Friday, February 1, 2008...Rutherford County... There's always paperwork to follow-up BBQs - thank you notes, requests to headquarters, writing my postcard home and verbal reports to our Chief of Staff and the webmaster. We sat in front of Republican headquarters in Polk to ensure a wireless signal for about 30 minutes. Then a leisurely ride through the countryside to Mooreboro on the eastern side of Rutherford County. I understand why people settle in resort and urban areas but I often ponder why folks settle in more remote locations. What's their story? What brought them here? What keeps them here? I'm sure they are fascinating stories. One such story is that of Joseph Maimone, headmaster of Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, a charter school, who reestablished himself here from Islip (Suffolk County), Long Island (near my hometown). Mr. Maimone, who is friends with Sheila and Philip Byers, great Montgomery GOPers, is an enthusiastic Fred Smith supporter. I could only learn that he came here five years ago and assume it was because of work and lower taxes. While we welcomed guests a couple came in and said they were from South Carolina, were visiting friends in the area and wanted to stop by. Seemed odd but we never turn anyone away so I welcomed them in. Usually Fred arrives by 6:30 to visit with guests before our program begins. At 6:45 I called George Erwin and asked their ETA. Bad news! It might be 7 p.m. before they arrived from Lake Lure. So I implemented "Plan B" for the first time in 83 BBQs. I invited local elected officials to come up and welcome guests, say our invocation and lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Commissioners Paul McIntosh, Chuck Hill and Representative Tim Moore provided our opening and we invited guests to help themselves to dinner. Senator Smith and his wife Ginny came in and Rutherford greeted them with a round of applause. After a few minutes Ginny introduced me to her friend whom she hadn't seen since they were 13 years old - it was the woman from South Carolina. Why didn't she tell me she'd come to see Ginny? Fred made his presentation to applause and while signing books at the end, a guest opened up a yellowed piece of newsprint. I checked the date - 1959. It was a photo of the Broughton High School football team. Fred Smith was on the end. The guests were Charles Wright - who said his mother saved the picture because he was in it - and Becky Gaddy Wright - Charles was ahead of Fred one year and Becky was in Fred's class. I take a deep breath and marvel at the nostalgia that greets Fred on this tour; he's associated with and touched many lives. Reminds me of the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." How different the world would be without Fred Smith. How different North Carolina can be with Fred Smith as Governor! Come on Rutherford - let's vote him in!