By Vicki Scott
Last week my husband Alan and I and made our way to Montgomery to see William Lee Golden and the Goldens at Montgomery Performing Arts Center. I was excited to tell Rusty or William or William’s sister Lanette the story about my efforts to catch them at Lanette’s home on Lake Martin, which is next door to my house. In the past, we’ve stayed after the concert for autographs and pictures. We’d usually leave before meeting the groups but this time I planned on staying since I had a story to tell.
Just before we passed Taylor Road in Montgomery, my baby brother Jay called and told us that he was in the emergency room at Baptist South in Montgomery after a lady ran a stop sign and hit him on his motorcycle. Jay, who lives with his wife live in Phenix City, just wanted to give me a heads up and asked me not to come to the hospital. He thought he had broken some bones and had road rash but nothing serious enough to require a visit from me. I told Jay to keep me updated.
I, of course, freaked out.
I know how I am, and except for Alan, I would not want anyone with me at a time like that. Jay did not know of our plans or that we were in Montgomery. If we had left our home to where he was in the hospital, we would have gotten there before his wife did. Alan pointed out that the concert lineup was composed of old people and that they would finish early. Besides, there was nothing we could do anyway. We decided to go on to the concert, which would give Jay’s wife time to get to the hospital and handle everything. Our daughter Eva was close to the hospital and she took Jay and his wife some things, but the hospital had a visitor restriction and would not let them go back to see him.
In the meanwhile, I posted on Facebook and texted our prayer warriors, which along with our pastor included everyone but my middle brother Will, who of course was livid when he found out. I figured if that Jay called me, he would call him. To be honest, I might not have been thinking too clearly. Thankfully, all the return texts and calls calmed me down quickly.
Soon after we took our seats at the concert, we saw Lanette Golden on her way to her seat in front row. Some of her neighbors from Brewton stopped her for a hug and conversation, which gave me just enough time to catch her. I told Lanette who I was and where I lived, and she remembered me! She referred to us as the ones who moved to North Alabama while our children commuted to college from our house on Lake Martin. She told me that they still owned the house across the slough from us and would be staying there for a few days and invited us to visit. When I told her that they did not need to be bothered while they were there, she responded with, “Nonsense, you will not be bothering us!”
Bursting with excitement, I texted Pat Hill, who is the director of George Wallace Senior Center in Glencoe where I used to work. She told me to calm down or I would have a heart attack. I did not tell Pat about my brother. I was in a moment, I guess.
When the concert was down to the last three songs, William Lee Golden called for Lanette to play the keyboard. The woman is 89 years old and taught 84-year-old William everything he knows about music.
We decided to skip the after-concert meeting. I felt bad about not being with Jay, so we headed to the hospital, but we were not allowed to see him. He was released the same night with no broken bones, only bruises, road rash and a sprained ankle. We helped get him discharged and got him and his wife loaded up and on their way back to Phenix City. Praises and glory to God, it could have been worse.
Vicki Scott may be contacted at lily200383@yahoo.com.