Everett Taylor: Taylor's Yarns

By EVERETT TAYLOR

America’s highways are making their summer vacation call for people throughout the U.S.A. to visit other parts of their country.

Gasoline prices are high, but a lot of people still seem to be finding enough dollars in their vacation fund to venture onto the highways to other points, near and far. Politicians are about the only ones who can afford jet fuel for their trips this year.

It’s far from the horse and wagon transport pioneers used when they got a yearning or inspiration to look at new parts of the nation, but there still is some sense of adventure in packing up a motorized vehicle for a modern highway journey.

There is a lot to see on the vast network of highways and roads that extend in one form or another into the innermost parts of the country. Even for those who tend to steer their course mainly along the major highways there is an ever-changing panorama reflecting the many variations of America.

One big impression that came through from a recent trip through several states in the eastern United States, mostly along those major highways, is that there is no shortage of trees. That might come as a surprise to some people.

We hear a lot about how our trees are disappearing and the importance of planting trees. Yet thousands of miles of highway in states like Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Tennessee are lined with trees as far as one can see.

A lot of folks have been planting trees, it would appear, or perhaps it just comes naturally for different varieties to propagate on their own.

Those tree-lined highways do not end at the Mississippi. They extend all the way into East Texas.

Looking for the unusual sight, sign, slogan or bumper sticker can provide some interesting and, at times amusing results. After a few days, most of them have slipped from the memory, but one particular bit of advice observed in a faraway state left a more lasting impression.

It said: If at first you don’t succeed, don’t take up sky diving.

On the subject of motorized vehicles, people attending the Tyler Public Library’s Summer Reading Club Jubilee Wrap Up Party on Friday will be able to get a close-up experience with city of Tyler vehicles.

Police cars, fire trucks and the like will be on hand, and Jubilee participants will get to “climb inside” the vehicles during the party hours, from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Taylor Auditorium of the library.

Participants in the Reading Club Jubilee, which started June 9, have earned books by reading. Friday is the last day for participants to turn in reading time logs and pick up their certificates.

Summer days have been described, among other things, as lazy. That likely is because people spending time outside in the heat don’t usually go at top speed, except perhaps to get out of the sun.

They also are considered long because a greater part of the 24 hours are spent in daylight than in other seasons and people may seem to have more time on their hands.

That makes it a good time for groups like the U.S.S. Columbus Veterans Association to press efforts to contact potential new members.

They are looking for Navy and Marine shipmates who served on the USS Columbus CA-74/CG-12 from 1944 through 1976 and the USS Columbus (SSN-762) past and present not presently registered on their membership roster.

An appeal to veterans who might fall in those categories says, “If you would like to share memories and camaraderie with old friends and make new ones, please contact Allen R. Hope, President, 3828 Hobson Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4505.”

The association’s annual reunion for both of those groups is scheduled October 1-4 at Holiday Inn North, Dayton, OH. There’s plenty of time for new members to get on board.

Everett Taylor
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