A Face Without Freckles Is Like A Night Without Stars....

I think one of the most indelible memories we ever have is that of our "first love." I'll bet you remember yours and I sure do remember mine. Naomi Gregory.... the name still makes me smile.

I met Naomi when I was 5 or 6 and living at my GrandMa's house in Miami.  She lived a few doors down from us and my little heart was a goner the first time I saw her.  Red hair, freckles and a blindingly white smile. She asked me if I wanted to play box-ball with her.

I wish I had a picture of the real Naomi but I don't so, I went looking for one that looked like her and found this one.  It looks surprisingly like "my" Naomi.

We played together just about everyday for that year or so and then I moved  few miles away to live with my Aunt Mary.  It wasn't all that far but it might as well have been across the country for a 7 year old Buzzard.

After a lot of years working with kids in youth groups, I have great sympathy when they tell me they are in love.  I don't laugh at them cause, I've been there and I know how real it can feel.

I remain a sucker for red hair and freckles. Either one will do actually. I know my Mom had very deep red hair so I guess that's part of it but I think Naomi was the main reason.

I've known several red heads in my life and really liked nearly all of them.  Most were girls. Patty Baldwin, Cherie Walker, Lindy Uhl and a few more. Right now I have two red headed friends who I like a lot. Holly and Joy Creasman are a couple of the finest young ladies I've ever known.

I do believe that God loves freckles too.  He seemed to put them on a lot of his creations and they nearly always look great.

A Bad Buzzard Get's A Treat! I lost Naomi Gregory when I was in 2nd grade but I did get to see her again.  In sixth grade I was in the lunchroom of Silver Bluff Elementary School and asked the evil looking German woman "Can I have a sloppy Joe please?"

I remember she looked like a rottweiler in a white coat and a hair net.  She yelled out "Don't call my food slop!!! Go to the end of the line!!"  The line was long so I was mad and I threw my tray on the floor and kicked it as hard as I could.

I didn't realize that the principal was running up to see what was going on and the tray I kicked hit her in the ankle.  She fell to the floor yelling and her ankle turned out to be broken.

I was promptly expelled! My Dad enrolled me in Mrs. Curbanhan's Day School to get me thru the year. And guess who was there every afternoon???? Yep, Naomi Gregory.  As cute and sweet as ever.  Sometimes getting expelled from school can actually be a blessing.

The true love-of-my-life, Kathy actually has a touch of red in her hair thanks to her red headed daddy.  You can see it when the sun hits it.

The Buzzard