WALKER: Choices to make

Where to go to school. What to wear. What to eat. How much. Who to date. Who to marry. Whether to polish your shoes or just buff ‘em off. Another serving of chocolate pie. Go to Athens to the ball game or watch it on TV. Go to church. Fish or mow the grass. Give to Salvation Army. Drop out of the Rotary Club, etc., etc.

We make dozens of choices every day. Most are mundane and of minor consequence. We make these choices without thinking. Some are more consequential, at least to the maker. Chemotherapy or just ride it out. Divorce or try to stick it out. Should I run for public office?

This column is about my choices with the goal of making you think about yours.

Meal: Country fried steak, rice and gravy, biscuits, slaw and strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream. Iced tea. Sweet. Or, had I rather have fried chicken (wings), tomato sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches, slaw and egg custard pie? Iced tea. Actually, sweet, but not too sweet.

Automobile: What about a 1957 Ford Thunderbird or a 1954 Corvette? Then, there is that wonderful 1957 Chevrolet. I like it even more because it was more popular in the years after it was built than it was in 1957. The ‘59 Chevy was cool as were the early Ford Mustangs. We had a 1958 Chevrolet, black and white. Daddy let me pick the colors. I think I’d take a loaded 2015 F-150 Ford pickup (aluminum) if I had to drive it every day. I have one, but it’s not loaded, and it’s not aluminum. It’s a 2014.

Vacation destination: New York, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Miami, Boston, Key West, Chicago, San Francisco, Austin, Jackson Hole, Ireland, Berlin, Spain and Hong Kong. I’ve been to all of them and many others, but for a couple of weeks and with a pocketful of unspoken-for money, I think I would take England and spend at least a week in London.

Sporting Events: Not the Super Bowl, NCAA Basketball Championship, World Series, Masters, Olympics or even the Kentucky Derby (I’ve been there three or four times), but I’d take the Georgia Bulldogs football team playing Alabama in Athens. If all goes well, Janice and I will see Georgia vs. Alabama in Athens this year.

Concert: Frank Sinatra; The Bee Gees; Gladys Knight and the Pips; Four Tops; Jerry Lee Lewis; Conway Twitty; Martha and the Vandellas; The Temptations; The Spinners; The Chilites; Smokey Robinson and the Miracles; Reba; The Supremes; The Tams; Garth Brooks; Barry White. I could go on with this forever. My choice: Frank Sinatra in his prime.

Home: If not Houston County, where? Well, it would be or could be or should be one of these: Charleston, South Carolina; Austin, Texas; Oxford, Mississippi; Fairhope, Alabama; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago; Boston; Fort Worth; Key West (if I was dropping out, which I will never do). Or, possibly one of these Georgia towns: Thomasville, Savannah, Madison, Athens, Blue Ridge, St. Simons, Covington, Clayton or Young Harris. Really, my choice is Houston County.

All-Time Song: “Amazing Grace”; “My Tribute”; “The First, The Last, My Everything”; “Midnight Train to Georgia”; “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me”; “God Bless America”; “Lady In Red”; “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy” (by the Atlanta Fabulous Tams), etc., etc. But, my choice is “Georgia On My Mind” (by Ray Charles).

President: Harry Truman; Ike; Thomas Jefferson; Abraham Lincoln; James Madison; George Washington. Lots of folks would pick Ronald Reagan. I liked him, too.

Gun: 28 gauge browning O/U Citori grade. And a good quail hunt on a cool, fall morning followed by my favorite meal(s). See above.

Dessert: Chocolate shake, not too thick and not too chocolatey. Large with a little whipped cream on top.

Pet: Dog — Lab. Or, maybe a cross between a Lab and a golden retriever.

Well, these were my choices. They wouldn’t be the same the next time I write another column or even next week.

Have you made yours?

Larry Walker is a practicing attorney in Perry. He served 32 years in the Georgia General Assembly and presently serves on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents. Email: lwalker@whgmlaw.com.

This story was originally published September 12, 2015 at 8:33 PM with the headline "WALKER: Choices to make ."