
Storm Clouds Threaten Fun on the Fourth in Shady Pines
Could Storms Drench The Fourth?







Monday’s Schedule


Picnics and Sailing




Safety First On The Fourth

Pets, Vets, and Kids


It’s here! The actual start of summer has arrived. But for many folks in Shady Pines Story Town, it’s felt like summer for weeks now. Temperatures this June and even before that, have been soaring into the high 90’s. The air often feels like it’s 100 degrees or more.
Over at The Shady Pines Gazette news office, editor Zulah Talmadge has made a decision. She needs to get out and report on summer heat in the South.
“You have to admit this region has all sorts of weather extremes,” says Zulah as she looks for her tape recorder. “I mean we have tornadoes, droughts, fires, and of course we’re smack dab into hurricane season right now. But heat is a separate category!”
She heads downtown to Main Street to see what people are saying about this toasty start to the summer season.
Before she can pop into Maggie’s Diner where gosssip is served up right along with that day’s special sandwich, Zulah runs into Kim Dunworthy. Mail carrier Kim is coming out of Cup ‘O Joe’s coffee shop.
Clearly she has her hands full.
“Hey Kim, may I help you?” asks Zulah.
“Oh, yes Ms. Zulah. That’s very kind of you,” says Kim as she stoops and tries to collect the packages and letters she’s dropped. “I think I got a little ambitious about the number of things I could carry at one time.”
Zulah leans down and helps her collect the scattered items. “While you’re here Kim, maybe you can help me out.”
“Sure. What do you need?”
“I’m doing a story about summer heat in the South, ” says Zulah. “You grew up in neighboring River City, what’s your take?”
“I look at the summer heat as our very own sweat badge of courage,” says Kim. “We seem to cope with sweltering heat that would undo most folks. And, in the words of my momma, we handle it gracefully.”
Zulah chukles as she makes notes in her reporter’s notebook. “That’s great. Thank you Kim. See ya later.”
“See ya Ms. Zulah.”
It’s not enough for Southerners to bravely endure the heat. One thing Zulah knows for sure. They love to talk about it. She decides to do some man – and women – on the street interviews.
“Excuse me ma’am. I’m Zulah Talmadge with The Shady Pines Gazette. When I say summer heat, what comes to mind?”
The stately lady in the flowing dress and wide brimmed hat dabs her face with her hankerchief. “As a Southern woman, I say we don’t sweat. We glisten.”
Zulah nods. “Got it.”
Here are some other reactions Zulah heard.
After listening to all the colorful ways her neighbors talk about extreme heat, Zulah wants her article to include a reminder. “This kind of extreme heat can be dangerous, especially to kids, the elderly and to our pets. We really need to take some precautions.”
Zulah finds an article: ‘High temperatures and extreme heat can cause children to become sick very quickly in several ways. It can cause dehydration, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.’ For more information go to: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-home/Pages/Protecting-Children-from-Extreme-Heat-Information-for-Parents.aspx
Zulah heads back to The Gazette office with loads of information for her article. She’s discovered some important things.
“It’s amazing how many expressions Southerners can haul out to explain just how dang uncomfortable it really is in our neck of the woods,” says Zulah. “We seem to use humor as a way to deal with extreme situations. At the same time, we need to take dangerous summer heat seriously and watch out for one another.”
And that’s the the most important takeaway of all in the small Southern town of Shady Pines.
We’re just days away now from an important date on the calendar. Father’s Day is celebrated nationwide on Sunday, June 19th.
In Shady Pines on this lazy Sunday afternoon in the Sanders’ home, Harold Sanders is feeling a little down.
He’s in the den slouched on his big, comfy chair watching his favorite baseball team on TV.
It’s late in the game and Harold’s guys are two runs ahead of the other team. What’s so bad?
Harold should be happy. But it’s the commercials that are affecting his mood.
“Why do they make such a fuss about Father’s Day?” he wonders out loud. “It’s ridiculous.”
Harold’s wife, Edna,
is across the room lounging on the couch. She’s looking through recipes in her latest cooking magazine while listening to the ballgame. “What’s that dear?”
Harold swivels and faces her. “I’m sick and tired of all the fuss these advertisements make to get people to buy the right gift for Father’s Day. What IS the Right gift? It’s just a way for companies to sell stuff and make money.”
Edna can see that he’s upset. “Honey, what’s really wrong?” she asks.
Harold turns the volume down on the TV. “What’s supposed to happen when your children are covered in fur? They’re not going to buy me a mower.”
Before Edna can answer, a silver cat in full flight charges into the room chased by a handsome Australian Shepherd dog. “Halley, you are such a pain. Give me my toy back!”
Halley’s Comet carries a small chew toy in her mouth. In one clean leap she lands on the wooden desk in the corner of the room. “I don’t see your name on it, Booo-mer-rang!”
“You know darn well that’s my toy,” says Boomer. “Dad gave it to me for my birthday.”
“Funny, I don’t remember that,” says Halley looking down at the angry pooch.
Boomer points at the toy. “Well look at it, will ya!”
Harold sighs, gets up, and walks over to the desk. He throws the birthday cake toy down to Boomer and slings Halley over his shoulder while stroking her back. “Halley my girl, you love to taunt him, don’t you?”
Edna agrees. “Yes she does. Sibling rivalry just like human brothers and sisters.”
Harold delivers Halley to Edna’s lap and then gets down on the floor to address Boomer. He pets the dog’s head. “Boomer my boy. I love you but you don’t need to get so riled up. Halley lives for that.”
Harold moves over to sift through the toy basket under the desk. “He holds up Mr. rubber lizard. “C’mon Halley. Come here, girl.”
Halley jumps off of Edna’s lap and trots happily across the room. Harold gives her the toy. “You know I love you, too, girl. But, please, play with your own toys.”
Harold looks over at Edna who is smiling. “What?” he asks.
