This Day In History
“This day in History”: A most interesting feature in many daily newspapers is the section titled “This Day in History.” Most readers have probably read that feature. I try not to miss it. The accumulation and recording of facts and events reach far back in time and bring readers to modern days.
Today is March 1, 2017. I will not refer to the feature in a newspaper. I am going to deal with topics dealing with people and events closer to home and one quite personal to this writer. So, let me get started:
(1) My nephew Greg McEntyre, son of my late sister Jackie McEntyre and Wayne “Pruney” McEntyre, will be undergoing heart surgery in Rome today. What is true of Greg is also true of the loved ones of many others in or near our locale.
Some 40 years ago, Greg failed his examination for football competition. Tests progressed to the highest level in Calhoun, then in Dalton and finally in Chattanooga. A lifelong condition involving a valve in his heart was discovered and surgery was scheduled and performed after the school year. In answering the question of how serious is the operation, just let me say when you deal with any aspect of operation of the heart, whether your own or someone else’s, it is a serious matter.
I like telling a warm and rewarding story about the incident back in the 1970s. As the school year neared its ending and the time for the operation approached, the whole mood of our family became solemn. The issue wasn’t mentioned much but it was an everpresent topic on our minds. The warm event involved a teacher approaching Greg late in the school year and brought up the topic. The teacher acknowledged to Greg the approaching operation. After being informed of the time and place the teacher asked, “How serious is the operation?” Greg looked up from the paper he was reading in the Calhoun High library and answered in a serious tone, “Mr. Smith (not his real name), I don’t know whether or not I storm warnings are posted for our part of Georgia. It has been a long time ago, but back in early April of 1974 Gordon County and much of the United States experienced tornadoes. One magazine later had an article, “The day of 100 tornadoes.” The local tornado came diagonally across our county from the Sugar Valley area toward Resaca into the Nance’s Spring area of Whitfield County. That tornado left death and destruction in its journey. Close friends and classmates of early years were lost in that storm.
It is prayed here the weather conditions headed our way that have already taken lives and destroyed property will weaken and allow life to be continued in a peaceful and orderly fashion. The results of that storm will also be known by the time you read these words.
I grew up in a home where the possibility of strong storms or tornadoes was never mentioned. With no radio or telephone down on the farm, no one knew of impending danger. On occasions I did hear my granddad and neighboring farmers express how dark the clouds looked in the distant. Their conclusion was always, “We might get some rain.” Never was a storm mentioned. It has always been a wonder as to how close I was to a storm as I laid on the bed within inches of the screened window as I watched and listened to the rain, the lightning and the thunder.
Other matters of “On this day in History:” I wanted to write about “We are in the short rows now.” That topic along with “Benghazi” and “What do you have on your mind.” Comments and criticisms people make tell much more about themselves than it does about the person about whom they are speaking.
Those matters will have to wait until another time. Examples will be given.
Editor’s Note: Coach Smith’s nephew, Greg McEntyre, passed away on Wednesday, March 1. Our thoughts and prayers are with Greg’s family and friends at this time.