~~ L i Son Of A Gun by Joe Lanier It was 25 years ago, January 21 of this week, Donna and 1 decided our love demanded we get married. 1 am sure any old accountant would have said it was not so good a deal. I had no job, no trade, and I had to borrow $50 to get married with, but it has worked out. I remember that day very well. It stands out as perhaps the greatest day in my life. It was about 7 a.m. that morning I drove an oil-burning Studebaker up to a house at the corner of Chelly and Center Streets in Warsaw (the house is gone now ? torn down) and blew the car horn. 1 was expecting to see Donna come running out all happy and smiling ear to ear ready to go and tie. the knot. However, when the door opened, it was her dad, Bradley Braswell, with a 1 non-smiling stern face. He said good morning. Is Donna ready, I said. Ready for what?. . .She is not even up yet. . .OK, sav 1. tell her 1 will be back in half an hour. . .Me and that Studebaker left. . .1 didn't know what was wrong. . . .Had she changed her mind?. . .Wouldn't her parents let her go. . .1 didn't know what it was, but 1 wasn't going to stay around and find out. . .Let her work it out and I will come back.. .1 went back home.. .Decided to check out my hair. . .It needed a little more Wildroot Cream Oil. . .Wasn't shining quite enough. . .My clothing was fitting well enough. . .The black wool pants were baggy, with 5 pegged cuffs. . .The white wool sports coat had plenty of - padding in the shoulders.. .looked squared. . .The necktie ? was a knock-out. . .black and pink. . .The black loafers 2 were dress shoes.. .no penny in the tongue.. .1 picked at a r coliple of pimples and soon it was time to try again. . .With a cigarette dangling from my lips like Humphrey Bogart, I -Z blew the Studebaker's horn again. . .This time Donna did r come out. . .The cigarette ashes were falling on mv black j pants and the smoke was curling back and into my eyes - causing tnem to water.. .Donna says, "Mama is not going i with us." "Well, what are we going to do?" I ask. . ."She ; has to sign for you to get married.".. ."Well, she says she ; is not going to South Carolina," Donna repeated.. ."Well, ? come on and we'll get someone else," I said. . .We went I back home and got my step-mom to sign. . .That like to - have got us in trouble. . .When it came time to sign, she I turned to Donna and asked how to spell Braswell. Also, following the ceremony, 1 thanked the Judge, took Donna ? by the hand and started out.. .The judge chased me in the - hall and said, "Mr. Lanier." .. .1 thought, oh heck, we are ~. caught. . . .1 turned and he said, "Didn't you forget I something?". . ."Oh, yes," I said, and kissed Donna. . : .He said, "That is not exactly what I meant." . . .1 was about to shake to pieces by now. . .Donna said, "Joe, you forgot to pay him." . . ."Oh, yes," says I and handed him : $10 and again said, "Thank you." . , .Now let's get out of South Carolina. . .Over the years, we have had some ups * and downs, mostly it has been me with the ups and downs. Donna has stood by and has seen me through some bad times. . .1 could have looked long and hard and never found a woman like Donna. She is truly a partner to be proud of. . .It may not be the in thing, and ERA may be against it, but I love my wife and am looking hopefully to another 25 years. .. ***** The parents of Duplin's school youngsters can look forward to the new addition of the school administration propaganda paper. . .The first page tells of the great things experienced in education, using percentages, but ) failing to list population increases. . .But then, that's what it's all about, isn't it? One day they may stop trying to sell and do something. . .And then the end product will really tell us something. . .1 firmly believe. Duplin County being a small county, that if more emphasis were to be put on education and less on paper-passing administration, that Duplin's youngsters would be the best educated in the State of North Carolina. Once the proof was in the pudding, so to speak, the money, the volunteers, and the best teachers in the state would flow freely into the needed places. . .Son-of-a-Gun. . . > Legal Notice ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS MENTAL HEALTH VAN DUPLIN SAMPSON AREA MENTAL HEALTH AND MENTAL RETARDATION k SERVICES BID OPENING i February 3. 1981 Pursuant to G.S. 143-129, sealed proposals endorsed "Mental Health Van, Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retar dation Services," will be received by the Administrative Officer, Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services until February 3. 1981 at 2:00 p.m. at which time they will utJ upeneu anu UUUIII.I? icou Instructions for submitting bids for purchase and complete speci fications for the equipment, supplies or services desired may be obtained at the office of the ^ Duplin-Sampson Area Mental ? Health and Mental Retardation Services, Administrative Office, Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, Duplin General Hospital, Keansnville, North Carolina, during regular office hours to wit: Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The bidder to whom contract may be awarded must comply with the terms of the instructions to bidders and the bid notice which are available for interested bidders as setforth above No proposal will be considered or accepted unless at the time of its ^ filing the same shall be accom Ppanied by a deposit in cash, cashier's check, certified check on some bank or trust company in sured by The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or a bid bond by a surety licensed in North Carolina in an amount of not less ? 1 than tive per cent (5%) of the proposal. Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services reserves the right to reject or accept any or all bids or to accept any part, all or none of any bid or bids in the best interest of Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services. All bids shall be respon sive to this condition. Duplin-Sampson Area Mental Health and Mental Retardation Services, Emily M. Carr, Ad ministrative Officer 1-22-1t-c-MH-emc-65 mWAM ft OUTER FUNERAL HOME w