PERSPECTIVE
? n? ?
Bg tkaaktaI <or Utile things X
As you might expect for this
time of the year, this is s "thank
Mil" column. Without doubt, we
all need to stop and think s little
harder about what we have, in
stead of what we wish we had... a
bout what we>e got to lose, in
stead of what we want to add.
Thinking is like living and dying.
Bach one of us has to do it for
out salves. Nobody else can think
for us. And thing is exactly what
I've been doing today... thinking
about this special time of the
year, and what I have to be
thankful for.
There was a time in my life
when I wouldn't even answer the
telephone without my make-up
on. There was a time in my life
when I thought the most impor
tant possession I had was my
dressing table with its host of bot
tles, creams and brushes to help
make me prettier. I was more
concerned with the dents in my
make-up caused by the correc
tive lenses on face, than with the
condition of my eyesight. These
were times when vanity defi
nitely got the upper hand. But, as
with most everybody else, time
has a way of putting things into
prospective for me, and of get
ting my priorities in order.
Today, I am cooteot to be at
tractive in my own way, and I do
the beat I can with what I have to
do with. 1 don't care to have a
perfect score anymore. Besides,
I've realized that in my entire
life I've never known one single
person who did.. .but I've known
many who thought so. Today, the
only person who thinks I am a
"10" is my >hoe salesman (to
quote Joan Rivers), and I really
don't stay awake at night worry
ing about it. I've got too much to
be thankful for to worry or wish
for more.
I can't see three feet in front of
me without my glasses or my
contacts, but I'm thankful for the
luxury of good sight that these
modern-day inventions have
brought to me. In fact, I'm thank
ful for any degree of sight at all.
How could I sit down with paper
and ink, or strike the right keys
and indulge myself with a career
I have worked at since age 10,
without the sight my eyes afford
me? And how would I know the
delicate beauty of the lemon and
black butterflies that drift over
the blossoms in my yard or the
gentle understanding in the
golden eyes of my cat or the
woods ablaze in multi-reds at this
time of the year.. .how could I
know these things like I do and
write of them so much without
the benefit of my sight?
On the dance floor, I am a stiff
and cubersome, without any agil
ity whatsoever and quite envious
of those who have it.
U.S. must learn
to use power
when necessary
Years ago, when I was in ju
nior-high school, our main source
of entertainment during physical
education classes was picking on
John. We kidded him, poked fun
at him, whipped him, and any
thing else we could that would
bring tears to his eyes.
John was a couple of years
older than the rest of us, having
failed a couple of grades. John
was also fat. His weight wa s
probably near 250 pounds, and
many of us boys found joy in
making a boy so much bigger
cry. We felt stronger because of
his weakness.
llirough all the ribbing and
abuse, John never turned on us.
lie would not put up a fight.
Chances are, if he had cchosen
to, be could have inflicted serious
injury on any one of us. Why he
chose not to was hard to under
stand then. It isn't now.
John left school at age 17 and
joined the Navy. The last we
heard of him he had become a
member of toe Navy's elite Seal
team? divers that risked their
lives in service to their country.
John later served in Viet Nam
with valor, and is still listed as
Missing In Action.
Our nation is a lot like John.
For yaars, we have been passive,
allowing every two-bit country or
cause to cast stones st us. With
all our power and might, we have
been the favorite for abuse. Per
haps, like John, we have re
strained ourselves too long.
Aa I write this, President Rea
gan and Soviet leader Mikhail
Oirtitfcw are concluding their
fhat summit meeting. Much will
ha Mid hi the coming weeks
summit with a renewed sense of
confidence, aware of Soviet
strengths and weaknesses. Un
like years before, we were able to
face the Soviets knowing we have
strengthened our military capa
bilities and our policies have the
support of the majority of Ameri
cans.
Like John, we have been
viewed by many as being weak,
afraid to stand and fight. We
didn't have strong leadership,
nor was there a sense of (Hide
among our people. Things were
different at this meeting.
Chances are, more progress
will be noted from this meeting
than many previous ones. More
comes from strength than weak
ness. Like John, our nation
mustn't be afraid to use its power
when necessary. We've been
pushed around on the playground
too long.
Americans expecting sudden
changes in Soviet-American rela
tions as a result of the summit
won't find them. Regardless of
the image Mr. Gorbachev might,
his main concern is still Soviet
domination. His western appear
ance should not fool anyone. He
didn't become leader of the So
viet nation because of a desire to
change the standing Soviet policy
of world domination. As he
smiled and courted world opin
ion, thousands were still being
killed by Us soldiers in Afghani
stan. Soviet-backed troops were
still engaged in military opera
tions in South and Central Amer
ica and other corners of the
world.
