David Bailey is the man behind the Pastrol Counceling Center “Restoration” at the First Presbyterian Church, 900 Second Avenue in Opelika and provides a monthly column for the Opelika Daily News.

I recently finished reading the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Gilead by Marilynne Robinson.  One particular passage stood out to me as the anchor of the book’s power.  I’ll quote it here, even though taken out of context it’s probably not as evocative.  The premise is that an old pastor (who fathered a child late in life) is dying, and he wants his son to know how much he loves/loved him.  Presumably, the son would read the letters when he’s grown older and his father is long gone.  Here’s the passage:

“I’d have never believed I’d see a wife of mine doting on a child of mine.  It still amazes me every time I think of it.  I’m writing this in part to tell you that if you ever wonder what you’ve done in your life, and everyone does wonder sooner or later, you have been God’s grace to me, a miracle, something more than a miracle.  You may not remember me very well at all, and it may seem to you to be no great thing to have been the good child of an old man in a shabby little town you will no doubt leave behind.  If I only had words to tell you.” (more…)

Read the post below!

Not sure who maintains the Lee County Red Cross Website, but over the past few months it’s gone through a transition. Probably some non-paid volunteer doing this on their own time. The new format is much easier to get around on, and with the exception of some missing image files, it’s pretty nice. Check it out, cause the story of 2005 is pretty impressive!

An email from friend Polly in Savannah…

Polly Says: The note below is from my sweet niece Laurie whose husband Matt is serving his second tour of duty as a helicopter pilot in Iraq. If you can do this, she would like the cards by Nov. 21. Thank you in advance for helping Laurie and the troops. Spread the word! Polly Stramm

Hi everyone,

The holidays are just around the corner & when you think of your holiday celebration, you probably think of your cozy, comfortable home, surrounded by family, friends, lots of presents and food. For soldiers serving overseas, a holiday is just another long and dangerous day far from home. Thankfully, many soldiers have family and friends who constantly send letters and packages. Sadly, there are also many soldiers who go a whole year without receiving any mail at all. I need your help to make sure this doesn’t happen during the holidays. Here’s what I’m asking each of you to do: please write 3-5 holiday cards (ie. Happy Holidays, thank you for your service, stay safe and hurry home,etc) and put the cards in a larger envelope and mail them to me (my address is at the bottom). I will collect them and mail them overseas in boxes. I will ask some commanders to please hand them out to soldiers, especially those who receive little or no mail. You may sign the cards with your name and city/state if you’d like. Please don’t address the cards to any soldier specifically, just leave the card envelope blank. Please help with this- it will only take a few minutes out of your day and possibly $1 in postage. I plan to attach something small to each card (ie. candy cane, small pack of gum, fun size bag of skittles,etc). If you’d like to send those things, that would be wonderful, but all I’m asking from you is to write the cards & send them to me. It might seem very insignificant to us to receive a card and a candy cane, but to a soldier who has been away for 10 months and hasn’t received any mail, it could mean the world. Please help me make sure that no soldier goes empty-handed at mail call on Christmas day. Thank you!! *Please feel free to share this with friends, family, co-workers, school/church groups,etc.

Those of you who are teachers or who have children, your students/kids could make cards and write notes- that would be an easy and inexpensive community service project. Thank you for your help and support,

Laurie Junko
125 North Decatur Lane
Decatur, GA 30033

By the way, Polly tells me that Laurie and her sister are both Auburn Graduates! Polly adds, Her maiden name is Sparks in case anyone knows that name. Her Dad is Roy Sparks and her uncle is Terry Sparks, both are retired high school football coaches and Auburn alum who help out with the summer football clinics at Auburn. (My twin sisters are married to the Sparks brothers, who are also twins.) War Eagle & Buy some Cards!!

Could tha be 63 degrees out there tonight? Yes, I think so. Very Nice!

Here’s quick links to downloads made available from JerryKatz.Com

Red Bug Chili (Posted Nov 2005)

Opelika Non Smoking Ordinance Posted January 22, 2006

This page is a quick index to photo albums I’ve posted on the site. Check back often, as I’ll be bring back some lost material in coming weeks. (Photo Web Pages created with Picasa from Google)

Very Jerry Christmas – December 2007

Very Jerry Christmas – Dec 2006

Tybee Vacation – May 2006

SAE Mini Baja East 2006 (April 2006)

Easter Bunny Visits Friday Fellowship (April 2006)

Masters 2006 Augusta Road Trip

Outback Aussie Challenge VI (August 2005)

Very Jerry Christmas 2005

Wicks Office Christmas Party 2005!

ACS Relay for Life – 2004