new endeavors.  They truly were — and are — our friends …

“WOAH … I said the Night Time … is the Right Time … to beee wit’ th’ ONE ya LOOvvve”
Now, whoever loves the blues or rock knows that song. It was sung by artists as diverse as Ray Charles, Creedence Clearwater Revival — and even was lip-synched in a comedic sketch on The Cosby Show.

But few people outside our own Queen City know that the author of that classic — Napoleon Culp (aka Nappy Brown) was Charlotte-born-and-bred.
Nappy passed away here on Saturday at the age of 78. I’d had the honor of meeting this legend a few times over the years — he was a walkin’ encyclopedia of the blues — and have to say that his mere presence made you feel relaxed and down-home.

Nappy started his career as a gospel singer and first recorded on Savoy Records in ‘54. They liked what they heard and asked him to be one of their solo Rhythm-and-Blues artists. So, in 1955, his “Don’t Be Angry” not only made it to #2 on the R&B charts, but #25 on pop charts!, It was followed by “Pitter Patter” (hitting #10 on the R&B charts but covered by Patti Page on the pop charts), “Little By Little” (#57 R&B in 1957), “It Don’t Hurt No More” (#8 R&B, #89 pop, 1958) and “I Cried Like A Baby” (recorded in 1956, it hit #22 R&B in 1959). He left the label in 1962, and tried several comebacks, recording for other labels in 1969, 1984, 1987 — and cutting his last album in 2007.

No doubt that this man, like Wilbert Harrison, Arthur Smith and others, has provided a musical legacy that has put Charlotte on the musical map for life. He’s gonna be missed, both in the QC and the world. RIP, my friend — for all you’ve accomplished (and, at one time, giving a bit of inspiration and confidence to a nine-year-old boy from Pineville), you deserve it!

DRUG ADDICTION’S BIGGEST ENEMY

Y’know, there’s been a lotta talk in the QC about the drug menace — and the people who fall victim to it!  They need the help of trained, caring professionals to break free of its grip and continue to live happy, clean lives.
But, in getting that help, sometimes they’re faced with a one-treatment-fits-all program from therapists — and that just doesn’t work! Not only do addicts need a treatment program that fits them psychologically as well as physically; they also need caring, one-on-one help from dedicated and sincere professionals.

Now, there’s one place where they not only get the best in drug treatment but will also have the caring, one-on-one therapy they really need. But this drug treatment center isn’t only highly successful; it’s also one that’s dependable for follow-up counseling and assistance and helps in one area that’s often overlooked: counsel and instruction for families of the addict! It also helps that it’s nestled in the most beautiful, placid surroundings in the nation! (Believe me, environment — both outer and in-house — is essential to any healing process!)
So if you, or someone you know, needs help in overcoming the demons of drug addiction, just click on those links I just gave you … I highly recommend them!! Believe me, it’s the best move you could make to regaining control and happiness in life! Do it now, okay?

Normally, I don’t watch a lot of TV these days — mainly due to my schedule as blogger and The Rock Relic.  But, last night, I just had to make time!

The Emmy Awards were more than glamor, fashion and fancy speeches this time; by God, it actually showed a bit of personality and heart!
By now, we all know who won and who didn’t, but there were some dynamite highlights:

For example, when Tommy Smothers won an Emmy on behalf of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.  Natch, he rambled like the “confused kid” he portrayed for so many years (in reality, Tom has a keen business mind and is quite intellectual).  But he did something that, common for the Smothers, is uncommon in awards shows:  He spoke “PEACE”:

“It’s hard for me to stay silent when I keep hearing that peace is only attainable through war. And there’s nothing more scary than watching ignorance in action,” he said, dedicating his award to “all people who feel compelled to speak out, and are not afraid to speak to power, and won’t shut up and refuse to be silenced.”

Then, a bit later, they had a reunion of all the surviving cast of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In … and, although the camp might be wearin’ a bit then, it was worth it all just to see Gladys Hornby and Earnestine back in true form!
Their set looked as if it’d been saved from the original show … and the audience loved every minute of it!

