Perspective The mystical inner power Men call it "gut feelings. Women it "Intuition." Some folks say it's plain old "instinct." Whatever it is, it's the most valuable possession I have. My instinct has led me down many paths through the years; paths that have taken me into adventures some people only read about, as well as to places I had never ever heard of. I've learned to let that mystical inner power have its way, and I've never been sorry that I did. I've relied on my female intuition to select everything from shovels to diamonds. I always ignore my men tal list of pros and cons and make my final decision based entirely on what "feels" right. ? It was that intuition that locked into place and homed in on a mar. with dark, curly hair and bright blue eyes that I hauled to the alter sixteen years ago instead of a few blonds that were sprinkled around in my life. It was intuition that chose the college I attended, the car I purchased and the -friendships I've made. I believe intuition. Suddenly you know something. You don't know How you know, but you know. And accept it. You may as well, for intu ition will have its way. No matter what. It's inevitable. I And sometimes, instead of leading you To something, it takes you Away from it. Like people. And situations. And potential trouble. It's cheaper than therapy, unbiased and discreet, and a foolproof way of sensing when something is right or wrong. Through following this inner in stinct, I have become quite good at reading people like an open book dur ing the first Ave minutes after intro duction. My intuition takes the place of biting my nails and flipping coins. It hasn't always made me popular with everyone, but it's stuck by me through the years. The times it didn't "kick in" always confused me and made me wonder why I didn't have some inkling something was wrong. But I've come to realize that there is always a reason for this. If I had known, I would have done something to prevent what was meant to be, and i that, much as I have sometimes | wished differently, is not for me to , do. EASTERN ECHOES CH GAIL R06ERS0N I remember when I first became aware of this extraordinary power. I was just a girl when I discovered this sharp beam of light shooting up from my soul. I shook hands with my intu ition when I was ten years old. I was in my daddy's packhouse trying to keep warm, surrounded by my di aries and notebooks and listening to the icicles dripping fromn the tin roof. I knew on that cold winter day that I would be exactly what I have be come, regardless of what hurdles I would have to cross. I would be a writer. Nothing else. For me there has never been anything else. I had other jobs along the way, but I wrote every moment I could and wondered when it would be "time." Finally, many years later, on a day when the honeysuckles twisted patterns on the fence and watermelons lay ripe upon the vines, my instinct said..."It's time. Go ahead. Do it." And, on that day, I laid everything else in my life to rest, explained to my family and friends, and took up the pen, for life. Sometimes my intuition has pre vented disaster. Like the time I stopped my car along a dirt path and walked across the bridge up to an old house, only to return to find the bridge caved in and a pickup truck half submerged in the creek. And the time I knew on which part of the farm we'd find my lost little brother, to say nothing of all the occasions I've re turned home to check on the stove and found near disasters underway. So, the next time you experience a nagging feeling down deep in your soul. . pay attention. Tap into a power that, though confuses and mystifies the scientific world, will serve and enhance your own. Differences arise between childhood friends With nine brothers and three sis ters, I always had plenty of play ? mates while growing up, but other . friends were important also. It was often easier to share childhood dreams with someone other than family. Barry was one of my closest friends. He and I had many good 1 times together, times I will always remember. We talked about things that boys will talk about and we shared our dreams for the future. In many ways, Barry and I were alike. We were close close in age, ; about the same size, and enjoyed ? many of the same things. He also ! came from a large family and we ; both knew what it meant to do with out. For years, we were the only fam ilies living on the road which led to the old Naval Base in Edenton, so it was only natural that we would share as neighbors. ; As we entered our teenage years, Barry and I spent less time together, and eventually went separate ways. I ; into the service and he to a northern State. I've not seen him in nearly 20 years and often wonder where his life has taken him. And I wonder about 1 the differences that caused two grow ? ing boys to drift away from a ? friendship that meant so much to us ' then. A difference, though we knew existed, that didn't matter. ; At the time, we didn't think too much about these differences. ? Though I called his father "sir," I ? was allowed to address him by his !ffrst name. Barry had to call my I daddy "Mr." I enjoyed many an ecx - cedent Sunday dinner at his table, I but when he came to my house, he ate In the yard or on the back porch. Though we were neighbors, we rode Afferent buses to different schools. Saturdays, he shined shoes and I worked a snow cone machine. Often '.when we were both working in town, ?we'd get together for a soda at the ! local drugstore. Since Barry wasn't allowed to sit at the counter, we (?ually took our drinks and sat to gether at the curb. There were many other "differences." But that's the way things were and though he and I didn't really under