By Brenda Cannon Henley
The good old days probably mean different things to different people. I find myself recently remarking more and more about them when I think of certain, places, people, or events. My old pastor used to say he did not long for the good ole days as some said they did. He said he did not miss hot houses, plowing a mule through a dusty field, having to grow everything his family ate, or traveling by horse and buggy, and to him, those were memories of the good old days. He ended his little monologue by saying he liked air conditioning, a new Cadillac, comfortable clothes, and all the restaurants he had to choose from in his community.

Perhaps I, like many others, am really referring to the spirit of the good ole days. I’m thinking I liked and respected how people cared for each other. If one were ill, the community pitched in to help him harvest his crop, raise a barn, milk a cow, or get a child a pair of shoes for school that year.

They also dropped by with food and small gifts for kids at Christmas or maybe even a birthday and the health of all in the area seemed to be the concern of every caring citizen.

I read something over the weekend after attending the big festivities for the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Cancer Program in Beaumont featuring Richard Simmons, the exercise guru. I had the privilege of interviewing him for another of the publications for which I write and found him to be delightful, warm, and caring. He really seems to care for each of his fans worldwide. I have received several warm emails personally written by him from his home in California and he closes each one with “I love you, Richard.” In one, he thanked me for the article I wrote and the photos I used. In another, he said he was packing to come to Beaumont. And another said he had arrived back home in Los Angeles safely and how much he enjoyed visiting Southeast Texas. More than 2,000 folks turned out on Saturday to see and meet him and celebrate survivorship of cancer.

During this same busy week, my heart hurt that friends of mine for almost 50 years were burying their only daughter in the Atlanta area from breast cancer. She had fought bravely, but the disease claimed her after 13 long years. Amy Bagley Tyner was a brave and beautiful young lady, kind, sincere, and helpful to all she met. Amy left a beautiful four-year-old daughter to be reared by loving family. We know that she was a Christian and that she was at home in Heaven, but the earthly pain still stings.

A friend of mine on the peninsula, Kay Chapman Currier, who has a heart as big as Texas wrote to say there would be a benefit for one of her friends, July Prescott, who is also a longtime Bolivar resident.

July was diagnosed with cancer in February 2010 and has been undergoing chemo for several months. Kay reminded me that July had been in business for years renting videos on the peninsula. She also made one-of-a-kind awesome do-rags for many of the motorcycle community. Kay had determined that July could use some help, so with her reckless abandon, she started in to get that help on the road.

Donation buckets or containers are at several businesses and then on October 20, at Coconuts Restaurant on Highway 87, there will be a benefit BBQ. Members of the organizing committee are also accepting donations for raffle or auction items and things to sell to benefit July. They are also willing to deliver the BBQ dinners to those on the peninsula that wish to order.

“We are also asking for donations of lumber, food, knick-knacks, home crafted items, or just plain old cash,” said Kay in her unabashed manner. “We want to get Miss July a ramp built at her home so she can come and go more easily and we want to help her with the sky-rocketing medical costs. We appreciate anyone who will help.” Kay added that Richard Riley Construction Company has offered to build the ramp at no charge once the material is gathered. “Every single dollar will count and will go to July,” said Kay firmly.

This kind gesture spearheaded by Kay and others made me think of the good ole days or at least the spirit of them. People helped people and they didn’t necessarily wait for the government or big business to step in and do the job. If you would like to be involved and help this Bolivar resident, please contact Kay at (409) 832-4262 or Jessica at (409) 682-7748. If you’d like to mail a contribution, you may do so to Post Office Box 1464, Crystal Beach, Texas 77650. They’ll thank you for sure like they did in the good ole days. We never know when it could be us needing that neighborly love and provision.

Brenda Cannon Henley can be reached at (409) 781-8788
or at [email protected].

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