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Dixie Diva
If nothin dont happen
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There is a friend of mine — one of the heroes I have known and loved — who is fascinating in the life lessons he shares and the accumulation of wisdom that seems to come so easily to him.


He came to the Deep South as a young man, having grown up in California without the benefit of his father who had died bravely in the Battle of the Bulge. He became an attorney. A brilliant one. The kind who rarely loses. The Perry Mason-type who can take what seems like a certain loss and uncover the hidden truth which turns it into a winner.


I have often heard him say, “I’m for the little guy.” I have spent hours with him, spellbound by the stories and his experiences. As a young girl, I met him through Daddy, who was a wise judge of people, and who saw in this hip, longish-haired, lanky man, a person of integrity and sincerity.


“He’s a good ‘un,” Daddy often said. “They don’t come no finer than Jim.”


Among the many things I have long admired about him is that he came to the rural South with no bias or preset notions. When he arrived here, he plopped himself down amidst a region of people so different in language and actions from those he had known in California; yet, in the midst of foreign dialects, he made himself at home. He never mocked or laughed at the difference of us compared to what he had long known, but rather appreciated and applauded the uniqueness and the sturdiness of our people.


Though I was barely a teenager when he first merged his life with ours, I innately knew that he was the kind of person to emulate. Daddy’s old two-story garage, where he repaired cars, has a two-step platform in the back, which has a wood-burning stove. I rarely walked in to see Daddy working. He was almost always sitting in a small, black leather-covered seat that rose only a few inches from the ground, his long legs stretched out as he sipped a cup of coffee — heavy with cream and sugar — and shooting the bull with four or five men who were just hanging out. Sometimes, Daddy would have his worn Scofield Bible flung open as he explained a “thing or two” they all needed to know.


Occasionally, I would find this rather out-of-place looking young man, prematurely silver in his 20s, who was sitting at the feet of this Southern Socrates, eager to learn all about life.


 “Ralph,” he has often said of Daddy, “was one of the wisest men I ever met. I loved to sit and hear his stories. He taught me a great deal.”


What goes around surely does come around and, in years that followed, I would sometimes sit in the historical antebellum house from where he did much of his lawyer-ing and hear his stories, eager to grab bits and pieces of his wisdom to call mine. He once defended a member of the Dixie Mafia. He won a major lawsuit against a big tire company. He represented the child of an old-time moonshiner, who paid him with a rumpled paper bag of cash and a quart of ‘shine. He won the freedom of a once-revered college football hero accused of murder. His victories are too numerous to recount.


Of all the wisdom he has graciously imparted to me, there is one that resounds repeatedly. His country clients, he said, would always say, “I’ll be there if nothin’ don’t happen.”


“They meant to keep their word,” he said, “but they were humble enough to realize that they couldn’t make certain plans because something outside of their control might happen.”


Arrogance makes us think that we’re in charge of our plans. Tribulations show us differently. That’s a piece of wisdom from my people by way of a Californian.


Ronda Rich is the best-selling author of the forthcoming There’s A Better Day A-Comin’. Visit www.rondarich.com  to sign up for her weekly newsletter.

Know Your Neighbor: Maci Robinson
Owner, Bloom Dance Company
Know Your Neighbor

(What you won’t find on social media … even if you’re approved as a friend)

