A Word from the South

Well, we be leaving middle Georgia, heading for Pine Lakes Campground just north of Columbus. Hopefully it’s two hours warmer. The Camellia Festival is supposed to be going on the second week in February, so we don’t expect the 19 degree frostiness like we’ve been having. We got the bottom tail of the big New York storm, I guess.

I’m a little tired and looking forward to a few days off. When we’re working on a job, it’s hard to quit working, even on the weekends. As long as we’re in the area, I can spot businesses I haven’t called on (bail bondsmen and tattoo parlors) or potential advertisers who have somehow dodged my seven calls leaving me teetering on the edge of
harassment. If they only knew I would rather get a “NO” than leave without an answer.

We’re leaving Indian Falls State Park with a couple of large sales pending. I’m sure the folks involved told me they wanted to buy an ad, but I can’t wrap it up, can’t reach them. Closing a sale is not always easy for me, and closing a sale in Georgia is very difficult. This southern experience is most interesting for us, and one that must be experienced first hand. Sometimes I feel we have dropped into the Stepford Wives. Everyone is in sync, knows the rules and understands what’s going on except us. Instead of the usual turn downs (won’t work, too expensive, etc.), here, I get “We must politely decline, but I thank you so much for your persistence in trying to help us.” Honest! Word for word! Looking to get my hair cut, I asked a woman how she knew whether a beauty shop was for white or black hair. She said, “Well, we just know, but I don’t know how you would know.” Very little is straight forward here. It’s hard to take things at face value. We can’t even see the face. Segregation is still very obvious even though there are no signs or instructions. We’ve done very well in sales. I’m not sure why. I guess it’s just that “persistence in trying to hep ’em!”

Karen and Mike Stahlberg came to see us a week ago. They drove down from Marietta where they flew in for a Superbowl Party. It was great to see friends from home. We had a little champagne and finished the wonderful smoked salmon my brother sent for Christmas and marveled at Mikey’s new titanium knees.

We’re staying at the Bird’s Nest again, on our way to Columbus. This little park at the Blue Bird Coachworks is so great. They just wave us in because we’re driving a ‘Bird, and everything is free. I don’t see any camellias, though, and the pecan trees are not in bloom yet.

We send warm wishes and hugs for Valentine’s Day.

Sam and Dave