There was a time when my dog, Max, would have been an excellent therapy or emotional support animal. He was always happy to be with people — any people — and provide constant warm-puppy-dog affection.
There was a time when my dog, Max, would have been an excellent therapy or emotional support animal. He was always happy to be with people — any people — and provide constant warm-puppy-dog affection.
As a newspaper reporter many years ago, I drove around rural East Tennessee taking pictures of church signs for a story about the often clever, inspirational or downright funny words posted by church staff. About 10 years later, someone published “The Great American Book of Church Signs.”
This is not how it was supposed to be. Having the kids out on their own has sparked a reawakening in the relationship between their mother and me. Just not the type I envisioned.
Starting a new year provides the traditional opening for resolving to do better. The concept of time allows for new beginnings and the putting away of bad habits.
I still remember my very first day of school. I was brought to the cafeteria crying and asking for my mom. I ate a blueberry muffin that morning. I like to reflect on these experiences because they anchor me to this small rural North Carolina area. These are the experiences that we will carr…
The Senate of the United States of American recently passed in December a $1.7 trillion Omnibus Spending Bill to keep the government open until September 2023. The bill that was voted on was 4,155 pages. The bill voted on was brought to the floor for a vote before there was time to read, rev…
I have for the past few years shared in this space at Christmas a poem or two from my late friend Bill Warren. A wonderful poet and songwriter, he reminded me a lot of my father. They both were patriots and veterans.
We’ve seen many disasters
There is a pond on our family farm that has not really been a pond for decades. It’s more of a crater these days, used for burning brush — which, as it turns out, is a great way to meet one’s neighbors.
Our family has been coasting for several years in vehicles that are paid for. A portion of the fleet is becoming old and unreliable, just when replacement prices have gone crazy.
I have spent a considerable number of regretful moments lamenting my children’s low number of camping experiences.
I have spent a considerable number of regretful moments lamenting my children’s low number of camping experiences.
I was fortunate for most of the years I grew turkeys to work with an elderly black man whom I grew to love and respect. I learned a lot from Jessie Wallace. As it was with my grandmother, so it was with Jessie; the longer I live the smarter they become.
The trauma of leaving a daughter to attend college hundreds of miles away was still fresh when we came home last weekend. Then, more trauma struck.
It was springtime, and I was 11 and helping my dad wash our car on the street in front of our house. A group of neighborhood girls walking past said hello. Dad caught me watching them disappear down the street.
One of our daughters is about to move a few of her belongings to a rented room near Middle Tennessee State University, where she will continue her education after having completed two years of study close to home.
Since Republicans gained control of the North Carolina General Assembly in 2011 our state has enjoyed a steady economic recovery that is now in its twelfth year. Just last week CNBC announced that North Carolina finished as the No. 1 state in the nation for doing business. Many other publica…
During the 1990s, I attended several NASCAR events. For my first stockcar-racing experience, I went big — Daytona. Should have started smaller. Much smaller.
Our little dog, Max, is 14 and no longer hears well enough to awake from his solitary slumber when someone walks into the house. I can, in fact, make several trips past his perch on the back of his favorite chair before his sniffer finally reveals my presence.