From Past Archives.

A beautiful gorgeous Georgia evening from July 2003. I know that Jeanne is hitting there soon and I imagine it doesn't look quite like that this week. So much weather to deal with this season. I send best wishes to the areas hard hit by these relentless hurricanes. I will do more than send my wishes, I will donate to the Red Cross.

This is the last day for our county fair. They end with a demolition derby. It goes until 10:30 p.m. or so, and I never used to let my daughter go, because it is a school night. We may go this year. Not sure, since she was involved in a bit of trouble, yesterday at the fair. I am one of the few parents who insist on staying at the fairgrounds when my child is there. Most parents in the area are dropping off their 12 and 13-year old children to run the fairgrounds wild. And, picking them back up after the fair closes.

I was tired last evening after being there all day and look up at the sheriff's mobile unit, just to see my daughter and all her friends standing there. They were in trouble. I immediately went over. The deputy said he was relieved to see a parent that actually remained on the fair grounds. There were 10 of them. Two had parents there. My daughter and her best friend. I had brought my daughter and her boyfriend and her best friend's boyfriend with me. I left my daughter's best friend with her mother and took my daughter and the two boys home. I told the other teenagers to keep their noses clean until their parents come to pick them up. They all seemed a bit shaken up.

My daughter's boyfriend was caught spray painting (with the spray-in hair color they were selling) B + G (boy plus girl) on the wall in the tunnel underneath the race track. His first initial and my daughter's. Gladly he wasn't writing profanity. The deputy pulled me inside the mobile unit and showed me the can. He said "This stuff washes out easily. This isn't a big major problem, but should be given attention." He also said, "Look, we are busy looking for lost kids here, this is not a big priority. Just keep the kids with you or take them home." I left my name and number in case the fair committee wants my daughter and her friends to wash the walls of the tunnel. (My idea). They may call me.

I was a bit bent out of shape. I do not tolerate trouble in that magnitude. I think the most trouble I got in was soaping windows and throwing corn around Halloween. I lived in fear of my Mom's wrath. The town I grew up in didn't even have a deputy sheriff.

I am beginning to realize that this boyfriend may not be the best selection for my daughter. He had an incident at the beginning of summer with shop lifting and got caught. He is moving to the other side of town in a couple of months. I am hoping that things cool down between them. I am trying to talk sense into my daughter (not always an easy task). The counselling helps.