2A The Madison Enterprise-Recorder www.greenepublishing.com O iewpoints& Opinion. Friday, February 8, 2008 7~~jN\ Jacob's Ladder' Jacob Bembry Columnist Clark Kent Is A Wimp I have decided what I am. I have tried to cover it up for years, but I guess it's time that I admit it to myself and to everyone else. I'm sure that the secret will shock many, but to some, they'll just shrug their shoulders and say, "Oh, that's all! I already knew that!" What I am is a wimp! I decided for sure that I am a wimp on Tuesday, Feb- ruary 5, 2008. It wasn't a fight with another person that made me decide I was a wimp. It was a fight with my body, wracked with pain. My friend, Rob Covell, calls me Clark Kent. I kind of get a kick out of that, because everyone knows that Clark Kent is Superman's, true identity It makes me think that I'm Superman, even though I know the only reason that Rob calls me Clark Kent is because I work for a newspaper. Last week, I missed three days in a row because of the pain, but I still didn't think I was a wimp. Nope. Clark Kent is Superman and that was what I was. I was faster than a speeding bullet, strong enough to stop a speeding locomotive...Look, up in the air, it's a bird, it's a plane... it's Jacob and he's a wimp. I returned to work this past Monday, still in pain, but knowing that I needed to work and knowing that I was needed at work. I was Clark Kent and I could get the job done. The pain seemed to be slowly going away until Mon- day night, when it began. to eat and gnaw at me again. Tuesday morning, my body, screamed at me not to go to work, but my firm resolve refused to listen. "You don't tell Superman what to do," I told the pain. In the office, disguised as mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, my firm resolve began to ebb and the pain began to increase. "I AM A WIMP!" I feel like crying out, but I don't. Maybe the pain hurts too bad for me to scream. With God's help, Clark Kent (Jacob Bembry) is still at work, realizing that he's not Superman. I have a call in to my doctor, but my plans are to stay at work. Clark Kent may have wimped out, but there's still enough Su- perman left in me, thanks to my Lord Jesus Christ, try and make it through another day of pain. S Pres s Arss - Award Winning Newspaper ic fbmabis on Enterprise-Recotber P.O. Box 772 Madison, FL 32341 1695 S SR 53 Madison, FL 32340 (850) 973-4141 Fax: (850) 973-4121 greenepub@greenepublishing.com http://www.greenepublishing.com PUBLISHER Emerald Greene Kinsley ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ted Ensminger EDITOR Jacob Bembry PRODUCTION MANGER Lisa Greene STAFF WRITER Michael Curtis and T\rra Meserve GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jessica Higginbotham and Heather Bowen TYPESETTER/SUBSCRIPTION Brvant Thigpen ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Mary Ellen Greene. Dorothy McKinney, Sharon Bedingfield and Jeanette Dunn CLASSIFIED AND LEGAL ADS Debra Lewis Deadline for classified is Monday at 3:00 p.m. Deadline for Legal Adiertisement is Monday at 5pm. There will be a '3"charge for Affidavits. CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Sheree Miller SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In County $30 Out-of-County $38 (State & local taxes included) -Since 1865- "Telling it like it is with honesty and integrity".- 'Cbe miaoison 6nterprise-Recorber Madison Recorder established 1865, New Enterprise established 1901, Consolidated June 25, 1908 Published weekly by Greene Publishing, Inc., 1695 S. SR 53, Madison, FL 32340. Periodicals postage PAID at Madison Post Of- fice 32340. Publication No. 177.400. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Madison En- terprise-Recorder, P.O. Drawer 772, Madison, FL 32341-0772. This newspaper reserves the right to reject any advertisement, news matter, or subscriptions that, in the opinion of the manage- ment, will not be for the best interest of the county and/or the own- ers of this newspaper, and to investigate any advertisement submit- ted. All photos given to Greene Publishing, Inc. for publication in this newspaper must be picked up no later than 6 months from the date they are dropped off. Greene Publishing, Inc. will not be responsible for photos beyond said deadline. Bruner cont from page 1A 1956 to 1958. Bruner was among the founding faculty members of North Florida Junior College when it opened its doors in 1958. She taught biology, history and social science and was the first director of financial aid. She later served as college registrar, director of admissions and advisor to foreign students. A Feb. 16, 1959 article from The Timuquana Trail- blazer described Mildred Bruner as someone who "con- siders it a privilege and a challenge ...bringing out the potential abilities and helping... students to attain max- imum achievement." Upon her retirement from NFJC in 1981, she said, "I saw the need for an institution of higher education in this area. It is a dream come true. Helping to lay the groundwork was a gratifying experience. I leave with the feeling that NFJC has performed great services to the area." She continues to support the educational dreams of young people through an endowment gift dedicated to scholarships for Take Stock in Children students who will attend NFCC, providing a continuous source of scholarships for years to come. Bruner takes special pride in recognizing the poten- tial of young people and revels in the successes of her many students through the years. She has seen former students become teachers, legislators, attorneys, judges, ministers, business, military and community leaders, including current NFCC president, Morris G. Steen, Jr. She has been active in the Madison community through the Madison County Historical Society, Madi- son County Memorial Hospital Pink Ladies, Madison Woman's Club, Garden Club, Delta Kappa Gamma and the Madison Education Credit Union. She