Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 15:23:55 -0400
From: “N.A. Booko”
Subject: Desperate Aerial Search For Mary Jane . . .
I moved to Chatham County in the summer of 1973. Part of my eleven acres included a large field under rental cultivation. I was advised it would be a good thing to continue this arrangement so the land would not revert and become overgrown. I would have no part of that. I needed and wanted my privacy. The next growing season was great- all I had to do was choose a spot in that big field and plow my garden.
Over the years, the shrubs, trees, saplings started their march toward my garden. Day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, they closed in on my little spot. I couldn’t keep up with it. Finally, sometime around 1985, my garden consisted of a semi-circular spot probably fifteen feet in diameter, completely surrounded by trees. I got enough sun to grown squash, tomatoes and cucumbers.
One hot June 14th, I heard a helicopter pass over, turn and come back and turn again. The third turn, it hovered over my garden. I could see it was a National Guard helicopter. It was so low, I could see the people sitting in the cockpit. I motioned for them to go away, but it just lowered its position and remained there. I grabbed a big mirror and tried to reflect the sun into their faces, but that didn’t do anything. It hoovered there for more than fifteen minutes. The powerful winds and swirling motion were twisting and destroying my tomato vines and squash plants- actually breaking them off at soil level.
Presently six men came walking up my driveway, into my yard and on out to my garden. At that point, the helicopter left. One of the men informed me that they were with the Chatham County Sheriffs Department and had been informed that I was growing marijuana in my garden. “May we look?”- one asked. I said yes, I had nothing to hide. I am sure they felt foolish when they found it was only tomatoes and squash- and no Mary Jane. They apologized for the mistake. Meanwhile, it had ruined my garden and later I saw that it had blown roofing off an outbuilding. One of my cats left during the noise, and never returned.
I was so angry! I called the National Guard and complained. I called l WRAL TV Station and told my story. They sent a reporter to interview me and dear God, he was in a helicopter! No place for it to land! They landed in my neighbor’s garden- and he was none to happy about that. The story aired that night on the eleven o’clock news. There I was, in living color, blabbing my mouth off- and the newscaster was Charlie Gaddy- we grew up together in Biscoe. He reported the story as if I were a total stranger- Actually, I felt more than a stranger- I felt used, abused and mis-treated. It was one of the most horrendous days of my life- And to think- Mary Jane- such a sweet simple little name could cause so much trouble . . .
N.A. Booko
N.A. Booko lives and gardens in Chatham County- and not a magic dragon in sight . . .