On the exact same day last week, I had a doctor’s appointment, a municipal election and Game 6 of the World Series to keep me busy.
Suffice to say, I had a lot on my plate Nov. 2.
The doctor’s visit was rather remarkable. A full gamut of lab work was ordered, as was X-rays for my chronic tension headaches and an ultrasound of my gallbladder. Medicine was also prescribed for my multi-year battle with acid reflux – a real mood killer when you have to excuse yourself for 20-30 minutes at a restaurant to go purge yourself in a public setting.
Reminder: I am only 32 years old. However, as one of my longest friends in Ellijay, Ga., so aptly put it when we were discussing recent health struggles, “You were overdue for an oil change.”
It’s true. I had not been to the doctor in years until recently. Foolish of me, yes, but I was one of those who has medical insurance but did not use it. “Toughed it out,” as the expression goes. Like that really gets you anywhere, except being more miserable.
And, yes, gray hair has began to peek through my natural brown, which has drawn a surprisingly high amount of interest from literally everyone I encounter.
Did I mention I am 32? I did? OK, good. As the evening continued, I joined those gathered outside the Graham County Board of Elections office. They were eagerly awaiting the outcome of the municipal ballots that were cast, as well as the decision whether to allow the sale of malt beverages and unfortified wine within Robbinsville’s town limits.
When the final results were read, the crowd acted about how you would expect: mixed. Some shook their head in disgust; others called anyone they could get on the phone to confirm the outcome.
In my haste to finish The Graham Star that night – and knowing we had all witnessed history – I ran the headline, “County goes wet …” across the top of the front page. As it was rather astutely pointed out to me Monday morning, technically the “county” is not wet.
Yes, most of the businesses in the county that will be able to sell alcohol are situated within the town limits – with outlying resorts sprinkled around the borders of Graham already selling it before the vote – so I checked after the conversation to find the proper term. Graham is now a “moist” county, in that the entire county will not sell alcohol, but it is allowed in one or more municipality.
But in retrospect, there is an entire episode of How I Met Your Mother dedicated to the use of the word “moist.” Go seek it out (season 2, episode 16, for those pressed for time) and ... I think I made the right call, in regards to how defined a certain state of liquid.
We then wrapped up last week’s edition in time for me to catch the final 1½ innings of my beloved Atlanta Braves’ World Series victory, live (of course I went back and watched Max Fried’s dominant start in all its glory later. Also, Jorge Soler’s home run just passed Pluto). Since I have grown up a die-hard fan (and can confirm that the bandwagon is now full), the 26-year drought without a championship was long overdue. Not quite as long as the Phillies’ (that one’s for you, Matthew) or the Cubs (you’re welcome, Mark), but it was bittersweet getting to watch the stigma of Georgia sports teams being wiped clean – until I remembered that the Atlanta United FC won the Major League Soccer’s U.S. Open Cup in 2019 (shoutout to Sarah).
But I digress.
As I sat in the empty newsroom late Nov. 2, watching the team I have followed – and even had the pleasure of covering, as a member of the media – celebrate some 900 miles away from home, emotion just overwhelmed me.
What a day.
Kevin Hensley is publisher/editor of The Graham Star. Last week, he had an epiphany: as his pants were down around his ankles during X-rays, he would have to drop his lower garments more often for medical purposes as he grows older. He then came to the conclusion that he might soon have a midlife crisis.