Now, while they also had the inimitable Mary Tyler Moore and Betty White to announce Best Comedy Series — and what an honor it was to see these two legends back together again — the show outdid itself when the Matador’s March started playing.  The audience, both TV and live, knew that it could only signal “Mr. Warmth”, Don Rickles was coming to the stage! 
Surely enough, he came out along with comedienne Kathy Griffin, who yelled to the audience, “GET UP!  Get on your FEET!”  After a lengthy standing-ovation, Rickles went into his routine (part teleprompted, part ad lib) and had Griffin in tears with laughter!  Not a small feat … but only he could do that!  He won two Emmys last night, btw.

I hope everyone had a great time watchin’ the show.  If ya wanna talk more about it or have any remarks, just leave ‘em in the Comments section here.

But, for now, I’ve gotta run (loads of work to catch up on).  So I’ll see ya tomorrow, okay?

The response has been overwhelming …

and, quite frankly, it’s brought me cause to study each comment carefully before writing any further dissertations on the subject. However, sometime tomorrow afternoon, I’ll address this situation again and use in-context samples of these comments within the post itself.

Now … for you who think I’m being somewhat whimsical in my prose style, I hope you’re satisfied with the way I penned the above.

‘Cause, y’see, it just ain’t my style! (I’ll explain in a minute, okay?) Look … I’ll admit that I didn’t think the whole shebang through before gettin’ these paws on the keypads. That’s why I wanna take some time to read … no, make that study (BIG difference, right?) whatcha said.

So, just hang on until sometime tomorrow afternoon, okay? And, listen: Thanx for the comments! Keep ‘em comin’, and I’ll put ‘em on here! In fact, I’ve got some hard-copy newspapers who’d like what you wrote, if I can get your permission to send ‘em!

ABOUT THIS “WRITING STYLE”

Now, let me get heavy for a moment: I took journalism, writing, drama, etc. in colleges and schools over the years. But I’ve also been a DJ, an audio producer and a syndicated columnist. This “dialoguish” writing style — patterned largely after the way a person verbalizes in informal situations — has garnered readers around the world and Pineville for my product.

Now, if you want the “Queen’s English” (I think the “King’s English” means usin’ words like Elvis, huh?), I can do that. But (as many of you know already) the best way to relate to others is to be yourself! And I’m as informal as a plate of grits on a cool Sunday mornin’ at mama’s breakfast table.

One more thing before I get off here and start readin’: NONE of our collegiates are, in any way, shape or form, “children” (other than the obligatory title used by the parents of these students) or “kids”. In fact, they should be respected for taking the steps to further their education and learn more of the intricacies of life’s processes! After all:
To THEM we entrust our FUTURE!

‘Nuff said. More tomorrow … be sure to tune in …

Sounds like a country song, doesn’t it??

But what happened on South Boulevard this morning was hardly melodic: A fire engine from Company 12 was responding to a traffic accident, and an SUV collided with it just past Woodlawn Road a little after 10 AM.
Now, obviously all the details aren’t in yet, but it brings up one seriously valid and important reminder:

If you see any emergency vehicle coming toward you — and it’s runnin’ “hot” (meaning, has its lights and sirens on and heading to an emergency), pull over into the OUTSIDE lane ASAP and give em all the room they’ll need!

By law, they’ve automatically got the “right-of-way,” anyway. Now, you know to pull over to the curb when they’re comin’ up behind you, but didja know that, no matter which direction they’re coming from, at higher speeds these trucks are harder to control than smaller vehicles? And, normally, the truck’s size makes them an inch or so wider than the lane they’re in.

So, when ya see one approachin’ and its lights and sounds are goin’, play it on the safe side, okay? For you, the drivers, and the people they’re trying to help! We don’t need any more accidents …

KEEPING A-FLOAT

With the heat of summertime bearin’ down on us, and the last few weeks are ticking away before kids have to hunker down to some serious schoolwork, there’s a big rush to push in as much time as possible at the pool or beach!
Of course, the main focuses whenever we’re in the drink (be it ocean or pool) is safety and comfort. And, for decades, parent have known the value of good foam floats, lounges and the like to provide that!
Well, now, by clicking on the link I’m gonna give you, you’ll be able to get the best floats and rafts on the market … at great savings and with free shipping!
They even stock those adorable, inflatable baby floats and the popular poolside bean bags!
So, if poolside is where you wanna be, or if the seashore still beckons you, then why not click this link for the best pool floats on the market?
You’ll enjoy the savings and quality almost as much as the comfort you’ll get!

