As with many others across our state and nation, I've come to know and admire James A. Gaston, the legendary Arkansas figure who took a handful of rustic cottages along the White River and, through decades of hard work and dedication, converted them into a world-class trout fishing resort below Bull Shoals Dam.
And so my heart was saddened the other day when I visited the 73-year-old icon of the White River in the room he's been occupying at the Hiram Shaddox Geriatric Center alongside the Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home.
Jim sat beside his bed in a wheelchair following a series of medical setbacks that began in May. He's the same Jim I've always known and cared about, valiantly determined to carry on a conversation and be the personable man I've known ... to remain the same, larger-than-life persona he's always been. His struggle was part of the physical ailments he's been battling for more than a month now and hopefully will soon overcome.
Clad in a blue plaid shirt and a fun pair of bright yellow socks, he belted out his familiar laugh when I talked about events from years past. He even felt peppy enough to express a few political views. Imagine that! Besides his energy and quick smile often punctuated with laughter, Jim has been known to passionately and honestly express his views on many issues.
That boundless energy is exemplified in the impressive resort bearing his family name. It's difficult to fathom how he began his life's mission and creation as a summer assignment in 1958 with six simple cabins his father had established along the White River.
As its owner-manager, Jim added amenities such as TVs and telephones, an airstrip, a group of top-flight guides and boats while steadily increasing the comfortable cottages in number and size until today some 79 distinctively salmon pink abodes line the banks for two miles beneath sprawling hardwoods that shade an immaculately mown emerald lawn. In the process, he added a pool, tennis court, restaurant, and conference center on the 400 acres.
I stood in the softly lit room beside him, reflecting on all this man has contributed to our state and the recreation and happiness of millions of Americans over the past 56 years. As with all of us, time has taken its toll on his body.
His devoted wife, Jill, who manages the gift shop at the resort, has made the 20-minute drive to be by his side daily in these trying weeks, as have most of the loyal Gaston's staff, including his grandson, Clint. As I said, Jim is one of those people whose life has touched so many others in such positive ways over the decades.
Little wonder the impressive $4.7 million state landmark four miles from the resort at the edge of Bull Shoals Dam bears the name: The James A. Gaston Visitor Center. Little wonder he has served Arkansas so loyally and long as a member of the state's Department of Parks and Tourism board, now emeritus in that role.
So I have no doubt many thousands will join me today in offering hopes and prayers for Jim Gaston's full and complete healing and recovery and to see him once again standing in the resort's office, smiling, laughing and welcoming his endless stream of guests.
How we spend time
We Americans spend an average 18 months of our lifetimes on things beyond our control, from waiting in a doctor's office to pairing up socks and standing in line at the DMV, says a new report.
For 63 percent, the biggest time-waster is sitting in traffic: 69 percent spend up to four hours and 31 percent spend five or more hours each week in traffic.
Drivers in Northwest Arkansas with a bustling Interstate 49 and a population edging about 500,000 are feeling this idle highway time more than ever.
In two surveys of 1,000 people each for TomTom.com, 88 percent of Americans say they spend nonproductive time at least twice every day, and the cost can make a big impact on their lives. Sixty-three said they waste upwards of 40 minutes a day.
All this time-wasting leaves 59 percent of Americans annoyed, 57 percent frustrated, 32 percent stressed and 32 percent feeling anxious.
We all report experiencing the ineffiencies of life. The TomTom study says they include sitting in traffic (63 percent); dealing with customer service on the phone (55 percent); waiting in the doctor's/dentist's office (47 percent); waiting at the Department of Motor Vehicles (42 percent); waiting for a spouse or partner (17 percent); and waiting for friends (15 percent).
Say, come to think of it, I wonder why these TomTom folks didn't also include all the nonproductive hours we spend sleeping.
Mike Masterson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Email him at mikemasterson10@hotmail.com.
Editorial on 06/16/2015