By Scottie Nell Hughes

One night last week while nursing a sick child, I kept myself awake in between medicine doses by flipping through the endless numbers of cable channels until I landed on the classic Godfather trilogy. Like always in the past, I was hooked but after only 30 minutes I realized how this life was not too far off from what being a suburban mother and wife was like. Granted, our bloodshed usually results from falling off the monkey bars and can be patched with Neosporin and a Toy Story band aid. However, there were many other similarities between the characters of these classic Italian families, and the families I interact with everyday here in Sumner County.

I’ve never been one to seek out the rich and famous for photos or autographs. I could jot down a list of all the times I’ve met anyone famous during a coffee break and still have time for a second cup.

I’ve met four Governors or former Governors of Tennessee. I had a delightful conversation with Winfield Dunn and listened to Ned Ray McWherter tell a few stories at a political gathering. I had my picture made with Don Sundquist back in my tourism days but my brother told me I should keep it in a drawer and not on my desk. I recently met Gov. Bill Haslam, but the jury is still out on him.

It’s tough enough standing on stage to recount emotional moments in your life. Imagine then doing such while your mother comments from the sidelines for the entire audience to enjoy. That’s the plot of the Volunteer State Community College Theater production of Lisa Kron’s “Well”. The memoir-style production covers topics as disparate as illness and integration and with a humor and poignancy that audiences have enjoyed during runs on Broadway. The New York Times said “Well opens doors of insight and emotion that no other play in New York is unlocking right now.”

“Well” comes to the Vol State stage for performances at 7:30 p.m. on March 22, 23 and 24 and at 2:30 p.m on March 25. It will be held in the Wemyss Auditorium at Caudill Hall on the campus at 1480 Nashville Pike in Gallatin. Tickets are $5 at the door. It is free to Vol State students, faculty and staff. For more information call 230-3201.

“Let’s Try This…”

It’s hard to believe but it’s already the end of February.  Two months of 2012 are already gone.  January’s article dealt with Federal Grants that are available for training and certifications for jobs that are in demand.  If you want to see if you are qualified for non-reimbursable financial aid, please call Work Force Essentials at 452-1964.

So the question is this; are you still looking for work?  If the answer is yes, then what category of job seeker are you?  Have you been searching for some time or are you just now starting?  If you are just beginning, here are the basics. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work.  The most productive method for finding employment is through networking but people can’t help you if they don’t know you are in need of a job.  Next register with the Career Center and look through the open job orders posted in our office or on line.  Currently there are 80 job openings in Sumner County alone.  Then you can go to productive websites such as Americasjobexchange.com or Workingallatin.com and look at job listings there.  Between those two sites, there are literally hundreds of available jobs.