The story, in itself, was amazing:
A young mom had, over the three years of her little girl’s life, made up little songs to sing to her. This not only made the child happy, but taught her things that she needed to know.
Like … 9-1-1- Green.
The song title, of course, refers to the number for emergencies and the “talk” button on most cell phones. The mom wanted her little angel to learn this at an early age.
Little did she know the youngster would have to use what she learned from the song.
The mother apparently had an attack of some sort and had fainted. Her three-year-old, seeing her mom in terrible shape, remembered what she’d learned, got to her mom’s cell, and dialed:
9-1-1- Green.
Paramedics arrived and the mom’s now all right. The daughter saved her life!

But it brings to mind this: Why don’t we make use of that here?? I mean, teach our kids who to call in the event of an emergency! All it takes is a song, tailored to our little kids and sung out of sincerity and love!
Can you imagine the impact?

DO IT FOR YOUR FAMILY’S SAKE

Okay … maybe it’s a tough subject to handle, but we’ve gotta face it: we’ve all gotta make plans for when our time comes! We don’t want our spouses, children or other members of the family to absorb the harsh financial blow that comes from funeral or burial expenses, right?
The only problem is that many insurance companies can charge you an arm-and-a-leg and still not provide the benefits they boast!
But now you can find the right insurance that’ll fit your budget!! All you have to do is click on the link I’m about to give you to find (a) quotes from different companies, (b) informative articles on how to save money when investing in insurance, (c) no-exam, term and permanent life insurance — and much more!!
So, for the benefit and security of you and yours, click on this link to find the best life insurance quotes!!
Do it now … for them, okay?? Thanks.

THIS IS A SPECIAL REPORT:

The kid on yer left? No, it isn’t Bobby Rydell (though he looked a little like it in this pic).

Actually, it’s my younger brother, Dick, back in 1969. Some of you may remember him as a grad of South Meck, Class of ‘71.
He was also the drummer in my band for awhile, until he gave up the stix to get into photography. As he grew, he became a helluva nice guy, very down-home, and a true “family-man” (yep, he was a bit rowdy way-back-when!).

But, last night, that warm heart was stilled, when my sis called to inform me that he’d just died of a sudden, massive heart attack at the age of 54. Didn’t even make it to the hospital …

Now, there’s a lotta reflectin’ that I could do at this point. But, in the interest of time and space, lemme just share a few smiles about my younger bro, Charles Richard Hinson:

When mama and daddy brought him home from the hospital, two-year-old Chucky (and don’t call me that unless ya love me, k?) took a hankerin’ to his hair, and started lickin’ it regularly. When he died, Dick was the only one of us Hinson boys who wasn’t bald on top! (as an aside, didja know that cow spit can keep ya from goin’ bald? Is there a connection? Nobody around here knows … or wants to know …)

Once, when Steve (my youngest bro) and Jimmy (my cousin and bassist) were in K-Mart® with Daddy, and in a very narrow aisle, Dick … er, “cut some cheese” (no offense, Mousers!) and, since there were people comin’ into the aisle, took off running with Jimmy and Steve in tow! That left Daddy with a terrible scent wafting through the aisle … and some accusing looks from the shoppers!

In 1964, I was on my bed, strummin’ my brand-new nylon-stringed Sears® Silvertone™ guitar (it sounded great, even without the ™ !), when I heard a bloodcurdling yell from my 11-year-old brother: “HEY! COME WATCH THIS!!” After I uncurdled my blood, I ran in to the living room where he had flipped the channel to the first episode of The Lloyd Thaxton Show.
Man, I was riveted. After sobering up(small joke. I was only 14!), I was still enthralled by this crazy man with the groovy music (records and in-the-flesh acts!) and dancing all around him. So What?? I’ve become a lifelong LT fan … and am blessed to know him now as a cherished friend as well!

