10/4/07 column

Ahh! That Fall nip is in the morning air. The sky takes on a different color this time of year. It is a more intense Cerulean blue instead of a washed out version. I smell the turned earth of the potato fields as they are harvested and the smell of the defoliant on the cotton. Smells invoke certain memories for me. The farm chemicals always make me think of my Dad and his airplanes. My Dad, David Tedford loved to fly. Some of my earliest memories are of flying with him along the Pacific /California coastline in the little silver Aronica. We would see pods of whales on their migration path and watch the waves break and just fly for the love of flying. I grew up thinking all kids could go flying, that’s how normal flying was to me.

When we moved to Mississippi in 1959, it wasn’t too long before Daddy’s flying bug really kicked in. There was a need for a local crop-duster and Daddy was just such the dare-devil to do the job. He and Mom had their flying service for 40 years. And for half of those 40 years I woke up to the sounds of Piper or Cessna or Ag-Cat engines roaring down the runway into the wild blue yonder. Daddy had a distinctive way of flying and his plane always sounded different from the rest. I could spot his flying technique a mile away. Flying those planes was my Dads’ talent. He was a Master at it and there will never be another one like him. He always told me that the average life a crop duster was pretty short and he did cheat death on several occasions in plane crashes. At the end of his colorful life it was a heart attack that grounded him and took him from us. This is the time of year that I really miss him; every time I hear a crop duster, I still look for him.

Calling all Cancer Survivors! The 2008 Relay for Life Committee is looking for you. We know there are still many more Survivors out in Calhoun that we have never heard about. Please tell us who you are and help form a second Survivors team. If you are a Survivor or you know someone who is please contact Barbara Winter at Money Connection in Bruce or Kay Barefield in Bruce at BankCorp South. Show your Purple Pride and let everyone know that you beat Cancer.

Let me tell you about my little buddy Casey Vance. Casey was in a pretty bad accident a few months back and badly injured his leg. He is not out of the woods yet and is in a battle to try and save his leg. This is one strong little boy, folks. I have never seen such determination. I designed a t-shirt for him to help raise money to offset the mounting bills. Its an Eagle rising into the sky with the Scripture, ‘They will soar on wings like eagles…they will run and not grown weary…’ Is.40:31. Please help Casey and buy one of his t-shirts. Penny Nelson at Bruce Insurance is the contact person.

Vonda Keon can be reached at vondak8753@yahoo.com