14 February 2025 “Those who find their ‘soulmates’ are indeed fortunate people,” the Old Man said, looking oceanward and fiddling with his pipe. We sat on the cold granite bench with no back at Kuhlman’s Corner in the 90-degree bend of US Highway 80 as it headed south to its termination point on the back […]

31 December 1980 – 11:50 p.m. – Luttrell Ave., Knoxville, Tenn. At the time, Leland lived on Luttrell Avenue in North Knoxville, Tennessee, in a renovated shot-gun style house of the 1920s. He was single; some days, he enjoyed his new life, but other days, he dreaded getting out of bed. Like many divorced men […]

Answering the Phone In rural southwestern Kentucky, down by the rivers and near between them, we have a saying, “When Jesus calls, we answer.” Forty-four years ago, around this time, I was privileged to meet my future mother-in-law. Betty Miller. We had much in common. She liked me, and I liked her. We are both […]

Christmas always brings memories. One such memory involves my friend, partner, and colleague Ron Loving on a dark, drizzling, cold night in Memphis, Tennessee, the week before Christmas. We had secured the CEO into the Peabody Hotel. Ron had gone to the front desk to get some change. He and I then headed toward the […]

At 540 South 93, there sits an old black mailbox. Beside it is an even older gray metal folding chair. It has been like this for many years. Yesterday, with a 72-degree stillness and puffy white clouds in a crystal blue sky, I headed to FArmstrong, my retreat. As I rounded the curve, I looked […]

Today is the last day. My birthday month. Leaves are still falling. Finally, we have rain. The colors may pop or not. Some will be bright and cheery, and others are not. September has always been a puzzling and, at times, challenging month for me. It has been a month of exponential joy and great […]

Old dogs and old men smell bad. I know that because I am one and have an older dog. If my Calista weren’t with Kay at the Lake, she would have to get wet doing her business at some point. And when she does, she smells like an old dog. Older men don’t have to […]

The ever-dependable Dollar General Store sits five miles down Hopkinsville Road from FArmstrong. I know that because I frequent it regularly. And the greeter there is “Old Gypsy.” Gypsy walks to work every day. Exceptionally dependable. Always on time. But she has no keys to the store. Yesterday morning, I went to the Dollar Depot […]

Several dogs and I have had relationships over the years. But only twice with a “Duke.” The earliest one I can recall was a Pekingese with one eye, Pokey. He wasn’t that friendly. Along came Midnight, a coal-black, long-haired fellow with a big personality who was very active for five-year-old me. Susie was a Chihuahua. […]

Clearly, There Are Miracles While most young people don’t hesitate to jump into bed before marriage, Mari and Nate mutually agreed not to consummate their love until after they wed. They had met in October 2021 while students at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. Together, they prayed nightly. In December 2022, they became engaged. They […]

Of all the years of my 56-year career, perhaps the most memorable and enjoyable was my time serving at the Tribune-Courier in the early 1970s. The team from those days, those of us remaining, had a reunion yesterday with lots of laughs, hugs, and recalled memories. As a young man, I dreamed of one day […]

Maude and the Zippo Tybee Island can be a magnet for characters. I took off the recycles this morning. I drive by the campground and see this woman trying to attach her American flag to her camper. She is barely 5 feet tall and petite, stretching to reach. I stop and offer to assist. “Mighty […]

Elders, Respect and Decoration Day From my earliest years and recollections, my Mother taught me to respect and honor my elders. All elders were either “Grandmothers,” (ulisis ),“Grandfathers” (ududus), Aunts (elogis) or Uncles (edutsis). Somewhere around six years of age I think, my Grandfather and I were in his old truck headed to the Liberty Church […]

The weekend had been one of the field exercises where ROTC guys played Army out on Blood River, one of the many embayments on Kentucky Lake. It had been cold, damp, and miserable. However, as we packed up, everyone seemed reasonably satisfied with the performance. James Alphonso Caruso, or “Little Al” as we all called […]

My wife, best friend, and business partner, Kay, and I are moving into the first stages of retirement. I have no idea what that means. You see, for almost 60 years, I have worked. From age 13, having forged my father’s signature, I started working at the local Ben Franklin store in Princeton, Ky, […]

“Let us make one point, that we meet each other with a smile when it is difficult to smile. Smile at each other, make time for each other in your family.”― Mother Teresa

My Mother loved Easter. I believe in her mind Easter was really the beginning of spring and being a gardener and “green thumb” this meant she was now free to start her growing season. For those of you that knew my Mother, you can attest to the fact that she could take a seemingly dead […]

Unity today reminded me to be grateful for those who inspired me. And all though I could go back to my early junior high school days and begin this appreciation, today, I shall go back to two people with whom I engaged in the early 1980s. During this era, and thanks to one of these […]