Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / July 17, 1986, edition 1 / Page 4
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Perspective T ake time to smell the roses I am now stepping on my soapbox. You will listen carefully to what I have to say. Please. We have all gone mad. We are dashing through this life with little time for life at all. What do you think you're going to do... get a refund on the days you didn't use properly? Or maybe you think you'll have that time applied directly to the time left when the end comes. Life, my dear friends, is what's happening to us while we are all so busy making our other plans. EASTERN ECHCtS ty. GAIL ROIitRSON Some of you will not be reading this column anymore because you won't be here next week. Maybe you won't be here next week. Regardless, somebody out there who is holding this paper in their hands right this minute will no longer be among the living by the end of seven more days. If we live to be one hundred, it is far too short a time. So tell me please, why we're all in such a hurry to turn our spring into winter? We ride in cars and fly in planes to save time. We have dishwashers, in stant oniions, tractors and micro waves to save time. We use all this modernization to help us save time so that we can use the time we save in order to work harder to save some more time. Why are we rushing through this life like mad tyrants, hurrying and worrying beyond human endurance just to make ourselves physically and mentally ill? If everyore of us slowed down just a tiny bit, the doc tors could all do the same because their business would be cut in half by the end of the month. We glance at our watch and step on the gas. It's the only way we've been conditioned to respond. We didn't get this way overnight and we won't cor rect it overnight, but we do have it within our power to alter our speed. If you don't come up for air once in a while, you will drown. It's as simple as that. Someone recently told me that he began by merely slowing the pace at which he moved about while work ing. By the end of the week he had accomplished just as much as before, and there was a conderable differ ence in his blood pressure to boot. How very much I wish I could stand on a street corner in town with a large bag in my hands and beg peo ple to throw me the hours they've rushed and wasted away wishing for Friday to come. Sir Osbert Sitwell tells us that, "In reality, killing time is only the name for another of the multifarious ways by which time v kills us." We spend all our time working for things for our convenience and lux ury when the greatest luxury we have is simply time itself. We are better educated than ever, and yet we proclaim our ignorance by the way we harass and fret ourselves silly, driven by a passion to hurry to the end ...and woe to anybody who gets in our way before we get there. We exercise our bodies and equip ourselves with running shoes in order to stay in good physical condition so that we can die tomorrow in good health. We refuse to allow ourselves any time to meditate or reflect on life because somebody might see and call us lazy. Nobody else has any spare time, so if we do, we must be doing something wrong. ..in which case the neighbors will definitely take notice. We are slowly assassinating our selves, committing suicide by the hour, and we cannot understand someone who simply gets it over with by a simple tug of a trigger. And so, I am now stepping down from my soapbox. I am going to take this column and closely examine my own words. And, I am going to do something about it. Now. Before it's too late. You can too, you know. Let's all take some time today to smell the roses before they become our funeral pall tomorrow. Nicholson Holds Meetings Like many other early Quakers, Christopher Nicholson opened his home to Friends for meetings of worship and church discipline. There was "a Man and woman's Meeting at the house of Christopher Nicholson in Paquimance River" on August 13, 1681, and on September 10 following Friends decided that a six week's meeting should be established "until Friends see a necessity of removing it" beginning at Nicholson's. Another man and woman's meet ing was held at his home on October 22, 1681. Quarterly meetings bringing to gether Friends from Perquimans and Pasquotank counties were held at Nicholson's on December 2, 1681, December 1, 1683, June 7, 1684, and June 6, 1685. Christopher also participated in the solemn activities of his neigh bors. Sometime prior to June 2, 1678, he joined Ralph Fletcher in witnes sing signing the marriage certificate of William Bundy and Mary Pierce on December 15, 1683. He and Francis Tomes were ap pointed executors in the wills of Dan iel Charles (April 17, 1687), Jeane Charles (July 11, 1688), and Richard Byer (prior to July 3, 1692). At a Court held for the County of Albemarle (the settled northern part of Carolina) in March, 1683, Christo pher Nicholson was one of five per sons chosen for Perquimans to be surveyors to see the highways mended and to clear all the high roads for horse and foot. He returned to the County Court in February, 1685, serving as a juror trying five cases, including two civil suits brought by George Durant. Christopher Nicholson "departed this life the 8th of December 1688" in Perquimans Precinct. As he did not make a will, his real estate passed to his eldest son, Samuel. Surviving her husband, Ann Nich olson continued to allow Quarterly Meetings of Friends U> be held at her home. One such meeting convened on December 1, 1688, and another met June 1, 1689; at the latter meeting Gabriel Newby married Mary Tomes, with Ann Nicholson among the many witnesses. In April, 1690, Perquimans Pre cinct Court ordered payment of a debt due from David Blake to Ann Nicholson. Two months later she ended her widowhood, marrying Richard Dorman on June 26, 1690. (Part 5 next week.) Riddick honored at retirement dinner 20 YEARS AGO R.M. Riddick, Jr. Honored At Re tirement Dinner: R.M. Riddick, Jr., Senior Vice President and