by Joe Potter

It was Wednesday of 7 a.m. when Slim rang me on my cellular phone. Before I could offer a "howdy" in Slim’s direction, he proclaimed there are ‘bout 25 of ‘em comin’ and "they" should be here round ‘bout 9:30 a.m. "They" were "Teacher" friends and some family Ms. Ida had invited from Huntsville to visit The Flat Rock General Store, Estelle’s hair-beautifyin’ factory, the Baptist church plus Wedge Construction Company durin’ their spring "Teacher" social-learnin’ break.

Slim and Essex was to offer a welcome to Flat Rock including a store tour and refreshments, and on the back wall on white butcher paper in red marker was even a sign statin’ –

My obligation to the "Teacher" tour group was talkin’ on Flat Rock and its fellar communities of Wolf Springs, LaGrange, Hatton, C.C. Smith and Mt. Hope. Estelle and "Truth" would have her hair-beautifyin’ factory for visual "Teacher" learnin’ purposes. Farlow and Willerdean had "Teacher" tour offerin’s out at Wedge Construction and Farm. Finally Bro. and the musicman himself, Mr. Harley Hood, would have the Baptist church open for musical excursions. Slim finished off his phone-talkin’ by offerin’ he sure hoped the "Teacher" day visit was most pleasurable as well as a learnin’ outin’, then offered a "goodbye-howdy" and "see you soon."

Here I plugged in my phone for chargin’ in my pickup and headed t’ward the Store. I begin to think on and bounce around my lifetime "Teacher" learnin’ experiences in my mind with some details like:

Teacher - A person who develops, guides, instructs, molds and encourages persons.

     · My Mother — Lizzie Allee Masterson Potter
     · My Daddy — "Pop" C.C. (Corbett Calvin) Potter
     · My vocational agriculture teacher — Posey E. Thompson
     · And so many, many others throughout my life and years of formal education

Actually at 60-plus, I still learn and improve my knowledge-base almost daily. This is because my mind is open to learnin’.

     The meanin’ of John 3:16
     To recite the 100th Psalm
     To tie my shoestrings
     To write and cipher
     Of kings and queens
     ‘Bout wars, laws, history and geography
     Of leadership and sportsmanship
     Respect and honesty
     To be a good example
     Competition, winnin’ and accomplishment
     To drive ‘bout anythin’
     Labor and physical work
     How to unravel a feed sack at the seam
     Animal and plant growth
     Chemical make-up, measurements and volumes
     To weld and construct things
     Also, to count change — to me a truly amazing thing!!!

My life is so much better because of all those individuals who were willin’ to guide, mold and encourage me…

Thank you each one…

There are always daily opportunities to learn. You should be willin’ to gain knowledge at any given time. Also, take the time to teach and be a good example.

REMEMBER YOUR HERITAGE!!!
ALWAYS, THINK GOOD MEMORIES!!!

Joe Potter, Potter’s Mud Creek Farm is located at 5840 County Road 339 (County Line Road), Russellville, near "Our" Flat Rock, in Lawrence County; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .