Well here we are, it's springtime again and little game chickens are running around looking for bugs. It's my favorite time of the year. The dogwoods and red buds are blooming and since I am an aboriculturist it takes me back to my younger days and my work in the landscape business.

When I met Richard Bell in Chapel Hill, N.C. he wanted me to do some work for Governor Luther Hodges. He lived on Rose Bud Lane.

I was selling chickens and trying to run a business. I had people working for me and I had to make a living and see that my workers had work to do.

Felton Roberts, Lucky Rushing, brother Roy, and myself were selling Jarrett, Bruner's and Murphy's at Sandy Ridge Pit at Dan Valley. It was hard to get up at 4:00 a.m. and work roosters and be at work at 7:00 a.m., but we were young and we could go like that.

We were always looking for new blood and we heard that a man in Raleigh, N.C. had some good Leiper Hatch. We got together, four or five of us, and rode over there. His name was Percy Flowers. When we pulled up to his house, before we could get out of the car, Mr. Flowers came to the window and asked if he could help us. We said that we heard he had some good Leiper Hatch and Law Gray and wanted to see them and maybe buy some from you. He said, "I don't show my chickens to anyone and I don't sell them and I don't give them away. So you boys wasted a trip." Even so, everyone had a good time and nice things to say about it and that's the rest of the story. Anyway, everyone went home happy.

I went back to work on Monday for Governor Hodges and he said he got his paycheck from the state of N.C. Some of my people and I were working and I asked if that means I get a raise. He said, "Let me show you how much my check is for." I looked at the check and it was for $1.00. I said, "A man with your ability, why would you work a year for $1.00?"

He said he, "...wanted to give something back to the old girl. She has given me so much over the years." I said, "I understand Governor Hodges."

That's just one of my memories of Rose Bud Lane. In Chapel Hill I worked a lot for Miss Betty Smith on Rose Mary Street. She wrote, "Joy in the Morning" and they made a movie of it. She was a great lady. I was always glad when she called me so I could talk to her. She brought a little sunshine into my life.

Shake someone's hand and tell them you love them.

SPRING TIME
Dedicated to the memory of someone who loved these mountains...
and the people who live here

As you walk where the petals fall from the apple trees, cherry trees, and the peach trees, dogwoods and red buds, I will walk with you. I will always be with you because love and family are forever.

And when the sun comes up in the morning and the dew is on the grass you will know someone is there to light up your life because I will always be with you. You will see tracks in the dew and know someone is there. I will never leave you because love and my spirit will always be with you.

Godd bless in death we part in your hearts and mind, I still live as you walk. I will walk with you and you will know I am there.
-Big Max