Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be spending the last years of my life in the state of Georgia. Over time, I have lived in Kentucky, Texas, Maryland and now North Georgia. The longer I am here the more I appreciate the climate, the towns, the medical facilities, the churches, the shopping available and the people who have lived here all of their lives. There are just enough new comers to make it interesting. A few towns have a Newcomers Club for any who need or want a group to help them assimilate.
My friend belongs to a group called "Meet and Eat". That is all they do. It gets them out and meeting new people and new places to eat. I guess it is unique in that it has no side issues, no need to keep minutes, or record of who is there and who is not. They look forward to seeing the friends they have made from previous meetings and having a different place to eat.
Another great aspect of this particular area is beautiful Lake Lanier. Many people have settled around the lake because they just like being around the water. We did have a drought two years ago and that effected the lake level for a while. Some had to remove their boats and folks with docks had to contend with moving their dock in and out. If you do not want to hassle with that, there are companies to do it for you. The many parks around the lake make for pleasant visiting to picnic. This is a free fun thing to do. Some parks are not on the water but offer interesting activities like paved paths for walkers while the children have playground equipment to enjoy.
Our winters are short and usually not severe. Our electric servers keep trees cut in anticipation of downed trees so power outage here is at a minimum. Some summers can be humid and make outdoors uncomfortable. When that happens folks have learned to stay in where it is air conditioned. Thankfully that too is short lived.
When the end of February comes we have delightful surprises all around. Ornamental trees start to bloom, daffodils pop up and bloom whereever they are planted. To see this happen so early in spring brings hope to the darkest heart.
Speaking of heart, we have the top heart center in the state in our town. If you are not blessed with good health and even if you are, any medical specialist you may need is found here. And if your heart - and soul - need nurturing we have all of the churches here that anyone could want. Some are huge, like 3,000 members and others are small with less than 100 members. A lot of them offer Day Care for young families and all have friendly, helpful members ready to welcome one and all.
If I have painted a rosy picture of our area it is just because it has so much to offer a law abiding, productive, population. Our sheriff and his deputies are present and ready to help, protect and counsel any resident who asks for it. I have never had occasion to be reprimanded by them, nor do I want to, but they are up to the task if needed.
One last thing,if you like growing your own fresh vegetables, the climate is perfect for that. If you are not a gardener there are summer markets and Pick Your Own farms waiting to see you. I have only touched on the tip of all the agreeable situations here in our area. If you are sick and tired of all the snow, and ice problems of the north, come south, we have the cure.
Showing posts with label small towns. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small towns. Show all posts
Friday, February 25, 2011
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dentists
Today I had a dental appointment with a very good dentist here in Gainesville. He was recommened to me by my old one in Tucker. It has proven to be a wise choice as he is an implant and reconstruction specialist. I stipulated that I did not want to sit in the chair with my mouth wide open for longer than an hour, so good to his word he had me out of there in that time frame.
Later I was talking to the lady who cuts my hair. She said she needs to have a wisdom tooth pulled. She is 60 years old so I questioned her as to why she is just now doing that when the recommended age is 15. She explained but I do not envy her one bit ! I recall my son having this done when he was 15 and he was "knocked out" for the procedure and it took some days of recovery before he felt like a member of the human race again. I was 23 when a dentist recommended this procedure for me. I do not recall that it was all that bad and perhaps it will not be for my friend but I feel an earlier age is more prudent. For one thing your mommy can look after you !
Once when I went in to see my primary doctor in Decatur he noted that my blood pressure was up. I said, "Well, I have just come from the dentist and that would give anyone the "heeby jeebies". He had a good laugh over that, but I was serious. In the little town where I grew up there were only three dentists. I was friends with the daughters of two of the dentists and the third, a husband of my sister's friend was the one that my parents sent me to. I say sent, as I just marched up about two flights of stairs all by myself and had teeth filled, and teeth pulled and with no novocain !! I was in my early teens. I must have wanted pretty teeth with a passion, to do that.
My brother marveled that his daughter was hypnotized when she had dental care. I had the option of taking gas but it did not appeal to me at all. I would prefer a fat, numb lip and that is what I got!!
At a young age I had treatment that fell into the category of orthodontics, though it was not called that, nor was it done with wires and rubber bands over a period of time. It involved pulling four teeth, one upper and one lower on both sides of my mouth. I do not believe my parents were even consulted. Our dentist just said you need to have these teeth pulled to make room for the others. I had a small jaw and my teeth just did not fit in there very well, or would not as I grew. perhaps it was the best option under the circumstances as no one questioned it, least of all me.
I should "quitmybitchin" as a lot of people my age have already said goodbye to the teeth they were born with. My mother had all of hers pulled at age 20. That may be why she saw to it that we had plenty of milk growing up for she must not have. As a child of German immigrants who lost her father when she was in the 8th grade, dental care was not on her mother's priority list.
So much has changed over the years that speculation is pointless. I am glad that my grandchildren have the many options open to them in the 21st century. Alas, there is much more turmoil in the world being brought to their doorsteps. Things I could never have imagined. It all makes me think of an old lady years ago when television just came along. She told someone she had no intention of getting on an airplane. She was going to sit at home and watch television like God intended. Amen sister !!
Later I was talking to the lady who cuts my hair. She said she needs to have a wisdom tooth pulled. She is 60 years old so I questioned her as to why she is just now doing that when the recommended age is 15. She explained but I do not envy her one bit ! I recall my son having this done when he was 15 and he was "knocked out" for the procedure and it took some days of recovery before he felt like a member of the human race again. I was 23 when a dentist recommended this procedure for me. I do not recall that it was all that bad and perhaps it will not be for my friend but I feel an earlier age is more prudent. For one thing your mommy can look after you !
Once when I went in to see my primary doctor in Decatur he noted that my blood pressure was up. I said, "Well, I have just come from the dentist and that would give anyone the "heeby jeebies". He had a good laugh over that, but I was serious. In the little town where I grew up there were only three dentists. I was friends with the daughters of two of the dentists and the third, a husband of my sister's friend was the one that my parents sent me to. I say sent, as I just marched up about two flights of stairs all by myself and had teeth filled, and teeth pulled and with no novocain !! I was in my early teens. I must have wanted pretty teeth with a passion, to do that.
My brother marveled that his daughter was hypnotized when she had dental care. I had the option of taking gas but it did not appeal to me at all. I would prefer a fat, numb lip and that is what I got!!
At a young age I had treatment that fell into the category of orthodontics, though it was not called that, nor was it done with wires and rubber bands over a period of time. It involved pulling four teeth, one upper and one lower on both sides of my mouth. I do not believe my parents were even consulted. Our dentist just said you need to have these teeth pulled to make room for the others. I had a small jaw and my teeth just did not fit in there very well, or would not as I grew. perhaps it was the best option under the circumstances as no one questioned it, least of all me.
I should "quitmybitchin" as a lot of people my age have already said goodbye to the teeth they were born with. My mother had all of hers pulled at age 20. That may be why she saw to it that we had plenty of milk growing up for she must not have. As a child of German immigrants who lost her father when she was in the 8th grade, dental care was not on her mother's priority list.
So much has changed over the years that speculation is pointless. I am glad that my grandchildren have the many options open to them in the 21st century. Alas, there is much more turmoil in the world being brought to their doorsteps. Things I could never have imagined. It all makes me think of an old lady years ago when television just came along. She told someone she had no intention of getting on an airplane. She was going to sit at home and watch television like God intended. Amen sister !!
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