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| Debbie and Janet at the Red Oak house. |
We already had our house in Red Oak up for sale when the City of Atlanta reached outside of their city limits and were going to build a welfare housing apartment project near the Eastern School that Diane and Billy attended (But, I won't get into that). We had to get a new appraisal every six months while it was on the market and for some strange reason the latest estimate always came back for less than the one before it. (But, I won't get into that). It seemed that the real estate agents would work hard and would promise about anything to get the listing and then just wait for someone else to actually sell the house. (But, I won't get into that) The house across the street from us sold to a couple and he was later arrested for selling drugs and then found murdered in his car one morning in Atlanta. (But, I won't get into that). Don't worry, the widow had plenty of company to help her through her grief. (But I won't get into that). Nancy finally sold our house to our Avon representative and we were able to start on our new place.
(Just a note- the apartment project was built and lasted about 20 years before it was torn down because it was in such bad shape that it would cost too much to fix it. It was a rundown eyesore and source of crime for years before. Eastern school has been closed for years and has become a dumping ground.)
Okay, we're moving! We moved the camper up to the country and I spent some time there alone and the family would join me on weekends. We actually moved after the end of school. We registered all the kids for school in the fall. Diane and Billy were about to be put back a grade in the little country school system even though they had been making good grades and were on grade level in the big Fulton County school system. (But I won't get into that). They let them stay in their grades and gave them extra work and were on grade level by the end of the school year.
Ruth, Charles wife, came down to visit Nancy one day when she was planting a long row of beans and offered to help. Nancy had already started making a shallow ditch to put the bean seeds and she told Ruth that she would appreciate it if she would put in the bean seeds while she finished the ditch. Ruth soon yelled at Nancy what she was out of seeds. She had poured enough seeds for a 100 foot row into about 2 feet.
We had planted a large garden and everything was looking fine. Our corn was up about 1.5 feet high and was nice and green. Our neighbor, Charles, came down to visit while we were taking a break in the shade. We thought that everyone living in the country knew a lot more about raising a garden than we did so we listened with interest as Charles told us that we needed to put some "soode" (translated as ammonium nitrate) on the corn before a rain that was supposed to start that evening. We asked how much should we use and he said "oh, about a double hand full around each stalk" I had to get ready to go to work and we were sure that if we didn't do what Charles said the corn crop would surely be a loss. Nancy loaded up the kids and went to Goldkist to get the nitrogen boost stuff. (This is also the stuff that the terrorists use to blow up things). The rain started before she got back but, bless her heart, she was going to get it done and not miss this golden opportunity. She got out in the rain, waded into the garden, and put the required "double hand full" around each stalk. I got home from work well after midnight and it was still raining. I shined a light into the garden and saw Nancy's footprints in the mud where she had spread the magic fertilizer. The corn had already started turning yellow and we lost it all but we did not need any nitrogen in that area of the garden for a while. We then knew just maybe Charles didn't know what he was talking about.
When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson
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