Editor, the News-Herald,

Gosh, I miss Suffolk. I lived there in the Oak Ridge community from 1966-1969. I miss the excellent peanuts, (Made or prepared in scores of ways), the best hams in the world, and a great community. Yep, I was there as a child during the best and worst times.

Actually upon arriving as a ‘Yankee’ interloper I could not understand what the other children in the neighborhood were saying! What the heck was a &uot;Roll&uot; or a &uot;Snap&uot; or &uot;Greens&uot;? I quickly became fluent (And was chastised by Yanks about my speech when I moved back north).

I met the best folks in Suffolk. Bradford Lee Byrd and David Koren come to mind. We all went to school in Holland, and our bus driver was the former Nansemond County Sheriff’s widow and my next door neighbor’s grandma).

I kissed my first girl in Suffolk. I shall tell her maiden name – Denise Baines.

I met the nicest girl in summer school. (It was for fun back then and not a remedial deal.) Anita Fay Luter was her name and she told me she could not marry me because her marriage was already arranged. I think we were both 10 years old.

The ’68 riots scared us terribly but all folks had reason to be upset…but not to burn down their own neighborhoods or beat

people because they were white or black. I never had a black person in any class. They were called Colored Folks then, and my Dad made sure we knew they were &uot;just people&uot; and to treat them with the same respect you treat your Mom and Dad.

Sadly this was not the norm as when I played football as an &uot;Oak Ridge Headhunter&uot; in a game against the black Suffolk team I was called a &uot;cracker&uot; by an opposing team member. Dad said never mind and to forget it. I couldn’t figure out why someone hated me for no (as I supposed) reason.

Fondly I remember sailing the family boat from Paul Brady’s Marina into the Nansemond River. Lots of crabs to catch and the most breathtaking views, but it was shallow in spots! Every time I get a chance I visit Suffolk. I’ll never ever forget the smell of roasting peanuts and cured hams, and the dear folks that still live there.

Any old friends are requested to reply/rebut my memories. I lived at 205 Pond Drive.

Paul Flanagan

London Towne, Md.