Bob and Jewel Dee's blog
BOBBY JACK AND JEWEL DEE'S BLOG   

Below:  Krum, Texas Heritage Museum (formerly Farmers and Merchants State Bank)

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This web-site contains a variety of material covering various subjects that both Bob and Jewel Dee want to share. There is no central theme. However, probably considerable material will reflect two hobbies in which they are involved: 1. celebrating vintage Avion travel trailers and 2. promoting the heritage and rich history of the small town of Krum, Texas. Bob considers Krum his real hometown and Krum was one of Jewel Dee's primary influences in her early years. To return to the web-page entitled "Memories of Krum", type in the following URL using your browser: www.webspawner.com/users/krumhistory/index.html You can also return to the Memories of Krum home page (or go to the Vintage Avion web-page) by opening the MORE STUFF page ( click at the top ) and use the URL links that I have posted on this page. NOTE: The following article was published in the Catholic Diocese of Nashville, TN newsletter on December 10, 2010. Morgan Poteet is the grand- daughter of Bob & Jewel Dee Muncy (Debbie (Muncy) Poteet's daughter. Needless to say we are extremely proud of her.

Aaron Painter
December 10, 2010

A St. Cecilia High School senior has made her physical affliction the basis for her future vocation.Morgan Poteet, 17, served as the official honoree for the Williamson County Jingle Bell Run/Walk to benefit the Arthritis Foundation on Dec. 4. The role provided an opportunity for Poteet to serve her community and jump start a career helping others.“I felt so honored and really excited because this is what I want to do with my life,” she said. “I want to go to work for the Arthritis Foundation. I want to be in the non-profit business. I just want to make a difference.”Poteet has already made a great difference. She raised $8,047 for the Arthritis Foundation via the Jingle Bell Walk/Run. Her team of 92 raised more money than any other, and was recognized as the largest and most spirited group.As the honoree, Poteet participated in speaking engagements both before and after the event, spreading the message of what it’s like to live with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s something she’s experienced for the past 10 years.

“It’s very difficult. It’s not just the fact that I have swollen joints, and I can’t walk up the stairs,” Poteet said. “It’s difficult because most of the time people don’t believe that I have it. You tell someone, and it’s like ‘Kids don’t get arthritis.’ It’s not heard of, so it’s very impacting, both physically and mentally.”

Poteet remains active, however. She serves as St. Cecilia’s yearbook editor, and is a member of the German-Latin Club and Model United Nations. She works at a grocery store and volunteers at a nursing home. Pain medication enables her to move around, despite her swollen joints.

“But there have been times when if I’m not on the proper medication, and my joints are really inflamed, I can’t even come to school,” Poteet said. “I can’t move. I can’t even get out of bed.”She first spoke in October at a downtown Franklin kick-off party for the Jingle Bell Run/Walk. Poteet was introduced as the event’s honoree, but soon became a valued spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation. Her goal is raising awareness.

“I think it’s important for everybody in general to understand that kids can get arthritis because there are people who live in Tennessee who drive up to four or five hours away just to get medical treatment,” she said. “And doctors don’t know that kids can get arthritis. That’s one of the biggest problems we face right now. There’s not proper medical training. Teachers don’t understand. So if the adults in society don’t understand, how do we expect kids to understand how to treat certain people with this disease?”

Before Poteet arrived at St. Cecilia as a sophomore, she was painfully shy – and a victim of such misunderstanding.

“I didn’t have the environment that allowed me to speak up about my arthritis,” said Poteet. “I used to be bullied all the time when I was a child. I was bullied by Internet. I had Facebook groups created about me, and how I was a liar and all the horrible things – slanderous there. I was pushed down, physically bullied, and verbally bullied. People would come up and make fun of me because I was limping through the hallways. They called me an old lady.”

When she changed schools, Poteet wanted to keep her disease a secret. But that proved impossible, and she now attributes her time at St. Cecilia to the change in her personality.“The environment here has really allowed me to grow,” Poteet said, taking a moment away from study hall. “They’ve taught me to be myself and be who I am. That it’s OK, and everything’s going to be all right, and that God loves me and that I’m not crippled. I’m a wonderful amazing person and I can do anything I put my mind to.”Poteet has put her mind to working toward a career educating others about arthritis. She will participate in a week-long internship with the Arthritis Foundation in early January. She plans to attend East Tennessee State University next year, with hopes of earning a degree in business. During that time, Poteet will continue raising awareness about her disease via the Jingle Bell Walks organized by Arthritis Association chapters in East Tennessee. Upon graduation, her ultimate desire is to go to work full time for the Arthritis Foundation.