is also a dedi- cated member of the Madison First Baptist Church. What's more, she has traveled extensively, including a European tour at the age of 80. The Bruner Scholarship will be awarded annually in May to students seeking an associate in arts degree at NFCC. Students must be residents of Taylor, Madison or Jefferson counties, be full-time students and main- tain a 2.5 GPA. For more information about this or other scholar- ships and giving opportunities, contact Foundation Ex- ecutive Director Gina Rutherford by telephone 850.973- 9414 or email rutherfordg@nfcc.edu. Scholarship infor- mation .is available on the NFCC website at www.nfcc.edu. Thompson cont from page 1A with honors in political science. He earned a bachelor's degree and master's degree from KSU and began teach- ing at the undergraduate level in Kansas. Thompson served as athletic director and coached basketball, cross-country, track, golf and his great love - Iteftis. He taughtAn-erican' and Russian history eco: nomics, government and current events. Thompson was instrumental in helping establish tennis and cross country competition at the junior col- lege level. Highlights of his coaching career are the 1970 Division II tennis championship and assisting as coach to the North Florida Junior College Sentinel basketball team that led the nation in scoring. Thompson retired from NFCC in 1987 and was listed in the annual NFCC catalog as professor of physical ed- ucation emeritus. In a nomination letter for the Florida Community College Athletic Hall of Fame, NFCC President Morris G. Steen, Jr. wrote, "Coach Louis Thompson came to NFJC with a strong background in tennis and a healthy passion for all sports. As our basketball and track coach during the 1960-61 season, Coach Thompson single- handedly recruited players, scheduled games... conduct- ed practices, provided transportation... paid for away game meals out of his own pocket, managed, super- vised, and coached the teams. Coach Thompson did all of -this without an assistant coach." Fellow instructor, Joe Akerman, NFCC history in- structor, described Thompson as "in every way the com- plete teacher." Thompson's wife, the former Virginia Glotzbach of Marshall, Kansas, also was employed by NFCC and retired after 22 years of service. The Thompsons had What d( two sons, Stewart and 'Andy ab Thompson, an avid ten- nis player, continued to give tennis lessons to chil- .. RobertI dren of the area on the old NFCC tennis courts. "One thi U7ILPPIE6 YSA L E GREENE Publishing, Ic .9een TIliind Sheree Miller -conmnst . Valentine' Day Love is in the air this week as many are thinking about their loved ones and preparing for Valentine's Day. For some, this holiday is just another day. Others may be celebrating an anniversary. Some may be expect- ing extravagant gifts like long-stemmed roses or dia- mond jewelry Some may expect gifts like candy, a spe- cial dinner out, or simple gifts. Myself, I don't really expect any extravagant gifts. My husband's gifts are usually more practical, like small appliances or something for the house that I would like to have. Sometimes, he buys me some bedding plants for my flower beds. As they will continue to strive and survive for months or years, instead of dying with- in a week or less. We have celebrated more than 30 Valentine's Days together. In the early years, he would buy fancy heart- shaped boxes of candies, he also let, the children help him pick them out. I admit they were always pretty, but I never really cared for chocolate candy too much,, so he and the boys would eat the chocolate and I would save the pretty boxes I don't ever recall receiving diamonds or roses for Valentine's Day. My husband knows how much I enjoy my gardens, so I was always pleased with his tradition of buying me bedding plants, hanging plants or rosebushes. I know I'm loved when he wants me to be reminded by new flowers blooming every time I walk out my door, not just on Valentine's day. I have also been taken out to eat on Valentine's Day over the years. Love, in the traditional sense, has always been an important part of our marriage, and has always been in our home. Although love and marriage in this day and age is different, there is love in everyone's heart, it is meant to be given and shared with others, as many do. Love comes from the heart, not the mouth. Part of love is forgiveness, you will always have ups and downs in any relationship, with spouses, significant others, parents and children. The arguments and mis- understandings, and disagreements, are all part of the Love. They will all make the Love stronger. No one has a perfect marriage, there is no such thing, but there is a lot of strong love in this world and that's the best we can hope for. My husband Kevin and I never claimed to have a perfect marriage but our hearts have become one and we are happy still, even after celebrating 30 plus "Hap- py" Valentine's Days together and we feel we still have more to come. My Happy Valentine's Day wishes go out to my hus- band Kevin, my children, my grandchildren and my ex- tended family, as well as my readers and co-workers. So ,go out and catch some of that Love and pass it on to everyone you see this week. See You Next Week!! I Hope Everyone Has A Very Happy Valentine's Day!! SDoanny Ryaols T ITA I DE RMY 7285 County Road 795 Live Oak, FL 3 86.3621620 (: "Over 30 Years Experience" By: Tyrra Meserve ) you think is the best thing out living in Madison? Roumillat ingthat isn't F' ~ Sarah Pike with sons Fisher and Marshall "The Christian community." Francine Williams "My friends, family and the people. Everyone is so nice." Jockory Smith "Everybody staying out of trouble" good, I moved here because of the lower taxes and they just raised them. " Barbara Anderson "The nature and the people. If you ever need something, everyone is right here to help." Cutler Richardson "There's hardly any traffic. "