I just put my (Kwanzaa) candles out before I came.

I had to have two cakes because I had so many candles. That really hit hard.

Remember, you used to eat those all the time.

Those were the most flourishing times. The population of Parsons at that time was about 15,000, and of that African Americans represented about 12 percent, or 1,284 people.

It took plenty of time and burning the midnight oil and a lot of telephone calling to get everyone together,

We've been sleeping at night with a wet sheet and the windows open. Our water heater is gas so the stove, refrigerator, washer and dryer are the only electric appliances. But even after that our bill from July 25 to Aug. 23 showed 2,694 hours of usage and was $397.94.