  • Born: Savannah, Ga.
  • Status: I’m married to my middle school sweetheart. We’ve been married nine years and together for 18.
  • Alma mater: Savannah College of Art and Design, bachelor’s degree in motion media design (2015).
  • What’s on TV: I love to binge Netflix series … and I also love bad reality TV. Fun fact: I watch “Family Feud” every single night before bed.
  • Most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done: I ran the Philadelphia Half Marathon with absolutely zero training.
  • Favorite dance move to teach: Pirouettes. They’re usually the first difficult turn dancers learn, and I enjoy breaking it down step by step until they finally get that “I nailed it!” moment. I also love a fun, upbeat jazz combo that brings out a dancer’s personality. Give me some sass, stage presence and sharp technique, and I’m in my happy place!
  • What I drive: Range Rover — I’ve got to show up in style.
  • What I’m reading: Honestly, I’d rather scroll on TikTok or Instagram than read. I can’t even remember the last book I read.
  • Favorite movie: “Grease.” The soundtrack is unbeatable, and I love singing along to every song.
  • Something you’d never guess about me: I’m secretly a total night owl and do my best thinking after midnight. But I’m also the napping queen — I love a good nap, even though I rarely have time for them.
  • Actress who would play me in a movie: Reese Witherspoon — she totally matches my vibe.
  • Favorite thing in my closet: My comfy Lululemon leggings, sparkly sneakers that add flair to any outfit, and my collection of designer handbags — a perfect mix of comfort and glam.
  • App I can’t live without (no judgment): Apple Music and the Notes app. It’s the only way I stay organized. My to-do lists are always out of control.
  • Worst habit: Hitting the snooze button too many times. Or showing up five minutes late everywhere I go. Or running my gas tank as low as possible because I hate pumping gas.
  • Funniest thing a student has done in class: After 18 years of teaching dance, there are countless funny moments. Some of my favorites are when little ones dress themselves and show up to class in full costumes or cowgirl boots, or when they casually spill their mom’s biggest secrets mid-stretch, or when they decide to choreograph their own hip-hop routine right in the middle of ballet class. It keeps me laughing and reminds me why I love teaching.
  • Weirdest thing in my fridge: The “Hot Ones Challenge” Apollo Last Dab Hot Sauce — I love my hot sauces.
  • On my office walls: Photos of my pets. I have two pups, Karli and Tux, and one cat, Luna — they are my world.
  • One person I’d love to cook for: My mom. She’s not here anymore, but I know she’d be proud that I got my cooking skills from her — and that her recipes still live on in my kitchen.
  • Go-to comfort food: Vietnamese food, specifically a bowl of pho and, of course, a boba tea.
  • First thing I do in the morning: Grab an iced coffee and cuddle with my pups.
  • Pet I’d have if anything were possible: Definitely a monkey — one that’s cute, cuddly and maybe helps me with chores. Who wouldn’t want a sidekick with personality?
  • Most-used emoji: 💜
  • First job: Instructor’s assistant at a dance studio at age 14.
  • What I like about Effingham County: It feels like home. It’s got those small-town vibes where everyone knows everyone, and no matter how much it grows, it will always be home to me.
  • Snack I can never say no to: Chips and queso. I’m always down for Mexican food.
  • Favorite sports team: Florida Gators. Go Gators!
  • What song always gets me dancing: Britney Spears, of course. I’m a true ’90s/early 2000s girl. Any pop or hip-hop from that era gets me moving instantly.
  • Favorite value in others: Kindness. I believe there are lots of good people in the world, and kindness is what makes them truly stand out.
  • Advice I’d give my teenage self: Enjoy the moments and celebrate your wins. Invest in yourself and your future, and don’t wait — see the world while you can. Life’s about balance, growth and adventure.
  • Talent I’d most like to have: I wish I could sing. Let’s be honest — I’ve got main character energy, just not the vocal range to back it up.
  • Dream date: To come home to a fully packed suitcase and a surprise trip planned. Any destination would be fine with me.
  • Attribute I like best about myself: My patience. I’m one of the most patient people, and I credit that for much of my success as a dance instructor.
  • And least: I’m a perfectionist and an overachiever. I want everything to be perfect, which sometimes makes me indecisive and stressed over little details.
  • Most ridiculous thing I believed as a kid: If you turned the light on in the car while driving at night, the police would pull your parents over and arrest them. 🚨
  • My hero: My husband. He’s my best friend, supports me unconditionally and always inspires me to be my best self.
  • My bucket list: Adventure and love. I want to travel the world, visit every continent and swim in every major body of water. I want to renew my vows with my husband in a beautiful place like Bora Bora or Fiji. And I want to own a big boat we can sleep on to explore different islands together.
  • My motto: Life is short — cherish every moment. Success is earned, not given. Push yourself, stay positive, ride the wave, and good vibes will come back to you.
More Know Your Neighbors:

Maddie Greer: Mars Theater Director

https://www.effinghamherald.net/lifestyle/know-your-neighbor-maddie-greer/


Jackson (Jake) ZeiglerEffingham County Communications Manager
https://www.effinghamherald.net/lifestyle/know-your-neighbor-jackson-jake-zeigler/


Susan Kraut: President and CEO, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce
https://www.effinghamherald.net/lifestyle/know-your-neighbor-susan-kraut/