Johnson's Ferry

New JFBC pastor Clay Smith moved to Atlanta less than six months ago, called the place “Hot-lanta” and now reminds everyone it’s Johnson Ferry, not Johnson’s Ferry. Guess all the old-timers who wanted to cross the Chattahoochee to visit Sandy Springs before a bridge was built had it wrong when they boarded old man Johnson’s ferry. One way to get to Moores Mill Road. Or take Paces Ferry Road.

Clay is correct: to is Johnson Ferry Road. And Johnson Ferry Baptist Church. But Atlanta natives were saying "Johnson's ferry" long before JFBC was constituted. Young Clay is a great preacher, but new transplants don't need to be correcting natives on matters like this.

My pet peeve is all the newbys frequenting the shops at the corner of North Highland & Virginia Ave who incorrectly call it “The Highlands” or “Virginia-Highlands.” The proper term is “Virginia-Highland.”

 

Next thing you know Clay will remind people to pronounce the second T in Atlanta. Or how to pronounce Coca-Cola.

 

My parents grew up in Atlanta. Before I moved to Atlanta over 40 years ago, I spent the first 17 years of my life visiting my grandparents in Atlanta several times a year, going to numerous baseball and football games in Atlanta, and reading the morning and afternoon Atlanta newspapers every day ever since I learned to read. Don't tell me how to speak Atlantan.

 

Last night at the wedding reception we sat at the table with Andrew Johnson’s cousins Caroline and Mary Hargreaves. Hadn’t seen them in over 4 years but remembered how I was “related” to them. Caroline graduated from Auburn and is living in an apartment across Piedmont Road from Piedmont Park.

Bride Emily (above, in sneakers) lives in an apartment near Piedmont and Lindbergh.

 

Good but long article about iconic NFL items, including the single bar face mask. 

 

https://www.si.com/.amp/nfl/2019/08/28/nfl-history-of-football-100-objects

Amazing about the bowls. While watching I was thinking about my bowl picks. I try to be as analytical as possible but at the and of the day I have to admit I let some of my personal biases factor into the decisions. I don't like Michigan or Ohio State or Baylor or the team UNC played.

Terrible rain on the way home Thursday. Drove straight to the YMCA. Going to try to lift weights every other day. There are like 25 different weight machines plus free weights. Not sure how all the machines work, but I was able to stay reasonably busy for 40 minutes. Did a decent amount of lifting but tried to not to overdo it the first day. Actually not too sore.

At the Passion Conference: Ceil and Bruce in the press box (above). Ceil had gone home at 10 pm Wednesday night to get some sleep. She had to be back at 2:30 am for some reason, so when the conference ended at noon yesterday she headed some and crashed on the couch. Slept past 8:30. I got home just after seven and dozed off myself. Ate leftover Honey-Baked Ham and added a slice of ham to my cheeseburger.

 

Never turned on the TV. Ceil finally woke up and we had to clean a bit, with Christian coming over. He and Anna attended the rehearsal dinner at Maggianos. I saw the menu: several excellent choices. Unfortunately they left out the T in the brides' last name on the menu: normally spelled MORTON.

Lunch meeting on Friday, then I left for the wedding down at the Park Tavern at the corner of 10th and Monroe, at the southern tip of Piedmont Park, across from Grady Stadium. Beautiful wedding. Wonderful reception. Excellent, heartfelt speech and blessing by father of the bride Ken. At the rehearsal dinner everyone was talking about Anna's heartfelt speech.  

 

DON LARSEN  [SABR Bio] was the first American League player to win a World Series MVP Award - WS MVP 1956, the second year it was awarded. The first batter he faced in the majors, Harvey Kuenn, would become his World Series teammate nine years later. Debut: 18-Apr-1953. They were teammates on SFG 1962-64. Prior to his passing, he was one of just nine surviving St. Louis Browns veterans. St. Louis Brown final season 1953 Went 3-21 one season leading the AL in losses, but two of his wins came against the Yankees, making enough of a favorable impression that they traded for him after the season. His record: 3-21 in 1954, the Orioles first year in Baltimore. Nicknamed "Gooney Bird" for his prominent ears, gangly arms and pear-shaped body. Gooney Bird, perhaps a bit unfair. Played first base for a US Army team. In the US Army 1951 and 1952.

 

Mickey Mantle said of him, "[He] was easily the greatest drinker I've known, and I've known some pretty good ones in my time!" Many of the Yankees of the 1950s were regular drinkers. Larson celebrated his 62nd wedding anniversary this past December 7th. Married Vivian 07-Dec-1957. Was previously married to Corinne Larsen. Started Game 7 of the 1958 World Series but left with a no-decision - 1958 WS G 7. Replaced by that year's WS MVP and CYA winner, Bob Turley, who had been his teammate in St. Louis and Baltimore. We was part of a player package that was traded for Roger Maris. Traded from NYY to KCA 11-Dec-1959 with Hank Bauer, Norm Siebern & Marv Throneberry.

 

Won the deciding playoff game between the Dodgers and Giants in 1962, then won Game 4 of the World Series. Playoff game 03-Oct-1962; WS game four 08-Oct-1962, six years to the day from his perfect game. One of only two pitchers to pitch a perfect game and hit a grand slam 22-Apr-1956. (Felix Hernandez is the other).