I wrote last week about well known people in my life who have dined with my children and me and a couple who have even spent the night with us. These included the potter D. X. Gordy and Creek Indian Chief Dode McIntosh along with Atlanta historian Franklin Garrett.
I was lucky to work at the Peachtree Conference Center, now the Wyndham, from its inception in early 1984. There was just a handful of employees while it was being constructed, and we worked out of offices up near the airport.
It officially opened in September, 1984 and I was happily employed there for the next 13 years. I did all of the photography and public relations for the conference center, and the group photos of the companies who were holding conferences there. I would have them stand on steps just outside, and the engineering guys had to bring a 10 foot ladder for me to crawl up and get the snapshot.
One morning I was coming to work and as the elevator opened up, Cicely Tyson stepped out. Folks, she is one very short lady.
John Stamos stayed with us at the conference center one weekend. The man was in his mid 20s and his unruly father was with him. Stamos was a gentlemen, kind and polite to everyone. I cannot say the same for his father. The early walkie-talkies were coming out then, and I had just received mine as an employee who often had duties in other parts of the center. I don’t remember how I decided Stamos could use it while he was there, but I graciously loaned it to him.
I don’t remember the scene his father made in our fine dining restaurant, I just remember we were glad to see him go. Since Stamos was clearly a well-adjusted adult, I could never figure out why he had to drag his dad along with him.
Jocelyn Dorsey has worked for Channel 2 for 40 years. She is always active in community affairs and we met one Saturday morning as a part of a motorcycle ride. Yep, she has long been a motorcyclist. No, I never had the pleasure of owning a motorcycle myself, but for at least 15 years I’ve been a member of the Fayette County club. Many couples each had their own bike and I always had a ride on the back of someone’s bike. We belonged to the Gold Wing Road Riders organization, and their support was given each year to the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. Jocelyn always was the front motorcycle and led us on the two hour trip to Helen. There we would be treated to lunch and hear from children who had been cured of tumors.
The people all mentioned have indeed shared meaningful days of my life, but then I have lived here 50 years and there are hundreds of you who have shared your homes, your help, your wisdom, and your friendship for many years.
