OUR READERS SPRING 2020
With each issue of Progress, we sit down with a handful of readers to learn a bit about them. These aren’t always news-makers, but each has their own stories to share.
The questions are the same in each issue and are designed to gain insight into a handful of your neighbors. Some were nervous; others were relaxed. One had an answer on their tongue before we finished the question and the other had to dig a little deeper.
These five readers joined us in The Studio, a meeting space upstairs in The Commercial Dispatch building on a cold and rainy day.
We’d love to hear your story as well. If you’re open to answering our five questions, let us know by emailing progress@cdispatch.com
ALECIA RANDLE
ADMINISTRATIVE CHURCH ASSISTANT, RETIRED, WEST POINT
Is what you’re doing right now what you wanted to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be a teacher. I worked as a Teacher’s Assistant from 1971 to 1973 and it was then, that I decided I don’t want to be a teacher. The kids were not what I expected them to be and I pray for all the teachers we have now. I realized that I had to do something else, this was not my calling.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
How to invest more for the future. You know, when you’re young you think you have life ahead of you and you have all of this time to do everything, but when you really get to the point where life matters, you decide I wish I had done it differently. That’s one of the biggest things I would have taught my young self, to invest and save more, especially how to invest wisely.
What’s the one thing people tend to misunderstand about you?
People sometimes think that I am not a friendly person, because I keep to myself a lot and I have always done that. I just taught myself to do things alone and I’ve learned that you keep out of trouble, because if you don’t run in groups you don’t have peer pressure. However, I am one of the friendliest people you could ever run into. I give everybody a smile when I see them. My mother taught me if you smile, the whole world smiles with you and she did that. She always spoke to everybody, she always had a smile.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
I love to shop. I love to buy things on sale, I love clothes, I love shoes, I love purses. That is my greatest extravagance, shopping.
If you could master one skill, what would it be?
If I could master one thing, it would be playing the piano. I took piano lessons when I was younger, in my teenage years and then I decided that being in love was more important than piano lessons. Music is a passion of mine and it is very soothing. I actually have a piano and can play little things on it, but I would like to be better.
RICE GLOVER
NAVY VETERAN, OFFICE MANAGER, COLUMBUS
Is what you’re doing right now what you wanted to do when you grew up?
I never really had a clear cut view of what I was going to do. I dropped out of high school in my senior year and ended up joining the Navy about 6 months later. I got my GED almost right away, the Navy sort of pushed me to do that. So, a clear cut vision of what I wanted to do, no I didn’t have.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I would say, get a goal and quite frankly don’t party so much. I have to say it like it is. I lived a pretty rambunctious young life, like a lot of people my age did.
What’s the one thing people tend to misunderstand about you?
They still think I live like I used to. If they haven’t seen me in a while, they would go, oh I remember you. A lot of them are really surprised I didn’t end up in jail and they also don’t understand my walk with God, because I do have one. I have a great love for people with special needs and get very involved. People that know me from younger days just didn’t expect me to become who I am today.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
Playing golf at Lion Hills and I’ve played Waverly. I don’t get to play as often as I used to, because I take care of my brother now. He goes with me, but it’s just not as much time. And of course my grandkids, I have a lot of grandkids.
If you could master one skill, what would it be?
Playing a musical instrument, I would love to play the piano.
EDDIE LONGSTREET
PASTOR, MUNICIPAL TAX COLLECTOR, WEST POINT
Is what you’re doing right now what you wanted to do when you grew up?
I always knew I would be in business. I went to Mississippi State University after high school and graduated there twice. I always knew I was going to be in the service industry of helping people. I’ve known that from, I guess, seven years old. I enjoy helping people and I’m trying to be a difference maker.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
Put God first in your life. Set goals that are obtainable and reachable and follow your dream.
What’s the one thing people tend to misunderstand about you?
I would say that I am a very observative person, thoughtful and methodical in my steps. My motto is, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. I don’t do anything off the cuff or haphazard. I am methodical and have processes in place. I think people misunderstand that about me.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
From the third grade I always wanted to go to Italy, because it’s shaped like a boot. I had the privilege and opportunity to go on a trip with a group of ministers, which focused on the topic “stress”. I went to Italy and saw the wine press, both traditional and modern. We went to the Vatican and the catacombs, saw the Sistine Chapel, went to Florence and Venice, all along Tuscany. That was probably the most extravagant thing other than going to Jerusalem, the Holy City. That was wonderful.
If you could master one skill, what would it be?
Typing 200 words a minute. In high school it was about 90 words a minute and of course it goes along with every habit, if you don’t use it you lose it.
PATTY PENNINGTON
HOME HEALTH SPECIALIST, RETIRED TEACHER, LAMAR CO. (AL)
Is what you’re doing right now what you wanted to do when you grew up?
I never even knew of that when I grew up. I don’t really know what I thought I wanted to be. I kind of settled on teaching because of my kids. It was something I could do while having the kids. It would work with their schedule, but it turned out to be something that I really loved.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
To not do all the things that I did, which landed me where I am now healthwise. I didn’t pay any attention to what I ate or what I put on me. I worked in the school where we jokingly said there was asbestos in the building, but it probably wasn’t a joke.
What’s the one thing people tend to misunderstand about you?
I think they don’t know that I’m as deep as I am. On the surface I look like I don’t do much thinking, but I really do. Of course my accent, one of my friends tries to compliment me and I know what she means, but she tells people I am a lot smarter than I sound. That’s something I’ve not known what to do about, because it’s just my accent and I’m a bit more pronounced with it than most. I guess that’s it, there is more to me than meets the eye.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
Right now I would say eating out. We had a lake house on Lake Smith, we kept it from 2009 until 2015. I spent my summers there when I was a teacher. When I retired I couldn’t find anyone to go with me, because now my daughter has kids and my husband works a lot. We couldn’t justify keeping it, as we weren’t using it. Other than that I am pretty simple.
If you could master one skill, what would it be?
When I was at the lake, I always wanted to swim correctly. I can swim, but I swim with my head out. Nobody ever taught me correctly and I didn’t have swimming lessons, so I’d love to be able to swim correctly and swim for exercise.
HUNTER PERRIGIN
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE, COLUMBUS
Is what you’re doing right now what you wanted to do when you grew up?
I wouldn’t have thought any of this would be what I’m doing now. My plan was to major in business, maybe go into teaching at The W or MSU. Life throws you curveballs, but now I’m a curveball expert.
If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?
I’m not that old, but if I could, always be open to advice, because you’re not always right. Even if what you think you know is right, you can always expand on it. Be appreciative of what other people tell you.
What’s the one thing people tend to misunderstand about you?
Because I had a couple of odd jobs, a lot of people think I get bored easily with life. I did 1.5 semesters in college, I got my GED, so I never graduated high school. A lot of people think I am just a high school and college drop out, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean if you look at what I’m doing, I got this job and I am writing a book on the history of the First United Methodist Church and I am the business manager for an up and coming local play called “God specializes in the impossible”.
What’s your greatest extravagance?
I guess buying for other people. Any time I had more than $20, I would always say, grandma let’s get in the car and get her a bag of Lindor chocolates. It would always be treating other people and that’s another thing I would tell my younger self, treat yourself, it’s not a crime.
If you could master one skill, what would it be?
I would love to be able to learn how to play the piano and to have the ability to sing. I’ve always had a special connection to music.
INTERVIEWS BY CLAUDI ARRINGTON & PETER IMES
PHOTOS BY LEDRICO ISAAC
