Janice at The End of the Pavement
By Janice Boling
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Janice was a photographer, designated driver, and night owl.
I loved going to the End of the Pavement. I went there whenever I could.
Janice was a regular at the End of the Pavement.
I loved watching my friends interact with each other at the End of the Pavement.
The men would flirt with the women and vise versa. People would tell jokes and laugh until their sides hurt.
Janice with a pink rose
Sometimes feuds would develop at the EOP. Those situations could be uncomfortable, even devastating -- not just for the people involved but for the rest of us, too.
Same with divorce and break-ups. I tried to never take sides because I wanted to keep things friendly with all parties. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it did not.
Janice and Joe Fox in 1978
I was living in Canton, when I noticed this hippie on the side of the road. Joe had too much baggage to carry it all so was stuck on the curb until I came along and rescued him. I loaded him up, asked where he was going, and we headed north towards Union County.
Joe introduced me to a lot of cool people those first few days. His friends were not red-necks, preppies, or nerds. They were a different breed of mountain folk. Call them hillbillies or mountain men or hippies or old country boys and girls, none of the labels really fit.
As a city girl from Atlanta, I had never belonged to a close-knit group. Now I was right in the middle of one.
Jan and Gomer with a beer keg
In 1978, I began a journey that would shape my life for the next two decades.
The End of the Pavement bunch became the most important people in my life. The EOP was a place where I felt safe. It was also exciting -- never knowing who might drop by or what might happen next.
Janice and Joe
Most of the hillbilly men wanted their women to settle down and be submissive house wives. That was not for me so my relationships did not usually last over a year or two. I pushed a lot of men's buttons just by being myself.
Allen, Richard, and Joe
I loved all three of these men and I think they loved me, too.
Allen moved to Florida, Richard went back to California, and Joe moved to Hiawassee.
None of them are on Facebook. If they are, they must be using another name because I have looked!
Joe isn't on the internet yet. I know because I talk with him every now and then. I can't believe Richard is NOT on Facebook -- maybe he has an alias. And Allen, I have no idea about him. Maybe they will see this website and think fondly of me. I hope so.
Bill and I were together when my mother died in 1989.
It was a hard time and he got me through it. Instead of being grateful, I became resentful and broke up with him. I guess he forgave me because now we are friends.
Bill's mother was a lawyer. She was one classy woman. In fact, she reminded me a lot of my own mother.
Susan, Bill's mom, raised two boys. Bill was the oldest and Tim the youngest. Tim was married to Wanda. Wanda and Tim made it by the End of the Pavement occasionally and they gave some great parties.
Mrs. Kirtley, Tim, Wanda, Bill, and I used to go eat at nice restaurants around the area. The Dutch Hutch in Murphy was a favorite. We had a lot of good times.
Janice and Leanne at the End of the Pavement
This little girl was a sweetheart. She loved to be around people and was not a bit shy.
Janice in the rain
I loved the rain. None of us let us ruin a good party. We either got wet, sat in a car, or waited it out under a tarp.
Julie, Janice, and Wanda
We all met up at Copperhead Lodge. What a great surprise to run in to old friends.
Camping
It was a cold morning and I did not have a coat. The quilt was handy and it was warm.
Jan with colorful earrings
I enjoyed everything about the End of the Pavement. Those days were unforgettable.
Gomer and Jan
Gomer and I were visiting Grace, Gomer's mom. We dated a few months until Gomer ran off with a blonde named Terri. I could not blame him -- we were not a good fit.
Janice and Pete
Pete and I were just friends. He was a good guy to know.
Looked like a hangover
Could be the day after getting drunk on tequila. I loved tequila with lemon and salt but did not drink it often. My body did not process alcohol very well -- my headaches lasted for days. The high was not worth the misery.
Blue jeans and platform shoes
I arrived with city shoes and my own car. Most of the young women in Union County that I met were stuck at home with kids.
Some of them were jealous of me until they realized that I did not want their husbands.
I was looking for girlfriends. I would load them and their kids into my car and off we would go. We went swimming in Lake Nottely and shopping at Sky City. Sometimes we even rode through Coopers Creek or visited the End of the Pavement.
I brought a little excitement into their lives and they opened up their homes to me.
Happy birthday
This was the day of my surprise birthday party. I was floored when I drove up to balloons, food, cake, and presents.
Balloon, streamers, and cake
For years and years I kept up with everyone's birthday -- making sure there was a card to sign and a cake. After 20 or 25 years of this, I figured since no one ever remembered my birthday, I would stop trying to remember everyone else's.
Well, wouldn't you know, the next year they all got together and gave me the best surprise birthday party ever. I was shocked.
I went out with Billy for a weekend.
Then his steady girlfriend showed up at my door begging me not to see him anymore! I had no idea he was involved with her. I quickly agreed which put her at ease. I bet Billy caught hell for that stunt.
I had on dark glasses and lipstick with a big smile.
This was taken before my tooth broke off while eating a sub sandwich.
I had to save for years to get a bridge and did not really smile that whole time. Have you ever tried to smile with your lips together?
Jan at the sawmill
I was at the old saw mill that is now a restaurant in Blairsville -- The Sawmill Place.
I have no idea who I was with or who took the picture.