Peeping through my Venetian blind and seeing all the roses in bloom put me in mind of Mother’s Day, coming up May 10. If you, dear reader, are still blessed with the presence of your mother, wear a red rose on that Sunday. If not, wear a white rose in her memory.

Seen at the Friday-night buffet at Tabby D’s were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Ward and their friends from Dothan, Jimmy and Tammy Cox, their son Brian, his wife Adrienne, their little son Jay, Tammy’s father, Charles Blackwell, and Tammy’s sister, Cindy; Walter Wytch, Victoria Washington, Harley and Wanda Wytch; Esker and Ann Thomasson, their daughter-in-law, Mary, and Mary’s daughter, Beth; the Jackson family from Brewton, Martha Duggan, and Glenn Smith.

Dr. Wayne Johnson celebrated AND CELEBRATED his 80th birthday (April 16).

On April 15 the medical staff at Covington Family Care provided a luncheon catered by David’s Catfish House (one of the doctor’s favorite eating places). The fete included singing, birthday cards, and a special gift from Dr. Boyington (a big Auburn fan) of two ALABAMA sports chairs.

That evening Dr. Johnson and his wife, Lenora, were guests of Bill, Maria, and Sammy Thigpen at their home in Forest Hills. Again, a delicious meal was served with two of the good doctor’s favorite dishes, grilled salmon and creamed spinach. There were also chocolate cake, birthday toasts, and a special treat by Sammy, who played blues, rag, and gospel music on his harmonica.

Thursday night, Dr. Johnson’s actual birthday, he and his wife and their good friends, Danny and Barbara Posey were guests of Jerry and Linda Andrews. Andrews had cooked a Ritz-Carlton, lemon, pound cake in his new Pampered Chef bundt pan. The cake was not only delicious, but was beautifully presented. These bundt pans are no longer available through the PC company, so Andrews had to undertake considerable research in order to find one. His efforts were greatly appreciated by the group.

April 18 Dr. Johnson’s children, Suzanne, Ken, and Brooks, treated their dad to lunch at David’s. They were joined by his grandson, Campbell, and Suzanne’s friend, Allen, who contributed a carton of hand-picked strawberries from a Loxley strawberry farm. The group enjoyed the strawberries with pound cake, and Dr. Johnson blew out the candles one more time!

Jerry and Teri Short of Montgomery honored his mother, Wilma (Short) Moore, with a birthday celebration on her 80th birthday, Saturday, April 18, in the fellowship hall of First Baptist Church, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m..

With the help of Wilma’s husband, Morgan, and his daughter, Linda, the room was beautifully decorated with birthday favors, cake, punch, finger foods, cheese straws, fruit, and nuts, all accented with Wilma’s favorite color, purple.

A table at the entrance provided a place for guests to write notes of congratulations, using a violet piece of paper with a fragment of purple ribbon attached.

The receiving line included Wilma, her husband Morgan Moore, her son Jerry, his wife Teri, along with Wilma’s grandsons, Scott and Gavin Short, and her step-daughter, Linda (Moore) Neff, and Linda’s son, Daniel E. Neff II.

The birthday cake was a large sheet cake with purple icing and a large 80 on top of the cake. The numbers were made out of small, purple cupcakes.

Food coloring was added to the punch to give it a purple color.

As guests came and went, they sang “Happy Birthday” to Wilma three different times. Her husband Morgan played the melody on the baby grand piano in the fellowship hall.

The lovely and gracious Mrs. Moore enjoyed the afternoon tremendously and invited everyone back for her 90th birthday!

Once again, I ask the citizens of Andalusia to join the Covington Historical Society and pay its annual dues of $25 to help preserve the history of our county, whether you attend meetings or not. Mail to CHS, P.O., Box 1582, Andalusia, Alabama 36420.

To commemorate the Sesquicentennial of the War Between the States, let us return to this month 150 years ago.

Northern General Sherman’s peace plan with Southern General Johnston was rejected, so they agreed to meet again to decide.

Jon Wilkes Booth was shot and died, pursued by Federal oldiers.

Southern General Johnston surrendered to General Sherman on terms similar to those offered to Gen. Robert E. Lee.

A steamboat, the Sultana, burned, killing 1238, mainly Federal soldiers, just released from Southern prisons.

Near Mobile, Alabama, officers agreed to a truce to surrender Southern troops in Alabama and Mississippi.

The mysterian is Miss Mattie Waters. Who was she?

Recent birthdays are those of Edward Gibbon, British author of the great history, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; and Joseph Addison, the English essayist.

Addison’s style of writing was influential, imitated a hundred years after his death, the basis for this writer’s style.

Now, gentle reader, allow me to join Buffalo Bob Smith in encouraging each of us to be in his place of worship this weekend, Lord willing.

Fare thee well.