April showers bring May flowers. Does that mean we will be getting a lot of showers pretty soon? I suppose in the last week or so we have gotten our share of water, but then they always say we are drier than we should be and my cousin says she has a lot of fires out her way in - Oklahoma. So, come showers and warm weather and we’ll get to start mowing lawns.

Congratulations to Alex Honson, son of Trudy and Gerald Garner, (Gravette’s postmaster) because he just got his first driver’s license. Oh, what an exciting time that is! It is socool to know you are “on your road to adult-hood" - until you realize the cost and expense of driving and maintaining a car, that is. But I wish Alex the best.

My son Benton came home during spring break and got his driver’s license renewed. It is the first time his is an "adult" license without the red background. He was thrilled about that. There are always stages of excitement about getting a driver’s license.

Congratulations to Allison Fisher, who is off to school at OSU. Allison, who is currently assistant dean of girls at Ozark Adventist Academy, applied for and was accepted to the OSU veterinarian school. She was accepted after her first interview, and generally about 200 people apply to go to school there with only about 40 accepted. This is a thrill for Allison. However, I think her grandparents, Wanda and Troy Lovell, are about as excited as she is.

Happy Birthday to Crystal Simmons, Donna Dennis, Kimberli Park (my niece), my nephew Jordan Swanson, Heidi Langston, Hamilton Hostetor, Pat Adams, Steve Ellis, Gertrude Scott, Karen Brinegar, Brittany Huls, Linda Dale, Marie Switzer and Sherri Houck. I also had two brother-in-laws have birthdays this month, so I must give them my regards. Charles Robinsonand Rusty Taylor are both a day older.

As I said, Benton came home for spring break. It was great to see him and he was glad to get a break from college life. They have about a month more of school and then I hope he is able to come home for the summer. Jessica will not be able to work this summer at Little Debbie's, so she will have to stay in Texas. We will miss her greatly.

Our condolences to the family of Lynn Wilkins. Lynn is the son of Delbert and Wanda Wilkins. While he was one of the "older kids" and I went to school with the younger kids, he really was not that old. Tooyoung to die, for sure. The older we get, the younger these older kids and cousins really are.

Pete Duncan lost his fight for life last month, and we send our love to Ginger and the family. My boss at work, Pam Stacy, is Pete’s niece; that was interesting to find out. I know it is a small world and so many people are related to people you know from here or there.

For those of you who don't go to Gentry too often, I would like to update you on the Walmart project. Of course, I have nothing to do with it but I watch it as it is being built. It is taking shape quickly. Gerald G. and I have decided that we want the crew building this Walmart to be the crew that fixes Arkansas Highway 102 into Bentonville - or anyplace, as far as that goes. If this crew was putting the road together, it might be done already!

Well, enjoy the wet-warm spring-winter weather.

April is one of thosemonths when you don't know what you are going to get. As I write this, it’s still cold, but it can be hot. Oh my, for crying out loud, it is Arkansas, you know. Drive safe, and we will chat later.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 04/06/2011