Dearest Gentle Reader,

There are few things quite like a Homecoming in a small Southern town. The football, the familiar faces, the school colors proudly worn by folks who graduated decades ago, and, of course, the crowning of a new Homecoming King and Queen. It has a way of making everyone feel young again—even those of us who have earned the right to complain about how loud the music is.

Villa Rica’s Homecoming was certainly one to remember. The Wildcats took the field, the stands were full, and by the end of the evening, a new King and Queen had been crowned. There was plenty of cheering, plenty of purple and gold, and more than a few proud parents trying not to cry.

But my favorite part of the evening wasn’t on the field.

It was catching up with old friends.

I found myself sitting with folks I hadn’t seen in far too long, and before we knew it, we were reminiscing about the State Championship game forty years ago. Now, Gentle Reader, I shall not tell you who remembered every single play, who swears the referee made a terrible call, or who has apparently been telling the same version of the story for four decades.

Some things are better left between old friends.

Although my old friend, Mr. Wilk would say this: the older we get, the better our football teams seem to have been.

And speaking of the next generation, it was a pleasure to see Charlie Parker “CP” Reeves joining us. CP has officially taken her place with the Gazette, and if her enthusiasm for football is any indication, our Sports Section is about to become considerably more interesting.

And, of course, no proper introduction to CP would be complete without mentioning Zsa Zsa, her loyal four-legged companion and, from what I can tell, the one member of the Gazette who may actually be in charge. 🐾

I also happened to hear that Kitty Caldwell has been asking a few questions lately.

Something about a shoebox.

Now, I have learned over the years that when Kitty starts asking questions about bookkeeping, somebody usually has some explaining to do. I wouldn’t worry too much just yet, but if I were you, I’d keep an eye on that shoebox.

And speaking of boxes, Nana reminded me of a little story from our childhood.

She once decided that pigs in a blanket would make the perfect supper for a house full of hungry children. Unfortunately, she was apparently operating under the impression that more was always better. By the time she finished, there were enough pigs in those blankets to feed the entire football team.

Naturally, we ate them.

At least we tried.

By the next morning, one of my brothers had discovered that Nana had hidden the leftovers in the refrigerator behind a bowl of turnip greens. He ate three before realizing she had put mustard on them after baking them.

He never trusted a pig in a blanket again.

And that, Gentle Reader, is the sort of family history you won’t find in any history book.

Homecoming has a way of reminding us that while the years may pass, some things never really change: old friends still tell the same stories, football still brings everyone together, and there is always somebody’s business being discussed over coffee.

Until next time,

Lady Davenport

☕ Lady Davenport’s Little Tip

A little advice, dear: if your bookkeeping is being kept in a shoebox, perhaps it’s time to let Southern Grace Ledgers take a look. After all, some secrets are better kept in the Gazette than in your books. 😉