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| George Buster Singleton |
(For decades, local historian and paranormal investigator
George “Buster” Singleton published a weekly newspaper column called “Somewhere
in Time.” The column below, which was titled “The untamed goldenrod deserves to
be the state flower,” was originally published in the Oct. 10, 1991 edition of
The Monroe Journal in Monroeville, Ala.)
I think one of the greatest mistakes that our state
legislature has ever made was when they voted down the goldenrod as our state
flower.
During the days of October, there is nothing better than
riding by a field full of beautiful goldenrod and watch them toss and wave in
the autumn winds. The past few days have been an ideal time for riding, viewing
and absorbing the wild and golden beauty across the high hills of the surrounding
area.
If you stop and give some thought to this wild, beautiful
flower, you will notice that it requires no care or culturing. Being reared in
the country, I remember the beauty of a teenage country girl dressed in a
beautiful gingham dress with long, beautiful hair blowing in the October wind.
When I see the wild, untamed beauty of the goldenrod, I am reminded time and
time again of the young country girls I knew and grew up with.
These wild and beautiful flowers take the seasons as they
come. No one knows of the struggle these beauties endure. If there is a dry
season, the raw primitive beauty is still there. If the season is wet, again
the beauty returns as always to cover the land, asking for nothing but giving
to everything a beauty that surpasses the best. Truly, our creator patterned
the tall beautiful mountain girl after his wonderful creation – the wild
goldenrod.
Don’t misunderstand me. I am not down on the Camellia, but
it takes much work and patience to raise a beautiful Camellia. Then if the
seasons are not right or some type of blight comes along, the beauty of the
Camellia is ruined. But somewhere out on some rocky, red clay hillside, the
wild and beautiful goldenrod stands tall and straight without a worry or care,
its beauty tossing to and fro in the cooling winds of October.
If any of my readers become bored, I know of nothing better
than to drive north up in a hill country and marvel at the wild and primitive
beauty of the many acres of goldenrod.
Hardly a day passes that I don’t go at least twice to the
hill country, if only for a moment, to absorb the wild beauty of the goldenrod.
Each time as I make my way homeward, I feel restored, both in mind and in
spirit. And, as I look toward the heavens, the skies seem more blue as my thoughts
mount the sighing winds of October for a refreshing ride across the
countryside.
Our society spends millions and millions of dollars seeking
peace of mind and contentment. We travel to the far corners of the globe in
search of a peace that is at our fingertips. You only have to look.
Pause for a moment atop some high hill and view at length
the wild goldenrod, tossing back and forth in the autumn winds of October. Here
lies peace and contentment, on the hilltops where the beautiful goldenrod blooms
in the bluish rays of the October sun.
As I travel each day and watch Mother Nature slowly spread
her autumn blanket of golden colors across the rolling hills, I am reaffirmed
that all can live on this earth in love and harmony. That which is necessary
for this to happen is no farther than our fingertips. But we have to accept in
spirit and in belief if we are to be a part.
The peace of mind that is to be found in the surrounding
hills cannot be measured in the many benefits to the mind and spirit. There
should be no need for medicines to relax or for the use of tranquilizers. A
trip to the hill country will cure what bothers you; I know for sure.
So if you wake up one of these beautiful autumn mornings and
are bored, head northeast to Beatrice. Turn toward the Buena Vista area; then
turn right across the high hills to Camden.
Relax for a few moments over a good, hot cup of coffee at
one of the local places. Then return by way of Highway 41, back through the
beautiful country and along the winding river through the communities of Bells
Landing, Coy and Franklin. When you have traveled this 80 or so beautiful
miles, you mind will be at ease, and your spirit will soar as on the wings of
eagles.
Many times I have made this trip. Twice last week I crossed
the high country and returned. Each time, I was amazed at the marvels of
creation, and each time the wondrous colors of early autumn grew in beauty as I
absorbed the wonders of my God’s creation.
I think that I would be safe in saying that in that land
beyond the sunset, there will be great fields of beautiful goldenrod growing by
the river that gives eternal life. While across the high hills in the distance,
the wondrous colors of autumn will shine in the light blue rays of the eternal
sun… in a time not measured in years, but in forevers.
(Singleton, the author of the 1991 book “Of Foxfire and
Phantom Soldiers,” passed away at the age of 79 on July 19, 2007. A longtime
resident of Monroeville, he was born on Dec. 14, 1927 in Marengo County and
served as the administrator of the Monroeville National Guard unit from 1964 to
1987. He is buried in Pineville Cemetery in Monroeville. The column above and
all of Singleton’s other columns are available to the public through the
microfilm records at the Monroe County Public Library in Monroeville.
Singleton’s columns are presented here each week for research and scholarship
purposes and as part of an effort to keep his work and memory alive.)
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