There were several other things I meant to note on Monday: Alpha turned 18; Beta, Gamma, and Delta had a great first day of school. Alpha’s been packing so she can move in to the dorm at UT tomorrow.

What sidetracked me was just a little thing, but one that put me flat on my back for a full 24 hours: the dreaded Summer Cold. When I heard the news report that Gov. Bredesen was hospitalized with flu-like sympoms, it crossed my pitiful little hypochondriac mind that I might ought to see a doctor… but I couldn’t summon the energy to get out of bed and go.

That, and I’d be too embarassed to go to the doctor for a cold. Even if I did feel like I was going to faint every time I stood up, was alternately freezing and sweating, and the rattle in my lungs that sounds like a harsh October wind through dead leaves along with a wheeze like the creaking door of a haunted house.

Theraflu helps, as does peach Schnapps in my orange juice. But mostly, I think sleeping the better part of 24 hours did some good (despite the fact that I now have twice as much to do and less time to get it done). I think I will live, but it may be a few more days before I can think clearly through the… well, I won’t be graphic.

Whining aside, I’ve been working on a pretty exciting new project — the kind I actually get paid for, and don’t get sued for. More about that a little later, but it’s both productive and fun.

I learned just this morning of Marshall Whisnant’s passing on Saturday night. It is yet another crushing loss for Oak Ridge; his service on the planning commission, the education foundation, and various business and civic organizations was legendary.

For me, Marshall was a source of inspiration, of perseverance, a ready smile and always a touch of humor. A few years ago, my husband and I would play tennis on Sunday afternoons (when the courts were least crowded, in order to not disturb those more proficient than ourselves). Marshall was frequently sitting on the porch watching, always ready with a cheer in the unlikely event that I pulled off an ace or managed to drop a ball just barely over the net and out of reach.

Losing “Big Dave” Bolling, Larry Dickens, and now Marshall in the space of a few months has been tough. As our county and our town face future challenges, I’ll always ask myself what they would have done.

Now, it’s up to the rest of us to summon the courage and leadership to move the community forward in the selfless, but passionate way of those who went before us.

Rest well, dear friend. I know I’ll see you again.

Either nobody is reading this blog (and I know well that some do), or someone from Layton’s camp thought he’d try my patience today.

20 minutes ago, I left to pick up Gamma from her golf lesson and all was well. We made a quick stop at Weigels for an icee and when we returned, someone put a Layton sign in my yard.

Grrrr!