Readers Write and Reminisce 

   Gwinnett Reads' challenge of "Walking Across Egypt" has finally crossed the finish line with thirteen contest winners and thousands of county winners who made strides just by reading. 

   In addition to reading Edgerton's book about Mattie Rigsbee, a kindly widow with a trademark pound cake, Gwinnettians shared thoughts in discussion groups, baked pound cakes, wrote essays and sang along with Edgerton and his band of Rank Strangers at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center.

|   Taking top honors for the pound cake contest was Jacqueline Thompson Graves with her "How to Marry a Millionaire" pound cake. My marital status does not allow me to put it to the test, but I will say it beats out anything I've ever tasted from any of those expensive gourmet shops. 

   First runner-up was Katherine Brooks with her "Family Pound Cake" and second runner up, Linda Marie Jones with "Butterscotch Pound cake." All recipes are posted on the library Web site, www.gwinnettpl.org. 

   For the Essay Contest, writers recalled a person who made a positive influence on their lives. The top ten writers enjoyed dinner with the author.

   The winning essays shed light on different ways people can touch each other for life. Marjorie Sisterson recalls what an impact her father's sense of humor had on her. "A life lived with laughter and joy is more substantial to one's well-being than all the grits and greens in the world."

   Farrar Atkinson fondly remembers her Aunt Minnie who was childless, but raised six siblings after her mother's death, then two nieces after her sister's death. "To this day, tales of Minnie's unfailing love and courage are remembered and repeated at family gatherings."

   Jacqueline Thompson Graves reminisces about an elderly lady named Audrey Cleavenger who taught her how to can. While making jalepeno jelly Audrey cautioned Jacqueline to wear rubber gloves. "The oil penetrated my skin. As tears poured down my cheeks, Audrey calmly brought me a bowl filled with ice water. She never said, 'I told you so,' at least not with her voice."

   His grandfather's quiet acceptance of his Mohawk haircut made a lasting impression on Charles Pillsbury III. "He never mentioned my appearance. A father now, I try to be as accepting as he always was."

   Holly Armstrong remembers a babysitter, Suzie Hawkins, who always told her to "look it up" when she didn't know the meaning of a word. Holly now finds herself saying, "Look it up" to her own kids.

   Linda Marie Jones might still be doing clerical work had her boss Dwight Rudisill not encouraged her to go to college. "I was promoted to manager within a year. His interest in the future of a young woman changed my life."

   And Jo Ellis cherishes most the love her mother, MamaBess, baked into her pound cakes that she, like Mattie Rigsbee, was known for. In fact, she wrote, "There's one in the oven right now." 

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