Keeping us in stitches
Published Wednesday, May 7
The Story Hour by L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer

My kids suffer every day because they have a weird mother like me -- especially when there’s a crisis. The problem is that it is too late now. I’ve have already ruined them for life!

A good example is last week’s incident where my youngest child, Jordan (13), had a run-in with a tree. He was over at his dad’s and step-mom’s house, when he decided to help cut down a sapling in the yard.

Jordan pulled the tree down and stepped on the top to hold it in place and he began to saw away. It did not occur to him what would happen to the rest of the tree when he was finished cutting – this lack of foresight led to “the incident.”

The uncut portion of the tree shot up and hit Jordan on the right side of his face, knocking him backward and causing some deep cuts. Well, as Jordan fed the lawn with blood, he called for his dad, Sam.

It did not take long for Sam and his wife, Lisa, to decide that Jordan needed to be taken to the hospital. Sam called me on the way to the Emergency Room. I could tell he was trying to keep his voice calm because Jordan was listening and Sam did not want to start shouting, “It’s awful! He’s bleeding all over everything! I might have to have my car reupholstered! I now know the meaning to the phrase ‘river of blood!’”

They were still in the ER waiting room when I arrived. Our oldest daughter, Amber (22) arrived shortly after I did. I took one look at my baby boy and wanted to cry. Jordan, in typical, tough 13-year-old boy fashion, was sitting in the chair, holding a blood soaked towel to his face and looking like – What? I’m cool. It doesn’t hurt.

Amber and I proceeded to make him move the towel so we could gawk at his wounds. We decided to document the event with cell phone cameras. Then, we decided we would send the pictures to other family members so they could share in the experience.

What would we do without modern technology?

The only time Jordan flinched was when he was getting the numbing shots to get stitched up. Fortunately, the doctor and nurses in the room were all very cool and hip to our sense of humor. I held my son’s hand with one hand, but with my other hand, I was taking pictures with my cell phone camera, exclaiming, “Jordan, these are great! These are going up on myspace!”
The nurse said, “Hey, let me have a turn!” She took a very nice close up for us and the doctor said, “Hey, let me step over to this side so you can see him better.”

They were all so helpful and friendly.

This is how my family handles things. We make any event – even horrible ones – humorous … and then we go eat something.

Actually, my kids appreciate the humor. If Jordan wasn’t a good sport, I would not have taken pictures. As it stands, he could not wait to show his friends his “accident pictures,” which he posted online before the night was out!

So, we have Jordan’s 14 stitches last week to thank for keeping us in stitches for days! Now, let’s not repeat the incident.

(L.A. Story Houry is a poet, fiction writer and staff writer for the Daily Corinthian. She is a resident of Glen, where she is thinking of creating a coffee table book entitled “The Unsung Art of Cell Phone Photography.” Her column appears on Wednesdays.)

 

Closing the Parthenon
Published Wednesday, April 30
The Story Hour by L.A. Story Houry
Staff Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – I have come to firmly believe that there is one popular exhibit that I might not ever have been meant to see – the Parthenon, in Nashville, Tenn.

In my lifetime, I have come on three or four different occasions to this massive structure and cannot seem to ever get inside. The Parthenon is always closed when I want to visit.
For those who are not familiar with what I am talking about, the Parthenon is a full scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens. Nashville’s Parthenon sits in the middle of beautiful Centennial Park. The structure even houses a 42-foot statue of the Goddess Athena, just as the original did.

I recall standing in front of the building’s colossal bronze doors – with my mouth hanging open in awe. I always wondered what has inside. Nowadays, people can only enter the Parthenon at the sidewalk level, but the doors are always closed to me.

The first time I saw it, I was just a child and I believe my parents could not afford the admission fee for all of us kids. The next couple of times that I tried to see it – one was off season near a holiday, and the other time the building was closed that week for a repair and/or maintenance.

