BY SARAH STEPHENS
ELMORE/AUTAUGA NEWS
Now that his name is out there, I want to let you guys know that it was Art Parker I was referring to when I asked for prayers for my friend after a horrific vehicle accident in Montgomery Friday night on Zelda Road. You may have seen it on my personal social media if we are “friends.” Many people have been asking for prayers.
One person died in that accident, and two were seriously injured, including Art.
If you do not know Art Parker, you have missed some entertaining conversations.
Art’s injuries were serious, which I am not going to get into. But suffice to say they were life-threatening. A lesser person may not have made it this far. Quite frankly, Art is just stubborn enough to beat the odds, and in this case I champion his hard head and stubborn attitude.
So, I want to ask God to let us keep this cantankerous soul down here with us for a bit longer, please.
I have some excellent reasons. God, surely you know of Art’s love for horse racing? In his free time when the seasons allow, he is glued to it! He studies the racing programs, he knows the odds. He will talk your ear off about if you let him. Or, at the very least until they start to bleed.
And when he finally does make it through the gates of Heaven, you know he will round up the four horsemen of the apocalypse and line their ponies up on a golden track to race. You know it is true.
Please, God, heal my friend.
Yes, he can be stubborn and argumentative. He could make it an Olympic sport. But he is also a mushy old teddy bear on a lot of things. Just don’t tell him I told you.
He is one of the few people that I actually enjoy arguing with. We have had some epic “interesting” discussions, that led to disagreements. But he finally came around to realizing I was right. Someone read that part to Art, please. It could very well make him sit up and be ready to argue with me again. And this time I would let him win. Maybe.
Art used to publish the Millbrook Independent in Millbrook, which he sold and it became the Montgomery Record. Later it was the River Region News and today is the Elmore/Autauga News. Today Art manages the Montgomery Independent.
I worked with Art for many years at the Millbrook Independent starting around 2008? Maybe 2009. My brain is full. I loved working with Art, and I even enjoyed our arguments. We are both very passionate about community journalism, we just have never completely agreed on how to go about it. And that is OK.
Lord, please. Heal my friend.
