(l. to r.) Adam, Panda, Krystina, Heidi, American Legion Bingo Friday Night, Tybee Island, Ga.

Lately, I’ve enjoyed getting to know and meeting some new friends at Bingo here at Tybee Island.

Bingo is a Friday night tradition I will miss when I return to Kentucky for a few months.

The American Legion over toward the Lighthouse has the island’s best burger and drink pour. The popcorn and cookies ain’t bad, either.

Recently, I tabled with Panda, Heidi, her sister, Adam, Panda’s husband, and “Aunt” Krystina, or “Navy,” as I have nick-named her.

Forgive me if the “fog of Bingo” causes me to misremember here.

They thought ” Panda ” would be a boy; I believe her Christian name is Andrea. I presume Andrew would have been her name otherwise, but somehow, her family started calling her “Andy Pandy,” and eventually, it became Panda.

So be it. The name fits her; she is always smiling, extroverted, and fun-loving. She’d probably be chewing on some bamboo if there was some around.

They all smile, kid one another, and laugh a lot. I like that. Smiles tell me there’s a sharing of love and respect, and it all comes from the heart.

Panda and Adam home-school their kids: a 15-year-old girl, Addison, and an eight-year-old son, whose name escapes me.

They met at church camp when they were teenagers. Panda and Addison have just returned from that camp in my neck of the woods.

Panda taught for a few years. Adam is an industrial engineer at Gulfstream. Adam likes to fish, and Addison likes to clean them. It’s a great combination.

None of my “daughters” have, or desire to have, the fish-cleaning skills.

Heidi does budgets for Georgia Southern, “Go Eagles,” and, by heart, is a researcher. John Hergen Ash II is the basis of her thesis. Fascinating fellow Ash.

Krystina, “Navy,” has “re-upped” to the active Naval Reserve for human resources and environmental, safety, and health work. She’s already spent time in the Navy and decided she wanted more. She proudly showed us her latest military ID as if it were a brand-new dime.

I like brand-new dimes. When I was a kid, I used to get one from my Papaw to buy Black Jack chewing gum and a candy bar at the store in Farmersville.

You can’t help but like these folks.

At a time when you wonder, if you are an old guy like me, what the world is going towards, it is fine people like this who allow you to sigh in relief.

These folks could be kin. Of course, in the South, we believe we all are kin.

My family and friends growing up are the same kind of folks; they love their children, their country, their God, and one another. And they are not afraid to let people know that.

And no matter what happens, that won’t change.

If there is one thing I believe our country needs more of, it is respect and love for each other.

And as Adam said, the night doesn’t get much better when you have made a new friend.

But to make the night even better, Aunt Krystina won a hand.

Adam, FArmstrong is always open for a visit and pond fishing. Remember to bring your kids, especially the daughter.