It really is a small world.

source pixabay
^{These are words I wrote about a gig where I played on Aug 4th 2017}
Before I started, while they were finishing up in the dining room and the young man, Connor was still playing in there,
I sat down to chat was a lady who was an 'early bird'.
She revealed that she was 91!!!!!!!!!, I got my song list (she asked what kind of music did I play) and she said she didn't know most of them.
I must say, for a 91 yr old, she was exceptionally bright and aware and communicative. I met her daughter, who stayed for the first half.

^{(↑This is from a later gig↑)}
I actually played for over 90 min (30 more than I was paid for, but this is my highest paying client, so....)

after it was over and I was packing up, she came up to say how much she loved my show and hoped I would be back.
At that time, Beth, who used to be the AD, but was now the assistant Executive Director, was there chatting with me, so as I continued packing, the two of them were talking.
BTW.. the ladies name was "Lattie", pronounced like "Laddy", but at first, I was calling her 'Lah-tee", and I said that if her last name were Dah, she would be Lah Tee Dah ha ha ha.
Back to the story, I'm packing up, listening to the two of them talk, and I heard her mention METTER!!!
I stopped and said "Wait, did you just say Metter? as in Metter Ga?
"Why yes, that is where I'm from" she said.
'I'm from CLAXTON!!!'.

Her maiden name was Dekle, her aunt Eula had a boarding house in Claxton next to the Claxton Bakery (that two story building in the photo was the boarding house, sadly it burned many years ago), her nephew was Dekle Deloach (who I played a retirement party for him some time prior to this; he was a field agent with the FBI). I think I am distant kin to Dekle Deloach somehow.
What a small world we live in.
So around the time of the above photo, the founder of Claxton Fruitcake, Mr Tos, and Italian immigrant with no children, sold the business to a long time employee, Albert Parker.
Their family is now quite wealthy, one of my cousins married Alberts daughter.
But I gots no money outta that ha ha.

addendum from the next day

From the Assistant ED at Laurel Grove just now:
"Thanks, Jerry! I will get back to you once I figure out things! (concerning my Sept calendar JES)
Thank you again for last night! The Residents really appreciate you and I have already heard a few comments over breakfast about how much they enjoyed it and you! I will pass your name along and hopefully you will get some more calls!
Have a blessed day and be a blessing (which you are!)
Good Morning Ms. Beth, I hope this helps.
Just let me know when, and I'll try my best to be there for you.
As always, if you have a cancellation, call me. If I'm free and I have time to get there, I will.
Thanks for last night, that was a blast! ha ha...
I'm trying to find a photo of that boarding house in Claxton for Ms Lattie.
I'll let you know if I can find one.
[her reply later]
Jerry,
Jeff [the new AD] said he thinks he has one opening in September. He is going to call you about it.
Thanks, Jerry!
Beth
My reply{he called JUST before I was to start performing today}
He just called we set up September 2nd at 2 p.m. Nothing else was discussed
[Her reply]
Thanks, Jerry. Residents still talking about you today!!!
BW

"It's a small world"

^by
Jerry E Smith
©08/04/2022
^{Bakery image used by permission of the company, in fact it is probably public domain by now.}