Sheila's Potpourri
News from Huntington
By Sheila Scogin

Sharon and Jesse Berry and Mark Berry were only too happy to pick Jase Berry up at the airport when he came in for Christmas. Jase is a Marine stationed in North Carolina. Others enjoying Christmas Day lunch were Bobbie Smithand Kerwin, Tammy, Trent and Zane Smith..

Jesse Berry and Leslie Campbell celebrated their birthdays two days after the holiday. Keith Swearingen's big day is the day after Christmas and his dad Bill treated him and Peggy, Todd Swearingen, Monica Greer and Jeff Swearingen by taking them to see "Charlie Wilson's War". Keith could not remember the last time his dad had been in a theatre, to see a movie.

Joyce Webb enjoyed seeing Gladys Russell and Rose Segrest at the beauty shop.

About town after Christmas I visited with Melanie Stubblefield. To me she is still a little girl and now she is an elementary school principal in Huntington. Time does slip away. Also visited with Phyllis Berry Ellington who is the daughter of E.B. Berry and the late Noreen Shofner Berry.

Beamon was walking one of those very cold evenings and met neighbor Larry Arnold walking from the other direction. They were very unhappy with the weather as neitherlikes colder temperatures.

Randy called New Year's Eve Night to ask if I had bought all my "spirits" for the party ushering in the New Year. That is a long running joke and the guys at work had asked him the same question. We tell anybody the year will come in by itself. Beamon had gotten sleepy and announced he was going to bed at 7 p.m.! I don't think I've forgotten the last exciting New Year's Eves night Beamon and I spent when he was on tour with ZZ Top. The guys did a show in Houston and of course after the show Beamon had to stay with his truck while the sound gear was taken down and loaded in the trailer. By the time we reached the hotel which was mercifully next door to the concert site, we barely made it to the bed, we were so exhausted. Party goers we are not!

I've heard all our lives that whatever you do on the first day of the year is what you will do every day of the year. Another superstition to discard. Usually if we go to Wal-Mart's it is before daylight to avoid standing in the checkout lines. I hate that. We actually waited until 8 o'clock Tuesday morning thinking nobody would be there after partying the night before. Imagine my surprise that so many were, up early like us to beat the crowd. Visited with longtime friend Charlotte Durham Nowels who was working the front doors. It yet amazes me that some person has to that to deter stealing. From the police reports that must be an enterprising business. I could not be a thief or I'd give myself away by constantly looking over my shoulder waiting to be caught! Jimmy Carnes was shopping for a few items and he and Beamon chatted.

Long time friend Melvin (Cotton) Simms called from Trinity with New Year wishes. He also wanted to find out when Beamon really is going to retire. He declared it is time for Beamon to get off the road and Beamon says he will do just that come March and his 78th birthday.