FROM: Terry Lynch@aol.com; POB 241035; Montgomery, AL 36124-1035 Phone: (334) 272-4217 voice (334) 277-3582 fax via arrangement DATE: July 13, 1998 TO: Letter to the Editor SUBJECT: The Blessing of Tallassee Belle Do I feel blessed? That question was asked recently by a gentlemen from Tallassee. Blessed how? Blessed in what respect? I once knew a girl from Tallassee. She was quite pretty, a real southern belle. She was well blessed by her "creator" with bright blond hair, blue eyes and a Marilyn Monroe hourglass figure that would knock your socks off! Except for her head she was the spitting imaged of Dolly Parton. Problem was every time she opened her mouth tiny, squeak mice ran out of it. These mice scuried around quoting the Bible, preaching Armageddon and squeaking about how the world was coming to an end. All the mice were white and wanted to make more little white mice. They didn't want any black mice in the same school, church or work place. If these little white mice could have it their way all the black mice would be shipped back to Africa, smashed under foot, lynched from the nearest tree, dragged to pieces behind pickup trucks or otherwise exterminated. Mind you Tallassee Belle was a lovely girl. All the southern gentlemen wanted to get under her skirt and into her pants. They would sell their souls to the devil for a glimpse of the Holy Land. But having been there before I knew it was all hype, caked on makeup and too much eye shadow, all glitter on the outside, no gold nor substance of value on the inside. I kissed Tallassee Belle and her white-mice-only-in-this-house nonsense goodbye. I'm sure she is very happy somewhere with a house full of little white mice squeaking about how blessed they are to live in Alabama; how blessed to have a big, fat, white "George Wallace Lite" rat for governor; how blessed the Ten Commandments are tacked on the courthouse wall; how bleesed the Bill of Rights are declared mouse nest rubbish. Tallassee Belle doesn't care about the biggotry of things; she's just happy her kids are fortunate enough to attend a private church school where black or yellow mice she perceives as socially degenerate are rarities. Do I feel blessed? Actually I thank God every day I didn't marry Tallassee Belle! Sincerely, Terry Lynch Montgomery, AL