Today is the day after Labor Day and another summer is unofficially in the books. The week after Labor Day was when we Boomers traditionally started back to school. In 1964, the first day of school was a day I took a big step toward independence and what I considered adulthood. That was the day I rode my bike to… Read moreGrowing Up | Adulthood
The hummingbirds finally showed up on Beachwood Drive a couple of weeks ago. We always had a number of them through most summers, but this year they have been conspicuously absent. There were a few of the males in the late spring as they began to arrive after the migration from Central America and Mexico. These amazing little creatures return… Read moreThe Hummers | Bickering Again
Dusty Hill passed away yesterday. This one is tough. Dusty was the bassist for ZZ Top. ZZ Top is one of my all-time favorite bands. They have stood alone as the only Southern Rock band from the Sixties and Seventies to not only survive, but thrive. Dusty and drummer Frank Beard teamed with guitarist Billy Gibbons to form ZZ Top… Read moreDusty Hill | A Sharp Dressed Man
Here is another story about Uncle Errol that I forgot to relate, one which nonetheless made a profound impression on me. During our summer visit to Texas in 1965, Uncle Errol drove me by my boyhood hero’s house in the Preston Hollow area of Dallas. Like countless other boys growing up in the Sixties, my hero wore #7 and patrolled… Read moreUncle Errol | An Addendum
My Uncle Errol passed away last week. He was my favorite uncle. I had hoped that I would one day have the honor of eulogizing him when the time came. Due to logistics, time and circumstances, that has not been possible. So, I will honor him as best I can here. Uncle Errol was a Southern Gentleman in every sense… Read moreUncle Errol | Life Lessons and An Example
There’s a big problem with professional golf today. TV ratings are plummeting and the PGA Tour is having a cow because it believes nobody is watching because Tiger Woods isn’t playing. That’s true to a certain extent, but I don’t think that’s entirely the case. I think it’s because professional golf is boring. Granted, the game doesn’t translate well to… Read moreGolf Characters | Where Have They Gone?
After eighteen years, my John Deere lawn tractor is dead. Both back tires are flat and the seat is falling apart. The ignition switch has been bypassed and, despite being hooked to a battery tender constantly, when the toggle switch is pushed to start the engine, the old boy won’t hit a lick at a snake. I am afraid the… Read moreSugar And The Bees | A Damn Good Dog
A few weeks back, Jackie and I visited her sister and brother-in-law at their new home in Williamson, Georgia. Williamson is west of Griffin, north of Zebulon and home to the Peach State Aerodrome, a small grass-strip airport where mostly vintage and antique aircraft are hangared. There was a fly-in this particular weekend and we were planning to attend. Jackie… Read moreLucky Star | 624
Excerpt from “Only Time Would Tell” by James Etheridge. Available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1086015924 It was a Wednesday afternoon in the middle of February. Mrs. Peebles was teaching our class how to read the weather charts in the newspaper. She was young, eccentric and taught geography by having us dance to polka music and Swedish drinking songs. “Now, you will all notice that… Read moreFalse Spring | Part One
Excerpt from “Only Time Would Tell” by James Etheridge. Available at https://www.amazon.com/dp/1086015924 “Okay, here’s the plan,” said Bubba-Bubba. We all looked at each other and rolled our eyes. “We’ll flank out, Billy to the right and Joe to the left. Brooks, Brain and Snail will go in low from the front. I’ll stay back with the Mighty Mo.” Bubba-Bubba envisioned himself… Read moreFalse Spring | Part Two
