Scattershooting

Is it kosher to put four different subjects in a letter to the editor? I was just reading the Nov. 17 issue and noticed the following:

I thought when you started off your editorial about cooking for Thanksgiving that you would say something about all the unscrubbed, uncoiffed, single-parent families who do not have a roasted turkey on the table nor a father to carve it, unlike the 1950s television shows led us to believe was our birthright. We have real hunger in America and an economic crisis that won’t abate, and if there is anything to be thankful for this Thanksgiving (or will have been by the time this letter reaches your readers), it is the far simpler and more profound rights we continue to enjoy, rich or poor, i.e. those guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, a document of which I know conservatives are highly suspicious.

Two, thanks for printing an anti-Perry cartoon. Now perhaps all those darling Texans who have voted for him the past several times will see his limitations as he pursues his Peter Principle presidential campaign.

Three, when the Ellis Memorial Library Book Club members finish reading Abraham Verghese’s book Cutting for Stone, they may notice in the acknowledgements in the back kudos to Edith McAllister. Abraham says he wants “to be reincarnated as Edith McAllister.” She takes no credit for the brilliant book he wrote but he gives her credit for helping him.

Four, thanks to Bill Slingerland for the good Brussels sprouts recipes.

Can I go over four?

I adore Scott Burroughs’ column. He is almost as charming as Rachel Pearson.

And last but not least (I’m up to number six) I hereby nominate Guy Davis as Citizen of the Year, even though he doesn’t legally reside in Port Aransas. He came in from the cold to help Tony Amos at the ARK and has become a noble citizen.

Taddy McAllister

San Antonio

Tony a treasure

My companion Maggie (“turtledor retriever”) and I were walking on the south jetty when she spotted something in the water. Being the fanatic turtle watcher she is, Maggie went to investigate.

There in the water was a large green sea turtle obviously in trouble. With those beautiful sad-looking eyes she seemed to be saying, “Call Tony (Amos)!” So I did as instructed.

In no time Tony came to the rescue. But by then the turtle had floated out too far to catch by net. So Tony hurried to secure a boat (and I use the term hurry liberally).

I walked and Maggie (“turtledor retriever”) kept an eye on the turtle that was hopelessly being washed out to sea. About three quarters out the jetties we spot a boat, and it’s Tony!

Now it was quite entertaining to watch that turtle out-maneuver someone with so much experience, but age and wisdom finally won out. The turtle was brought safely on board and all was well.

The point of this letter is that we should thank our lucky stars for Maggie and Tony Amos.

Well, at least the turtle should!

Marion Sweatt

Port Aransas