|
Child prodigy to perform during Thanksgiving
dinner
By Bill Whitaker
Taylor County Veterans Service Officer Nebra Peters tells me
she's keeping her fingers crossed for tomorrow's huge Thanksgiving
dinner at the Abilene Civic Center.
She's particularly anxious about the entertainment, which includes,
among others, Paul Matta, brother of Justice of the Peace Sam
Matta.
Asked what kind of entertainment Paul Matta was expected to
serve up to veterans, widows, needy families and others coming
by Thursday morning, Nebra replied: "I really don't know.
I told him anything was acceptable but rap."
Others slated to entertain include country crooner Gerald Jackson,
retired Air Force Col. Mark Williams, some clowns from the Disabled
American Veterans outpost and, last but not least, 8-year-old
Ryan Chalkley performing classical pieces, including one of his
own award-winning compositions. "He's a little reserved around
people, except where his music is concerned," Ryan's mom
Pam said of a child who's been playing since age 4. "Then
he's a little showoff."
Talk about a variety.
"We didn't really plan it this way," Nebra said of
the mixed bag providing entertainment, "but it's beginning
to look like a talent show!"
It's just another adventure for Nebra, still working on her
first year as successor to popular Dan Garcia. Dan, who died earlier
this year, was duly memorialized by members of the Abilene Grunts
Association in the Veterans Day parade a couple of weeks ago.
Nebra has had an interesting time of it. One of the most offbeat
do-good projects she led staffers and fellow veterans on was a
back-breaking cleanup of Eagle Colony Cemetery, a resting place
of early-day pioneers that, till recently, was overgrown with
waist-high weeds.
"We had only one problem," a staffer joked after
the chigger-infested field was taken. "Jack Holden of the
Taylor County Historical Association was so thrilled at what we'd
gone and done at Eagle Colony, he came by with a list of three
dozen more country cemeteries he wants us to clean up!"
For the moment, the Taylor County Veterans Service Office is
more concerned with the turkey, stuffing and fixings being prepared
by Zapata's Mexican Restaurant this year. So if you have nowhere
to go tomorrow, come on by. It's all free.
Various civic officials, dignitaries and other local scoundrels
will be serving up the goods, beginning at 11 a.m.
See you there.
FEELING BETTER
"Doc" Beazley, newly retired from years of overseeing
Hardin-Simmons University's famous Six White Horse program, spent
a few days in the hospital last week for a blood clot.
Fortunately, a visit by son Bill, a teacher and coach at Madison
Middle School, convinced Doc maybe he wasn't so sick after all.
Even at 81, Doc isn't the type to sit around long. Some of
his friends were amused that the title of his latest, just-published
children's book is Clovis, the Patient Horse. One said any book
about Doc himself would have to be titled, judging from his attitude
on hospitals, Doc, the Impatiently Horsey Patient.
During a visit last week, Bill Beazley suggested his dad didn't
have it as bad as a particular Aggie he knew. He said the Aggie
had been toiling as a construction worker when, several stories
up, a piece of glass fell, plummeting within seconds toward the
ground and neatly slicing the Aggie's ear clean off.
Fortunately, an alert co-worker found the ear and carried it
to the bloodied Aggie.
"I think I found your ear," he said.
"Nah, that's not it," the Aggie said. "Mine
had a pencil behind it."
HIGH-TECH CHRISTMAS
It's not just toys that have gone high-tech these days. Santa
and Mrs. Claus are doing pretty much the same.
Although the Clauses' arrival at the Mall of Abilene by a First
Flight helicopter last Saturday was foiled by a medical emergency
in Snyder, the Clauses still bowed to the wonders of sprawling
technology.
No sooner had Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived by fire truck than
the Mrs. went off to the newly opened Hendrick Health Place, reportedly
for a mammogram. I've been told Santa also dropped by for a blood
pressure check.
"He did fine," Hendrick Health Place staffer Colleen
Townsend said later. "It was pronounced good, so he'll be
able to get out there on Christmas and fulfill all those Christmas
lists.
"At least," she said, "he'll be fine till he
gets to my list!"
WET BLANKET
Roving chum Harvey Johnston just got back from a road trip
through Dallas and says the Dallas Morning News actually printed
a limited number of their Monday morning editions on towels.
That way, he said, crestfallen Dallas Cowboys fans could read
it and weep at the very same time.
Bill Whitaker, who hopes the gang from Zapata's brings turkey
tamales, can be reached at 676-6732. E-mail Bill at WTWARN@aol.com.
Send a Letter to the Editor about This
Story | Start or Join A Discussion about This Story
Send the URL (Address)
of This Story to A Friend:
Copyright ©1996 or
1997, Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps. Publications
|