“Do you know what a wonderful father you are? You show our kids love and kindness everyday. And they love you right back. Look at them.”
Harold still sits on the floor and realizes that his children are beside him.
Harold lowers and shakes his head. “What’s the matter with me?” he asks. “I have a wonderful wife and a couple of rambuctious, terrific kids who love me. I am a lucky husband and father indeed!”
Edna joins him on the floor and hugs him. “Yes, and besides that, they may have something for you next Sunday that you’re not expecting.”
Harold looks straight into her eys. “Oh, please tell me it will not be crawling, slithering or flying through the house. You know how our daughter likes to surprise us!”
Edna laughs. Boomer barks. Halley tilts her head and thinks about what “gift” she can catch and bring to dad. Birds are fun…
And that’s how we leave the Sanders on a lovely Sunday in the small Southern town of Shady Pines!
Troubling images flicker across the TV at the Sanders house near downtown Shady Pines.
It’s the same in households across the country.
Edna Sanders tries to prepare dinner. But her attention keeps being drawn to the screen on the kitchen counter.
It’s been this way ever since news of the horrific school shooting in Uvalde, Texas was first broadcast. Nineteen elementary students and two teachers gunned down by an 18 year old man with an assault rifle.
“This is horrible,” says Edna. “Those poor little kids. Their parents and families. Those brave teachers. That town. It’s just too much.” Edna buries her face in her hands.
The back door opens and Edna’s husband, Harold arrives with the family’s dog, Boomerang. He took the handsome Australian Shepherd with him to work at his Nut’s ‘N Bolts hardware store. “Honey, we’re home.”
Harold unclicks the leash from Boomer’s collar, hangs it on its hook, and strokes the dog’s head. “I’m proud of you, Boomer. You were a very good boy today.”
Meanwhile, Halley’s Comet has been snoozing on her favorite window seat. The silver streak of a cat is worried. “Why’s mom so emotional? What is she watching on TV that has her in tears?” Once Halley sees Boomer coming through the door, the elegant cat has a complete change of mood.
“What on earth could you have done to make dad proud of you?” asks an annoyed Halley.
“Oh, wouldn’t you like to know?” snarls Boomer.
“Not really.”
“I greeted everyone. A lot of them were upset. They petted me and seemed to calm down.”
“That’s surprising. You have the opposite effect on me.” But it got Halley’s attention. “Mom’s been really upset, too.”
Harold takes one look at his wife and rushes to her. “Edna, sweetie, what wrong?”
Edna gets up from sitting at the kitchen table and gives him a hug. “I feel such deep sorrow for everyone in Uvalde. I can’t help wonder, what if that happened here?”
Harold looks at her. “I know what you mean. That’s what everyone is talking about at the store.”
Edna dabs her eyes with a paper napkin. “We like to feel we’re safe in our small Southern town.”
Harold nods. “Yea, except, these mass shootings keep happening at stores, malls, concerts, places where people worship, and again at an elementary school!”
Boomer crosses the room and plops his favorite rawhide bone at the feet of his parents.
“Why did ya do that?” asks Halley.
“I want them to know I love them.”
With that, Halley wanders over and rubs against her parent’s legs. “Okay, that is actually kinda nice.”
Both Harold and Edna reach down and hug their four-legged children.
“We love you two SO much,” says Edna.
Harold agrees. “And we will do whatever we can to keep you both safe. I just hope it will always be enough.”
Hi everyone. I’m Mayor Beauregard Fibbs here today with a message that’s a little more serious than usual. You see I have a family member serving in the Marine Corps.
That’s why I’m asking you to use a slightly different approach to this upcoming holiday.
Memorial Day in Shady Pines usually includes a weekend filled with celebrations. It’s also a time to mark the unofficial start of summer.
But there’s something beyond the parades, the picnics, and the family gatherings that often gets lost.
What about the true meaning of Memorial Day?
Do we tell the kids what this national holiday means to our country’s history, our nation’s warriors, and their families?
This is a really awesome learning opportunity not to be missed. Here are some ideas that can make it fun, too!
Help the kids make an American flag craft using construction paper or simply have your kids each draw their best American flag on paper. Staple the completed flags onto straws for flying.
If you own an American flag, you can teach older kids how to fly and fold the flag. There are 13 folds to the American flag and each has a special meaning. Hey adults, here’s where you may even learn something new too!
You can visit a local Veteran’s cemetery or war memorial. To show honor and respect, bring flowers to place on a grave or at the memorial in remembrance of our nation’s fallen heroes. I’ll be doing this.
If you feel comfortable, as a family you can pray pray for the Veterans lost during service and sacrifice.
Why not teach your children America the Beautiful, the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance, and talk about the meaning behind each one.
Remind your kids to stand and place their hands over their hearts during these songs. This is a perfect way to show them the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by those in our military to protect our nation’s freedom.
Our nation’s flag is flown at half staff until noon to remember Amrica’s fallen soldiers. Aftern noon it is raised to full staff as a symbol to show hope beyond death and to honor the heroes that are still with us. Did you know that?
Finally, in 2000, Congress passed “The National Moment of Rememberance.” It asks that “Americans voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of rememberance and respect.”
The idea is for you to stop whatever you’re doing and bow your head for a moment of silent remembering.
Or, you can listen to the playing of “Taps. It’s all done at 3PM local time as a symbol of
national unity.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PLAYING OF TAPS
From all of us in Shady Pines Story Town we wish you and your loved ones a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend!
– Mayor Beauregard P. Fibbs