Beech Tree News Network

Last week was one of those weeks that sucked all of my brain cells dry.  When I sat down to write this column, I had nothing.  It was then that I hit upon this idea.  Why not ask my husband, Garey, to write my column.  I approached him with the idea.  As predicted, he said, “Are you crazy!”  

“No,” I responded, “just think about it.  You will have full reign to write about anything you want to write about, and I promise, I won’t edit anything out.  I will even give you monetary compensation.”

“If I do this, the only compensation I want is your promise that I will never have to do this again,” he said.

“I promise,” I said, and it was a done deal.  What follows is Garey Hughes’ first and last column.

The Non Writer of the Family

By Garey Hughes

Well, it’s finally happened.  After years of trying to be invisible, I have been picked for an unpleasant detail.  Even while in the US Army, I would use the tactic of “never ask a question, never stand in the front row, never let them know your name,” and you would avoid 90% of the unpleasant details.  I volunteered for nothing!  But my wife found my hiding place.  

I tried to warn her.  I even told her how I failed my English comp class in college.  I told her there was room for only one writer in this family.  She wouldn’t listen, but after today, she will know.  The trouble is so will everyone else!

It’s not that I mind her asking me to do stuff to help her out when she’s in a tight spot.  I’ll do anything I can for her.  I’ll fix the lawnmower, fix the car, fix the sink and fix the roof.  I’ll hoe the garden, mow the lawn and weed-eat.  I’ll even do the dishes, do laundry, sweep floors and cook.  Those are things I’m good at.  But this!  

Oh, I’m a good reader, but that doesn’t make me a good writer, so my best option is to write about something I know.  I do know good writing when I see it.  My wife is one of the best I know. (Note from Cheryl: I did not make him write that, I swear.)  I love the way she puts a story together.  She has a way of drawing a picture with her words.  The story line always fits into place.  When it’s comical, it makes me laugh.  When it’s serious, it makes me think.  When its’s sad, I feel it too.  I always read her work.  I seldom read it before it is sent to Beech Tree, because so much of it has to do with something crazy I’ve done, and I’d rather be surprised like everyone else.  I’ve told her many times that if anything happens to me, she’ll have to retire her pen.

I also love the words of Lewis Grizzard (Atlanta Journal), Rick Bragg (Southern Living), and the Grumpy Gardener (Southern Living).  The clever way they put their stories together is very similar to Cheryl’s writing.  It just comes natural for some folks.

Now, speaking of what comes natural, I think I will put down this pen, go get my hoe and set out some sweet potatoes.  I might even put a set of blades on the lawn mower.  This pen is just too much work!