stand why some things were as they were, we were friends and didn't think too much about such matters then. Our difference in skin color mattered little Eventually it would. As things began to change in the mid-60's he and I were caught up in those changes. He became more and more involved with his people's struggle for change and I became more and more influenced by those opposed to changed. We found it more difficult to share our feelings. We were both confussed by the changes that were dividing our na tion and would eventually divide the friendship we had vowed as kids to never break. Many of the things that were differ ent then no longer exist. Many posi tive changes have been made, but here is still much to be odne. The re cent events in Forsyth County, Georgia are an indication that there are still those, on both sides, who have learned little from the past. As hundreds of blacks, in what was considered an intimidating move by the all-white community,, attempted to do what was labeled a "brother hood" march in the county, hundreds of whites responded in a manner sim ilar to the violence of the 60s. In all probability, more incidents will fol low. It's apparent we haven't come as far as we thought. The differences that separated two childhood friends so many years ago still exist. Business Builders If you are a new business or a business who does not advertise frequently You can advertise weekly for as little as , *1.50 Weekly for 52 Weeks *2.00 Weekly for 26 Weeks ?t.50 Weekly for 13 Weeks (Copy Changes Will Be Once A Week) Call Anzie at 428-T v Josiah Nicholson comes home to Perquimans County _ ? ... Josiah Nicholson, third son of Jo siah and Anna (White) Nicholson, was born in Perquimans County on April 13, 18311 He received his early education at Belvidere Academy, going on to Friends' School in Provi dence, Rhode Island, in 1850. He returned from Providence in 1852, the year his father died. Under his father's will Josiah inherited one third of the paternal homeplace, to gether with a trunk, a small gun, and a feather bed and furniture. For some years, probably in the 1850s, Josiah taught school in New England. He was in Perquimans dur ing part of the decade, however, sur veying a tract of land on or before December 15, 1854, and posting bond as Perquimans County Surveyor on February 13, 1855. At Piney Woods Monthly Meeting on November 7, 1857, Josiah re quested a certificate to Smithfield Monthly Meeting in Rhode Island, preparatory to marrying. His chosen bride, whom he married December 12, 1857, was Ellen M. Bassett. Wiggins off to Vietnam 20 YEARS AGO Lt. Wiggins Off To Vietnam: Lieu tenant M. Shirley Wiggins is spend ing a leave with her mother, Mrs. Mary L. Wiggins of Winfall, prior to reporting for duty aboard the USS Sanctuary in Vietnam. Lt. Wiggins is a member of the Navy Nurse Corps and just recently completed a two year tour of duty at Kittery, Maine. She is a graduate of Perquimans County Union School at Winfall and St. Agnes School of Nursing in Ra leigh, N.C. Steven* To Attend President's Breakfast: Robert Lewis Stevenson, executive vice president of Peoples Bank & Trust Company of Hertford, and Mrs. Stevenson, have been in vited to attend the Seventeenth An nual Presidential Prayer Breakfast for President Richard M. Nixon, to be held at the Sheraton Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Thursday morn ing, January 30, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson will also attend a Break fast with members of Congress on Friday, January 31. The breakfasts are sponsored by the International Christian Leadership, in connection with the National Leadership Semi > 1 >,< 1 J?? 1i7C LCCNNC BACK ev VIB61NIA WHITE WMSEXJ nar composed of Religious business and Political Leaders. Peggy Ambrose With Airlines: Miss Peggy Ambrose, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Ambrose, has ac cepted a position with Eastern Air lines, in Charlotte, N.C. Miss Am brose left for, Miami, Florida last week where she will attend school for three weeks prior to being sent to her position in Charlotte. Announce Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Roberrson announce the birth of their first child, a son, James Dennis, born at the Albemarle Hospital. Mrs. Robertson is the former Linda Sut ton, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sutton of Rt. 3, Hertford. THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY * Established In 1932 Published Each Thursday By The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C. Second Claw Postage Paid at Hertford, N.C. 27944 USPS 428-060 Gina K. Jepson * Editor ' v Carol A. O'Neal Advertising Manager ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES IrvCounty Out-Of-County ^9.00 40.00 119 West Grubb Street P.O. Box 277 Hertford, N.C. 27944 -? Member ?* North Carolina Press Association National Newspaper Association North Carolina Associotton of Community New - carat* nf m The news and editorial staff of the Perquimans Weekly , would like you to tell us what kind of stories you like to see in the paper. If there is something or someone you feel is impor tant ? or some provocative issue you would like us to exam-^ ine ? please, let us know. Just clip and fill out this coupon. Include as many details or* possible (Names, oddressses, telephone numbers, etc.) It may not be possible for us to use some of the stories sug- \ gested but we are always looking for new ideas. So, next time you think of something you feel would make a good story, send it to: News Coupon, Perquimans Weekly, NEWS COUPON jlJ I ' 6 P.O. Box 277, Hertford, N.C. 27944. STORY IDEA: :l I 1 ? i 1 COMMENTS: Perquimans Weekly 1 19 W. Grubb St. Hertford 426-5728 4