The American reality television series called American Pickers has popularized the little known past-time of “picking.” This captivating show of exploring barns, sheds, workshops, and attics in hopes of discovering unique, collectible, and sometimes valuable items of Americana vaulted the program to the History Channel’s highest-rated show. In my case, I don’t have to go … Continue reading This Thing Called Prayer
As you may have noticed by now, my blog posts vary widely in topic and tone. For my last post of January 2020, I think it’s time to enjoy a chuckle. It is a common saying for grandparents that if they knew grandchildren would be this much fun, they would have had them first. I … Continue reading Grandkids are Good Medicine
It all started with a box of Cracker Jacks. I don’t remember much from my fourth-grade year at Toney Elementary in 1960. I recall Mrs. Jakes was my teacher. And I remember a box of Cracker Jacks. Our principal, Mr. Grady, announced over the speaker one Friday afternoon that anyone who came to Sunday School … Continue reading Cracker Jack Gospel
My son and daughter-in-law had to put down their fifteen-year-old poodle this week. Every dog lover understands the heartache that comes when its time to say goodbye to a loyal, lovable, and forever-a-part-of-the-family pooch. It’s especially tough when you have to explain such a loss to your two young daughters. My son shared how he … Continue reading A Mouse Named Noel
Christmas is a time to make memories, and hopefully, the kind of memories that still make you laugh, giggle and smile sixty years later. Unless it was the Christmas of 1986, when “Santa” had the bright idea to leave all his Christmas gifts in one 10 foot long black plastic bag so that our family … Continue reading If It’s Eggrolls, It Must Be Christmas
The headlining theme of last year’s December 2018 edition of Southern Living magazine was one of the “Simple Joys” of Christmas. I always chuckle a hearty HO-HO-HO at such teasing titles. While offering readers the hope of a simple Christmas, the magazine proceeded to unload a Santa sleigh-full of ideas on decorating, wreaths, cooking, … Continue reading The Simple Joys of Christmas
My adult children struggle to buy Christmas gifts for me. It’s not really as bad as it sounds. They have just run out of gift ideas for their dad. Usually, in early November, the pleading starts, “Dad, we need your list of what you want for Christmas!” I have a problem answering that question. As … Continue reading What This Grandfather Wants for Christmas
College football rivalries in the Southland resemble a Hatfield-McCoy feud. They are intense, long-lasting, sometimes bitter, and always passionate. Think Auburn vs. Alabama, USC vs. Clemson, Florida vs. Florida State, Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State, and, of course, my favorite, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech. It may sound like a random collection of words, but Clean … Continue reading Living Southern: Clean Old-Fashioned Hate
Getting married after being a widower for six years was one of the craziest, bravest, who-da-thunk-it things I have ever done. As if a stress test was a required pre-marital experience, my body decided to give my future wife a glimpse of how her beloved handled pain. And I got a glimpse at how … Continue reading Hell Hath No Fury Like A Kidney Stone; Man Hath No Friend Like A Loving Wife
Author’s Note: I wrote this Reflection in early 2017 and shared it with a small group of friends. This updated version is posted for the first time on TheBuddyBlog.com If you do a web search for the phrase “A guy walked into a bar….” you will discover that bars and bartenders are one of the … Continue reading If Jesus Were a Bartender
