By Dickie Dixon

Belated birthdays:  February birthdays:  2^nd:  Jeff Bonnin 6^th:  Bill Gipson

For Posterity’s Eyes:  February birthdays:  9^th:  Mary Sheffield-Smith, Blake Smith, Vetta Qackenbush, Kathy Grigsby 10^th:  Stephen Hudson, Emily Hubert 12th:  Hope Martin, Betty Preston 13^th:  Betty Glaze, Vivian Cates 14^th:  Bettell (Lewis) Benham, Dawn Burleigh, Betty Dufner  15^th:  John Grigsby

Customer service Saturday seminars  When I attended Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas while I was working on my Masters in history, I frequently stopped in a convenience store on the way.  Every day an employee there waited on me at the counter named Brenda (not her real name); she was what I would call pleasantly plump, not really very heavy , but bordering on it.  Now I don’t know about you, but what I have experienced is this:  The heavier and more buxom a woman is, the more she tends toward the syndrome of “large and in charge.”  (Now mind you, I didn’t mind Brenda being in charge.)

Brenda was not really abrasive; I would call it cheeky.  She reminded me of the attitude you see in parts store counter guys, which is sort of like:  “I know what I’m doing, and I’m quite sure you don’t.” Brenda and I never had any cross words; I just noticed that her manner in dealing with all the guys that came in there was a little “hit you in the face.”  I would call her a female Bubba, if you please, a Bubbette.

Every now and then, something gets into my system, and I have to let it out.  That day, Brenda was the recipient.  As I went in, I thought about her customer service, and how it could be interpreted the wrong way—even though I was convinced it was just Brenda’s personality.  So, when I paid at the counter, I said to her:  “Brenda, I’m convinced we can’t train you for good customer service, but I have a plan:  We will have Saturday seminars to train the customers how to relate to you!”  Brenda was surprised I said that, and it set her on her heels a little bit, although I was convinced that tomorrow she would be right back to her Bubbette ways.

Readers, e-mail me and let me know your story about the Bubbette you encountered, and I will see if I can get her customers enrolled in my customer service Saturday seminars.

Save the date! The Newton County Historical Commission is sponsoring the Newton County Genealogy Conference on Saturday, February 10, 2018 from 9 am to 4 pm  in the Newton County Civic Center on 213 East Court Street.  Cost for the conference is $12, including lunch.  Attendees must RSVP for the lunches by February 8, 2018 at 5 pm.  For more information, call Dickie Dixon at (936) 240-8378, or e-mail him at dickie.dixon@hotmail.com

The day before, at the Newton County Public Library, the Library is hosting “Genealogy Basics” from 1-3:00 p.m. free of charge to the public For more information, call Dickie Dixon at (936) 240-8378 or the Director of the Library Stephanie Ducote at (409) 379-8300.

Odessa Sanders Terry will speak about her life and experiences growing up in Lufkin, where she and her family moved from the Weeping Mary community near Weches when she was one.  She will discuss this for the Angelina County Genealogical Society at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, February 19, 2018 in the Community Meeting Room of Kurth Memorial Library on 706 South Raguet Street in Lufkin Texas (75904).  At 6:00 p.m. Karen Kurth Hall will disucss “Using Pedigree Charts” at Keltys United Methodist Church on 1867 Old Mill Road in Lufkin, Texas (actually formerly Keltys, Texas).  For more information, please call Dickie Dixon at (936) 240-8378, or e-mail him at dickie.dixon@hotmail.com

 

For book reviews/notices please send a complimentary copy to Kissin’ Kuzzins P. O. Box 151001 Lufkin TX 75915-1001

Send your queries to Kissin’ Kuzzins P. O. Box 15-1001 Lufkin TX 75901 by email to dickie.dixon@hotmail.com or by phone to (936) 240-8378