Old dog, new tricks

By Tim Eberhart, executive director
Rainsville Chamber of Commerce
Newspaper column for August 20, 2010 edition

In the 1984 motion picture, The Natural, Iris, the character played by Glenn Close, says to Roy Hobbs, “You know, I believe we have two lives.”

Roy (played by Robert Redford) replies, “How? What do you mean?”

Iris explains, “The life we learn with, and the life we live with after that.”

Roy and Iris had been youthful sweethearts back in their rural hometown. Now, by some unlikely circumstances their paths had crossed again for the first time in 16 years.

With her simple explanation I think Iris was saying many things all rolled up in one. Inside she was screaming: “What were you thinking, you jerk?”

What I think Roy understood Iris to say was “Roy, we learn from our mistakes,” “Roy, I forgive you and you don’t have to explain,” and “Roy, I was foolish sometimes during that learning phase, too.”

By the end of the movie Iris saw how Roy had left the learning phase of life, and was now ready to live the life he was left with. This was good. She had taught an old dog some new tricks.

I was hiking at the canyon recently when I rambled by one of the popular swimming holes. It was early morning, before the masses arrived. But you could tell by the left-behind bottles, food wrappers and flip flops that a large crowd had been there during the past few days.

Inside I was screaming, “What were you thinking, you jerks?” But, by the time I finished the hike I was thinking quitely, “Litterbugs, I was foolish sometimes during that learning phase, too. Litterbugs, I forgive you and you don’t have to explain.”

Litterbugs, we learn from our mistakes. Stop littering! Learn some new tricks.

In Chamber news, I am seeking input concerning our upcoming fall events. If anyone has ideas about the Holiday Open House, the Rainsville Christmas parade, or the 4th Annual Sand Mountain Dessert Bake Off, please feel free to contact me by phone or email.

By the way, the date and time for the Christmas parade has been changed. We plan to have activities in the park following the parade, as well. Mark your calendar now for Saturday, December 11th at 6:00 PM.


Contact info

Rainsville Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 396; Rainsville, AL 35986

115 Main Street West
PHONE: 256-638-7800