During our last song at a show in Pineville, NC in late ‘66 (the Astronauts/Monkees’ Steppin’ Stone), Dick started to show his “Keith Moon” side during the last bridge. His excuse: “I got so caught up in it, I didn’t know what I was doin’!” The kid had a great musical future if he’d taken it …

in fact, he built his own stage with about a dozen-plus speakers built-in! Now, remember: this was small-town, quiet-as-a-mouse town Pineville, NC (well, it was back then!)

Yup … only used the stage one time …

He wrote me on occasion while I was in the Army, and, though in later years we rarely saw each other (even drifted apart in our philosophy), he always told me I was the best writer and rocker in “these parts”. Even as late as 1999, when we got together at mama’s funeral, he told me “you know enough to make a LIVIN’ with what you know about rock …”
Bottom line: Whether we were “on the same page” or not over the years, I loved the dude! He was my brother! And my heart goes out to his wife (they’d just celebrated 36 years of wedded bliss), Mel, their daughter Amber, son-in-law Mark, son Scott, daughter-in-law April, and five grandkids who were blessed to call him “PawPaw”!

Now, there’s one more thing I’ve GOTTA stress:

Over the years,Dick became a heavy smoker and didn’t care much for exercising. That, along with our family’s history of heart trouble and high blood pressure, undoubtedly contributed to the untimely passing of this wunderkund of the family.

So … (pass this along to EVERY person ya know):

FROM THE HEART OF THIS OL’ ROCK RELIC:

If your family (going back at least two generations) has had even the SLIGHTEST hint of heart trouble in its history, GET A REGULAR PHYSICAL, stressing the cardio!! It’s VERY important! The Relic has one every six months like clockwork!

and KEEP CLOSE CHECK ON THE BP!! (and I ain’t talking “baked potato” here, yardbirds!) Average is 120/80. Yours may differ, but be SURE to keep it in the “safe zone”!

Keep your CHOLESTEROL level down (at least the “bad” cholesterols!). The Relic is free of those (well, almost), and my regularly-lower-than-average BP is stable!

EXERCISE!! It doesn’t only help your cardiovascular system, but the endorphins can work miracles for the moods! I personally pound the pavement for at LEAST ten miles a day, rain or shine, incidentally.

If you smoke, QUIT … or at LEAST cut it down by two-thirds!! Besides, you’ll be controlling “it”, as opposed to “it” controlling you! (Huh?? Only when I’m on fire!)

EVERY reader here — whether you’re from the Queen City or not — is dear to me … you’re fantastic in your own right!! And your lives are valuable … to you and the ones you love.

So keep it ALIVE, okay??

THIS HAS BEEN A SPECIAL REPORT. WE RESUME OUR REGULAR PROGRAMMING ON MONDAY.

It was one of those nights I’ll never forget:

You see, I had a beautiful, soft, furry friend with big, round, copper eyes and a heart that was bigger than all outdoors. Booger, as I called him, was constantly by my side, meowing to be picked up on occasion, sitting by my computer keyboard and watching this thing we call a “pointer” move, or just jumping on my stomach when I was asleep and “kneading dough”.

But, two days ago, I had to bury my little friend. Sadly, he passed of what the doc called severe chronic kidney failure, which he’d apparently inherited from his mother. It was the same thing that downed Lightning years before.
It was heartbreaking to see him go down so fast (and it does happen quickly!). I decided to take him home rather than the doc putting him to sleep, because I knew he wanted to be around those who loved him.
My heart pounded as I held him, stroked his fur, offered a little water, talked to him softly … knowing that it could be just scant minutes …

Then, my heart totally broke:

I’d just put him in a little cage (to keep the other pets from sniffing and bothering him) and went to get a cup of coffee. I heard a “crash” and knew the dogs’d turned over the trashcan.
But …
before I could get to the trashcan …
I saw my Westie, Brandy …
take an empty can of Friskies cat food …
and …
gently, ever so gently …
sit it softly and upright …
in front of Booger’s cage.
Then, she looked in the cage, then walked back to the can. Then to the cage, then to the can.

I cried as I hugged the white canine wonder and tried, in words she couldn’t understand, that Booger was leaving us.

Today, I’m a changed man somehow. In a world where dogs and cats are treated as just “pieces of meat” to be thrown around or neglected, I’ve become more understanding and appreciative of the souls of these animals … these “forever friends”.

