COLUMNS

THE BEAT GOES ON: Checking in with Georgia friends

Staff Writer
The Daytona Beach News-Journal

It was time to check in on my peeps.

I hadn’t been to the friendly Georgia town that has generously made me part of its extended family for a while, so I headed for our sweet Daytona Beach International Airport. There, it was no rush, no fuss, thank heavens.

An hour later, I was in the land of sweet tea with my BGF, Best Georgia Friend, Glenda.

Thursdays at 5 mean cocktail time with the 95-year-old Miss Polly. Glenda told her she would be picking me up at the airport and probably wouldn’t make it.

“I think Kathy would want to come here,’’ she replied. I had met the indomitable Miss Polly and her friends on a previous visit.

You’d better believe that at 5 p.m. we were seated in chairs in the shade of Miss Polly’s backyard, sipping a libation and checking in with each other.

Glenda’s town, Newnan, had made the national news weeks before when an international hate group rented out a city park for a two-hour period on a Saturday.

Determined not to be defined by a visit from this group, the city’s kind souls swung into action.

All of the downtown businesses stayed open late the night before, since they planned to close the day of the rally. Folks flooded churches for prayer rallies. “Newnan Strong’’ T-shirts sprouted from nowhere.

The protesters showed up, as did law enforcement personnel from surrounding counties, state and federal government.

There was no major discord. Several folks were arrested for wearing masks, which is against a Georgia law. At 5 p.m., police informed the 15 or so protesters who showed up that their permit had expired. They left peaceably.

But not before both children and adults had used chalk to write on city sidewalks that Newnan was a city of love, not hate. It was a history lesson in the making.

As for me and my dear friend, we watched news of the royal wedding on TV, read, napped and visited the farm owned by her son-in-law and daughter, Matt and Ellen, for a peaceful chat on the porch.

One morning, we sat on the deck in our PJs, overlooking Glenda’s backyard, ablaze with all kinds of beautiful flowers. Gardening is, after all, her passion. Just ask me, I know. Vacation with my Georgia friend means visiting as many green spaces as possible.

Me, I do better with silk.

One day, we ventured into Atlanta for what was touted as a tour of the city’s finest private gardens. We trooped through beautiful yards full of plants cascading down pathways, waterfalls and hills. The admission fee benefited the city’s Botanical Garden.

Back home, we marveled at the newly-planted irises, bountiful hydrangeas and beautiful statuary that appeared to stand guard over the lush green spot that is Glenda’s backyard.

The yard is surrounded by tall trees, such as dogwood and pecan. It is indeed her secret garden.

It was soothing and serene. I was happy to find all is well in Glenda’s backyard – and her town.

Contact Kathy at kathykellyfl@gmail.com.