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 […]

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 […]

Sister Mary, as I recall, was from Baltimore, and when I left the school where I did my student teaching, she gave me a “gift” she made. It was a seashell, lacquered to protect it from the elements. The shell was milky white, flecks of orange and yellow, small enough to carry in any pocket. […]

Recently my wife expressed concern that I didn’t join her and her family for the Miller Thanksgiving, a tradition I have passed on for many years. It genuinely bothers here and yet I have my reasons. I reminded her why a quiet Thanksgiving at a Waffle House, or alone reading a book and eating a […]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sk4W8U14Tae9SB1Z9Sirah? Yes Father.I found you.Yes, you did.I like playing “Where in the world is Sirah?”I know.You needed me today.Yes, daughter I did.You seem to be walking even more than usual.Yes Luv like Forrest ran.Can’t run anymore can you Dad?No, sweetheart never could run much worth anything.But why do you walk so much?I figured like Forrest, […]

From the Back of Eddy Creek on Lake Barkley – This was not a surprise to me but it is one of those things that you are never ready to accept. This is the letter I wrote to her daughter Mary Brooks today. Rest in peace “Mom” you can never be replaced. Love, peace and […]

Tybee Island, Ga. — I am well aware that I have work to do. In fact, I can see it piled up on my desk here. It is the time of year when I have to pay attention to running the business, balancing the accounts, figuring out how I will make everything work despite slow […]