Some people still call them “dumb animals”.

To me, those are now fightin’ words.

Rest in peace, little Booger. You don’t haveta be sick anymore …

Now … on to something different:

DIET PILLS THAT WORK!

There are a lot of diet pills on the market that people use to try and lose weight. Unfortunately, trying to figure out which are the best for them takes time, comparison-shopping (both in price and quality), long lines, and more.
But there is a spot that’ll not only show you the best diet pill for you (it does that by comparing and reviewing over 200 of the top brands), but will even hook you up with the best places to buy them, at the best prices!
You save time, frustration, money and so much more if you just click on this link — one that’ll help you find the best diet pill that works for you!
So click that link now, and start enjoying a thinner “you” soon!

By now, every rocker around the Queen City (and beyond) has heard the sad news:

Bo Diddley is dead.

The amazing guitarist/singer, whose “cigar-box” guitar and African-based 5/4 rhythm pattern influenced generations of musicians (just an example: Johnny Otis’ Willie and the Hand Jive), died of heart failure at home in Archer, Florida. He was 79.

It’s ironic that the first time I ever heard of him was in an old record that my sister had back as a kid in Pineville. It was by country satirist Ray Stevens and called Santa Claus Is Watching You. Then, I heard the man and was immediately captivated by his simple, bluesy voice surrounded by a thumping beat.

At first, some thought he was just a “one-hit-wonder”, using a gimmick to cross racial barriers. But when acts like Buddy Holly, The Rolling Stones, The Seeds (Get Me To The World On Time), The Strangeloves (I Want Candy) and, later, George Thorogood and The Destroyers and even KISS began emulating the wild beat (someone said it was “shave-and-a-haircut-two-bits” played on mount and floor tom a bit faster), we all realized the worth of this giant!

Recently, someone said if ya didn’t like rock-n-roll, ya didn’t know Diddley! How true that play-on-words is today!
The legend will be missed … but, believe me: His music WILL live on!!

Memorial Day. To many, it’s a “day off from work.” But to the countless thousands who’ve lost loved ones in service to our country, it’s a sacred holiday, an honorable tradition.
There are so many men and women here in the MeckCo area who’ve served — and made it back home alive. But within them lie memories of their buddies who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. To them, we pay a special respect, knowing that, in fact, part of them died on the day their buddies did.

One special Memorial Day celebration stands out in The Relic mind, though.

It was May, 1989. Daddy had just picked me and my son, Mike, up from K-Mart in Starmount Shopping Center, and was heading home to ready for the Memorial Day ceremony at the Pineville Cemetery (he was Commander of VFW Post 9091 in town). About thirty minutes before he was to go — though he was dressed in his uniform — he reached over to tie his low-quarters. He stayed there, bent over, for a moment, and mama went to check on him.
He looked up, tears streaming down his face. He couldn’t tie his shoes. He’d had a stroke. Of course, he was taken to the hospital as Jack Crump took his place at the podium.

May, 1991. The most amazing man in the world — Eola Hinson (pump repairman, deacon, caring father, loving husband to mama) — had passed from this world nine months before of lung cancer (they found it as he was in the hospital two years before). At the ceremony that Memorial Day, Jack read the names of all veterans who were buried there, and handed out flags to members of his or her family.
When he got to the name “Cecil Eola Hinson,” something strange happened: Jack’s voice cracked and trembled, and the people in attendance sighed and, in some cases, had tears as mama slowly walked forward, tears in her own eyes, to accept the flag for his grave.

It’s a day I’ll never forget … and it made me so proud that Daddy (as others there in that cemetery) was a patriot — a true American in every sense of the word. He’d served in the Second World War as a commo sergeant (Top Sergeant), and was thankful that he’d been given the blessing of returning home.

May we, as Americans, pray for that blessing for ALL our men and women overseas!

