Griffin Speaks

I Heard it Through the Grapevine...

When I was a young boy living in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, my favorite song was “ I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE”. The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, performed by: Marvin Gaye. It went something like this:

Ooh, I bet you’re wondering how I knew ‘bout your plans to make me blue with some other guy that you knew before. Between the two of us guys you know I love you more. It took me by surprise I must say, when I found out yesterday. Don’t you know that…

Chorus: I heard it through the grapevine not much longer would you be mine. Oh I heard it through the grapevine. Oh and I’m just about to lose my mind…

A few days ago I was humming that tune when a close friend came up with an interesting suggestion for my weekly article. He suggested that I include one paragraph every week in my weekly article where I reveal things that I heard through the grapevine. Information that my readers would not receive in the Montgomery Advertiser or the local radio and television media. I told him that I was not one to gossip BUT!!

I have decided that he was correct since I do have an incredible grapevine in my backyard. I decided to follow my grapevine to see exactly where it led to and this is what I discovered. The grapevine started in my backyard and wrapped around the following places: church’s chicken on Fairview and Goode Street, City Hall, State Government buildings, Heritage Barber Shop, Howards, Davis Cafeteria, the Montgomery Country Club, World Gym, Sports First, Sheridan Heights, Lake Forest, Arrowhead, every major city in the United States, Korea, China, England, Egypt, Maxwell, Wynlakes, Cloverdale, Montgomery Academy, Saint James, Bear Exploration, Lamp, etc., etc., (too many places to name).

A sample of some of the things that I have heard through the grapevine is:

Greg Calhoun is building a 12000 square foot house in Wynlakes; Ron Mays may be acquiring a commuter airline in the very near future; Representative John Knight is predicted to succeed Mayor Bobby Bright; Governor Don Siegleman may be re-elected if he listens to Sheron Rose; out of state developers are looking at the west side of Montgomery for re-development; Republicans are considering courting Alvin Holmes and Joe Reed in attempt to get them to cross over; Tonea Stewart is being considered for her own sitcom; Martha’s Restaurant may start a franchise; Representative Perry Hooper is being considered for a major appointment in the Siegleman Administration; Wynton Blount is about to make another major donation; Connie Harper is being considered for a major appointment in the Bush Administration; Attorney General Bill Pryor may receive an appointment to the United States Supreme Court; District Attorney Ellen Brooks may retire before the end of her term; United States Attorney Leura Garrett may receive the next Federal Judgeship if Judge Vanzetta Penn Mcpherson declines it; Judge Charles Price may be appointed Attorney General if Bill Pryor receives an appointment to the United States Supreme Court; Saint John’s Rev. Arnell will announce shortly that he has been elected Bishop; the grapevine sources reveal that there are more African-American Multi-Millionaires living in Haardt Estates than anywhere else in Montgomery, Alabama; Mable Haardt is wealthier that Wynton Blount. How have so many older Montgomerians retained their incredible good looks for so many years? What is their secret? Does Edward Stevens reveal it to the grapevine? Does Dr. Whatley own a significant share of Dominos Pizza? Is Clarence Hampton related to Noriega? Did Tyrone Means purchase Holyfield’s Bentley? Did Alfred Seawright just purchase a $200,000 lot in Greystone and give it to his daughter? Did Fred Bell just become a Judge in Lowndes County? Does Donald Watkins really own a thirty-five million dollar jet? Is Judge Karen Knight in negotiations with Revlon to star in a commercial? Is Billy Carter’s son starting his first year at Harvard’s Law School? Is Halle Berry really Kay Underwood’s second cousin? Are you wondering where Kirk Hatcher is? The grapevine knows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Like any grapevine sometimes you have to take what it says with a grain of salt, but sometimes the grapevine is right on the money. So look forward to getting the grapevine scoop at the end of my articles every week. “Did you know that Donald Watkins Jr. is dating a famous actress? Is this true? If it is then what is her name? The Grapevine knows.

Greg Griffin is a free lance writer. You can read his previous articles by logging on to his web page at www.greggriffin.com