I am not multi-lingual like the headline above may indicate; however, I know a tiny bit of Spanish having studied the language in high school and college, therefore, I’m able to translate a few words and phrases, but the only language I can converse in of course is “southern.”
Years ago, I was visiting South and Central America with my father and stepmother on a three-week tour and, of course, we had Spanish-speaking guides. Through their help, I was able to add a few Spanish words to my repertoire. Sometimes it comes in handy.
All this to say with summer now upon us and the sun at its summit it’s good to know that you can still enjoy all the summer days to come while you protect yourself from harmful sun rays.
This is very important to protect your skin, because the sun damage that happens now will be with you the rest of your life — it has mine.
I wish someone had given me this advice as a child, more especially when I was a teenager. I was cooked to a turn more than once back then. Therefore, I have skin damage that caused freckles galore and minor brushes with skin cancer — not a melanoma.
So, practice sun safety and use a broad-spectrum sun screen — I don’t walk outside without SPF 45. Oh and by the way, obey the state’s hands-free driving law. Don’t text or talk on your cell phone. You’ll get ticketed if you do and your insurance company will be notified.
Getting in out of the sun the other day was certainly on the minds of the many friends and relatives of Taylor Michelle Andrews, January bride-elect of Tripp Parker, all of Americus who turned out in numbers to wish her well at a lovely afternoon bridal shower at the lakeside home of Lori and Dave Perry at Lake Collins last Saturday.
The bride-elect was donned in a pretty white sundress set off by a beautiful smile as she greeted guests along with her mom, Michelle Andrews, of Americus, and Lynde Parker, mother of the future groom. How special to see the couple’s grandmothers Sandra Parker of Americus, Joyce Liggin of Montezuma and Michelle’s great-grandmother, Evelyn Wages of Americus. Other relatives attending were Sara Catherine Parker, Rosalind Gatian and Debra Liggin of Leesburg.
Hostesses were Susan Bruns, Jean Buchanan, Angela Calhoun, Gaynor Cheokas, Sarah Darden, Beth NeSmith, Lori Perry, Genie Powell, Beth Ragan and Trina Shattles.
Congratulations to the Americus Rotary Club — the organization was presented two prestigious District 6900 awards at the annual awards and recognition program at the Infantry Museum at Fort Benning. These are the Rotary International Silver Citation Awards — the club met 19 of the 24 Rotary International goals. This award recognizes Rotary Clubs that support each of our strategic priorities by completing certain activities — support and strengthen clubs, increase humanitarian service, Rotary awareness. And the New Membership Award — the local club had 18 new members join during the 2017-2018 year.
Accepting the awards were 2018 President Gaynor Cheokas who was accompanied by her husband Mike.
Enjoying the sun for a week at St. Simons Island were Dr. Schley and Karen Gatewood for a family reunion that his parents, the late Dr. Schley and Ann Gatewood, began 53 years ago. The family continues this wonderful tradition. This year there were 27 attending and those other than mentioned above were: Dr. Schley’s sisters and spouses, Thorny and Harriett Gatewood Parker and Jim and Betty Ann Gatewood Wylie of Atlanta, along with a coterie of now grown children and grandchildren.
And venturing here to visit their mom, Martha Ann Studstill, over the Fourth of July are the Studstill sisters, Sherry Lyons of Newnan, and Susan Davis and her husband Nelson Davis, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Joining the family is Sherry’s son, Marcus Lyons, who leaves next week for Guatemala, and the Davis’ sons and spouses, Nick and Lauren Davis of Signal Mountain, Nelson Davis of New Orleans, Neal and Mary Carolyn Davis and their children, Dennis and Coleman, of Atlanta.
Also visiting Americus this week: Pamela Tyler of New Orleans has been visiting with her mother Mildred Tyler who lives at Magnolia Manor Retirement Center.
Visiting us this weekend are my daughters, Helen Penter of Charlotte, and Margaret Barrett of Atlanta; congratulations to Mark and Ann Barrett who celebrated their 32nd wedding anniversary last week, and get well wishes to Ross Chambliss who is recuperating from surgery.
Lexi Cheokas is happy to be home again after touring Southeast Asia with two of sorority sisters for three week. They visited Bangkok, Thailand ,and enjoyed a side trip to Chiang Mai Province to see the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple founded in 1383. Other stops were Phuket Thailand, where they rode elephants, Singapore, Malaysia, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Istanbul and London. What an interesting and educational vacation.

Leila Sisson Case lives in Americus.