What should I write about?

First, my apologies to Jeanne Bledsoe (my sixth grade teacher) and Florence Harrison (she taught me when I was a senior). Both of these wonderful women, my only still living teachers, would tell me, once again, not to end a sentence with a preposition. So, it should be: “About What Should I Write?” But many think these rules are archaic and passe’. I don’t, but I do think that my title gets your attention better and sounds less, shall I say “stuffy.” So I am going with it.

I’m in a little bit of a dry hole or a funk as far as subjects are concerned, so bear with me as I “think out loud” about possibilities.

Mules. That’s a good subject for me. In fact, on our way to church, last Sunday, I suggested to Janice that a farmer in our area should get 113 mules, put them in his pasture, and let us name them. We started suggesting possible mule names (we do this kind of thing, you know). Then I realized that I’d written this kind of article, before. In fact, I wrote about Papa’s mules, Dixie, Molly and Kate on Sept. 22, 2003. The article was named, by me, “Dixie, Molly and Kate. Amos And Solomon.” Mules’ articles won’t work, today.

Dogs. If mules won’t work, what about dogs? I love dogs, have two interesting and good dogs, Hershey and Cloie, but realize that I’ve written about dogs many times during the years. The first article that I remember writing about dogs was, “Dogs I Have Known,” which I wrote on March 31, 2008. In it, I mentioned Blackie, Fritzie, Beau Winkle, Governor, Georgia, Tux and Hershey. I’ll bet you’re tired of me writing about my dogs (it’s about like some of you and your grandchildren). Still, come to think of it, Janice and I might use some of these dogs’ names for the 113 mule names, if we continue trying to name this many mules.

The Summer of ‘63. I know, I’ve worn this subject out (there I go, again, with a preposition at the end of the sentence): the subject and Do-Tricks, Jerry and Bobby (three great guys even if I do say so). So, I’ll pass. But, while on this subject, very temporarily, let me say that my best article, in my opinion on this was “Remembering The Summer of ’63,” which I wrote on Sept. 18, 2006. Yes, I’ll send you a copy of this if you want one! Email me.

Do-Tricks. W. L. Dent and I spent part of last Saturday morning telling “Do-Tricks stories.” For you uninitiated, Jerry Horton was “Do-Tricks” (the most appropriate nickname a person ever had). Jerry died on July 8, 2009. All of this serves to remind me that I told W. L. I would send him a copy of my article about Do-Tricks, “Goodbye Little Cowboy,” which I did on July 13, 2009. Even If I do say so, I think this is one of the best articles I ever wrote. But, no more about Jones, Wilson and Do-Tricks, today. I said “today.”

Laffin’ Place. The 292 Club (Marcus Collin’s Room 292 in what is now the Downtown Sheraton Hotel in Atlanta) was the gathering breakfast place for 25 or so legislators every morning during the legislative sessions. It was lots of fun and I have many good memories, but it’s been covered by me more than once including my article, “My Own Laffin’ Place,” which I wrote on Feb. 10, 2001. So, it’s off the table.

Celestine. My friend Jim Minter sent me an email a few days ago and mentioned one of my all time favorites, Celestine Sibley, and that great writer, Lewis Grizzard. Celestine was a personal friend of mine when I was in the legislature. I thought about writing about her again (the first time being Aug. 21, 1999) and called simply “Celestine.” But, the key word is “again,” so I’ll have to pass on Celestine.

Baseball. It’s baseball season. Perry used to have a great Macon League baseball team, “Perry Pirates,” and names like Skeet Chapman, Clint Hardy, Billy Bledsoe, Bubber Pierce, Lewis Bledsoe, Otis Whitten, Ed Thompson, Bobby Cannon, Buddy Tolleson, Kris Kinnas, Harris Satterfield, Billy Chappell, Clint Cooper, Jack Hardy, Aldene Lasseter, Deryle Whipple, George Collins, Lory Gunter and Pap Nipper come to mind (there were others). I should also mention that a young Percy Hardy was the batboy. But, I covered all of this on Sept. 3, 2002, in an article I called “Perry’s Boys of Summer.”

Nothing. So, as you see, I have nothing to write about. But, I tried that once before on Oct. 22, 2002 in my article I called “Nothing To Write About” which, was very misleading because as I concluded, it’s impossible to write about “nothing” because when you write about nothing, it becomes something or as I wrote over 10 years ago: “Well, I wrote about nothing and it is worth nothing, and I hope I hear nothing from my readers. By the way, how can you hear nothing?”

So there you have it. Better luck next week.

For other information, see our website and blog: www.galawyersonline.com.

HHJ News