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Aug. 14, 2019: Columns

Angel

The love of a dog…

By KEN WELBORN

Record Publisher

Anyone who reads this space knows how much I have missed my dog Powder since his death in February of 2018 from an aggressive form of cancer.

He was truly a good dog who put up a valiant fight without so much as a whine or a whimper and was a blessing to anyone he came into contact with.

Ever since he died, folks, well-meaning folks, mind you; have been telling me I need to get another dog—everything from "...get a puppy, now!" to "...you will know when the right dog comes along—you'll just know."

No one has tried any harder than my son, Sam, who gave me Powder about 10 years ago as a Christmas present. He called about puppies, strays, and rescue dogs, all of which I fended off with a simple, "I'm just not ready."

Well, last Wednesday was my birthday, and it was a good one. Lots of visits and phone calls along with the occasional case of Geritol for my "tired blood."

Sam and my daughter, Jordan, got together and asked me to meet them at Sam's house in Thomasville on Saturday to have a meal and enjoy a birthday cake. I was glad to do so.

I went down a bit early to spend a little more time with Sam's daughter Carter Grace and ended up running an errand with Sam to see a couple of ladies who babysit for him sometimes. I had met then at Sam's wedding and looked forward to seeing them again.

When we got there, they had three dogs running around and one kind of took to me. In fact, except for playing with Carter Grace a bit, she pretty much wallowed all over me.

About halfway back to Sam's house, he told me that the white dog named Angel had been abandoned by its owner who had fallen on a series of hard times and that the two ladies had taken her in to keep her from being sent to the pound. I remarked at how much her face reminded me of Powder the first time I saw her and said if they hadn't told me she was only five years old, she could have been Powder's little sister.

Then Sam said, "If you want that dog, she is yours."

Remember the folks who said I would just know when it was the right dog. Well, they were right. When it came time to leave on Saturday, Sam and I drove back to the ladies house. One of them was about to not let her go after all, but they did, and Angel came home with me.

I stopped in Elkin to let her stretch her legs and a stranger walked up and began to pet Angel. She apparently has never met a stranger, so I should have said a new friend walked up. For him it was love at first sight.

We ended up spending nearly 45 minutes with a guy we had never met, and, as he left, he said, "You know, I feel that the love of a dog is the nearest thing to God on this earth we will ever see."

I'm with this guy until I am shown different.

Angel was named appropriately, as gentle and kind as any angel could be. Everyone who sees her asks me how in the world I was lucky enough to find another dog who looked exactly like Powder.

Clearly, I am lucky.

You would think that Angel has been living in The Mayflower, my home, her entire life. It does not seem at all possible that I have had her for only four days. I find myself talking to her and thanking her for being my dog as she takes every step I take.

To all the people who loved Powder so much and who were so kind to me during Powder's sickness and death, I know in my heart we all now have something else to be thankful for, and to love.

A dog named Angel.

The Play Is The Thing

The ‘accused’

By HEATHER DEAN

Record Reporter

Guess who's reprising her role as Maggie in "Dinner at 8, Dead by 9?"

I, along with fellow independent thespians, and several Wilkes Playmakers will be performing at the annual N.C. Clerks Association Meeting, being held in Wilkesboro this year.

This picture is from last September when we performed the sold out show at the Wilkes Art Gallery as a dinner theatre fundraiser. Megan Barnett caught me right at the time of being accused of the crime. To date, this is still one of my favorite pictures of me in character.

Fast forward to spring of 2019: Jim Byrd, Town Clerk and District 10 Director with the Town of Wilkesboro - Government called asking if I could get together a troupe and present a one-act something, because he wanted to provide something "extra special to show off our town" as Clerks from all over N.C. would be here.

Well, of course I said yes, and even told him I had the perfect show in mind!

I promptly contacted our esteemed Director Barbara Stinson, asked her if she was down to do the show again, (she was) so she sent out emails to our original cast. Alas, some of them had prior commitments, but we were able to fill the slots easily with my fellow actors; It's like my publisher says- it's not about who you know, but sometimes it's about who you know. (But after 25 years and over 100 shows in the theatre "business" I had better be able to pull this off!)

So here we are, in rehearsals to bring something special to the N.C. Clerks Association, and we as actors who love our little county and live to volunteer to bring the stage magic to life couldn't be more please to perform for them!

And no, Mamaw, I still am *not* getting paid to do what I went to college for; but yes, I will still continue to be involved in community and professional theatre alike. 'Cause that's how this theatre girl rolls.

The tiny country making massive contributions

By AMBASSADOR EARL COX and KATHLEEN COX

Throughout history, the Jewish people have consistently managed to turn seemingly sour situations into positive conditions with mostly sweet outcomes, akin to turning lemons into lemonade. They have been shoved down and cast out only to come back stronger, sharper, and more intelligent, inventive and ingenious than ever.

Known as the “start-up nation,” Israel is on the cutting edge of just about every field of science and technology. Would this be the case if Israel had not been forced to always be on guard against those who seek her destruction and the annihilation of every Jew from off the face of the earth? Possibly not. Their resilience has led them to brilliance teaching the Jews not only how to survive but, more importantly, how to thrive, and this to the chagrin of her enemies.