Chariman of the Board of Peoples Bank & Trust Company, Hertford, was honored at a retirement dinner on June 22 at the Town and Country Restaurant, Williamston, N.C. after sixty years of banking, Riddick, began his banking career at the Bank of Gates, Gales viDe, N.C. on July 1, 1906. He came to LfiCMNC BMK 9 1 VIRGINIA WHITE TMNSEXU the Hertford Banting Company on February 1, 1822 and since that time hat held every official position the baafc had to offer. As Chairman of the Board and president in 1M* he was instrumental in the merger of the iwiifcxi Banking Company into the Peoples Bank & Trust Company, Rocky Mount, N.C. PFC. Hal Rogers in Vietnam: Army Private First Class Hal K. Rogers, 24, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hal* K. Rogers, Sr., Route 3, Hertford, N.C. was assigned June 4 to Head quarters Company, 3rd Battallion of the 4th infantry Division 12th Infan try near Dak To Vietnam as a supply man. An Bounce Birth: Captain and Mrs. Edward Lee Madree of Drexel, Spain announce the birth of their second child, second daughter, born Sunday, June 30 in a Drexel Hospital. Mrs. Madre is the former Elizabeth Ford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ford of Fairmont. Capt Madre is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Madre of Hertford. Visits la Gertaaay: Walter Ed wards, Jr. left last week for an ex tended visit with relatives in Ger many. Announce Birth: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hill of Indian Harbour, Fla. announce the birth of their first child, a son, Anthony Bryan. Mrs. Hill is the former Janie Stalltngs of Bahrhtow 99? + Car Seats + Shorts = HOT When a Man Could Travel on His Thumb "When a man could travel on his thumb." Recently some comments concern ing hitchhiking caught my attention. July is "Hitchhiker" month and the discussion concerned the dangers in volved, not just for the hiker but for the individual giving the ride as well. Hitchhiking certainly isn't as popu lar as it once was. It is becoming rare to see what was once a common sight on America's highways; the suitcase or bag-in'hand, thumb in the air trav eler. Hitchhiking was the way many of us got from point-to-point back when a car was a luxury, especially for a teenager. Without cars, our thumbs served as our means of openings the world's doors. Like many, I've rode many a mile on my thumb, and un like today, the dangers involved were few. There were some close calls, some touchy situations, but in most cases, it wasn't difficult or dangerous to "bum" a ride most anywhere. I'll always remember an adven ture my brother George and I shared in the summer of '65. I was a rising high school senior and he was soon to enter his first year of seminary. A popular experience in those days was to work in tobacco fields of Ontario each summer. Since the season there was rather short in Canada' it was possible to work the fields locally a few weeks prior to leaving for Can ada. It was easy to earn several hun dred dollars for a few weeks work. There was much to remember about that trip, to include a ride through the mountains of West Vir ginia in the back of a pickup truck driven by moonshine-drinking locals. When we hitched, we always had certain rules we followed. We always wore a necktie, and if it wasn't too hot, a sports jacket. We never left without a suitcase, as it seemed eas ier to catch a ride from strangers if it appeared you were going some dis tance. We always attempted to stand in high-traffic areas where cars had room to stop and we could be easily seen. And while we never solicited fe male drivers, some would stop. On our Canada trip, two girls picked us up outside Detroit and rode us through the city to the bridge linking the city with Canada. Servicemen also found hitchhiking to be a quick and inexpensive way to travel. Until anti-military feelings changed attitudes in the 70's, it was almost unpatriotic not to give a ride to a soldier. While stationed at Ft. Jackson, S.C., I hitchhiked home to Edenton nearly every weekend and usually made it much quicker than you could travel bv bus A trip to Florida during my teen age years was also very interesting. I caught a ride on a truck loaded with onions that took me straight to Jack sonville. I can still smell the diesel fumes and onions, and how lonely most strecthes of U.S. 17 looked from the cab of the truck. Local travel was even easier, as it was possible to catch people who knew you. Often, it wasn't even nec essary to use your thumb, as you could catch the same dirver trip after trip. Many probably have their own tales of experiences gained when the thumb was the only way travel could be afforded and we probably are re minded of those days when we see a hitchhiker on the road today. But un like drivers of years ago, we don't stop for hikers. The dangers involved cause us to be cautious and we often ^ feel we are in too much hurry to stop. The art of hitchhiking has gone the way of so many other memories. It is difficult not to remember those days without a touch of sadness; those times when there was no hurry, when every new mile was an adventure, when an up-turned thumb could take you places never seen before. Times have certainly changed. Letters to the Editor Editor The Perquimans Weekly, Our state motto 'To be rather than to seem ) expresses an ideal that I dil igently try to live by. I interpret this to mean that essence is more impor tant than image. Nowadays, too many people are becoming too con cerned with image. Politicians, agen cies, ind institutions are devoting in creas.ng portions of their resources to projecting the right image rather than to cultivating the right essence. Emerson wrote "Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door." In our world, though, it is naive to believe that the public will beat a path anywhere without encouragement by advertis ing. Let's paraphrase Emerson to fit our world: "Advertise the greatest, newest, most improved mouse trap spotlight on health New Insights In Nutrition Have you ever heard