FROM DEATH TO LIFE

If you remember, last post told you about my fave cat, Contessa, as she is dying. Even as I write this, she’s beside me as I’m still comforting her and dabbing her little mouth with water, nutritional paste (vet-recommended), etc.
Yet, in the other room, another lovely feline of mine (Indian Summer) has just given birth to five beautiful little kittens! After helping with their births (I think she’s finally gotten the knack of feeding them!), I then come back to the office and check on Contessa. Believe me, it’s a strange feeling.
But it’s sort of like the song by Blood, Sweat and Tears (and when I die, and when I’m gone, there’ll be one child born in this world to carry on*). And it’s an eerie feeling.
At the moment, Tessa is apparently resting, while the kittens are doing well. Just keep the brood in your prayers, okay? Thanks.
* And When I Die performed by Blood, Sweat and Tears

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

As this economy seems to tighten its financial grip on us, many people are looking for a solid, home-based business for a second income. Often, if it’s presented right, it becomes their main source of income in time.
Now, the link I’m about to share will send you to a site that offers you just that: the opportunity for good, home-based work that has the potential for great income for you! And the best part is that it’s based on ecology!
I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t want cleaner air and an environment that’ll be safer and better for our families! With their products, you have an enormous opportunity to provide something that everyone wants — especially with the environment being a major issue and on everyone’s minds lately.
So you can actually help provide a cleaner, healthier life for others and make some decent income to boot!
Sound good? Then just click on EcoQuest Intl to learn more about this amazing business opp now!

I dunno … perhaps I’m a bit too sensitive …
but, as I write this, my favorite little buddy — a short, sweet little Himalayan named Contessa — is passing away. The doc says there’s nothing that can be done for her, and, rather than have her euthanized in some sterile, impersonal environment, I decided to bring her back here, where she’d be comfortable and surrounded by those who love her — me and her little feline family.

And, to top it all off, a “friend” of mine (whom I’d called) had the nerve to say, “Whatcha worryin’ about? It’s just a cat!” Yeah. Sure. Like a BMW is “just a car” …

Look … this little girl was the first at the door when I’d come in from work, ready to greet me; when I was a bit down, she’d jump up on my lap and lick my face, seemingly hoping it’d make me feel better (it did!);
she was always there. And now … I can’t do a damn thing to help her, other than just keep a little water dabbed around her mouth (Himmies hate medicine droppers, and the least little squabble [stress] could kill her at this point!) and be there for her, comforting …

Daddy had the same situation when the big Lab he had beside the shop, Bingo, lay dying. Mary and Dink went through it with Sam, Willie and others. Most of you reading this has had the same situation. Still — though there are so many who can relate — it’s still hard. The one solace I have is something John Lennon said years ago. Though not a quote here, it was something like “how do we know it’s not better over there than it is here — wherever ‘there’ is?”
So, shortly, she’ll cross that Rainbow Bridge … and I know it’s bound to be beautiful there …

KEEPING ABREAST OF THINGS

Y’know, a lot’s been said about breast implants, but did you know these serve purposes well beyond cosmetic? There are those whose breasts might be underdeveloped or misshapen for whatever reason. Of course, women can also lose breast volume due to pregnancy.
Now, there are a lot of doctors who perform augmentation surgery, but, since you don’t want to take chances here, your best bet is to go to the best — and you’ll be able to meet them at the click of your mouse in just a moment.
But, first, let me tell you that this site not only tells you all about augmentation, but even goes over the procedure with you, answers any questions you have, and even introduces you to the doctor in charge — judged one of the best in 2008!
So, if you believe that you’re a good candidate for breast implants augmentation, just click on that link you passed and be sure to visit with the doctor who can perform the best and most confident procedure for you!

People, if there was ever a true slogan, it’s the one below that pic, right??
But didja notice anything different about the wording? (Okay … I’ll give ya a minute …)

Here ’tis: It used the word “MOMS” instead of mothers. Yes, there is a difference, too! Y’see, biologically speaking, any female of child-bearing age and fertile can be a mother. It requires the physical development from embryonic fetus to infant, then the actual, physical birth of that child. Not an easy task, to be sure … but, then again, the female has just mothered the child!

Then … there are MOMS!