On the same day back in 1948 when the modern State of Israel was born and only a few hours old, she was attacked from every direction by her hostile Arab neighbors who possessed well-trained armies and stockpiles of weapons. With no trained or organized army and very few munitions, Israel miraculously used her wit and determination to defeat her enemies sending them scurrying to the United Nations seeking help to make Israel stop. Living under the constant threat of war and terror attacks forced Israel to develop the best intelligence organizations in the world - on the ground, in the air and in cyberspace. This is quite a contrast to the negative image the media has endeavored to create of Israel as backward oppressors with nothing to offer the world but camels and sandals.

In one way or another the world owes Israel a deep debt of gratitude for the many technological advances we enjoy today. Over 250 major multinational companies have their R & D (research and development) centers in Israel. Why? Because Israel invests in her people producing some of the best and brightest minds in the world.

The adverse geo-political conditions in which Israel has found itself since it was established in 1948 have forced this small country to invest its limited resources in developing and maintaining superior military capabilities. As computers increasingly found their way into all walks of life and war, cyber defense has become an important activity for the IDF (Israel Defense Force).

With years of intelligence gathering and cybersecurity practice, the IDF has developed a special unit which has evolved into an incubator and accelerator of Israel’s startups, in cybersecurity and other fields. In Israel, military service is compulsory. Israeli youth view this as an opportunity to be embraced, not dodged, and in no way is this service viewed as a hardship. The young people serving in this special IDF unit experience real-life and leading-edge cybersecurity challenges and solutions. Working like startup companies, the young people in this unit get to experience teamwork, leading other people, having responsibility for making significant decisions, and surviving failure, all of which are great preparations for post-military, entrepreneurial life.

Israel recognizes that human capital is a precious commodity and that people —their skills, experience, and ambitions—are the most important ingredient in cyber defense. Israel is known for its dynamic culture full of innovation, and initiative. For Israeli students, cybersecurity education starts in middle school and Israel is the only country in the world in which cybersecurity is an elective in high school. Several Israeli universities offer undergraduate specialization in cybersecurity and Israel is the first country in the world in which a student may earn a PhD in cybersecurity as an independent discipline.

So, while taking off a prom dress one day and replacing it with combat boots and fatigues the next may seem a hardship or disadvantage to some, to Israeli youth it is embraced as an advantaged pathway leading to a successful career in a highly competitive world. The disadvantage has become the advantage. Israel’s youth are the solution to cyber treats and the foundation of turning risks into opportunities.

Don’t mess with my Pimento

By CARL WHITE

Life in the Carolinas

Not so long ago I was traveling from Charlotte to Forest City. On my way I called a friend, Allen Langley. He asked what I was up to and I told him I would soon be passing through Shelby.

He said, "Great, stop by and I’ll ride with you."

I did, and as we drove along he told me about the many things he and his family enjoy doing in the area. He was very excited about eating at The Fountain at Smith's Drugs. They went into business in 1939, and are still the go to meeting place in Forest City.

After we found our table, Wendy Bennett stopped at our table with her daughters and friends. She told me that she started working at The Fountain when she was sixteen and continued there for three years before becoming a nurse. She now champions the call as the mother of three. With a smile, she said Smith's Drugs is full of great memories and is a favorite for her family.

Our waitress was Susan Donnahoe, a quick witted lady of Irish descent. I asked what the most ordered item was. Susan said that would be the grilled homemade Pimento Cheese Sandwich. So that order went in, but before she left the table, I asked if the maker of the pimento cheese was in.

"Let me check," she said.

The manager, Susan Stewart, came to the table. She is also the recipe developer and maker of The Fountain's pimento cheese. While she was not willing to share the secret ingredients, she did say they make at least 45 pounds of the amazing spread every week.

I spoke with other diners who raved about this simple yet tasty comfort food that regulars can’t seem to get enough of. Pimento cheese lovers can get upset with you if you mess with their favorite.

Case in point: some years ago amidst much controversy the traditionally served pimento cheese recipe changed at Augusta National, and is still being talked about today. In an article published by ESPN, the magazine's senior writer Wright Thompson reported that a fan, Paul Jones, said, “I’m fine with adding the female members, and I am tolerating the belly-putters, but changing the pimento cheese recipe is taking change too damn far.”

As it turns out our taste for cheese in no small matter. According to the USDA, Americans have increased their average consumption of cheese from 7.7 pounds in 1950 to 36 pounds in 1915. It was a good lunch and a great visit at Smith’s Drugs.

Allen and I then drove to the town of Rutherfordton to visit KidSenses Children’s INTERACTIVE Museum, located on Main Street. This is a great place with over twenty interactive exhibits designed to stimulate the imagination of young ones. Allen shared memories of taking his daughter to KidSenses for her birthday party when it first opened in 2004.

I had the opportunity to meet the town manager. Doug Barrick shared some very interesting local history, including the fact that Christopher Bechtler minted America’s first one-dollar gold coin here in 1832. This was almost 17 years before the U.S. minted their own. The Bechtler Mint minted more than two million dollars in gold prior to its closure in 1849.

Rutherfordton has a commemorative trail called “The Gold Mile”. It starts at the Bechtler House and winds around town, and is marked with replica Bechtler one-dollar coins. As you walk around this historic town there are information plaques with QR codes that point to additional information online. I did not have time to see everything, so I will need to return.

While a bit cheesy, it was a great day. I love the traditions of good food, education and a visit with the past.

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