I try my darndest to write a graduation story every May. For a myriad of reasons. Most all of them revolve around the high school seniors who are marching into the auditorium, gym, football stadium, etc. one last time to the stick-in-your-head-forever-if-you-are-not-careful sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance.” more

PEOPLE WITH AN ADDICTION ARE some of the kindest, meanest, most truthful, most deceitful, gentlest, cruelest, quietest, loudest, hardest working, laziest, most giving, most selfish, most loving, most heartless, most caring, most uncaring, most humble, most prideful people on the planet, which simply means they are the extreme versions of ourselves because we all can have any and all of those traits at any given time. more

Where I live, one of the first questions you’re going to ask a person you’ve just met is, “Where are you from?” sometimes shortened to, “Where you from?” more

I don’t know about you, but there are great universal mysteries that keep me up at night. It can be baffling for sure. And the loss of sleep can wreak havoc on your charming disposition as the sun welcomes the following day. more

Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a Lutheran Pastor who lived in Nazi Germany. He opposed the Nazi regime during the late 1930s, and was sent to a concentration camp for his affiliation with the Confessing Church. In 1946 after his release from the concentration camp he published the following statement. more

Recently, while camping, Brenda and I hiked a trail we'd never been on before, but we'd heard about it and seen some beautiful pictures of it. more

I may be the worst yardman in the world. It is not delightful work for me. I’d rather be running a half-marathon. Or playing golf. Or reading a book on General Custer’s last stand. Or teaching grandchildren how to play hopscotch in the driveway. more

As you are well aware, I quit writing these newspaper articles a year ago. At about the same time, I stopped repairing old clocks. Loss of memory, out of ideas, and Leon (my best story source) passing away got me out of the former, and bad eyesight forced me to give up the latter. more

Contrary to popular belief, I never attended a one room log cabin school house. As a matter of fact, my first school was huge. It was a two-story building with a gymnasium, music room, principal’s office, and bathrooms on both floors. more

The plot was planned carefully and carried out perfectly. more

Recently, a friend asked me how I deal with people who are angry at God for allowing bad things to happen to them. more

Recently, as I was getting dressed, I complained to my wife, “I can’t find my belt buckle.” more

It’s always nice to get away and go camping, whether by “glamper” (travel trailer) or tent, it’s always an adventure. State parks, surrounded by trees, no cell signal and nothing to do but spend time together is the best. more

I was in the baseball locker room before daylight, trying on gloves. My hand went instinctively to the Rawlings XPG6. It was endorsed, with his name embossed on the palm, by Mickey Mantle. It evens says “Personal Model.” It had the beautiful “Spiral Top” with the “TRIPLE ACTION” web. And the faded, worn red Rawlings tag on the back strap still proudly proclaims that it was “Made in America.” more

The first thing I noticed was the odd shaped, six-sided table. We were at Fat Cats in Rogersville, Alabama, sitting down to eat breakfast. more

It was oft-heard phrase when I was growing up. “Oh, so your one of Willie Johnson’s boys.” more

I’ve never seen a perfect marriage. Never. more

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Sunshine Week celebrated nationally to promote the importance of open government at the federal, state and local levels. more

I’m telling you, this thing has gotten completely out of control. It’s insane. We have lost our every-loving minds! I feel like I am being swallowed by a boa constrictor. more

“Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water” is an old idiom originating in sixteenth century Germany. The cliché has such a simple meaning yet our government leaders can’t seem to grasp the valuable message, especially Republicans in the current General Assembly in Nashville. more