We all have our idea of what a “perfect mom” would be like. She not only works her tail off trying to take care of her house, cries her heart out if one of her children is sick or missing, loves her soul out for the benefit of her family, her husband/mate … and, most of all, her children.
She goes the “extra mile”, often taking from herself so her children can have … stays up all night, if necessary, when a child’s sick or just “needs someone to talk to” … talks more to God than she does her own husband about her children, especially as they get older (and, perhaps, married) and out on their own. She’s the most productive prayer warrior and worrier on earth, bar none.
She’s read every children’s book on the market — most of them to her own children, but also to her grandkids. She knows how to patch broken spirits as well as she does torn britches.

She’s the epitome of Proverbs 31.

To me, there was one perfect mom. And, with this (before I close this special post), let me share a story with you: Years ago, when I was just in my early single-digit years, occasionally I’d fall and get hurt. Mama would stop whatever she was doing, grab the mercurochrome, some gauze and a band-aid, wash off the hurt, dress the wound … then kiss it (which did more than any medicine or ointment!).
Then she’d pick me up, and sit down in that old high-back rockin’ chair, putting me on her lap. Slowly, rhythmically, she rock that chair back and forth, rubbing my little back and softly singing the hymn, “Bring Them In.”
In just a few minutes, I was calm, and sleeping.

Years later, in Studio East (a recording studio in Charlotte at the time), I recorded a self-composed country tune called Sing Me A Song — specifically about that time. When I got to the a capella four-part harmony (doing all the voices) of the first bridge, I was to do Bring Them In.
It took me forever to get the take right.
I was too busy crying when I got to that part. That song was mama’s …

Wonderful memories of the perfect mom.
I know you folks have those memories of yours. And …

FOR ALL THE MOMS OUT THERE WHO ARE READING THIS …

Ahhh, how well I remember that ol’ country preacher tellin’ his congregation, “When I was a kid, we had runnin’ water at our house. When mama needed some water, I’d RUN to the well, draw up a bucket-a water, then RUN back to the house!”
It’s a cute joke, but you’d be surprised at how many people have runnin’ water these days — runnin’ down the sink counter, runnin’ into the floor — and all because their faucets are broken!

Now, even after Daddy switched from Hefner Plumbing Co. to open his own pump-repair business (Hinson Pump Co. in Pineville), many of Mr. Hefner’s customers still called on him to do their plumbing! I’d ride along with him, and learned a lot!
For example, there was the time at the Baskins’, when he was fixin’ the trap under their sink while low-flying Army aircraft were clipping the tops of some high trees (or so said Laverne Grace at the time)! Y’see, there were war games goin’ on not far from Charlotte, and we were startled by ‘em. Still, ya couldn’t stop Clarence and his family; they were too busy watchin’ “rasslin’” on Channel 3 to pay much attention to them or us! And that’s what got me interested in workin’ pro wrestling matches in time …
Another time was when one of his customers was so thankful for Daddy’s work — in fact, maybe had a bit of a crush on him — that she actually (I’m not kiddin’ here!) broke things just so she could call him to come and fix ‘em for her! ‘Course, he was fiercely devoted to Mama, and, together, they couldn’t help laughing over the little lady’s shenanigans!
But, in all, he taught me the right way to treat people, whether they be customers or complete strangers. His work was renowned throughout Charlotte and Pineville; but, more importantly, he showed that common courtesy, combined with humility and confidence, could do more than “know-how” alone!
It’s something that I keep in mind to this day … and am so thankful for …

OH … ABOUT FAUCETS:

Daddy always said, “If you wanna give ‘em the best service outta somethin’, ya gotta give ‘em the best product!” And today, with the higher water pressure and heavy usage on one end and the need for better systems on the other, it’s necessary to have the best and most durable faucets for your sink or lavatory! The seals have to be just right, the hardware and assembly has to be perfect for your sink and lavatory counters, and they need to be dependable over the years!

That’s why, by clicking the link I’m about to give you, you’ll find the best faucets and assemblies in the business! They give you greatmore! Why, they even have faucets for the famous clawfoot tubs (now, these could be hard-to-find elsewhere!).

Now, all you’ve gotta do to give your bathroom or lavatory the pizazz it needs as well as the most dependable fixtures is to go to the one place to find the best faucet for your needs! Believe me, you won’t be disappointed — and, as you see these in action, you’ll wanna tell your friends and neighbors about ‘em! So go ahead and click that link now, okay?

