The Great Dessert Heist

During large family gatherings we convert the picnic table on the screened porch into a "refrigerated" dessert table. We usually have great choices: Pineapple Cake using my mother's recipe, Old-fashioned Chocolate Layer Cake (also my mother's recipe), Sweet Potato Custard, Pecan Pie, and assorted candies and cookies.

Someone failed to close the screen door so Bentley (an elderly Labrador Retriever) and Lacy (his vivacious, young Lab side kick) decided to have a look. Bentley was waiting patiently while Lacy placed her front feet on the picnic table seat and surveyed the desserts spread out before her.

Bentley started getting impatient and moving around grunting urging Lacy to hurry. "Come on, come on, throw something down here to me." whined Bentley.

We heard the commotion and reached the dessert table just in time to avert a disaster. I shall never forget Bentley and Lacy and the Great Dessert Heist!

Will Wheeler

Truly, I do not know if I remember Wheeler, or if I just remember his pictures. He died when I was two years old, and he is buried in our family graveyard with all those many long deceased Chambers (Chalmers) ancestors.

As a gravely ill young child he came to live with my Great-Grandfather John R. Chambers and his family. Wheeler became a well respected and well loved member of our family.

Recently, Dr. Max White, a professor at Piedmont College, sent a copy of a paper he delivered at a conference in North Carolina. He cited Wheeler and his relationship with my family as evidence of families in North Georgia that formed deep bonds with members of the Cherokee Nation.