Folks, I know I am being repetitious on this, but please be sure to vote in the GOP’s second primary. Early voting will run Wednesday through July 5, with polls open each day from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. As I mentioned in a previous column, most of the 17 counties in the 3rd Congressional District will, in this early voting period, provide one central location for voting. 

In Lenoir County, that location is at the Election Board office, 110 S. Heritage St., Kinston. This second primary will end Tuesday, July 9, with all polling places open. 

On that date, either Dr. Joan Perry or Dr. Greg Murphy will emerge as the Republican candidate and will move on to the general election on Sept. 10 to compete with Democrat Allen Thomas, Libertarian Tim Harris and  Constitutionalist Greg Holt. 

This contest is, as I am sure you are aware, attracting national attention, and it is certainly deserving of our attention here in the district.

Another Father’s Day has come and gone, and I hope that it was enjoyable for you. I had the pleasure of attending our Father’s Day celebration with family and close friends at our annual family reunion in Elizabeth City. 

It was a special pleasure for me to be with my daughter, Jessica, and my son, Reece. They mean more to me than words could ever express, and their spouses and children are really what love is all about. It was also great being with my brother, Rick, and his wife, Lydia, along with a multitude of nieces, nephews and close friends. God is good! 

Now, let me share this example of love from the Womanatics Group … a son took his elderly father to a restaurant for an evening dinner. 

His father was rather old and weak and while eating, he dropped food on his shirt and trousers. Other diners looked on critically, but his son remained calm and seemed to be not at all embarrassed. When his father finished eating, he quietly took him to the wash room, wiped the food particles away, removed the stains and combed his hair. 

When they came out, it seemed nearly everyone in the restaurant was watching them. The son settled the bill and started walking out with his father. 

At that time, an old man among the diners called out to the son  and asked him, "Don't you think you've left something behind?" 

The son replied, "No sir, I haven't.” 

The old man replied, "Yes, you have! You've left a lesson for every son and hope for every father." 

It is indeed the example that teaches.

And now to close on a humorous note. We attribute memory problems to aging. 

An old gentleman went to his doctor and said, "Doc, I have a problem with my memory. I just can't seem to remember anything.”

His doctor replied, "And how long have you had this problem?" 

The man replied, "What problem is that?" 

And this from three ladies who were discussing memory problems. One said, "I find myself at the top of the stairs and I can't remember if I had just come up or if I was headed down." 

The second lady said, "I know what you mean. I open the refrigerator door and I can't remember if I was there to take something out or to put something in." 

The third lady triumphantly proclaimed, "I don't have any problems like that," as she knocked on wood. Then she said, "Could somebody get the door?"

Have a truly great day!