I’ve been awfully busy getting my garden in. I finally finished building a deer fence, and armadillo barrier, and bird netting.  I was so mad when I came out this morning and found a coon who finagled his way in somehow, but couldn’t get back out. I guess I’m going to need to add another layer of garden security. If anyone has any extra razor wire, can you give me a call? I’d be willing to trade some squash, if it makes this year.

I had planned to write this column about how young people just don’t understand how to save money in tough times. But gracious me, yesterday, I had a most disturbing experience where a couple of young people surprised me by taking frugality a little too far. I know everyone in town is already talking about this anyway, so I thought I’d share a firsthand account.

As most of you know, my dear friend, Eleanor Swartz, passed away. Eleanor knew the value of a dime, and made sure her family understood it, too. The whole clan is cheap, and I mean that as a compliment. Eleanor’s grandson, Ted, has been going steady with Carol Thomas since they were in the third grade. Both are now all grown up. Everyone knows those two are going to marry someday. The problem is Ted doesn’t want to spend money on a wedding, and everyone knows Carol’s family doesn’t have a pot to pee in, bless their hearts.

Well, yesterday, I’m sitting right there in the pew at 5th Baptist, at Eleanor’s funeral, and there’s not a dry eye in the building. It was a beautiful service, but that funeral home had poor Eleanor dolled up like a French whore. She never wore an ounce of makeup a day in her life.