One day this past week, the local farmers were sitting outside The Pit Stop in Buckhead having their cups of coffee when a van pulled up to the gas pumps and a man in a wheelchair also got out and was riding around the parking lot getting some fresh air and taking a break while the driver was pumping gas.  After a while, the man rode up to the men and asked them if they were local farmers.  They all said, "Yes, we are."  They carried on small talk with him a while and then one asked him what his name was and he said, "My last name is Mason."  One said, "Oh, you are Ross Mason."  Ross was flabbergasted.  He said, "How do you know who I am?"  They told him that everyone knew of him and how he had been severly injured  by a bee flying into his helmet while bike riding and he consequently rode into a tree which resulted in his extensive injuries.  He still couldn't believe they knew all this.  They said, "You have to understand this is a small town and word gets around; besides there was an article in the paper about you and also about all the good work you are doing to try and help people with their health needs and insurance. " In fact, Ross gave them his business card and he is the founder of HINRI–Healthcare Institute for Neuro-Recovery and Information.  Bruce came home, telling me this and he said that he was extremely smart and a very, very nice person.  His is a story of "taking the hand you have been dealt," making the best of an extremely bad situation, going forward, keeping a good attitude and see how you can further help others through it.  A lesson to be learned to say the least.
 When I worked at East Athens Physical Therapy, you would see people come in after a stroke or a bad accident, where their life had been completely changed.  I heard my boss, Jim Mike Hinzman, say many times to people, whom those things had happened to, "Look, this is the hand you have been dealt, but life is not over; together we can work hard and get you back to some level where you can have a good life and be able to carry on and do your daily activites."  One person who came in during my days there was Larry Lancaster, who grew up here in the Fairview community.   Several years ago, he had a fall at work and severly injured one of his legs to the point that they finally had to amputate it at the thigh.  He was fitted with a prosthetic leg and he had come  to therapy to learn how to maneuver and walk with his "new" leg.  I remember he came in smiling and with the best attitude I had ever seen; he was not bitter, nor was he having a pity party.  He even said that God had let this happen for a reason and he was not going to let it beat him.  He was a runner before the accident and he wanted to be one again.  I saw him much later and yes, he told me that he was running again and he was still smiling!  He was and is such a testimony!
   We need to take life lessons from Ross and Larry and many more people who are in similar situations.  Life can change in the twinkling of an eye, but we need to remember Romans 8:28, "For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God and who have been called, according to His purpose."   I have remembered and brought to mind that verse several, several times in mine and my families’ life for the last several months.  God has a plan for each of us.
   We extend our deepest sympathy to the family of Laurel McCullough, who passed away suddenly at her home this past week.  She was Georgie  Wilkins' grandmother.  Our thoughts and prayers are with all the family.
We are thankful that  Tony Stephens returned home from the hospital last Tuesday and is now recuperating at home where he is continuing to take it easy for a good while.  We pray for his continued recovery.
Karalyn Clifton participated in swim meets at Madison and up at Georgia Tech in Atlanta recently.  She had good placings at both and her relay team came in first here in Madison.
We all offer congratulations to Julie Bruce Thompson as she is one of the Teacher of the Year finalists in the Newton County School System.  Julie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Bruce here in the Fairview community and she teaches fourth grade at East Newton Elementary School where she holds many positions of leadership as well as being very involved in her community also.
   Congratulations are also in order for the Porter boys as they had a good weekend down at the State shows at the Georgia National Fair in Perry.  Will and his Hereford, Tina, made the cut in Showmanship and he won fourth place in his class.  Ben showed his sheep and came in second in Showmanship for the ninth-12th grades and won Reserve Grand Breeder Ewe and first place in Market Lamb Showmanship.  He had two class winners and two division winners and ended up third- and fourth-high overall.  Very good work, boys!  Will also got to meet Governor Deal who was making his rounds for the opening of the fair.
Lynn Hanson, Cindy Baldwin, of Madison and Jean Hudgins of Athens all attended a lovely tea for Lynn and Joe Hanson's granddaughter, Amy Hudgins of Toccoa, at The Jarrett House in Toccoa on Sunday afternoon.  Amy is the daughter of the former Kim Hanson and her husband in  Toccoa.  Her wedding will be an event of Oct. 20th.   They also saw Kay Maddox Cox at the tea as Kay lives in Toccoa with her family.
The Fairview Home Demonstration Club members are reminded of their upcoming meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 2 p.m. at the home of Blanche Wilson.  Members are asked to bring any craft items they are working on or of any projects they would like help on; feel free to do so!
Dale and Howard Thompson enjoyed having their son Joey Hutton visit them recently from New Castle, Va.  He had been down in this area doing training for his job with Norfolk Railroad.

Printed in the October 11, 2012