I can strike off one thing on my list of things to get done this year. At least partially. Friday, I had surgery to remove the hardware — screws and plate — from my right hand. It has been a little over six months since I broke both hands and the hardware in my right hand was so close to the joint, it caused limited movement and I could feel one of the screws every time I moved my hand.
Dr. Wiley had told me from day one that the right hand hardware would have to come out and I had been looking forward to that day. I would actually like to get left hand hardware out as well, but according to the doctor, it’s not bothering me that much and is not as close to the joint so may or may not have it removed down the road. We will see. It does bother me in that it burns at times, and the area where it is located stays sore to the touch, so I do anticipate eventually having to have it taken out.
Even though I want the hardware out of left hand, I was glad they didn’t do both at same time. It is hard enough, especially when you are right handed and it is your right hand that is restricted, but when both hands are restricted, everyday life becomes a lot harder and more interesting.
At least doing one at a time, I can use the other one and I have become pretty adept at doing things with my left hand, including typing.
Before surgery, they asked if I wanted the hardware. After thinking about it and talking with David, I said yes. It could be a spiritual marker for me. I was really surprised when I saw it, as it was nothing like I imagined or expected. First of all, it was a turquoise color, which was actually kind of neat, in that turquoise is my birthstone and also one of my favorite stones. There were more screws than I imagined.
Just before surgery, Dr. Wiley had said that if they had trouble with any screw they would just pop the rim off and leave the screw in the bone. Thank my Heavenly Father that did not happen. Of course, I really didn’t think it would because we had prayed beforehand that all would go smoothly. Wiley had also said it could take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour depending and it only took 20 minutes.
The pain is different from before and so far very minimal. Another praise!
I am praying for a speedy recovery so that I can get back on track with everything at the house and all the other irons I have in the fire.
Billy Powell and I were working on a book which was slowed down due to my broken wrists, because I was doing the layout to keep costs down for us. The book would have been published last year had I not had the accident. Billy stepped in and took care of getting the layout done through a publishing company, and we received a proof copy last week. That means, we should have an actual copy, most likely, by the end of February, if not sooner.
The book is Vanished Towns Revisited and is a compilation of research Billy and the late, Sidney Goodrich, undertook over several years. Did you know that more than 500 towns have disappeared from the Georgia landscape over the past century? It’s true and the book features 14 ghost towns in Crawford County that have disappeared. The first 21 chapters involve Roberta, Crawford County and the last ten are about Byron and include Barbara Ray remembering Byron’s earlier days and a chapter on Dr. Kay and much, much more. We have dedicated the book to the late Sidney Goodrich and Jackie Edwards. Goodrich was a local historian and he and Billy discovered some very interesting stories. We published some of these in the Georgia Post. Edwards was a big help on the Byron end and is known as the g0-to historian there.
When we get the books in hand you will hear more and we will set up book signings so you can be sure and get your copy.
History is something that we need to pass down from generation to generation and it seems the younger generation today is not as interested in the past. Yes, it is true that those who fail to remember the past are doomed to repeat it, but it is also true that if it is not preserved, it will be lost forever. There is much history in our communities and we should be preserving it for future generations. We hope that our book will be a start in that direction, at least for those vanished towns.
Until we get the books in hand, I will be working on strengthening my right hand for the signing. Since the broken wrists, my handwriting has been even worse as I could not hold my fingers quite right. Many locals and/or their family members are featured in the book, so it something to pass down from one generation to the next.
Also in the works is my annual women’s ministry conference, scheduled for Saturday, March 21, so save the date and plan on attending. This year’s theme is ”Talk is Cheap”; ”Walking the Talk.” It will be held in Byron and there are new speakers this year. You will be blessed. Blessings to you.

VICTORIA SIMMONS is a columnist, motivational speaker/ minister and publisher/gm of The Post/Byron Buzz.