A few days ago, I took a very quick trip (I say “quick” as I was only in the area for a few hours and don’t want my friends, Amy and Angie, to hurt me for not calling them. Girls, you know I love you, and I will come again soon to see you guys when I have a full weekend – I promise!), and me, my friends and two of my children, Amber and Jordan, thought we would go walk around Centennial Park and go see the Parthenon.

I figured, what are the chances of it being closed again? Especially, if the building did not know I was coming. I thought I could sneak up on it and slip in unnoticed.

Apparently, Athena does not like me.

It turns out, that the only time the building is open on Sundays is during the months of June, July and August.

I am determined that one day I will see the inside of this structure. The only time I have ever seen what is inside was when my daughter, Amber, got to go inside on a separate trip several months ago. She showed me pictures. It upset her when I wept. (Okay, I did not actually “weep” per se, just got a little teary-eyed in my jealousy and frustration.)

So, if anyone out there wants to go see the Parthenon in Nashville, please do not invite me because it is almost a guarantee that the building will be closed that day. I need to have a talk with Athena. Maybe then she will allow me to visit. Until then, I will continue to take all my photos on the steps outside the building.

(L.A. Story Houry is a poet, fiction writer and staff writer for the Daily Corinthian. She is a resident of Glen where she plans to build a Parthenon for her ownself – in the backyard – using a zillion Lincoln Logs, Play-Doh and a glue stick. She wants to use herself as the model for Athena. Her friends can stop laughing now. Her column appears on Wednesdays.)

Great place to call home
Published Sunday, April 6
By Robert Blankenship
Editor

It's funny how life works sometimes. I must have made the drive along Highway 72 across northern Mississippi a hundred times when I was younger.

Now, after not having been back in some time, I find myself transplanted to what I used to refer to as the 'one bright spot' along that lonely highway.

Last week, I began my new post as the managing editor of the Daily Corinthian. It is an exciting time and I look forward to working with the excellent staff here to provide our readers with an informative and entertaining local newspaper. I can see already that I have joined a strong team that possesses a passion for the job and a commitment to the communities they serve.

I am living in Mississippi for the first time, having grown up across the state line in Russellville, Ala. My wife, Melissa, is also from northwest Alabama, hailing from Killen, which is just east of Florence. They say you can't go home again and that may be true, but for us Corinth seems extremely close to home in many different ways.

My wife and I each have fond memories of growing up in smaller, close knit communities. We hope that Corinth provides a similar experience for our 5-year-old son, Samuel.

I have been a newspaper reporter in some form or fashion dating back to the mid-1990s when I worked part-time at my own hometown newspaper in Franklin County, Ala. I spent a year or two away, but by the later part of that decade was saddled in for the long haul.

Over the past decade, I've had the opportunity to work in several communities, each possessing its own unique characteristics. While in South Alabama, I worked at a time when NAFTA had seemed to truly take root as many of the long-time textile plants were leaving hundreds jobless. Since then, Hyundai has turned the fortune of that area and to say they are rebounding is an understatement. In contrast to my time closer to the Gulf, my latest assignment was just east of Birmingham in what has been among the fastest growing areas of that state. I learned it is much more fun to write about businesses coming to town than it is to report that the plant that employed generations of families is leaving and taking their jobs with them.

As a reporter, I can't forecast the stories we will be writing about here in Corinth. As a local newspaper we always try to cover those things of interest to our readers. Sometimes, the news isn't so good and we will not shy away from informing our readers about those events.

But, for all the challenges our community might happen to face, there are countless positive things that are happening each and every day. The Daily Corinthian wants to share those stories, too. From students who excel at their school, to groups raising awareness for a good cause, to neighbors simply helping neighbors, these are all important stories that deserve to be shared.

As the editor of the Daily Corinthian, I want to invite everyone to let us know the "good" stories that are happening in your area. I look forward to sharing many of these good stories during my time here and getting to know more about the area and the people who make this area such a great place to call home.

See you soon!

(Robert Blankenship is the editor of the Daily Corinthian. He may be
contacted at editor@dailycorinthian.com)

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