Thumbs column
Bestselling author Jacqueline Winspear, creator of a popular psychologist/investigator series, offers a range of thoughts to consider in a recent opus, “What Would Maisie Do? Inspiration from the Pages of Maisie Dobbs.”
The following excerpt from one chapter, “Ascending Life’s Mountains,” and taken from Winspear’s novel, “Pardonable
Lies,” seems quite relevant today: “… Do not seek to avoid the mountain, my child, for it has been placed there at a perfect time. It will only become larger if you seek to delay or draw back from the ascent.”
Speaking of attaining new heights, “Thumbs-up” to Hot Springs resident Maxine Dickerson for winning four medals in the Women’s 65-69 Division of the Oklahoma Senior Games earlier this month.
Dickerson brought home a gold in the hammer throw, a silver in the discus and javelin events, and a bronze in the shot-put. Congratulations, Maxine, and kudos for also qualifying for the 2021 National Senior Games in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
By the same token, Kay Ekey, of Hot Springs, gives a big “Thumbs-up” to “the two gentlemen who rescued me and three friends when we ran out of gas on Lake Hamilton.”
As Ekey noted in her email, “The first to offer assistance was a complete stranger, Russell Alexander, who was traveling in the opposite direction from where we were headed, but kindly towed us to the ARC Isle dock where our plan was to phone a friend to bring us gas.
“Within minutes of tying up to the dock, Steven Kirsch, who lives nearby and had gotten a message we left on his wife’s phone, then arrived by boat to tow us to the marina. Alas, it was closed before we arrived so we headed back to his condo dock to wait while he drove to the gas station to bring us fuel.
“Thanks to the kindness of these two men, one a stranger and the other a friend, we were able to make it back to my dock before dark.”
Continuing on, here is another “Thumbs-up” to Allen Goines, who recently was named “Hot Springs Firefighter of the Year” by Elks Lodge 380.
Lodge members honored Goines with a special dinner and plaque and Arkansas Elks Past State President Donnie Golden and Hot Springs Fire Chief Ed Davis spoke to the award recipient’s “firefighting capabilities, leadership qualities, and educational experiences.”
Continued best wishes to this outstanding fireman and many thanks for his service to our community.
Double “Thumbs-up” go out to Kim and Dan Bailey, donors of a piano keyboard, and to members of the United States Daughters of 1812 who delivered it to Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System Volunteer Services Chief Michael Dobbs.
Via a news release, Dobbs said the keyboard will be used “in chaplain services for internal and external special events at venues where a bulky keyboard is impractical or not available.” We know that veterans appreciate the generosity and thoughtfulness of the Baileys and the United States Daughters of 1812.
And let’s give a “Thumbs-up” and cheerful toast to Roe Kirkland, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday and saluted the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote by filling out her mail-in ballot.
The native Iowan lives with her daughter and son-inlaw, Sue and Stuart Rogers of rural Malvern and has voted in every federal election beginning with Franklin D. Roosevelt, according to a submitted news and photo package published Sunday, Oct. 18, in The Sentinel-Record. Kirkland said her secret to longevity is, “I always tried to be content.”
The Thumbs Column appears in The Sentinel-Record the first and third Wednesday of each month. The newspaper welcomes readers’ comments and suggestions, which should be submitted in writing with a name and home address for verification and contact purposes. This information is kept confidential.