I probably had a little too much fun with my report...go inside the mind of a veteran flagger as he enters unchartered waters:

Carl Sears & I had conspired last night before after the camp meeting to go low profile on this one and slip INSIDE to flag Perdue...a first for both of us...actually, the word "conspire" denotes some prior joint planning venture...Carl had evidently thought on this for at least minute before he introduced me to the concept...I was hesitant...I was thinkin' "For the Cause!" and tryin' to conjure up an image of my ancestors...this visual of callin' my bride to sign a property bond kept flashin' in my mind instead...

See...I was lookin' at Carl's eyes...I'd learned to recognize "the look" early in my youth...in fact, the first time I recall seein' that peculiar glint...a few moments later I was diving...nearly forty feet from the top of a rather smallish long-leaf pine into Puddin' Creek...most guys know the look I'm talkin' about...the one that says, "I got'em if you got 'em"...my condolences to those men who have lost brothers and close friends as a direct result of "the look"...

I tore out for Waycross this morning just as soon as I dropped my daughter at school...rain spattered on the windshield...flashes of the phone call still caused me to wince...I drank more coffee to steady my nerves...yeah...like that works...

Arrived at Searstown (formerly known as Dixie-Union) just before 9:00...Carl was removing WMD's from his truck and storing them in the house...I thought, "Okay...that's a good idea...no federal charges is a good thing" [Editor's Note to Grannies & new readers: This is HUMOR!! Carl does not transport, possess or use WMD]...we then departed for Okefenokee Tech...

We arrive at Okefenokee Tech well before 10:00 and park opposite the school, next to the street...as with every gubernatorial visit, there's law enforcement everywhere you look...this aspect never bothered me before...we begin preparations as other non-conspirators arrive and are informed of "The Master Plan"...general concensus seemed to be, "Okay...worst case scenario...we can make bail"...

The sign is rolled...flags furled and secreted...we head for the entrance to the auditorium...I'm lookin' at Carl's truck and my truck and thinkin'..."We've been doin' this for three years...the local newspaper editor has already forewarned that "flaggers" will be present at this function...probably every law enforcement officer in South Georgia has seen these two trucks from Confederate hell...and I'm wearin' a jacket with a one-foot-square SCV logo on back...yeah...this is low profile a'ight...

Carl & I position ourselves in the center of the back row...Sam Lyons stands next to the left exit...Jay Lawthorne next to the right...Monika & her daughter take seats down front with their camera...others take seats with Carl & I on the back row...we're scrutinized rather closely by OTI security, police, and sheriff's deputies...word comes back that Monika and her daughter have been warned by an officer that they will be removed if they create a disturbance...seems Monika's daughter wis wearing a Southern heritage T-shirt...known by law enforcement to be the apparel of choice among troublemakers and political terrorists...

I reach for my camera and notice a sheriff's deputy unusually interested in my movements...security guard at the other end of our row is obviously interested, too...I pull the camera from the case...deputy looks away...security continues to scrutinize...I manage a smile..."Hey Carl...I think we're gonna get tossed."...there's that look again...and the mental image of the phone call...

Jay comes over and takes the seat between Carl & I..."Gettin' crowded in the corner...this is better"....Jay chatters on about some Led Zep video and bales of cotton bein' hauled up a ramp (???)...I realize Jay doesn't know how to whisper ...Carl & I play eye contact games with the officers...I've resigned myself to a showdown when Jay finally manages an actual whisper..."Are we goin' peacefully or is there gonna be a layin' on of hands?"...I look at Jay...I can see he recognizes "the look"..."I'm with ya, Brother"...Carl is grinnin' from ear to ear...I'm thinkin'...this ain't gonna be good...

Perdue finally arrives, jokes briefly with the speaker during his introduction, and then takes the podium...Jay & I stand with a full-size GA flag...Carl holds up the "Sonny Lied" LUV sign...I glance to the left...Sam & cohort have their flag up...lookin' back at Sonny, his face becomes beet red...other than a few dislocated lower jaws on the stage, no one else has noticed us...and bein' the consumate politician, Sonny doesn't miss a beat..."Isn't it great to live a in country where we have the freedom to express our opinions like these folks in the back?"...heads turn and the applause begins...grins break out all around...we ain't gettin' tossed...Sonny suggests Georgia would be a much better place if "we all had the passion these people have for their cause"...he acknowledges we are welcome and suggests that it is not necessary we remain standing...no thanks, Sonny...we're content to stand...

Sometime later, Jay and I are exploring creative ways to hold the flag aloft...tryin' to relieve our arms...while Sonny limits his gaze to the front few rows and drones on and on about his legislative priorities while being confronted the entire time with his biggest political problems...us and the flag...

I forget which issue he was commenting on when he said, "It's for the people of Georgia to decide, not something we should decide for them." I'm thinkin'...evidently this is a very selective ideology...while pointing to the flag...

We depart as Sonny steps from the podium and immediately take more familiar offensive positions across from the college entrance with many more flags and signs...this flagging becomes a virtual fun-fest for veterans, first-time flaggers, and a few local college students who decided to take part...Dixie blaring on my horn providing background...thumbs up...honking horns...waves...smiles...laughter...news cameras...quotes for the reporters...a good time is had by all...

Before departing for a lunch celebration, we pose for pictures in front of "The Rebel"...a semi-tractor belonging to a friend, Wendell Moore, of Willacoochee...Wendell is elated with his first flagging experience, even though he arrived after we had already entered the auditorum...lunch was equally enjoyable as we stood and launched into a rousing chorus of Dixie lead by Sam Lyons after Lawanna Haskins blessed our meal...Ole Times Country Buffet will never be the same...

Sending photos later tonight after I reduce them to a suitable size for email...

Mission accomplished...and I didn't have to make the dreaded phone call...

---@kp