of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico? They have a primitive lifestyle, but are amazingly healthy and active into very advanced years. Even at the ages of 50 and 60 these Indians still play a game which involves running 100 miles while kicking a ball. Their blood cholesterol levels are only 60 percent of standard Amer ican levels and their vitamin E in take is higher than that of the av erage American. But, they subsist on a diet that comes very close to that of prehistoric man. It would certainly be nice if we all had that kind of energy and stamina at the age of 60- But what do these Indians have to do with modern nutrition? Dr. Jeffrey Bland, a well-known author, lecturer and researcher from the Linus Pauling Institute and the University of Puget Sound, believes that we can learn from cul tures such as these. At a recent seminar, he noted that researchers from Emory Uni versity Medical School concluded that about 65 percent of the calories in the typical diet of Paleolithic man was derived from plant sources, with the rest coming from animal product*. The nutrient density of that diet was far greater than that which we receive today. For in stance, daily vitamin C intake from that diet was probably seven to ten times the level of the Food and Nu trition Board's current recom mended allowance Dr. Bland doesn't advocate going back to a primitive lifestyle, but he min supplements, along wit'i changes in attitudes toward diet and exercise, are having a favora ble impact upon health in this coun try. Concerning vitamin E, Bland commented, "Vitamin E is a paradoxical vitamin, because it may be the least significant vita min with regard to its role in pre vention of an acute deficiency. But, it may be the most important vita min for the optimization of general human function, particularly in the environment in which we live loday. "Any individual in this country," Bland says, "who consumes the standard American diet, of which 42 percent of the calories are from fat, 20 percent are from sugar and 38 percent are from "funny" foods that don't fall in any of the four basic food groups, is a person that is, by definition, suffering from under-sufficiency of vitamin E." In Bland's opinion, "those people have a higher risk of autoimmune dis ease, cardiovascular disease, can cer, blood disorders and exercise induced cellular damage."1 ' Fortunately, according to Dr. Bland, people are eating differently today in order to feel and look bet ter. Significantly, recognition of the value of vitamin supplementation is rising along with the general health consciousness. Studying cultures like those of the Tarahumara Indians may help us continue raising our health con sciousness. And, learning about their diets improves our knowledge of what the best levels are for vita be very of all time, offer it for a limited time, and flash a 1-800 number on the screen, and the world will..." A few years ago I was Acting Dean of In struction at a community college for one year. During yearly evaluation the president made no suggestion to improve my performance but sug gested that I should "dress more like a Dean." As a teacher, I have never been told by a supervisor that I should read more widely, write more clearly, or think more comprehensi vely, but I have been told that I should use more polite language in class and that I should get back in the mainstream. I have read that when a movie is a flop the standard proce dure is to double the advertising bud get. Education would be wise to take cues from Emerson rather than from Hollywood or from Madison Avenue. Our first priority should be to be the best mouse trap builder, or doctor, or ^ teacher, or institution. We should de vote most of our energies to being the best. We should devote very little to telling people how good we are. Jim Bridges 504 Terry St. Elizabeth City, NC 27909 Alcohol and Teenagers Teenagers and alcohol can be a deadly mixture, the North Carolina Medical Society warns. Just ask the North Carolina High way Patrol, which last year investi gated more than 600 fatal and injury producing automobile accidents caused by drinking-and -driving teen agers. Or ask psychiatric researchers, who report that more than 3,000 teen agers last year were high on alcohol or drugs when they made the final choice to take their own lives. Alcohol is the drug teenagers most often abuse, the one most often in volved in tragedy. Twisted thinking, poor judgment, and irrational acts are commonplace when alcohol takes command of a maturing personality. "There's no way irresponsible t teenagers can drink responsibly," says Dr. Paul King, adolescent direc tor at Charter Lakeside Hospital in Memphis. "When a kid gets behind the wheel with two or three drinks in his system, he feels the power of 3,000 pounds of macho fury. He cranks up the stereo and puts his foot down hard on the gas, and all of a sudden the car is no longer just transporta tion, it's a rolling party." For many teens, there's only one * way to drink? to get drunk. For oth ers, drinking offers temporary relief from the pressures of growing up. But there's a catch? Dr. King Aid other experts say that heavy drink ing over long periods can arrest emo tional development entirely. THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY Established In 1932 Published Each Thursday By The Daily Advance, Elizabeth City, N.C. Second Class Postage Paid at Hertford, N.C. 27944 USPS 428-080 ( ? Gins K. Jtpson Editor * Carol k O'Neal Debbie T. Stalling* Advertising Manager Si* Circultion Manager ONE YEAR MAIL SUBSCRIPTION RATES In-County Out-Of-County l9.00 >10.00 1 1 9 West Grubb Street P.O. Box 277 Hertford, N.C. 27944 North Carolina Press Association National Newspaper Association ft I M r 1 L, m ? ? I ! g. a A ?l ? mi r. X f , , ? > 1 ? , M m n ni ^ m ? ? noTTn uifpiinq ^iioiioTion or VAHiwiwrniy nnwipqp>ri
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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July 17, 1986, edition 1
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