Columns

Spring — the season of love, renewal, blooming flowers — and here in Kentucky, it’s also when we’ll see many animals lying dead in the road after being struck by vehicles.

In their search to find food, water, shelter and mates, animals must cross roads.

Unfortunately, rabbits, cats and skunks don’t know the importance of looking both ways first. The verdict’s still out on turtles, but they’re so slow that looking both ways offers minimal protection at best.

Some of the customers I sell to, I get to be friends with. The other day, I called on one that had just gotten out of the hospital.

I sat a spell while he told me about his ordeal in the hospital and his brush with death. I thought it was worth repeating. It reminded me that prayer is the greatest healer and lives can be changed with it. I hope I can do this story justice, as I’m writing from my memory alone.

I was surprised at how well he was able to put his thoughts and feelings into words so soon after that kind of ordeal.

I was in bed asleep when the phone rang. I picked it up and said a groggy “hello.”

When I am awakened by the telephone, I sound a little like Jimmy Duranty, the deceased comedian, or so I’ve been told.

A voice came through from the other end. A taped voice.

On Groundhog’s Day, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow, so we should anticipate an early spring.

We also will be celebrating Valentine’s Day and President’s Day. We should not forget our loved ones on Valentine’s Day and we should honor our past presidents and ask Congress to work together and with President Obama during his second term, not only for the United States, but for us here locally.

I would have to commend all of the county entities with their work on getting our roads drivable on Jan. 25.