The Yocals

WE thought we'd try to introduce you to some of our local yocals around here so you can visualize who it is we're talking about sometimes. Keep in mind, guys in hardware stores don't really like having their picture taken, so these are the best I've been able to come up with to date. People around here still think you aren't supposed to smile at the camera too ... hmmm. Anyway, from the top is Steve Brinkley. He owns and operates Brinkley Hardware, part of a long line of Brinkleys who have had the store since the early 1900s. And his "pa-paw" built a lot of the houses on our street. As you can see in the background of the photos, they sell EVERYTHING and I'm sure it's highly likely there is still inventory in the store from the early 1900s. But, I assure you the prices have gone up with the times!!!! ;-) The second man is David (darned if I know his last name?) who is one of the Floridian transplants from Ft. Lauderdale. I think David and his family have been here for a while. They go back to Florida for a month or so every year when it gets painfully cold around here ... smart!!! The third photo is Mike Davis. He is also our backyard neighbor, and has been most instrumental in our yard staying mowed!! Mike was born and raised here, as was his wife, Kim and their daughter, Kaley. Mike is our local councilman (republican ... in a big way --- don't you know he just loves me!??!) as well. Steve is married to Mike's mom and they collect classic T-birds. (57s in black, white and red so far) They show the cars at the Elizabethon Classic Car rally on Sat. nights. These three gentlemen have "kept us in line" since we moved here, and we've certainly donated plenty to the Brinkley Hardware bank account trying to get this house live-able. The guys have kept us from making some mistakes, and encouraged us to do it their way. The fourth picture is our next door neighbor, Bruce King and his girlfriend, Beth. Between Bruce and Mike, our house is still standing from all the time being empty, and possibly years before that. Bruce is a real local, born and raised in Roaring Creek (the heart of the mountains ... the hurricanes in FL, Ivan in particular, nearly flooded this world here and rumor has it, made the creek's roar even louder than it was originally!) Bruce is also a Cherokee Indian and measures about 3 feet across his shoulders! He is a retired head warden of the TN jail up here. Beth is from NY and we get along very well. She's been here long enough to have developed a very unique accent, consisting of NY and southern all mixed up together. As my son, Jon says, "her accent's all over the place!" He's right!

So ... now you know some of our immediate neighborhood! I'll post more as I get them to give me permission for the photos. These people are very humble, not much for show and tell! But we're trying to pull them out of those shells! Until next time!

Cheers to all! Paul & Cheri