There is more to life than simply increasing its speed.

-- Mahatma Gandhi

It wasn't in the weekend papers, but for the record I finished second in the Augusta Alzheimer's Association's 5-kilometer Memory Walk on Saturday.

The young woman who beat me finished next to last.

OK, you're right if you figured out there were only two of us running and the hundreds of others were walking, but at my age competition is where you find it.

I actually led for the first 50 yards or so, then, when I was sure the Fox 54 cameras couldn't see us anymore, I told my competition I would catch up with her later and settled down into a more normal pace.

A good time was had by all.

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MORE OLD RESTAURANTS: Sue Ezzyk writes: "My husband would like to see you mention the Hick Street Lunchroom. He swears they served the best hamburgers and homemade relish."

And Keith asks: "Do you remember Mrs. Roberts' grill? First on Seventh Street and then Reynolds. You could get a grilled hamburger with a fried egg on it.

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HISTORY HELP: "Bravo!" writes Dr. Mark Melton , of Washington, Ga., after my column on President James K. Polk.

"I didn't think anyone else besides me appreciated him. He has long been my presidential hero."

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MORE TRAVELS: "G" sends a postcard from Texas and writes: "I am beginning to believe I travel to send you postcards."

Ernest and Martha Odom , of Evans, send a card from Boston, where the fall foliage is out.

Kay and Johnny Shaw , of North Augusta, send one from Kansas, and Evelyn Casey , of Augusta, is on a trip to Cape Cod.

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TODAY'S JOKE: Seth Benson says it's so dry in north Georgia that the Baptists are starting to baptize by sprinkling, the Methodists are using wet-wipes, the Presbyterians are giving out rain checks, and the Episcopalians are praying for the wine to turn back into water.