“Water, water everywhere and all the boards did shrink . . . Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink.” So said Samuel Taylor Coleridge in his 1834 epic poem, “Rime of the Ancient Mariner”.  Granted, the reason he couldn’t drink the water was because of the salt content, which was also the reason the […]

I don’t often mention families or their loved ones by name here; I certainly don’t use their pictures.  And if I’m going to tell their story anonymously, I wait long enough that most of you won’t know who they are.  But today is different.  Today, with his family’s permission, I want to tell you about […]

In case you’re one of those date oblivious folks, February 14th, aka Valentine’s Day, is upon us—as in right on top of us if you’ve waited until Thursday to read this.  Or long since gone if you waited much beyond that.  So, in honor of that special day, I’d like to tell you the story […]

I have this grandson named Anderson.  Recently I told Anderson’s father (my son), that his child had to be part cat.  He’s bound to have nine lives and, as best we can estimate, he’s used five of them thus far.  That we know of.  And he’s only eight. I won’t recount the previous four; although […]

To quote the great Yogi Berra, these past few days have been a case of “déjà vu all over again”.  For those who might be unfamiliar with the terminology, déjà vu (pronounced “day zha voo”) is the feeling that you’ve experienced something before, even though you may not remember when or how.  So déjà vu […]

After thirteen years of marriage, my daughter and son-in-law are expecting their first (and possibly only) child.  And for thirteen years, they have endured all the questions. “So . . . when ya’ll gonna have a little one?” “Thinkin’ ‘bout startin’ a family anytime soon?” “You’re not gettin’ any younger, you know . . .” […]

Have you ever opened a bottle or can of Dr. Pepper that’s been shaken, even just slightly?  Have you then gone looking for wet paper towels or a mop, or just gone to stand in the shower so you can remove all the syrupy stickiness with which you have been coated due to the ensuing […]

He had been very hesitant about coming into the office, not because he didn’t like us but because he didn’t like the reason behind the visit.  His wife was terminally ill and for several weeks she’d been after him to go to the funeral home and make certain the cemetery lots they planned to use […]

Despite all of my best efforts, the year has ended and a new one has arrived.  And, despite all of my best efforts, I think I’m farther behind than I’ve ever been.  It reminds me of a coffee mug I have that says, “God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  […]

Every year, without fail, the packages arrived.  It might be on Christmas Eve or the day before; it might even be Christmas Day, but they always, always came.  They might be in bags or they might be wrapped, but there were usually two, one of which was a fun box of S’mores stuff from Wal-Mart.  […]