Have you ever talked to someone who is a talking and walking storybook, even a history book?

Last Wednesday I enjoyed a phone call from one of my cousins, Jack Lindsey, who lives in Ohio. Jack, like lots of us, moved north with his parents when he was young. He grew up in this area and has memories about a lot of the people he knew back then. Some of his stories are funny and I will omit some of the names because their descendents might not appreciate being identified.

One of the stories he told was about Mr. Guy Turney, Steve Turney’s grandfather. It seems Mr. Turney decided he wanted to sell his place. Subsequently, a man came out to look at the land. They both walked all over the farm. After seeing the stands of big pine trees the man said, “I think I will buy your land. I have looked at the timber and I believe there’s enough to build a house and barn and that’s what I will do.” Mr. Turney thought about what the man had said and decided he didn’t want to sell after all. He told the man he was going to cut the trees and do what the man said he wanted to do, and that’s what he did. Steve Turney said he’s glad his grandfather didn’t sell the property because he lives there now.

Jack also told about when his mother had a new baby and the family decided to hire a lady to do her laundry. This lady worked fulltime also for a prominent lady who lived nearby. They paid the lady 25 cents to do the laundry. When the other lady she worked for found out what she was doing she deducted 15 cents from the laundry woman’s pay, telling her she was in her employ. Boy, what a bummer.

We enjoyed swapping tales for an hour and I was taking notes all the time.

Our good friends Ruby and Hubert Oden had a very good Christmas. They enjoyed eating dinner with Bobby and Pat Beavers and family. The Beavers hosted a Christmas Eve dinner with plenty of good food and lots of fun. They opened gifts, too.

They are also enjoying a visit with their daughter Vicky Wells and husband Todd Wells.

Belated happy birthday wishes go out to Stacey Fowler on Dec. 23 and Christina Lindsey on Dec. 25.

Venia Lindsey and husband Al welcomed her grandson, Jon Crawford and friend Sonya Nail for an overnight visit on Thursday. James and Sharon Lindsey and Anthony and Christina Lindsey enjoyed Christmas dinner and opening presents at the home of their daughter, Jennifer Lee and husband M.G.