Slow down and don’t run the stop sign
The intersection at Hamilton Road and Airport Road has a three-way stop, and those stop signs are pretty obvious. However, people miss the Hamilton Road stop sign with alarming regularity and knock down part of the fence surrounding the airport.
It happened again a couple of weeks ago, and it’s unlikely anyone was seriously hurt. However, you could probably predict it wasn’t a five-star day for the person who did it (or their car). The sad thing about it is all drivers need to do in order to avoid missing that stop sign is to slow down a little.
As I looked at that fence again, I thought about how busy our lives are and how seldom we slow down. Jobs, often with overtime and/or a long commute, housework, yard work, and the list goes on. I’m not saying those aren’t priorities because they are. We need that job, and our houses need to be livable. But taking a break and slowing down to enjoy the lives we’re working so hard for should be a priority as well.
I wonder if we couldn’t do a few less hours of overtime, stop worrying about spotless houses and home-cooked meals, or making our yard a showcase. We could then use the hours we saved to spend time enriching our lives by doing things that are just plain fun and doing them with the people we love.
Enjoying yourself doesn’t have to be expensive, and I’ve never heard a kid complain about dust on top of the fridge or peanut butter sandwiches for dinner after a day spent doing fun things with their family. Our area abounds with things you could do. I’ve listed a few of them.
- Lakeside Park is one of the nicest parks I’ve ever seen. It offers a wonderful playground, walking paths, fishing and swimming and all at no charge. Pack a lunch and take the kids. The park also has tennis courts, which can be used for a minimal cost or with a yearly pass. The Splash Pad is open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and is closed for maintenance on Mondays. Admission is only $3 for children ages 3 and over. Children under the age of 2 and parents are admitted free.
- Our Pell City Library has their Summer Reading Program in full swing. The library has an entertaining and varied program every Wednesday at 10:30, and it’s open to everyone regardless of age. While they’re there, kids can register for the reading program. They then get to choose something from the “treasure chest” for every book they read through June 28th. The “Teen Reading Program” and “Adult Reading Program” will follow after for a full summer of reading opportunities.
- A little bit of a drive further offers you some more options. One of them is the Coyote Drive-In Theater Complex in Leeds, which is open every night, and the cost is $5 per person. On Tuesdays, they offer a double feature at no extra charge. This year they have added miniature golf.
- Quintard Mall in Oxford had its “Terrific Kids Tuesday” kickoff this week. This free activity is from 11 – 1 every Tuesday near the food court in the mall. They have “bounce houses” and face painting during that time and a wild animal show at noon. They also offer “Summer Kids Flicks” at 10:00 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday through August 2nd. Cost is $4 for anyone and includes free popcorn and a drink.
- I’ve saved the best suggestion for last, and it’s for our seniors. It’s also the one exception to “slowing down.” No way is that going to happen with this group. The Pell City Senior Center already averages more than 50 daily attendees, and the group is very active. The Center has now expanded its hours to accommodate even more people. Kristin Copeland, the Senior Center Director, has already added some activities and has several other new ones planned. After doing an interest poll among attendees, she is hoping to add a writing group, a book club, and even a monthly newsletter. That newsletter would invite regular attendees to write for it and would possibly highlight some of their seniors, telling their stories. Said Copeland, “My heart and passion are in working with seniors. They still have so much to offer, and they also deserve the best life has to offer. That includes being happy, social and involved.” The Center’s new hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m., and lunch is available at 11:00 a.m. on those days for a donation of $2. The Center is also open one Saturday a month for dances from 5 -7 p.m. They have other activities for seniors (60+), which are too numerous to list. You can get more information by calling 205-338-6589.
If you don’t slow down and take some time to enjoy your family and your summer, you won’t be running a stop sign and knocking down a fence. Nor will you be paying the cost for damage to that fence or your car. But you’ll be missing something much more important…a chance to create memories with the people you love in a summer you never get a chance to live again. And that is priceless. I hope I run into you (pun intended) at some of these fun places this summer. And if I can convince myself I’m able to keep up with those seniors, I may just drop in there as well.
Rita Aiken Moritz is an awarded poet, published author, and the President and founder of Writers Anonymous. Check out her blog, books or get in touch at www.ritamoritz.com.