LETTERS: SOME THOUGHTS ABOUT YELL DAY

To the editor:

I wanted to share with you some thoughts about selling YELL newspapers Tuesday. First of all, I thought I must be totally out of my mind to 1. get out in the dark at 6 o'clock in the morning, 2. flag down oncoming traffic armed with a smile and a newspaper and 3. do it in the rain.

However, as the morning progressed, I found a number of benefits from this endeavor:

-- I was in good company, as several members of the Cape County Rotary Club showed up at the corner of Farmington and Main in Jackson to help in such a good cause.

-- People slowed down so they wouldn't run over me and also (how nice) to keep from splashing me with water on the street.

-- Even those who did not stop for a paper smiled or waved.

-- Children in cars on the way to school or day care were amused at the people dancing around on the street corners waving papers in the air. Their expressions were fun to watch.

-- Comments from customers were great. "Sweetie, if you can stand in the rain to sell them, I will buy your paper." "I don't need change. You keep it for standing in the rain." "We came all the way from Fredericktown this morning just to buy this paper." (I sold them two.) "I want it for the chance on the Beanie Babies." "You look just like one of my friends, so I will buy from you."

Two elderly ladies on their way to get their hair done stopped. They really wanted a paper, but neither could find her money. They promised to come and pay for it on their way back home. (We made a donation.)

High point of the day: A car came to a stop at the corner, and a baby in a car seat caught my eye and gave me the most dazzling smile. The sun couldn't have been brighter. Absolutely made my day. And besides that, we sold out of papers by 8 o'clock. It was a good start to the day.

Keep up the good work. YELL is good for all of us.

SHIRLEY RAMSEY

Community Caring Council

Cape Girardeau