Today was Fat Tuesday. In other words, the pinnacle of Mardi Gras. And I would have MUCH rather been there than putting on an election here. I honestly got a call from a woman who was mad she couldn’t vote online.

Because nothing could go wrong there 🙄

People vote BLIND. People came in, voted for one person, then asked what they were voting on. They asked what we did. A few asked these questions simultaneously while I was still answering the first question they had asked.

I maaaaaaay have gotten a little short with one of Sevier County’s self-labeled “elite”. A smartass is a smartass, I don’t care what you own or what you’re worth. Most of them I’d like to buy for what they’re actually worth and sell for what they think they’re worth.

38 people is a lot for one day in my little office. Jake Right Now kept saying, “I can’t believe we’ve had this many people.” 🤣 He was amazed. But then, it doesn’t take much. I shouldn’t knock him, he helped me with Annual Report folding and stamping the last two days.

In other good news, they caught the cop killer. I’m quite disappointed they took him in alive. So now we’ll be financing all his healthcare, food, and weight training for the next forty years. Unless they cook him. I’d pay to see that. I’m not very nice today, am I? But I don’t see a place in society for straight up cold-blooded killers, ESPECIALLY cop killers, and MOST ESPECIALLY REPEAT OFFENDERS. He was a straight thug, and that’s all he’s destined to ever be.

So. Mardi Gras. Since I couldn’t go to New Orleans on a whim 🥺🥺🥺🥺 I met Angela for supper. She’d been craving Cracker Barrel’s pancakes and enticed me by way of their biscuit beignets. And oh my Gawd, were they heavenly.

But before we get to that, lemme tell you what I done.

So I’m going into Cracker Barrel. Double door system. An older couple is exiting through the first set coming out of their gift shop. I’m outside, fixing to go through my set. And I see that it’s Hugh and Helen Manis! I get so, so excited. Last time I saw David, their son, he gave me the impression they weren’t able to get out. And here they were! Walking unassisted out of Cracker Barrel!

I gave a few little hops in my heels, mouth stretched into a big smile and sort of awestruck expression and all but screamed, “I AM SO GLAD TO SEE Y’ALL!!! YOU LOOK GREAT!!!”

And they’re looking at me, all smiles, and I’m just bombarded with memories of these two, waiting on them at Co-op, getting their cattle vaccines and dewormers together, sitting with them at First Baptist Seymour, talking to him on the phone at my current job. I was moved to give him a big squeeze.

As I moved in, and was maybe 6” away from him, I realize it’s not Hugh and Helen. His face was too small, and where were his glasses? Her hair was too big and this wasn’t them at all….oh dear Lord. But it was too late. I was done leaned all the way in. So I followed through with the hug.

Let the record state, the poor dear man did not hug me back. He probably thought I was crazy, even though I was dressed nice and had made a concerted effort with my hair today. Oh well. Best roll on. I gave not-Helen my most dazzling smile, bid them a good evening, and with my face blazing, went off in search of Angela and biscuit beignets.

When I regaled her the story, I had went ahead and called another close friend to get the telling out twice with one stone. I get to the end, head in my hands, and wailing, “I can’t believe I done that!!” And both of them at the same time were like, “why not? I’m not surprised at all. You do this kind of thing all the time!”

They’re right. I do. I hope David or Helen reads this and gets a big kick out of it. ‘Cause it sure was funny.

Of course that’s not all that happened, but I’m quitting here because it’s almost tomorrow. I should never say, “Ehh, today is over for the most part. I’m just going to Cracker Barrel, what could possibly go wrong??”

Plenty. Plenty can go wrong 🤪🙄

Love from Addled Amy in Appalachia