Perhaps Mr. Gorbachev will
have learned from the summit
the deep and serious concern
America and others feel for true
world peace. And perhaps, real
izing we are dealing from a posi
tion of strength, the Soviets will
begin to display their actions that
world peace means as much to
them as it does others.
la normal, everyday movement,
I am a ctutx in the first degree
with the added benefit of bruises
to account for every corner and
every piece of furniture in my
bouse. But, tbose legs and arms
take me many places and bring
me joy that I would never know
otherwise. Without my legs, how
would I take the endless walks
through the countryside that ben
efit both my physical and mental
character? Without legs, how
would I travel about so well, pro
pel myself through the tangle
ment of my herb garden or stroll
down the dusty road in front of
my country place? With my
hands I turn the pages in the
books I read, pass a bounty of
food around a family table, and
reach out to touch the ones I love.
Because I have my sense of
hearing, I know when the crick
ets are in the meadow and the
blue jays back in the oaks. I know
when a friend needs to confide in
me, when to laugh with someone
and when to cry in sympathy.
Yes, through the years, I've
come to learn the value of my
worth and just what being thank
ful really means. And, I know
now that the little things are
really the big things we just take
for granted.
I am thankful to be able to
share my beautiful country envi
ronment equally with fat, sassy
squirrels and possums as well as
with four companion cats waiting
at my door. I am thankful for a
hardwood fire, just lit in my
home, and time to sit in front of it
and stare. I am thankful for a
friend who brings a crumpled
bag of pecans or Indian corn, or a
jar of sweet preserves... or just
takes the time to stop by and chat
for a while with me.. .to share
themselves as well as their
thoughtful little gifts.
I am thankful for busy snow
birds in tiny flocks, for dusty
paths and partridges and golden
rod for them to hide in. I am
thankful for the old rocking chair
out on my porch, the faded quilt
on my bed and the modern
kitchen always at my disposal.
And, I am thankful for the priv
ilege of having known many
great-aunts and uncles and espe
cially my great-grandparents.
But, most of all, I am thankful
for a memorial past, the promise
of a bountiful future, the free
doms of this country and another
day in which I can be grateful for
them all.
So, don't be so eager to reach
for the almighty papa* dollar in
the distance that you fail to see
the copper penny at your feet. We
all have to make a living and pay
the bills.. .but the only thing you
really have in this life is life it
self, and THIS day. You cannot
return to yesterday. You many
never see tomorrow.
Be grateful for the little things
that are really the big things in
disguise. Be thankful that they
are there, and that they are
yours. Be thankful.
He thinks , "Duckweed again?"
Duke gave ' Heels the Devil
Yoo-hoo, Julian Winslow...you
can crawl out from under your
rock now. The crowds are gone,
it's all over, and DUKE WON!
There will be no bell ringing in
Chapel Hill this year.
Sloan and the boys knew just
what you Tarheel fans needed to
pull you down off your self-made
pedestals. I told you three years
ago and I'll tell you again, Duke
Is Number One!
To tell you the truth though,
I've been a little worried ever
since Saturday afternoon. If you
recall, three years ago in Dur
ham Red Wilson coached the
Devils into a glorious win over
Carolina, only to find himself re
lieved of his coaching duties later
that evening. So far Steve Sloan
seems safe. I guess whipping the
Tarheels in "Blue Heaven??" is
a better victory.
Was that a great feeling, or
what? Ill tell you folks, I was so
excited that I could barely con
tain myself. Sitting up there in
Chapel Hill on a Saturday af
ternoon in the sunshine, with a
cool breeze blowing, and Duke
winning the game was a wonder
ful feeling. I'll admit it wasn't
much fun for me until the last
minute or so, but those few sec
onds when victory was in sight
made up for a lot.
The Duke-Carolina game is the
highlight of the season as far as
I'm concerned. Ending up with a
losing record for the year doesn't
matter quite as much when you
take out Carolina in the last
game of the season. (Especially
when our win gives them a losing
record for the season too! )
I wasn't really expecting to go
away with a smile on Saturday.
Tarry and Michael were the ones
who planned to be smiling. Jen
nifer and I were antagonized and
ridiculed throughout the entire
game. Everytime Duke failed to
score we had to face up to their
crude chants. Whenever Caro
lina lit up the scoreboard it was
almost unbearable. The two of
them behaved as though the out
come of that game determined
life or death. Jennifer and I just
sat there, watching our team fall
behind until well into the fourth
quarter.
Terry was trying to gather us
all together to herd us out of the
stadium when the turn-around
[day took place. I was about
three steps away from my seat
when the crowd sprang to their
feet to cheer a Carolina fumble
with one minute and ten seconds
left on the clock. (We were down
21 to 16.) The fumble recaptured
his attention. It got mine too.
Back up on my seat, jumping
up and down, screaming, I
watched Duke do what I'd driven
three and one-half hours to see;
cream Carolina right there on
that "yucky blue" field. V'ltory
is so sweet.
Watching all those "Carolina
Blue" faces turn green was a de
light. After all that obnoxious be
havior we'd been exposed to it
was more than pleasant to have
them all silent.
I laughed, I cried, I squealed,
and got a little obnoxious myself.
After two years of defeat I fig
ured I was due for a good time. I
assure you, I've made the most
of it.
Lest you Wolfpack friends
think I've let you off easy . . . I do
recall the final score of Saturday
a week ago Tim Bryant, when
your "glorious" Wolfpack hung
their heads and crawled back
from Durham after the Devil laid .
them out on the field. I haven't :
forgotten; but beating Carolina
is just more fun. You know how it ;
is.
Being married to a Tarheel fan ?
affords one few pleasures in life; I
but when life hands you a lemon ;
you're supposed to make lemon- ;
aide, right? We had lemonaide ?
Saturday!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Colonial militia provided little security
The Founding Fathers of our
nation believed, as they stated in
the Second Amendment to the
Constitution, that "a well regu
lated Militia" was "necessary to
the security of a free State." The
last time the militia of Perqui
mans County was taken se
riously, however, it did not pro
vide much security.
AU.all VtfAM luMliliVllt | A
UlVu wir Drought cm procpflct
Letter to the Editor
EdMor ? ' :
The Perquimans Weekly,
Congratulations! You hare
done it again! Whomever was re
iponskiie for covering the Tur
key Waft, held Nov. 1*, 1MB to
raise money for the
of interest in our
Not ooe person to
Nor
participate, in such a worthy
that they are not
" by f
halp raise such a grand sum at
money for anv cause, reoerdless
of how worthy it may ha in the
v. ? vfl
Rt 1, Bos 164
Hartford, N.C. S7M4
of invasion, and as early aa April
1861 the magistrates of Perqui
mans had ordered Col. Joseph G.
Granbery to see that the county
militia drilled at least once in ev
ery two weeks.
In November the governor or
dered the Perquimans militia to
report Roanoke Island. County
authorities were worried about
the safety of Perquimans, so they
determined to keep sixty men on
local patrol rather than send
them to the coast.
lite following February Roa
noke If'and was taken by Union
forces, and the Albemarle region
paniced. Some of the Perqui
mans militia were sent to defend
Elisabeth City. One of the men In
Capt Thomas J. Sutton's com
pany from the Bethel area left an
of their i "
i's
eabeth City. Probably they
as satisified to stay put
than to march, as thir
inept that fUOr A
tually resigned becaui
not blow the fife to
With Fred's
ibeth City, Mtoa't m
the^hwdttwtetoga.1
a farces took the town.
deed, they must kng since have
seen the smoke as the city
burned, the departing Confeder
ates having choeen to destroy
rather than be cooquered.
By the time the enemy ap
proached near enough for Per
quimans militia to fire at them,
the battle was nearly over. Capt.
Sutton shouted, "Men, we must
do something. We must do some
thing soon!" When the Federals
came into sight, someone
pleaded, "Captain, ain't you
going to retreat?"
Capt. Sutton made a great mili
tary decision, "Retreat, Retreat,
Retreat. That's the word I've
been trying to think of all the
morning."
As militiaman Robert B. Cos
recalled, "And retreat we did,
every man going to bis own
home. The lame, the halt and the
blind being foremost in the flight.
I
a crowd of people of the battle."',
Aa the County Court wax then in;
session the crowd must have
have been quite large. The dti
zens of Perquimans certainly
had some new thoughts about
their militia.
THE
PERQUIMANS
WEEKLY
Established In 1932
A Dear Publication
Published Each Thursday By Ad
vane* Publications, Inc.. Eliza
beth City. N.C. Second Class
Postage Paid At Hertford, N.C.
27*44 USPS 428-000.
Jam B. Williams
Editor
Aiizm L Noood
Advertising Manager
Debbie T. StaHincs
WWIV wS?S?Iw?*(B
Circulation Manager
1t? W. Qrubb ttreet
P.O. Box 277
HerttordUNX. 17M4
Wsrth Carolina Press AooclaMon
MnWoeol Miw?ap?r AssoOeHon