Recovering from holiday madness: A tidbit 'Cuff?

Whew ... am I ever glad that's over! I know what you're thinking -- what's he up to this time? The answer is pretty simple when you consider the confusion of the past several (few) weeks: the end of autumn, the beginning of winter followed by ... well, you name it ... IT probably occurred. Christmas and New Year's Day are both at the top of the list but it was the minor (?) players that threw all normal organization into a pile of confusion. Follow me?

Was your household involved in some of the many time consumers, enjoyable adventures, unexpected last-minute doings, early deadlines and on and on and on during the two-week Christmas-New Year so-called holiday? Just remember, none of these things are bad; they're just events filled with parties, unexpected challenges, expected shopping trips, unexpected trips, unnecessary trips. Intermingled in the mixed-up two-week span were expected trips out of town to visit the kids and unexpected changes of plans for other Christmas enjoyable get-togethers. There was either a New Year's Eve blowout or no such celebration, or an anniversary time for remembering ... and, of most importance, a special Christmas Eve service which was a big plus and calming return to what the season was and is really all about.

But there were those mixed-up garbage collection days ... presents to wrap, cookies to bake (no peanut brittle this year) and those two unusual extra long Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday weekends that threw the monkey wrench into usual schedules. Wonder why they call them monkey wrenches? How was that two-week stretch at your house? As this is being written, a full week later, it seems that the realization of what a normal week's schedule is is returning to the old gray blob. Figuratively speaking, a sense of sobriety is returning and there is a settling back into those old habit-forming and what-ever-you-call-'em routines.

Of course, Mother Nature threw in several almost spring-like days that calmed the souls and excited the soles to rake a few late-falling leaves and, well, just to put it simply: sanity has returned. It was also helped along because there were no sweet gum balls to stumble over this year.

I just had to get that in. Any new reader can only guess at that reasoning. So it's time to get down to some "Little Bits Of Nothing." That was the original name given the 'Cuff column some 50, or make that 60, years ago. Old habits are sometimes resurrected, so this week there are several "Little Bits" instead of conglomerations.

First, a question: Several weeks ago there was a 96-page special section of our newspaper, The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, which published lists of real estate and personal property delinquent tax. Scanning through appropriate pages of tiny legal-style type, it took some time to find out my name wasn't included. That surely must have been the biggest or longest bunch of delinquent tax lists published according to state law. Those not sure may call 479-271-1040 or 1-866-810-8722 to find out if their taxes are delinquent. Since 2019, auto tags must be paid sometime this year, these taxes must be paid and new assessment must be confirmed.

Particularly, the schools need and use tax money to operate, as do cities and the county. Like most everybody else, paying taxes is not the favorite thing to do ... but they are to keep things running and providing the services we expect. That's enough of that.

Tidbit Two: Did you make any new resolutions for the year? I dug out a couple of years' worth and decided to just write "ditto" on the first page. No, there weren't multiple pages, just repetitions of long-forgotten and disregarded resolutions. Sound familiar?

Little Bit Three: Just joining others in wishing the mess in D.C. would get straightened out by the time you read this, which, by the way, was written seven days ago.

Another Little Bit: Yep, speaking of Washington, there is one person who deserves special recognition for performing her job well by trying to answer questions shouted from a room full of nosy, impolite and too often offensive reporters who never and never consider asking a positive question. All they seek are disgusting quotes and unpopular topics and unexplainable actions from the lips of the White House Press Secretary who has exhibited decorum and patience that should be followed by those shouters. Sarah Sanders, an Arkansas girl, the daughter of former Governor Mike and Mrs. Huckabee. Thanks, Sarah, for continuing the expected Southern politeness and patience that too many know-it-all or wanna-be D.C.ers forget -- if they ever knew!

A fourth Tidbit: A big salute to another Arkie ... in fact, a Gravette native who grew up along the banks of Spavinaw Creek just south of Gravette. As an aside, there wasn't a hospital in Gravette, so he was born in a Bentonville hospital ... but he still belongs to Gravette. Asa Hutchinson has served our nation well in Washington, as Representative in Congress, as a Federal Prosecutor who cleaned up a mess in another county in our state, and now is starting his second term as our Governor. Just an Off the 'Cuff idea: Wouldn't he be surprised and appreciate a note from his hometown folks and all Benton Countians as he strives to make things better by solving problems that always come up? He is a leader, a learner, a listener and a loyal Arkansan and American. Let's tell him thanks.

Finally, a tiny tidbit to correct a sentence that appeared in a 'Cuff a few weeks ago which read, "This politically correct virtue has basically infected and ruined the freedom of speech that was a foundation for our nation ..." It was supposed to read, "This politically correct VIRUS has infected ..." Isn't it amazing how changing a word can change a meaning? I guess my fingers flew too fast over the keys on the old Underwood -- make that a portable Smith-Corona which doesn't have spell or meaning check. Does anything like that ever happen to you? This is not written to the younger generation; talking about a typewriter probably goes over their heads like some of that computer jargon goes over mine.

'Till next time. Maybe the 'Cuff will return with ... do you or do I take a guess?

Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 01/16/2019