Who, in their right minds, wouldn’t agree with the sit-in against sweatshops? Y’see, the students holed up outside the chancellor’s office at UNC-Chapel Hill don’t want anything with their logo on it to be made at those low-paying, employee-slaving dumps! They want ‘em made in factories where workers are paid a decent living wage, and are treated with respect!

Look … the UNC systems prides itself on building spirits … not breaking ‘em, like the “straw-bosses” of these profit pits do all too often to their workers. They’ve followed the lead of Appalachian State (but, in that one, students were arrested!) and have petitioned system president Erskine Bowles to put all UNC schools on a program that’ll have the goods made at respectable factories.

It’s a worthwhile cause … and, fortunately, the government seems to be slowly picking up on the human-rights violations in these profit-pits! But, until some kind of positive action is taken, UNC can take the helm and put pressure on these places to either upgrade their treatment of workers or be faced with their client base drying up!

Come to think of it, maybe that’s an even better idea …

ROUTING IT OUT RIGHT

If you’re needing better networking hardware — including the all-important VoIP phone for your computer network (these VoIPs are becoming more and more essential to businesses these days) — chances are you’re shopping around for the type that’ll serve your specific needs. Of course, you know you’re probably gonna have to dig deep in your wallet to pay for the hardware, not to mention taking the time and trouble of comparison shopping, checking on warranties, tech support, etc.
Time-consuming? You bet! But there’s a much better way to get the hardware you need, and save a lot of money in the process: Buy refurbished hardware that come with a great warranty and saves you money; hardware that the company actually stands behind!
Now, there’s one place that’ll provide all that — the highest quality, the best prices, warranties, and more — but even go one better by offering to trade or buy your used hardware! All their equipment is tested, refurbished, authorized, and supported by the company, and they offer a standard 90-day warranty … the exact same warranty they offer on new equipment.
Believe me, it’s worth your time to find out more! And the way you do that is to click on this link, which will take you to the site that offers used cisco — where top-quality, affordable prices and (above all) customer satisfaction are most important to them!
So, check them out now, okay? You and your network will certainly be pleased with what you discover …

It was forty years ago today …
Rev. Martin Luther King — a man who devoted his life to closing racial barriers and opening the doors of equality, justice and peace — was due to be in Charlotte to help Reginald Hawkins in his bid to become the state’s first African-American governor.
But, two days earlier, he had to postpone the trip.
He was heading to Memphis to help striking sanitation workers.

Sadly, we know the rest of the story …

But, in a way, it kinda makes ya wonder what things would’ve been like had Dr. King been able to complete his mission in Charlotte (and surrounding areas). He would’ve felt “at home” in Charlotte — a city that had more racial equality than most Southern cities of its size (although some stores, like the old Atlantic Mills on South Boulevard, still had the “whites-only” water fountains). In due course, chances are he would’ve succeeded, along with Dr. Hawkins, in inspiring African-Americans of voting age to register … possibly swinging the electorate pendulum toward Dr. Hawkins a bit.

As time progressed, he would’ve been active in social and school programs, campaigned more strongly for the specific and needed rights of all minorities and — even at the age of 79 — would’ve been an outspoken opponent of the Iraq War, opting instead to negotiate a more peaceful solution to the terrorist threat. But it’s doubtful that he would’ve ever run for President, although there would’ve been an eventual call for it.

The mind, at this time, can go through endless “what-if” scenarios, but the truth is that we can’t go back and change things. Dr. King was assassina … no, he was murdered, plain and simple. But, though the dreamer’s gone, the dream, itself, lives on … if we only have enough conscience to want it.

The same could be said for another famous peace advocate, who lost his life twelve years and almost eight months later. Like Dr. King, John Lennon was murdered by someone with twisted ideals. No, make that “criminal.”

You see, we can plaster names, causes, reasons or whatever all over these perpetrators, but the assassins were criminals for two reasons:
The first is obvious: Murder is a crime!
The second, though, is that their assault on the efforts of peace and unity that both these men brought to the table is criminal itself!

Today, remember April 4, 1968 and at 6:01 PM (the time of Dr. King’s murder), stop for a second and say a little prayer for peace, okay??